Monday, February 18, 2008

Molly Raymond in the Inside BIS quarterly newsletter


Molly - BIS Newsletter0002
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
This weekend I was given a story about Molly Raymond who purchased an EZ-3 trike from bikes@vienna late last year. It is such an inspirational item that I want to share it with you. I contacted Mike and Molly Raymond to get a copy of the profile that appeared in Inside BIS which is the quarterly newsletter of Brain Injury Services, Inc.

Molly sent me this note which tells you more about her level of energy and how much she is enjoying the trike:

"hi john,
i dont mind if you use my story and photo. i am soooo enjoying the bike. freedom!! i used to ride a mountain bike 5-15 miles sometimes everyday for many years. so not being able to ride for the last 3 years -and then now. feels so great. my Physical Therapist is thrilled and says i am getting stronger. they have my photo up in their practice. my Neurologist is thrilled too and has the photo and gave both of them your web site. i gets lots of questions as i drive around the area with it on the back of my car. everyone wants to know where i got it so i tell them. one of the ladies at my church just this am -has a disabled daughter-she said in their special school one of the older kids was wanting one-the mom had looked into it and they were the real expensive ones-so she took down your number and website off my bike and will share it with the school this week.

attached is my photo.

thanks,
molly raymond"

Molly inspires me. I hope you will enjoy reading about her progress. Click on the article to gain a larger sized image and then click again where it says "All sizes" for an even larger text.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Our Change in 2008


Our Change in 2008
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
n 2008 bikes@vienna is moving away from selling conventional bikes. For an extended time we have not stocked road bikes and had just a few entry level mountain bikes. Our offerings have included hybrids and comfort bikes.

Our forte has been recumbents, tricycles, tandems, and folding bikes. I've decided to take us more that direction. Through several sales we will sell our more conventional bikes and end having those models in the store.

The rental program will also change. Rental bikes have always been a way for customers to test their interest in cycling and a way for us to sell bikes. The plan is for that idea to continue, but that means we will not rent hybrids this year. The yellow Fusion shown in the photo will be our most available rental bike. These crank forward bikes are very comfortable and I hope will provide hours of enjoyment on the W&OD Trail. Forgive me for pounding on this point, but we are NOT renting road, mountain, hybrid, single speed, cruisers, or ten speeds.

This shift in bicycles available for sale will prompt people to ask if we will do service work on all types of models and the answer is YES. We will continue to do repairs on all types of bikes and we will honor our commitment for "Continuing Care" for the bikes that we have sold regardless of style.

2008 is bikes@vienna's 10th year in business. We are moving towards "All Ability Cycling". This is an exciting change in a year when the word "change" holds hope for many people.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Live from Portland!

Tim here, coming to you from Portland, Oregon, at the North American Handbuilt Bicycle Show.
To the left here you see one of many amazing limited production bicycles at the show.  You're not seeing things... it's made of wood!  I don't recall the specific species of wood, but it's from Brazil, and I'm told it's being harvested sustainably.  It's from a company called Renovo Hardwood Bicycles, and it looks really lovely.  And they had one of their bikes hanging from a scale to show that it weighs in at just under 18 pounds!


This is just one of many very cool bikes I've seen so far at the show.  Many of the builders are working in steel, which is the material I am gearing up to work with myself.  There are a surprising number of small framebuilding outfits springing up around the country these days, and several of the "grand old names" in the business are still actively building, like Richard
 Sachs, Peter Weigle, Brian Bayliss and Bruce Gordon, who are all at the show.  In addition, there are a number of companies showing framebuilding equipment, which is of particular interest to me.  I got to meet Joe Bringheli, who built the jigs that I recently bought, as well as Hank Folson of Henry James Bicycles, who manufacture some of the most popular and well designed fixtures in the industry.  I had a really enjoyable chat with him at his booth today... a fascinating and very nice guy.





Finally, to the right here is a City Bike from Pereira Cycles, here in Portland.  He (Tony P.) builds some truly lovely bikes in steel.  He won awards at this show last year in three different categories, and I can see why.  Amazing work.

Saturday, February 09, 2008

New at bikes@vienna.....Hase Tagun

I'll get a photo to go with this item.

James Anderson has been working this winter at bikes@vienna. Yesterday James assembled the first Hase Tagun that we've had come into the store. The Tagun has underseat steering, rear suspension, and it folds to fit more compactly in your vehicle or on Metro. James was out riding the Tagun in the parking lot and it was obvious that he was enjoying the bike so I suggested that he write a paragraph about his view of the Tagun.

