Interbike, Wednesday September 14, 2011

(Note - I wrote this Wednesday evening but couldn't post it until now)

Well, this was my first of two days at Interbike in Las Vegas, NV. Lots of vendors showing off all manner of products for cycling, from nutritional supplements to high end road bikes, from bells to dual suspension mountain bikes.

Today was largely a preliminary lap around the show floor, not stopping and spending a lot of time at any one booth, just more or less getting a sense of what's there.

So what caught my eye? 

First, the continuing growth of the electric bike market is impossible to ignore. Each year it seems there are more and more booths showing both complete bikes and conversion kits and motors. With the exception of the Bionx brand, it's hard to know who has the ideas that will last, but it seems a pretty safe bet that e-bikes are going to be a part of the industry for some time to come.

Another really obvious thing was what WASN'T there... recumbents! Yes, you read that right... with the exception of Sun, who are a part of J&B Importers, a major parts and accessories distributor, the only recumbent brands with booths this year are HP Velotechnik and ICE. Over the last few years, fewer and fewer of the recumbent makers have shown their products at Interbike. Why? Well, late October will bring the first ever Recumbent Cycle-Con, in Pomona, CA, a recumbent-only trade show. Given that they often seemed a bit "lost" in the mass of vendors at Interbike, I can understand the motivation behind having their own show, but I'm not sure I completely agree that leaving Interbike was the best choice. We'll see how it all plays out in the next few years.

I did spend some quality time with a few folks today, both "old friends" and new. Among the "old" were J&B Importers/Sun Bicycles, who showed a few new items... including three new models of recumbents. At the moment it's not clear whether they will replace existing models or supplement them, or when exactly they'll ship, but they look interesting. One nice feature is that they use the same attachment system as the Rans recumbents, which means it's possible to swap the seats for a Rans or similar seat. In two wheelers, there's a model with 20" front wheel and 26" rear, as well as one with 16" front/20" rear.  The third is a new variation on their delta style trike. We'll keep you posted as we learn more.

I also spent a good hunk of time with the folks at Dahon, catching up on what's coming for 2012. There are several new models, and some changes to existing models. And there are a few bikes being dropped, or put on hold for the year. In the latter, we won't be seeing any of the "mini" style bikes new this coming year, although there are still some 2011 bikes in stock. In new bikes, the Vector series takes the place of the old Speed Pro and Speed Pro TT models. There's also a new 16" bike with a really slick, quick fold, that looks quite interesting. Unfortunately, the Dahon booth had a bunch of "no photos please" signs.

In the world of folding bikes, some of you may already be aware there's a new player coming into the field... Tern Bicycles, a company founded by folks who split off of Dahon. There's a lot of "family resemblance" between the brands on the surface, but there appear to be some significant differences as well. Generally speaking, for any given model of Dahon, there's a Tern that fills the same part of the market. Among the features touted by Tern are a latching/hinging system that is identical across all of the bikes in the line and is easily serviced with standardized replacement parts. It's too soon to tell, but this looks like a line with promise.

Finally, I spent some time talking to the folks at Breezer. Some of you may recall we used to carry their bikes, primarily their urban transportation bikes, such as the Uptown 8, fully decked out for commuting with fenders, rack, and dynamo lighting system.  Well, after a lot of thought, we've decided to start carrying them again. It seems like there's a growing interest in practical bicycles, and these really fit the bill. This year they're introducing a new series, called the "Downtown" models, featuring steel frames and a few other items that allows them to sell for a bit lower prices than the Uptown series. Both lines offer internally geared 3 and 8 speed hubs, as well as a more typical derailleur drivetrain, which Breezer refers to as "external". All in all a very sharp line of bikes, worth a look and a test ride, if you're in the market for a commuter or errand bike.

That's my response to my first day at the show. Watch for more soon, along with more photos and links to even more photos.

Apologies

I'm sorry if folks have been axiously awaiting word on Interbike, but Internet access at my hotel was not working well enough to post. I'm on my way back now from Vegas. Watch for photos and info in the next couple of days.

