Nihola Family 3 coming to bikes@vienna

Sometimes I just need to be patience.  At least five years ago I started emailing the Danish cycle manufacturer, Nihola in an effort to become a dealer for their tricycles.  I had no success getting a response  for a period of time.  Then I got a response I didn't like.  So I stepped back and scratched my head.


This fall the folks at Fourth Floor Distribution in Toronto have been successful in importing the Nihola Family 3.  I now have a Nihola on the way to bikes@vienna.  I'm excited about the potential for the Nihola products in this area.  The Family 3 provides for an adult piloting the trike and up to three children in the front compartment.  The compartment has a seatbelt or has optional shoulder harnesses.  It also has a hood available to keep young passengers dry and out of the cold.  The Nihola site in Germany says it this way:

     "Our new Öko-Tex-100 hood (an ecological fabric), now available in bright fantastic colours, will ensure that you will be easily spotted by other traffic users. Underneath the hood our smaller Nihola passengers will be cosy, dry and warm.  No expense was also spared for Nihola's lighting system.  Niholas are factory fitted with one of the safest dynamo driven bicycle lighting systems produced by the German leader "Busch & Müller.“ Additional easily fitted bright positioning lights (two in the front and two in the back) allow you to be seen even better.  And each and every Nihola is fitted with super robust anti burst tyres by German tyre manufacturer "Schwalbe.“ Pinched or burst tyres will be other people's problems.   Remember that with a Nihola you are safely on three wheels and won't tip over in any weather, even in wet or icy conditions."  


You can review a number of photos of the Family 3 by clicking on http://nihola.info/da/nihola+cykler/cigar+family/


If you'd like to see how the hood goes on the Family three you can view a video showing the installation at Nihola YouTube Install Video  plus you'll get exposed to some German language too.


I believe that the Nihola Family 3 will appeal to families who have wisely chosen to live close to schools, stores, and activities so they can cycle.  The Family 3 can be the replacement for a second auto and perhaps even a first vehicle.  Sooooooo how much does a Nihola Family 3 cost?  Generously appointed the Family 3 costs $4150.


Thinking that is serious money?  Let me take your mind off that number with a lighthearted video featuring the Nihola trike in an outdoor pageant.  Click on this swimmingly interesting video.


When you've stopped smiling then here's a video looking over a Family 3 up close.


Places to visit:


http://www.nihola.fr/fr/Accueil-Nihola-France/



http://www.nihola.de/


http://www.nihola.info/en/nihola+bikes/cigar+family/

MORE INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE

The Nihola trikes available to bikes@vienna are outfitted with:

7 speed SRAM internal hub
Drum Brakes
Padded Bench Seat
Child Harnesses
Cargo Straps
Clear Front Panel
Rain Hood

The trikes are black frame with a black container (remember the clear front panel) with Rain Hoods in black, red, tan, white polka dots, or green.

The cost ready to ride from Vienna (includes shipping, assembly, and continuing care) is $4150 plus Virginia Sales Tax of 5%.

 bikes@vienna is located in downtown Vienna on an alley just off of Maple Ave/Route 123.  We sell cycling equipment that you don't normally find in a bike shop such as folders, trikes, recumbents, and tandems.  We're open five days a week.  We're open on Saurday and Sunday so we close on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We're close enough to the Vienna Metro Station that we can pick people up at Metro and bring them to the store.  Call us before you begin your journey.


703-938-8900
128A Church Street, NW
Vienna, VA 22180

First Canal Ride on Brompton

Well, it's taken me too long to get around to it, but Tuesday I
finally tried the Brompton on the C&O Canal. I started at Carderock
and rode about 8 miles out and back, and it was great. The small
wheels handled the surface with aplomb, and the bike was comfortable,
fun, and fast. My speed was right about the same as on my full sized
bikes, and it was great to be able to just tuck the bike away when
done. Watch my personal blog for a longer post and more pictures.

Tim

We're open!

And now it's easier to tell that we are, thanks to our groovy, new,
LED "Open" sign!

Now we just have to remember to turn it on and off every day.

5,000 miles since February

There are people who inspire us and this is a news items about one of those people.  I received a message last evening from a customer who came in last February with his wife to buy her a trike.  She had been injured in a bike accident and was walking with a cane.  Yvonne loves cycling so much that she was looking for a way to continue riding.  She bought a Trice trike and several months later her husband Henry came in and bought a Trice for himself.  Henry's message to me last evening noted that on their Saturday ride Yvonne had passed the 5,000 mile mark on her trike.   Here's his message:

Hi John,

Today we went on a Potomac Pedalers bike ride from Frederick, MD up to Thurmont and back. Just before we got back to the starting point, Yvonne's odometer crossed the 5,000 mile point. She got her Trice T trike from you this past February. You might remember that she was still using a cane when we first came looking at them in December or January.  Last year this time she was in a hospital bed in our dining room, recovering from a bike accident.  Thanks for helping to keep her mobile!

Henry

Yvonne's resolve is admirable.  Both she and Henry have ridden extraordinary miles this year.  Here is a photo on them from earlier this year on Skyline Drive.  Henry thanked me for helping to keep Yvonne mobile, but my thanks goes to them for the inspiration.  

The Play on Word Possibilities --- Black Friday

The Bike Friday folks out in Eugene have come up with a promotion of their bikes that has so many plays on words possible.  Leading up to the consumer day called "Black Friday" they are offering their black bikes at a 15% discount.  This offer includes the black bikes that bikes@vienna has in stock as well as bikes ordered in black.

b@v has three Model T Tikits in black and an Expedition which is black.  My goodness, Henry Ford would enjoy this offering.  As you may remember Ford is quoted as saying, " "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black".