Here's James' view:

Just wanted to write and express my thoughts on riding the Tagun I just built. Oh! What fun it is to ride! I know you asked me to keep the hyperbole to a minimum but I might have a really hard time. The highlights: A long wheelbase that feels like a short one, the SRAM dual drive gearing felt like the perfect set of ratios for the bike, I mean low down and dirty for the climbs and woah! widen that baby out and you're flying man! The motorcycle-esque-brake setup was ideal and sensible in a bike like this. I really liked the low center of gravity, It made all the crazy Hase promotional material (you know X-games style riding) seem like a great idea! Responsive all around. You know I'm pretty much an out and out road frame guy but this bike was nimble and quick reminding me of my super-lean Raleigh Supercourse.. Just fun, fun fun. Like the HP Veloteknik Street Machine fun, only more primal. The Street Machine feels like a leather lined BMW, the Tagun is like a Porshe.

James

I think this tells you a little about the Tagun and a little about James.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Your opinion..... Which icon suggests "recumbent"?


Iconbent
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
I would like your opinion. The adjacent graphics are meant to be icons suggesting a recumbent bike. Although there are four examples you'll note that the two at the top are the same shapes and the two on the bottom are the same shapes with the difference being the a positive or a negative.

Be part of my focus group, please and tell me which better symbolizes a recumbent bike in your opinion. Send me an email at john@bikesatvienna.com.

In the near future I will be asking about icons depicting the other styles of bikes in which we specialize. Yes, this is our tenth anniversary and I'm working on a new look.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Rans Dynamik Duo on order


08Dynamik Duo
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
I have struggled with the issue of "upright" tandems since we lost Burley as a supplier. I used a good deal of my time at InterBike investigating available tandems.

I keep coming back to the Rans Dynamik Duo. Our success last year in selling Crank Forward models has continued in 2008. People like the Crank Forward models. They are a wonderful combination of comfort and performance.

So Monday I ordered a Dynamik Duo. If you are interested in a tandem then I'd like for you to click on the adjacent fact sheet and read through it. We should have the Corvette red Dynamik Duo here late in February. Could it be a belated Valentine for the one you love?

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

VTRCC's March 1st Casino Night


CasinoNightPoster
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
The Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold their fifteenth Casino Night on Saturday, March 1. The site is the Westwood Country Club which is on the east edge of Vienna on Router 123. This is an enjoyable event which bikes@vienna supports with certificates for bike rentals.

Click on the adjacent poster for more information about the event.

Monday, February 04, 2008

In Praise of Dynamo Wheels

What you are looking at is the front end of my '93 Bridgestone XO-2, which I frequently use for commuting. While most of the bike is original, one big change I made was installing a dynamo (generator) hub on the front wheel, and a light to go with it. Specifically, the hub is from Shimano and the light is from a German company, Busch & Mueller. In a nutshell, the spinning wheel sends electricity to the light, thus negating the need for batteries. The advantage of the hub dynamo over the older style tire-driven style you may remember from days gone by, is that the mechanism is impervious to weather and requires no adjustment. The tire-drive units are prone to slippage, especially in the rain, are noisy, and less efficient than the dynohub.

Now, some of you are saying "but the light goes off when you stop moving, doesn't it?" Well, the more observant might notice that the light is glowing (hard to tell in daylight) with the bike sitting still in this picture. That's because the light has a capacitor that charges while you ride, which powers an LED which comes on when you stop. Not all dyno lights have that, but it's a nice feature.

So, how much does this all cost? I knew you'd ask. Since it involves a new hub and building a wheel, it's true, it's not cheap. However, it's not out of line with other high quality lighting systems. Assuming you start from scratch, and have us build you a whole new wheel around the hub, you're looking at around $250 or so as a starting point. This gets you the high end Shimano hub, new double butted spokes, and a good quality, strong rim, as well as a dynamo headlight. Depending on specific options you choose, it could be a little lower perhaps, or higher. But a good investment for the long run. I can just hop on the bike and know I've got light without having to worry about batteries being dead or forgetting my light altogether.

Come on in and talk to me (Tim) about your options if you're interested. We have a demo wheel built up for you to look at and a couple of bikes in the shop that come with a dynohub stock. And there's a good chance that one of my 3 dynohub equipped bikes will be around.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Fun in the Service Area

Winter is a relatively slow time in the service area here at bikes@vienna, since many folks aren't riding their bikes much. On the other hand, because they aren't riding as much, we do get a few people who bring in bikes that are sometimes longer-term, more involved projects for us. While they are a lot of work, they can also often be among the more fun projects I tackle here.

A good example of that is the bike you see to the left. It's a 1980s Alpine, a brand of bicycle made and sold right in the DC area back in the day. This one came in needing some serious TLC. The owner loved the bike and rode the heck out of it in days gone by, but over time his riding fell off, and the bike sat for a long time. He's back on bikes again, zooming around on a Rans "crank forward" design... but he really wanted his old friend back in riding form, so he brought it in to us. I have an affinity for classic steel road bikes, so this one appealed to me immediately, especially with the idea of "reconnecting" the owner with the bike he had enjoyed so much in the past.