Annual Folder Frolic

Riders and bikes gather at 7am for the start of this fun ride. More later.

Apologies

Well, the hotel Internet connection isn't working tonight, so I haven't been able to upload photos or post a large message here. Hopefully, I'll be able to post in the morning.

A Bit of History

J&B Importers, our source for many of our parts, accessories, and recumbent bikes and trikes, is celebrating 40 years of business. They have one of the largest "booths" at Interbike, and tucked into the middle of it is this bike... A model they sold way back when. It's a typical "bike boom" 10 speed, with mostly steel parts and a lugged steel frame. Definitely entry level, but a nice bit of nostalgia.

Wild Riding on Bromptons!

Folks often ask "Are those folding bikes sturdy? How do they hold up?" Here's a video that should give you some idea of just how rugged the Brompton folding bike is... some guys doing BMX-style tricks on Bromptons! Enjoy, but as the saying goes, don't try this at home! (Thanks go to Bob, a customer, for sending this link.)


http://www.ecovelo.info/2011/09/09/brompton-abuse/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A

Changing Hours!

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, we're changing our hours a little. Starting the week of September 11th, we will be CLOSED both Monday and Tuesday.  Please make a note in your calendar!

Customer feedback on the Xootr Swift folding bike

Since the Xootr Swift is new this year to our lineup here at bikes@vienna, I wanted to post some feedback from someone who bought one a while back and has been riding it and enjoying it. I think it's a very fair, even-handed review, so it's worth a read:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Tim,

Thanks for doing my "30 day" service on the Xootr Swift.  It was very thorough and professional, and one reason why people should come to a professional bike shop rather than order over the internet :-)

For the record, I wanted to offer a few reflections on the Xootr Swift.  I agree with the collected wisdom of all the articles you'll find online about the Swift and its folding competitors.  

Since and before buying the Swift I had ridden - some more intensively than the others - various Dahons and a Brompton.  So, here are a few reflections.

On riding performance the Swift is superb.  To paraphrase one review I read, people tend to think it's a slightly weird, a little bit cool bike, but, well, it's got small wheels and it's not a "real" bike.  Until, that is, you rocket past these skeptics, often leaving them with a "what the..." look on their faces.  

The gear change is extremely smooth, the gears are spread well over a large range.  The eight gears are plenty for most folk, although you can get an add-on front derailleur.

So, if you don't need it to fold too small, and you want a performance , seriously-zip-around-town road-folder, with decent downhill and hill-climbing gearing, that you can fit into the trunk of an (old-style) Honda Civic Sedan, this is your bike, at a not-too-expensive price for a quality folder.

But, I would add a few caveats.  The fold is mediocre, but that's your trade off for exceptional performance that does fit in the back of a Civic (so you don't have to lock the bike when you leave the car, etc. etc.).  It doesn't really fold down as bend in half.  And to get it in aforementioned Civic boot the handlebars do have to come off and "dangle".  I also pull the seatpost out (although you wouldn't have to do this for a slightly bigger car).  This is because a small saddle pouch and fenders make the seatpost stick out a little further.

On the subject of fenders, the Xootr Planet Bike "adapted" fenders on their website don't work: when you fold the Xootr in half it will rest on the rear fender.  Not good.  Instead, buy the Dahon mudguards which are shorter with a flap sticking out at the back that stops the edge of the spray.  When you fold the Xootr with them on, it is the tyre that is in contact with the ground, not the fender.

Also, the Xootr website will explain that you can get it disassembled into a 29" hardshell suitcase.  Well, yes, but it's definitely not as stress free as it looks.  For those interested, the only real folding bike that will fit into an airline legal suitcase (62" for three dimensions) without any disassembly is the Brompton.  For that and the spectacular fold the Brompton is unrivaled; and the Sport versions ride very tightly - so try out Tim's demo of that if you have the extra money!  And, by the way, even if it does fit into an airline legal suitcase or special bag, if you actually tell them it's a bike, the United rep says they will STILL charge you the $200 bicycle fee!!!!!