This is the second year for this Bike Friday offering.  Last year in a swirl of last minute promotion Bike Friday made the offering and was surprised by the response.  It will be interesting to see the consumer response.  It plays nicely with the Bike Friday question ---- "Where will you go on a Friday".  Certainly we hope you'll come to bikes@vienna.

Bromptons for Personal Transportation

Think of your experiences growing up.  A bicycle was an important symbol for many of us.  It was "freedom".  It expanded our worlds.  It was our personal transportation.  It can be again.

The folks at Brompton portray it well (abet with an British tone):

"The Brompton is truly personal transport you can take with you even when you’re not riding it. On trains and buses it tucks neatly into luggage space (it is welcome on practically all public transport)… on aircraft, although it won’t fit as luggage in most (though not all!) cabins, it can be checked in; and it’s great to ride off at the other end… in cars, on yachts, behind the pilot’s seat of a single-prop, in caravans and on narrow boats, Bromptons are taken on trips as frequently as they take their owners on journeys.

And at the end of your commute, your trip or your voyage, your Brompton will fit safely and snugly in a cupboard, under your desk at work or in a cloakroom at the theatre or restaurant. With no risk of theft, your Brompton will still be there later – your personal transport."

bikes@vienna offers Brompton bikes as your personal transportation solution to the challenge of getting around this Washington Metropolitan Area.  We try to keep Brompton models in stock for you to test and purchase (we say "try" because often they sell quickly).

We offer the convenience of having you ride the Metro Orange Line to Vienna Station where we will pick you up.  Call us to arrange this service and to check what Brompton bikes we have in stock.

Who is bikes@vienna?  Please check the Washington Consumers' Checkbook to learn about our high rating from our customers.  Recently we were selected by Adventure Cycling Association to be the 2009 Sam Braxton Bicycle Shop Award winner.  We are honored by the ratings in the Checkbook and the recognition from Adventure Cycling.
   
Do a bit of research on folding bikes.  You'll find names such as Bike Friday, Dahon, Birdy, and Mezzo in addition to Brompton.  bikes@vienna stocks these brands too.  Soooooooo come visit us.

bikes@vienna is in downtown Vienna at 128 Church St, NW (the NW is important).  You can see that we are on an alley.  We're behind Terra Christa on the Church Street side and Mattress Discounters on the Maple Street side.

We are open five days a week.  We're closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Hours are 10-5 on the weekend and 10-7 on weekdays.

Call us at 703-938-8900.  Email to john@bikesatvienna.com.  The website is www.bikesatvienna.com .  You'll find us on Facebook .

We look forward to hearing from you.  We'd like to help with your personal transportation.

We are honored by Adventure Cycling Association

Late in October I'm up on a ladder handing a boxed Dahon to Al when Tim brings in the telephone.  "It's Amy from Adventure Cycling", Tim told me.  I expected to have Amy be a salesperson working for Adventure Cycling Magazine making an advertising sales call.

I was wrong.  Amy told me that bikes@vienna had been selected for an award.  I'd climbed down from the ladder and I sought definition.  Oh, for the mid Atlantic area?  For small stores? How many were selected? Oooooooooh, it is for the entire country and we are the only one? Oh my.  You can read the details at http://www.adventurecycling.org/outreach/awards/index.cfm

During the last week the news releases have gone out from Adventure Cycling and congratulations have been coming in from customers, vendors, and friends.  It has been very nice.  It has energized me.  For long before I started bikes@vienna I have admired Adventure Cycling and aspired to ride my bike throughout this country using their maps.  The recognition from them and the fact that long time customer Bruce Alton made the nomination have made this extra, extra special.

For this moment allow me to use the attention you have given this item.  There is no better way to travel and experience an area than by bicycle.  Some of my most joy filled days have been exploring or traveling by bike.  My hope for you is that during this next year you can plan a trip with family and friends on bikes.

This year I got to enjoy riding the Burke Gilman Trail in Seattle, the New York Five Boro Ride and RAGBRAI again.  I did not get that ride to Pittsburgh on the C&O Canal and the Great Allegheny Passage.  But I'm going to start planning and try to achieve that in 2010.  It is near time for those New Year Resolutions.  Where will you ride a bicycle in 2010?  How will you be an advocate for better bicycling routes and facilities so you can ride safer and more conveniently in your home area?

Tim's England Photos

Below are links to all the photo albums I currently have posted from my trip to England in October. Enjoy!

England 9/29/09-10/01/09

London, 10/02/2009

London, 10/5/09

BWC 2009

I hope to post a few photos from my visits to the Brompton (folding bikes) and ICE (recumbent trikes and bikes) factories when I get the chance.

Catrike White Sale

I'm dreaming of a white Catrike ............ our friends at Catrike have announced Color Fest for November and December.  They are making it very attractive to buy their models with three methods of savings:

First, you can buy any Catrike in white with a standard seat mesh and get a discount of $251 off MSRP.  They changed their seat design earlier this year and ended up with a large amount of what had been their standard seat mesh,

Second, you can buy any Catrike model in its own stardard color and get a discount of $151 off MSRP.

Third, you can go wild and buy any Catrike with a color upgrade at no additional cost.  This is for all non-standard colors including Candy and Sparkle colors.

Catrike Color Fest will be available until the last day of December, but think of the potential for holiday gift giving.

bikes@vienna currently has Expedition and Villager models in the store for test rides.  Why don't you come test ride and learn why 2009 has been such a "Trike" year for us.

For the people coming from Facebook to this posting:

bikes@vienna
128 Church Street, NW
Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-8900
john@bikesatvienna.com

bikes@vienna is open 10-7 on Monday, Thursday, and Friday.  We're open 10-5 on Saturday and Sunday.  Sorry, but we are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

If you'd like to take Metro to Vienna we'll pick you up at the Vienna Metro Station.  Call us to make arrangements.