We're the ViVa! Vienna! Comfort Station Sponsor

bikes@vienna is again a sponsor for ViVa! Vienna!, the community festival held over the Memorial Day Weekend.  For the last couple of years I have been trying to get the ViVa! organizers in the Rotary Club to let me sponsor the "Comfort Stations".  Cyclists who have participated in rides know about porta potties and we appreciate the ones that are clean and well stocked with toilet paper.

Each year on RAGBRAI there will be a town which has decorated their porta potties.  Creativity seems to be sparked by restrooms.  Several years ago one community had a crew of uniformed cleaners who tracked how many times a facility was used and on the tenth use a cleaner freshened the structure.

bikes@vienna specializes in cycling equipment that allows cyclist to be comfortable as they enjoy riding their bike or trike.  We are the proud sponsor of the ViVa! Vienna! Comfort Stations.

I survived!

Tired but smiling! I placed well down in the middle of the pack, around 34 out of I think about 70-80 riders. Tom finished well ahead of me at 18! You know what that means.... next year, a rematch!

Ollie Brock with the BUSC shirt

Ollie is a customer and owner of two Bromptons, and finished in the top ten, at number 8!

Tom and Newton after the race!

All that exploring and discovering new sights, sounds and smell just wore the poor guy out... Newton the Lab, of course. Tom is just basking in his very respectable finish at number 18!

Tom at bike start point

We run, unfold, run to start line, and ride.

Race number in place!

Waiting for start.

"Brocky" with bike

"Brocky", AKA Steve Huang

I thought, what with the whole Rocky/Philadelphia connection, he'd be a shoe-in for Best Dressed Male. Alas, that title eluded Steve, going instead to a trio of guys in plastic top hats, velvet jackets and shiny silver pants.

Waiting for registration

Gathering for Brommie Promenade

Tim and Tom in Philly

Tim Fricker and Tom Fritz are on their way to Philadelphia to race

Dear Brompton Owner   Tomorrow, Saturday March 20th, Philadelphia will be the first US city to host the Brompton US Championship.   There are still some spaces available and registration will be open till noon on race day, near Memorial Hall in West Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, as part of the Philly Phlyer collegiate bike race. Race start time is 1 p.m. Like the U.K. race which inspired it, the Philadelphia event will feature a Le Mans running start and have a strict dress code: helmets are a must, but so is a blazer or suit jacket, collared shirt and tie. Sports attire is not permitted, unless it is hidden by business garb. Hardcore racers may wear their clip-ins—there are no restrictions on footwear. This first Philadelphia race will be a U.S. Cycling Federation-listed event and spectators can expect to see just how fast these little British bikes can go. Brompton is sponsoring the U.S. event—and will bring America’s quickest Brompton riders to the Brompton World Championships this October. The winning man and woman in the Philadelphia races will get their plane tickets—and entry fees--covered by Brompton. The U.S. event will run a single, 6-mile lap starting near Memorial Hall in West Fairmount Park. In addition to the trip to the Brompton World Championship that awaits the top man and woman, there will also be prizes for second and third—and Best-Dressed. If you’d like to race your Brompton folder bike, you can register in person on race day between 9:30am and noon. Complete rules and information for spectators can be found atwww.bromptonbicycle.com/busc.    Race or spectate it promises to be a great day out.   Happy racing!   The Brompton Team

Our Customers Often Make Us Smile

Folks tend to think of our shop as "quirky", but to be fair, I think we could say the same about many of our customers. Luckily for us, they tend to be quirky in a fun and entertaining way.

A good example arrived last week, when Andy arrived on his Greenspeed trike, with a rather impressive sound system, flag, and two dogs! On this visit, the dachshund was in a bag on the back, but apparently she likes to trot alongside much of the time. Both dogs apparently love trike rides, and the moment Andy puts on his bike clothes, they gather around the trike, anxious to go!

Here's the dachshund in the bag:



And below is a video of the whole crew pulling out of our parking lot!

Mark your calendar for Bike To Work Day, Friday, May 21

Mark your calendar for both the event and the pre registration deadline.  Every year at the Pit Stop we have people that want the highly valued BTWD T-shirt, but they missed the registration deadline for receiving a T-shirt.  Friday, May 14 is the deadline for pre-registration.  Please mark this deadline date on your calendar so you can receive and proudly wear the BTWD T-shirt.

Please note that bikes@vienna is again a sponsor for BTWD.

Continuing Care --- Reprint

This is a reprint from a blog posting on February 25, 2005.  It describes bikes@vienna's Continuing Care Policy.

Soon after I opened bikes@vienna my lovely mother-in-law, Sara, sent me an article from the Seattle newspaper. The article featured a Seattle bike store which provided continuing service on the bikes they sold. I do not remember all the details, but it was the inspiration for what is called Continuing Care at bikes@vienna.

When you buy a new bike from bikes@vienna I promise that we will provide small repairs and adjustment for as long as your family owns the bike. As long as the cost of labor is under $20 then you will only be charged for the parts. A flat tube under Continuing Care is a good example; we will replace the bad tube and only charge you for the cost of the tube. You have saved $8 (our charge for switching a tube). We will adjust a derailleur or adjust a brake and because the labor is under $20 you’ll pay nothing. Our idea is for you to keep your bike in good condition so riding is fun and you ride more.

The question gets asked whether we give free or annual tune-ups? We do not. A brake and gear tune-up costs $40 so that is beyond the threshold. We do much better in my opinion. We work to keep your bike in better condition all year. Our effort is for you to visit us more than once a year. While you’re here might I try to sell you a new pump or basket or helmet? Yup, but I am low key.

Continuing Care is a reason for you to consider making your bike purchase at bikes@vienna.

Great Greenbrier River Race is Saturday, April 24

Today's mail had information from the Pocahontas County Convention & Visitors Bureau about the Great Greenbrier River Race which will be held on Saturday, April 24th. This is an event which features a 3 mile rail-trail run, 4 mile flat-water paddle, and a ten mile bike ride. The information says that most riders use mountain bikes.
The event begins with a Friday evening pasta party at the Marlinton United Methodist Church. Staging for the race begins on the morning of the 24th with dropping off boats from 8-10 AM. The race start is 11 AM. There is a post race picnic, socializing, and an awards ceremony that starts at 2:30 PM.

You can find more details at http://www.greenbrierrivertrail.com/race.html Registration must be achieved by having you registration in the mail by April 12.

Unanticipated Parking Solution on Church Street

This Honda automobile came to rest in front of Princess Fanny's Beauty
Salon just before 1 PM today. Witnesses reported that they believed
the vehicle struck at least one other vehicle as the accelerator
seemed to jam. The operator of the Honda was being tended to by EMTs
and was seated upright when this photo was taken.

Why yes, we do still have some snow

This afternoon I rode over to the Vienna Post Office to mail a couple
of packages. There I saw this pile of snow. Just an hour before
during a phone conversation I had been asked if there was still snow
on the ground.

As you can see there will be snow on the ground in front of the Post
Office for some time.

North American Handmade Bike Show 2010

Tim attended the NAHBS 2010 down in Richmond on Sunday, and had a great time! A lot of beautiful work to be seen, admire, and learn from. See his writeup and links to photos here:

http://spokesofawheel.blogspot.com/2010/03/north-american-handmade-bike-show-2010.html