Two final points on the Xootr. First, you should get some small bar ends to improve wrist comfort and hill-climbing.  Second, the two quick release levers that hold the (structural) seatpost in place are quite tough to open especially if you don't angle them correctly when closing them.  You'll see what I mean when you do it the first few times!  And the quick-releases do have to be tight, or the seatpost will move.  

Overall, I am very happy with the Swift, and the fact that it fits in the boot of my Civic whenever I need it to.  Performance is spectacular.  And Bikes@Vienna's advice, delivery and after sales service were all excellent, and are why you should buy a Xootr (or any other bike) from a good local bike shop, especially Tim's!

Regards,

Carl

 

A few comments from bikes@vienna now...

 

First, I'd like to thank Carl for his kind words about the shop. We try our best to provide quality service and sales here, and it's gratifying to know when we've succeeded.

 

On the Xootr, I'd agree with all of Carl's observations. A couple of comments about the air travel issue - it's true, many airlines will charge extra for a bike, regardless of how it is packed, which I think is grossly unfair. If it's under the size and weight limit for luggage, why is there a fee? The best course of action is to check with the airline BEFORE booking your flight to find out their policies. I know at this time that Southwest does NOT charge a fee for a bike if it is under the 62" limit, nor did Virgin Atlantic two years ago. But policies change like the weather, so it's best to check. I also know folks have gotten past the fee by simply describing the contents of the suitcase as "exercise equipment" or a "mobility device", so that's worth a try if you discover the word "bicycle" is a red flag for your chosen airline.

 

Also, it's worth noting that by shopping carefully, you can find a good Samsonite Oyster suitcase for under $100 online, so the combined price of the Xootr and case can actually be less than the cost of even the most affordable Bike Friday without a case. The Friday will have better components and some extra features, but it's something to think about.

Velomobiles Visit Vienna!

It's taken me a few days (okay almost a week) to write about this, but better late than never, right?

Last Wednesday, the Roll Over America cross-country velomobile tour paused in Vienna for snacks and lemonade on their final leg into DC. The group left Portland, OR, on July 29, and arrived in Washington on August 24th, averaging 125 miles a day.

So what's a velomobile? It's a human powered recumbent tricycle, with a "fairing" or shell which completely or almost completely encloses both rider and machine. Combining lightweight construction and high quality components with an aerodynamic shell produces a remarkably efficient vehicle capable of great speed.

The point of the ride was to raise awareness of alternative forms of transportation, specifically the bicycle. With fuel costs inevitably rising, concerns about our environment and climate change being discussed everywhere, and traffic congestion growing worse by the day, all manner of alternatives are going to be debated and explored. The folks who rode ROAM feel strongly that the bike is an important part of the picture, and their cross-country tour was meant to make folks think about it. I have to imagine the sight of these sleek, unusual vehicles zooming across America prompted some thought.

I've seen a few velomobiles before,  mostly at trade shows, but never have I been surrounded by a large group of them. Nor have I ever been amongst so many riders and fans of them before. They are pretty remarkable machines, ranging pretty widely in complexity and expense. Some were truly custom, one of a kind vehicles, while others were production models, most notably the Quest from BlueVelo. The riders were a genial bunch, and clearly have enjoyed themselves riding across the US. None of them looked at all ragged or tired from their travels, which at 125 miles a day is pretty remarkable.

Check out my Flickr album here:

Velomobiles in Vienna, VA 8/24/2010

And also follow these links below for more info:

http://vienna.patch.com/articles/video-velomobiles-come-to-vienna

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/08/24/roll-over-america-here-come-the-velos/

http://bikeportland.org/2011/07/28/roam-velomobile-tour-gets-big-sendoff-from-portland-photos-57028

More Velomobiles!

Velomobiles in Vienna!

2011 Brompton World Championshp a Success!

Well, the race is run, the tea has been drunk, the official results are in. Yesterday's Brompton World Championship was a great success.  Check out photos on Brompton's Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.259746264054603.80636.133884966640734&type=1

And the official press release here:

http://www.brompton.co.uk/bwc/2011/

Watch this space for more news as I post it!

