Mezzo Folding Bikes are arriving at bikes@vienna

I'm going to be like a kid looking out the window today waiting for the delivery trucks to come into view. Today is the first possible day for the Mezzo Folding bikes to arrive, but as I said I'll be acting like a kid with eternal optimism. Where am I going to put another line of folding bikes in an already overcrowded store? I'll figure it out.

The Mezzos are coming to the US from England. The bikes are manufactured in Taiwan based on an English design. They are a sixteen inch wheel folder. The bikes look upscale and feature conventional drivetrains with the D10 and D9 featuring rapid fire shifters which is not common in the world of folders. Mezzos have anodized finishes which also is not common in folders. The bikes come with racks and fenders. The bikes are distributed in the US by Marin with which bikes@vienna has had a relationship almost since the store opened. This passed year there have not been any of the Marin uprights in the store, but this new folder renews the relationship.

The reviews of the Mezzos in English cycling publications have been positive. Here are links for a few reviews:

http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/mike/mikesmezzo/mezzod9-2.html#11._Conclusions

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/folding/product/d10-09-33775

http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/mezzod9b.html

If you've visited the store you know how I stress test rides. Come visit and test ride a Mezzo.

Brompton World Championship on Sunday, October 4

Coming soon is the Brompton World Championship held on Sunday, October 4. It is a bike race for folding bikes (specifically Bromptons) with rules for attire that result in a wacky look and leads to a "Best Dressed" award. It is a hoot.

You can find details on the Brompton website http://www.brompton.co.uk/

There is a charming video clip of last year's event at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZcHRv0mJLg&feature=player_embedded

Slowly, but surely, we are expanding our stock of Bromptons. bikes@vienna will be having an event on October 4th to celebrate the Brompton World Championships. Watch here for details.

"I'm just going around the parking lot..."

That's a phrase we hear a lot at bikes@vienna, typically when we tell folks they need to wear a helmet on a test ride. Well, today I demonstrated why, even "just around the parking lot" a helmet is a GOOD IDEA!

I was testing out a customer's bike, trying to see if I could make it slip out of gear under a variety of circumstances, and all seemed to be going well. It appeared I had managed to adjust things so that the problem didn't occur. That's probably why I was unprepared when, while pedalling hard up the slope of the parking lot, the gear hub abruptly failed, causing me to pitch forward, striking the handlebars with my chest, with enough force to knock the vertical bars into a horizontal position. The next thing I knew I was flat on my back on the pavement, having apparently done a somersault in the process. I ended up with some nasty scrapes on my right hand and knee, and more minor ones on my other hand and shin.





But the thing that I heard, in the midst of my acrobatic feat, was the distinct sound of plastic hitting pavement... and afterwards, I discovered some obvious dents in my helmet, which you can see here below.



So PLEASE.. wear a helmet, even "just around the parking lot."