Folding Bikes on Metrobus Racks?

A post and comments on the Chasing Mailboxes blog today reminded me that I've been meaning to post these photos for some time now.  We get asked now and then about whether or not a folding bike can fit on the racks that are mounted on the front of Metro buses, and Charles shared his experience with me, and took these pictures. The answer, at least in the case of a Brompton, is yes! I suspect other folding bikes can be mounted on the racks in much the same manner, but you may want to pick a less busy time to try it out, so you're not tying up a bunch of anxious commuters!

Check out the pictures and attached video to see how it's done!

And two more Tern models arrive!

We just received two more models of Terns, the Link P7i with 7 speed internally geared hub, dynamo lighting system, fenders, and rack, and the Link P24h with 3 speed hub and 8 speed derailleur combined to give you 24 gears. The P7i is priced at $1200 and the P24h is $950.

P7i on the left, P24h on the right.

And a few folding bikes from Breezer!

As mentioned here a while back, we are once again selling Breezer bikes. In addition to the commuting models we've had in the past, they also offer a few folding bike models, two of which we just got in... the Zig 7 and the Zag 8. Now, if they look a lot like Dahons, that's because they are made for Breezer by Dahon. Not really a big surprise, a variety of bike companies have sold "re-badged" Dahons under their own names (Trek probably being the best known).

By way of comparison, the Zig 7 is very similar to the Dahon Speed D7, but with an aluminum frame instead of steel, and priced at $499, compared to the Speed D7 at $639.  The Zag 8, shown above, is very much like a Dahon Speed P8, but again with an aluminum frame, and priced at $799 vs. $879 for the Speed P8.

More Terns!

We now have a total of four models of Tern folding bikes in the shop, with more to come as time goes by.

In the photo, we have, from left to right:

Link P9 (available in black with red graphics, as shown) - $900
Link D7i  (available in black with grey graphics, as shown) - $800
Link D8 (available in grey with orange graphics, as shown, or black with blue graphics) - $600
Link C7 (available in white with blue graphics, as shown, or black with grey graphics) - $450

All are very well made and sweet riding bikes. With a very well thought out fold.  Check out the links (no pun intended) above to find out more.  Better yet, come on in and give them a test ride!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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/

First 2011 Bromptons Have Arrived!

Yesterday I unpacked and prepared four new Bromptons, the first of the 2011 bikes we've received. Two are waiting to be picked up by their future owners, but these two are here for you to come see and test ride! The bike on the left is an M6R, in the new Sage Green color, and the bike on the right is a P6R, in the new Claret color. Both are really great colors, I think. There's one more new color for 2011, Hot Pink, but I opted to order these two at this time.

Project Bikes, again...

Following up on my earlier post, I'd like to show an example or two of the kinds of "project bikes" I was referring to.

As a starting point, for those that want to dig back into the past, you can check some of the blog posts from my personal blog "Spokes of a Wheel" that deal with customizing your bike. You'll find information on how I've "personalized" many of my own bikes and other folks' bikes as well.

In addition, follow along as I work with my girlfriend to put together a hopefully wonderful new bike for her. She has a great older Bridgestone mixte-framed bike and a Brompton folding bike, each of which are just fine as they are. Now I want to create for her the closest thing to a custom bike I can, short of building her a frame from scratch (which will come in time).


The foundation, based on her fondness (and mine) for the mixte frame, is a Velo Orange Mixte frame, purchased from Velo Orange in Annapolis, MD. It's a classically styled, beautifully built lugged steel frame in a very pretty shade of blue. The first step has been taken... the bike has been christened "Bullseye"!

Next comes selecting the various components and accessories to build the bike up. The goal is a bike that is both fun and practical, as well as beautiful. Keep your eyes on this page and follow along as we begin.

A Good Christmas Eve...

... for us and for our customers!

In addition to the evening Luminaria Ride, we had a nice little flurry of activity during the day. Three new happy Brompton owners were introduced to their bikes, and one happy fella went off with a shiny, new, black Optima Baron!

Here's one of our new Brompton riders, with her brand new P6R in our parking lot. Many happy miles ahead!

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.

Do you have Dahons in the store?

We get lots of phone calls. I kid that it is because a human answers the phone here most of the time.

A reoccurring call involves whether we have certain products. For example, people call and say that they see we are a Dahon dealer. I confirm that and then they go on to ask if we have any in the store. It seems that they have called or visited other stores to find that while those stores are dealers there are not any or many models to see and test.

Sooooooooo I thought some blog entries might be helpful for our prospective customers. We have many, many Dahons. As of this date we have:

06 Dahon Hammerhead 1

07 Dahon Curve D3 7
07 Dahon Speed D7 1
07 Dahon Mu P8 1
07 Dahon Expresso 18" 9
07 Dahon Cadenza 18" 1

08 Dahon Speed D7 8
08 Dahon Speed P8 4
08 Dahon Mu P8 6
08 Dahon Expresso 16"/18"/20" 15

We have Dahons in transit (Ciaos). We have an extensive pre-season order that is being filled by Dahon as their containers of bikes arrive in California.

That's the Dahon news for today.