Interesting Blog

Just thought I'd post a link to a blog I like... http://pedalaround.blogspot.com/

It's about one man's experiment in car-free living, specifically in Louisville, KY.  The author is Kirk Kandle, a fellow I met on the National Bike Summit Ride last winter. We talked quite a bit on the ride, and he test rode my Brompton for a bit. You may notice in some of the pictures on his blog, he's got a P6R himself now, purchased here at bikes@vienna.

He's quite the cycling advocate, and an all around good guy.  Check out his blog when you get a chance.

Basic Maintenance and Repair Class August 21st

Hey folks!  We still have some slots open in our next Basic Maintenance and Repair class, which is now scheduled for Sunday, August 21st, from 7 to 9 pm.  Cost is $45, and we ask that you pay in advance to reserve your space. The cost includes a small tool kit, normally selling for $22.

Transporting Tadpoles

No, not THAT kind of tadpole!  We're talking about "tadpole" style trikes... the ones with two wheels in front, one in back.

Folks often ask "How can I carry that on my car? Do I need a special rack?"

Well, there are specially designed racks for these trikes, but for carrying one single trike, there's another solution. Some of you have probably seen this already... it's the back of Al's car with a tadpole perched on the arms of a conventional, strap on style trunk rack.


Note how the frame crossmember rests on the arms of the rack, and the back wheel rests on the rear window of the car.  It's surprisingly stable and secure like this... Al has put a lot of miles on in just this manner, with all manner of tadpole trikes.






So if you're thinking of buying a Catrike, ICE, Greenspeed, Terratrike or other tadpole trike, give this a look. It could answer your "How do I transport it?" question.

Farewell to Robert

Robert, on his last day.

Well, it's that time of year when our summer help, largely college students, are starting to head off to their schools. And this year is most likely the last summer for Robert, who has been with us since the spring of 2008. So I'd like to take this opportunity to say farewell to him, and to wish him well. He's going into his third year at University of Northern Colorado, where he's working towards a bachelor's degree in Recreation and Tourism. If you know Robert at all, you know he loves the outdoors, and has participated in a number of different organized activites, including several NOLS courses. I suspect he will go on to do great things in helping other people learn and grow in the great outdoors.

Robert has learned and grown a lot in the last few years, and it's been a genuine pleasure to know him and work with him. He's become a very skilled mechanic as well as a helpful and informative salesperson. His friendly nature and great sense of humor have really been a delight here at bikes@vienna. He will be sorely missed.

Another use for a Brompton or other folding bike!

Fans at the final act of the festival.

This past weekend, my girlfriend and I attended FloydFest, a big music festival in southwest Virginia. It's an event that draws 10,000 people to farm country, on land that houses 5 or 6 different performance venues and dozens and dozens of booths for vendors of food, crafts and any number of other things. A very fun, exciting event.

Our two Brommies at the car.

What's that have to do with folding bikes? Well, like most such events, the parking available isn't right there where the venues are, it's down the road a few miles. FloydFest provides shuttle buses between the event and the satellite parking. Preparing for the trip though, it occurred to us that having our Bromptons with us might make things easier and give us more flexibility. And looking at the lines of folks waiting for the shuttles, it definitely paid off. We could come and go as we pleased, avoid lines, and enjoy a ride in the Virginia countryside, all at the same time.

Tomatoes!

Well, the "normal" sized tomatoes don't seem to be doing a lot in our containers out front, but the cherry tomato plants are producing well.  Take a look at them hanging on the plants, and then after harvesting this morning.  And they are tasty too!

If you come on by the shop and see some ripe ones, and you're a bit peckish, feel free to help yourself!

And while you're here, take a test ride or two!

Basic Maintenance and Repair Class in August!

