Tuesday, March 24, 2009

National Bike Summit Congressional Office Visits


BruceJohn
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
During the National Bike Summit one day was spent visiting Congressional office to promote cycling friendly legislation such as Complete Streets and Safe Routes To Schools. During a visit to Representative Connelly's office Dennis Frew snapped this photo to record the event of Bruce Wright and I wearing ties.

I was struck by the fact that when Bruce and I wear ties we seem to interlace our hands and look very serious; another good reason not to wear a tie.

Vienna's Green Expo on April 16th

Here's an exciting opportunity for you! Vienna is having a Green Expo on April 16th at the Community Center. The event is from 7-9 PM. We are providing Event Parking Racks so you can ride your bike to the Expo (what could be more environmentally friendly than riding your bike to a Green Expo?).

I plan on taking folding bikes, workcycles, and trikes to the Green Expo, cycling equipment that will provide transportation and allow you to transport cargo like groceries.

Although the event is produced by the Town of Vienna, I am certain that wherever you live you will be welcome to attend the expo. The Community Center is right on the W&OD Trail and our Event Racks will be on both ends of the building. Pleas remember to bring a lock so you can secure your cycling equipment while you explore the Expo.

I hope to see you Thursday, April 16th.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Denney Triple Loaded


DenneyTripleLoaded
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
I posted the text below with a photo of Charlie Denney and his new Triple without his twins. This is a much better photo with the twins.

This summer on the W&OD Trail and around Arlington you will see Charlie Denney riding with the twins. Their mother, Mary, ordered this Kidz Triple for a big family Christmas present. Cycling is important to the Denney family and now they have the Triple to enjoy.

The Kidz Tandem or Triple can start out for younger children with child seats. When the riders get older the child seats can be replaced with a standard bike seat so the children can participate in the pedaling. So the Tandem or Triple can be used for many years and hopefully for many miles.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Borja places first in biking competition


Cycling Expo 11
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
The photo shows Vienna Police Officers Bill Murray and Melissa Borja at our Cycling Info Expo in February. The story below tells of Melissa's recent accomplishments on a bike.

Master Police Officer Melissa Borja of the Vienna Police Department
recently competed in the 2008 International Police Mountain Bike
Association Competition in Indianapolis.

Officers from all around the nation gather each year to learn about
new policing strategies and techniques, and to share ideas about
policing on a bicycle.

Borja serves as the lead officer for the Vienna Police Bicycle Unit.
She ensures the bicycles are adequately maintained and instructs new riders from area departments during a rigorous two-week training course, officials said.

The competition consisted of riding down a flight of stairs, up
another set of stairs, making a tight left turn, a U-turn through a
cone course, and then sprinting into a tight S-turn.

From there, Borja wound through a serpentine cone course, hopped up on to a platform, negotiated a third very tight cone course, rode her
bike over three railroad ties and performed another sprint to the finish.

Of the 75 riders participating in the event, Borja placed first in her
class for women and finished well ahead of more than half the men
participating in the event.

In addition, a bikes@vienna customer, Skip Samuels participated in the same event riding a Rans Crank Forward model. Skip is a member of the University of Mary Washington Campus Police Department and a very good customer.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Appointment Tuesdays?

We have changed to our Spring Hours and I have set Tuesday aside for appointments. Appointments at a bike store? We have many customers coming to us to test equipment and the weekends are the busiest days; the store is busy, the W&OD Trail is busy, and people's schedules are busy. Some customers have the freedom to visit during the week and I'm suggesting Tuesday when I can give them additional attention.

When on Tuesday would you like to come to test ride recumbents, folders, trikes, or tandems? Give me a call or send an email. I'll set up an appointment. Otherwise you can visit us in our new Spring Hours.

Saturday and Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM
Mon, Thurs, Fri 10 MA - 7 PM
Tuesday By Appointment
Wednesday Closed

Monday, March 09, 2009

W&OD Trail Patrol Seeks New Members

The W&OD Trail runs through the communities of Arlington, Falls Church, Vienna, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Hamilton, and Purcellville. The Trail Patrol is seeking new members to be on-scene ambassadors of safety, courtesy, information, and goodwill. All adult trail users--cyclists, walker, runners, skaters, carriage pushers, dog walkers, horse riders, or wheel chair users--are eligible to apply.

Orientation sessions are planned for this spring and summer. For further information and signup please go to http://www.wodfriends.org/ or call the trail office at 703-729-0596.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Thule Rack Sale on Sunday

I have too many Thule racks for the rear of a vehicle. I've closed a storage unit so I need to get these racks sold because I do not have room for them.

On Sunday, March 8th from noon to 5 PM these trunk mount and hitch mount racks will be on sale for 1/3 off. It is our business practice to install the rack and teach you how to mount your bikes on the rack. It may not be practical to continue this practice on Sunday, but I promise you can bring the rack back in and I'll help you with the installation.

Let me stress an important point, I have no Thule roof mount racks or the components for roof mount installations.

For the trunk mount racks the model of vehicle and year of the vehicle can be important facts. Go to www.thuleracks.com/carrier_bike2.asp?location=2 and you will be able to enter in information about your vehicle and learn what rack Thule recommends for that vehicle. My price for the sale is 1/3 off the price listed by Thule.

The temperatures are wonderful, the birds are singing, and the prices are terrific. Sunday is the time to visit us for a vehicle rack.
Remember we are at 128A Church ST, NW in Vienna. Our website is www.bikesatvienna.com and there are good directions to our location on the website.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

2009 Rich Rau Memorial Bike Tour and Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, May 16th is the fourth annual Rich Rau Memorial Bike Tour and Pancake Breakfast beginning in downtown Berryville. The registration is from 7:30 to 8:45 AM. The breakfast will be served from 7:30 to 10 AM. The tour begins at 9 AM.

The Tour has either a 15, 30 or 50 mile course. All courses start and end at the Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church located at 210 East Main Street in Berryville. The funds generated from the event will be used for the safety programs sponsored by the the Town of Berryville and the Berryville Police Department.

More details are available at http://www.berryvilleva.gov or call 540-955-4081. You can also email planner@berryvilleva.gov

Fantastic Friday Event

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Friday we packed the trailer and van with cycling equipment and drove to the Gum Springs Rec Center off US 1 in the southeastern section of Fairfax County to participate in a Fantastic Friday event organized by the Fairfax County Therapeutic Recreation Services for families with Autistic children.  The slide show that Ces has created does a better job of telling the story than I can with words.  Please notice the smiles.  

I learned from our participation in this event.  The Kidz Tandem was perhaps the best cycling equipment for a high number of those families.  With the child in front the Kidz Tandem gives the adult better control of the riding situation.  I had a young rider bail off while I was riding with him on the Bike Friday Family Tandem.  The Kidz Tandem is easier to transport than our side by side or the trikes connected in tandem.  The only draw back is the cycling ability of the adult.  For some people it takes time to adjust to the balance and length of the Kidz Tandem.  With excited young participants we did not always have the time to work with the adult and settle their concerns.

It was a good event.  My thanks to the Fairfax County Therapeutic Services for the opportunity to participate.