Mark your calendars! Our next Basic Repair and Maintenance class is going to be held on Sunday, August 7th, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The class covers how to fix a flat tire, as well as how to perform basic brake and gear adjustments. The fee is $45, and includes a small toolkit that normally sells for $22. You'll easily save more than the cost of the class in the first brake and gear tuneup you do yourself!

We ask that folks sign up in advance. You can call or email us at tim@bikesatvienna.com. In order to lock in your place, we ask that you pay in advance, which you can do either in person or with a credit card over the phone. Sign up now!

Delicious too!

On top of the visual treat provided by our container garden, tonight I enjoyed a delicious Cherokee Purple tomato with dinner!  Wonderful!

"Garden" Update

In case you haven't been buy the shop in a while, I wanted to let folks know the container garden out front is flourishing!

Some of you may remember the post from April:

Carrying on another tradition

Well, the flowers and decorative grasses are doing amazingly well, providing a wonderful splash of color in front of the shop.

And the tomato crop, while modest, is coming along. So far only two large tomatoes harvested, but the cherry tomatoes are popping out all around. Tiny but tasty!


Come on by and check it out when you get a chance.

More Brompton Colors in Stock!

We just got in some more Bromptons, and I think folks will like the array of colors, including a few really sharp looking two-tone combinations, such as a claret main frame with cobalt blue extremities, as well as a racing green main frame with sage green extremities.  Very pretty!

Right now we have mostly 6 speed bikes, along with one 2 speed. A couple with the S-type flat bar, one with the multiposition P-type bar, and the rest with the traditional M-type bar.

The Hase Pino is Here!

We've had a number of calls this past spring asking about the Hase Pino tandem. It's a remarkable design in that the "captain" sits in back, on a conventional bike seat, while the "stoker" sits in front in a recumbent position. If you look at the picture, you can see that both riders get a good view ahead, instead of one rider staring at the other person's back. Also, communication between the two riders is easier than on a conventional tandem. It's a fun bike to ride. Come on in and give it a try!

Dahon Model Availability

A number of folks have come in or called, asking about the Dahon Ios models. The bike was introduced at Interbike (the big industry trade show) back in September, and received a very good review in Bicycle Times magazine a few months ago. So we have been waiting patiently for news of their arrival in the US, and periodically pestering our friends at Dahon USA. Up til now, the only news was "not yet, and we're not sure when".



Well, now we have more news... unfortunately, not good news. We've just been informed by Dahon USA that the Ios models will not be available in the US market in 2011 at all. The same is also true of the new Vector series, the Dash, and the Boost... none of those are expected in the US this year.


The good news is we continue to have a steady supply of the "bread and butter" models... in 20" wheels, the Eco C6, Speed D7, Mariner D7, Speed P8 (shown above), among others, as well as the Espresso and Jack 26" wheel models.

No Repair Class in July

Due to lack of enrollment, the Basic Maintenance and Repair class for July will not be held this weekend. The next regularly scheduled class will be Sunday, August 7th, at 7:00pm.  Watch this space for updates.

A nice visit from John, Ces, and Java

John Brunow, former owner of bikes@vienna, was in town this past Monday, and a bunch of us went to Sunflower, his favorite local restaurant, for lunch.  A great time was had by all.

From left: John Brunow, Luann F, Keith O, Kerie H, Bruce W., Susan S, Ces B, Sarah B, Tim F, Reed H, Beryl B.

Aside from lunch, John and I spent most of the day clearing a few more things out of the shop that he'd planned to take earlier but couldn't. There's one rather obvious item now no longer here, but I'm curious to see how many people actually notice that it's gone. Perhaps I should make a game out of it?

Anyway, it was great to see John and Ces and Java. I'm very happy for them that they are really enjoying their new home, and I'm very excited to have the opportunity to continue on with the shop. But I have to admit, they are all missed. Guess I'm going to make a trip to Iowa soon!

For those who didn't catch the earlier post... John is opening a new shop, All Ability Cycles, Jefferson, Iowa. Right now he's preparing bikes and trikes for the 4th of July parade! Sounds like John, huh?

A happy Fourth of July to everyone!

More pics from John's visit are here:  John Brunow's Visit, June 27, 2011

Bromptons come in many colors!

Fourteen, to be exact, and you can mix and match any two. And then there's the "raw lacquer" option, which you can see on our demo bike.

Today we got this bike ready for a customer who ordered a very striking paint scheme... Hot Pink main frame with Cobalt Blue Extremities. Pretty sharp looking, huh? Lots of other fun combinations to try... and we have the sample chips here so you can see what works for you.

John Brunow Visits bikes@vienna!

The old gang together again - Tim, John, Al, Bruce and Java

Yesterday afternoon, we had some very special guests - John Brunow, founder of bikes@vienna, his wife Ces, their daughter Sarah (who still lives locally) and Java, everybody's favorite chocolate labrador!

For those of you who don't know, John moved back to Iowa in December to be closer to his parents. He and Ces now make their home in Jefferson, IA, where Ces grew up, and are living in a house built by her grandfather. In a few weeks, John will be opening All Ability Cycles, his new shop right in the heart of Jefferson, convenient to the Raccoon River Valley Trail .

It was great to see everyone. John and Ces both look very happy and healthy, and Java was her usual happy, wiggly, playful self. Show that dog a tennis ball and she's in heaven. After a short visit to the shop they drove on down to Richmond to visit their son and grandson. They'll return Monday, when John and I will work to pack up a few more things he's taking with him. You might stop by to say hi if you're in the area.

A few more photos are here: The Brunows Visit b@v June 24, 2011

I should be able to post more after Monday.  Watch this space!

A Very Nice Visit From a Happy Customer

Josh here came by just to say hi today... and to tell us how much he has enjoyed owning his Batavus Personal Delivery Bike. That sort of thing is always nice to hear, but what made this visit even better was hearing how Josh has used this bike... it just might surprise you!

Most folks see these bikes and think purely of "utilitarian" uses for it... shopping at the grocery store, or a trip to the farmer's market, maybe even hauling some hardware and materials home from the hardware store. But looking at the bike that way is really limiting... for example, many of you may recall seeing John Brunow carrying his chocolate labrador, Java, around in a big basket on the front of an orange Batavus.

Well, Josh here has done even more wonderful and unexpected things with his PDB. He's ridden it on the C&O Canal, all the way up to Cumberland, MD, 185 miles away... AND back again in the same trip! He said it was perfect for the trip, with its comfortable ride and stability... plus the ability to carry all of his gear securely. It reminded me that years ago, when "10-speeds" were just becoming all the rage, the Washington Post carried an article about cycling the Canal, and recommended a lowly 3-speed over the fancier 10-speeds, because of their comfort and stability over rough surfaces. Josh here has shown that it's still a great option today.

But he didn't stop there... he's even ridden the Batavus on RAGRAI... the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa! Many of you know from John Brunow's tales that this is a week long party on wheels, where thousands of cyclists on all manner of bikes pedal across the great state of Iowa. Well, Josh took his Batavus on that trek, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

And yet that's not really the best part... Josh has found the bike fits into his family life as well. This past weekend, he took his kids on their first overnight bike camping trip, on the C&O Canal and W&OD, including a Potomac crossing at White's Ferry, carrying all of their gear on his trusty Batavus. And today he when he stopped by, he'd just helped his daughter carry gear to a softball game before he came to see us.

It's always fun to hear how folks find ways to make the bikes they have fit into their lives, enriching their lives. It brings a smile to my face when I see how such a simple machine can make such a difference. So come on by and tell us your story when you get a chance.

Viva Vienna is coming!

I went for a short ride on the W&OD this morning, and preparations for Viva! Vienna! are well underway. If you've never been, it's quite an event... carnival rides, a wide variety of vendor booths, and an amazing array of food options, all rolled up in a street fair.  It runs for the duration of the three day Memorial Day weekend... check the website for more details:

http://www.vivaviennava.org/

The event blocks off Church Street from Mill Street to Lawyers road to all but foot traffic all three days, so it makes getting to us a bit trickier than usual. You might consider parking away from the event and walking or riding to see us.  We will be here for our regular hours, meaning 10 - 6 on Saturday, 12 - 5 Sunday, and CLOSED on Monday.

Carrying on another tradition

Once again we are dabbling in gardening here at bikes@vienna. Thanks to a certain special someone, we've got an assortment of lovely flowers and a number of tomato plants growing in front of the shop. There's even a pot of cat grass growing for Tim's cat, Tybalt.


There's also an element of suspense involved, as we don't really know exactly what sort of tomatoes these plants will yield!

Come on by in about a month and we might have some tomatoes to sample!

Bike to Work Day, cont'd

Well, we had a very good morning at the Vienna Pit Stop, right at the Town Green, where the W&OD Trail crosses Maple Avenue. Lots of riders turned out to ride, and lots came by to sign in and get their t-shirt (a deep purple this year!) and pick up other fun free stuff. We pitched in and provided some freebies, such as cycle computers, tire levers, locks, etc. A good time was had by all, and a fun variety of bikes and trikes rolled through.

More photos are here:  2011 Bike To Work Day, Vienna, VA

Bike to Work Day

At the Vienna Pit Stop we've got great weather and excellent turnout!

Brompton Colors

This Brompton just arrived from England today, and it sure turned out to be a pretty color combination! That's a Racing Green main frame with Sage Green "extremities" (fork, stem, rear frame). Racing Green has been in the Brompton lineup for a while now, but the Sage Green is new for 2011. The combination of the two is very sharp, and shows what can be done with tasteful mixing and matching.

But before you come rushing in to buy it, I have to tell you it's a special order for a customer... in fact it's his second Brompton in three years, so obviously he's a big fan. But if you want one for yourself, we'd be happy to order it for you. Or check out the bikes we have in stock, you might just find one perfect for you!

This one is a P6R, with SON dynamo hub and B&M Cyo headlight. A very nice lighting system indeed. The customer also requested the special "12% reduced" gear range on the six speed drive train, handy for steep hills and carrying loads.

Brompton World Championship - Time To Register!

That's right folks, as of this morning, registration is now open for the Brompton World Championship! This 13.1 mile race around the grounds of Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill) is not to be missed. As you can see by my photo from 2009, all riders are required to wear "business attire" - dress shirt, tie, and jacket! The race is open to 750 riders, and rumor has it that it might fill up fast, so register now! It's a fun day at a beautiful location, and it's part of the larger Bike Blenheim Palace event, with various sorts of competitive rides, and all manner of cyclists and cycles around.


More of my photos from the 2009 event can be seen here:

BWC 2009

One of the stranger packages...

We've received here! We were all scratching our heads and speculating on just what Brompton had sent us, when I remembered they were sending us one of those rollup banners for display.

I liked Daniel's thought that it was a house for a squirrel, with a chimney!

The Bicycle Wins!

Yesterday was a big day... the Bike/Car/Bus Challenge out in Reston! An event where folks "raced" to get from A to B by each of three different modes of transportation. Our own Bruce Wright, longtime b@v employee and chairman of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, was triumphant! Check it out at the links below.


http://fabb-bikes.blogspot.com/2011/05/fabb-chairman-arrives-first-in.html


http://reston.patch.com/articles/wright-on-a-bike-wins-commute-challenge

Brompton Meetup Ride a Success!

I didn't get the chance to join them, but the Brompton Bicycle Club meetup group had a great time this past Saturday.  The ride started and finished at our shop, and it was fun to meet some new faces in the local Brompton crowd.

Here they all are, posed with their bikes, after their ride out to Reston and back. They're all smiling, so they must have had fun.  Watch this spot for news of future rides, or join up here:

http://www.meetup.com/Brompton-Bicycle-Club/

Brompton Ride This Saturday!

This Saturday - a Brompton Bicycle Club Meetup group ride, starting at 11am at bikes@vienna! Bring your Brompton (or buy one!) and join the fun!


http://www.meetup.com/Brompton-Bicycle-Club/events/16704420/


The photo to the left is from the first BBC ride in March.

Bike Maintenance Class on Sunday

There are still slots open for our Basic Bicycle Maintenance and Repair class this Sunday. Topics covered include flat repair, brake and gear adjustments, basic lubrication, and performing a safety check on your bicycle. The cost of the class is $45, which includes a simple tool kit worth $16. Held in the shop work area. Bikes are not needed as there is not time for hands-on in the 2 hour class. Bruce will be teaching this class. Contact Tim at tim@bikesatvienna.com or call 703-938-8900 or stop by the store and sign up.

The Smooth Hound has arrived!

Well, in response to some inquiries from customers, and the generally favorable reaction folks had to the Soma Mini Velo, we decided to order a Dahon Smooth Hound, a bike based on the whole "mini velo" concept, but with the added feature of folding!  Dahon uses their "Lockjaw" system on this bike, which requires the use of an allen wrench to fold the bike. This results in a fold that  isn't as quick or convenient as their more typical latch systems. On the other hand, it does give you a bike that feels like it has a normal, solid frame. It's not the most compact fold out there, but it's certainly more compact than other "mini velos."



It's a nice riding bike. We all took turns giving it a spin, and everyone was impressed. And it's a fine looking bike as well, with the rather classy paint scheme, Brooks saddle and brown bar wrap on the moustache handlebars.

Come on in and give it a whirl!

At the Vienna Green Expo

Lots of vendors, contractors, and advocacy groups gathered to extoll the virtues of going green. We are here showing folding bikes tonight.

Closed Easter Sunday

Please note, we will be closed Easter Sunday, April 24th.

The other interesting bike...

... that came in last Saturday was this old Dunelt three speed. Back in the day these were known as "English Racers", despite the fact that they were built purely for utility. As I understand it, they became known as "racers" when the first showed up in numbers here after WWII, when the predominant US bike was the balloon tired "paperboy specials" made by companies such as Schwinn and Columbia and others. Compared to those heavy cruisers, the Raleighs and similar three speeds seemed downright exotic and racy.

What sets this one apart is the condition, which is remarkable for a bike built in 1960 (you can date an old English three speed from a stamp on the rear hub). The paint is in excellent condition, and is a color I've not seen on a three speed before. Black was the most common color of these bikes, which were mostly used in the UK for getting to and from work. It's one of the interesting facts related to these bikes that the factory workers who built them generally rode them to the factory, since cars in post-war England were pretty dear. Of particular interest to me (Tim) is that it's made by Dunelt, a relatively unknown British company that was the maker of my very first bike, which looked much like this one, but had a single speed, coaster brake hub instead of the three speed. Lots of good memories of that bike, even if it looked rather stodgy alongside my friends' Sting-Rays and Choppers.

For lots of good and interesting info on old English three speeds check out these pages at the late Sheldon Brown's site:

http://sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html


http://sheldonbrown.com/raleigh.html


http://sheldonbrown.com/sturmey-archer.html

Fun bikes at the shop!

Last Saturday we had a couple of folks bring bikes by the shop that I thought were both fun, in different ways.  One was the Soma Mini Velo, a small wheel, non-folding, "compact" bike of a style I hear is very popular in Japan and elsewhere. If you do a Google search for "mini velo" you'll find a number of variations on the theme. It's similar in concept to the Dahon Smooth Hound, but the Smooth Hound folds in half. The general idea behind the "mini" craze is that it's smaller and more compact than a conventional bike, and are easier to store and easier to transport or bring on trains and such, yet it rides very much like a "normal" bike. For me, I'd want to go the extra step and have it fold, but I guess some folks aren't sold on folders yet.  It's caused me to think seriously about getting in a Smooth Hound though.  Any thoughts?

Latest Vienna Patch Column is up!

Hey folks! As some of you may know, I write a bi-weekly column for the Vienna Patch online newletter.  The latest installment is on getting your bike ready for spring. You can check it out here:

http://vienna.patch.com/articles/tips-for-spring-tuneups