It took a LOT of time and work and care, but it was worth every second of it when I saw the look on the owner's face after his first loop around the parking lot on the bike. Based on discussions with him, I had put a set of "butterfly" bars on the bike, and a new stem, to raise his hands up compared to the position on the old drop bars, and that seems to have really worked out well. A really fun project, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from the owner about his re-discovery and enjoyment of his bike.

Funny thing is, around the same time this bike came in, another fella brought in a '73 Motobecane Grand Jubilee, a really nice bike of the era, with a very similar story. Again, it was so much fun to work on the bike, and most of all to see the owner's face when he rode it after it was finished. It really gives me a lot of joy to help connect or re-connect folks with the joy of riding a fine bike.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Fairfax County Bike Map


SharingIdeas
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
Last night close to 50 individuals attended the Fairfax County Bike Map meeting at the Vienna Community Building. The Fairfax County Bike and Pedestrian coordinators as well as representatives of the consultants assisting with the map and representatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation all listening to cyclists suggestions for the map.

Charlie Strunk, the Fairfax County Bike Coordinator, (on the right) is shown in the photo receiving a suggestion.

Five Boro Tour is 94 days away


5Boro
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
I received the message from Bike New York that registration is now open for the Five Boro Tour. The Tour is the first Sunday in May. It features the opportunity to ride the streets of New York with 30,000 other cyclists. It is a treat to ride up through Central Park and through all the neighborhoods. Both Al Tyre and Tim Fricker from bikes@vienna are planning to participate in the ride this year.

This photo is of a group of us who rode in 2005. We stayed on Staten Island and this was us on the early morning ferry going to Manhattan for the start. This approach works because when you complete the ride you can get in your vehicle and begin your trip home. The individuals taking the ferry back to Manhattan in the afternoon have a long wait.

I recommend the Five Boro Bike Tour as an experience you'll remember for years to come. You can receive more information at http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/fbbt/register.html

Friday, January 25, 2008

Bike Map Meetings on January 29 -30


BikePubMtg022008
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
Next week there are two public information meetings for the Fairfax County Bicycle Map. Click on the poster on the right and you'll get a full sized version to review.

Creation of a Fairfax County Bike Map is an important project. The finished product will show the strengths and weaknesses for cycling in the county. There is a need for public input so I urge you to attend one of the two meetings.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Basil Rear Basket Pet Transporter


RearBasket
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
This is the rear model for the Basil Pet Transporter. This unit needs a rear rack. It has the wire dome to keep your pet in the basket.

I would be quick to point out that the Pet Transporter can serve a dual purpose when it is time to run errands. Going to the grocery store? Image how much foodstuffs this basket can hold. Basil has a wonderful line up of baskets for the front and the rear of the bike. Stop by the store and see what we have.

Basil Front Basket Pet Transporter


James&Basket
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
The Basil basket shown on the front of this Marin Belvedere is a bicycle accessory that Tim and I discovered at InterBike in September. Please note the wire cover. Yes, this basket is designed for a pet to accompany you on a bike ride. The basket sits on a strong platform and has a robust connecting system to keep your pet safe.

For years people have come to the store asking about baskets to have their dog, cat, rabbit, or parrot join them on a bike ride. Burley now has a couple of trailers for pets. These Basil baskets are going to provide a method for cyclist with smaller pets (no Java in that basket).

This photo was taken January 20. James is wearing a Santa hat because it was the warmest thing that he could find around the store. For years I have been known to keep the heat down in the store. I've been ribbed about my frugal approach to heating and cool, but now I can be thought of as a conservationist. It is so much kinder.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Planning and Dreaming

As you probably know, riding in Northern Virginia is comfortable even in cooler weather until we get some ice and snow. It's possible to ride in the ice and snow as Tim Fricker demonstrated yesterday with his studded tires and determination, but it is a test of will and skill.

When the snow falls I find myself planning for rides later in the year. The mail and internet bring me news of rides. I curl up in a big chair with a calendar and a map to see what is possible. Last year the Newbold Reunion (my mom's family) was held days after RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) so I attended the reunion and skipped the ride. This year I have RAGBRAI on every calendar that I maintain with July 20-26 bordered in red. We are going.

Bike Virginia (www.bikevirginia.org) has three rides to consider. In May the Tour de Chesapeake will be held in Mathews County May 16-18 (www.bikechesapeake.org). The Bike Virginia "The Crooked Road Tour" is scheduled for June 20-25 in the southwestern section of Virginia and the northeastern part of Tennessee. (On Bike Virginia in 2006 we spent more time in North Carolina than Virginia it seemed.) The River Ride (www.riverride.org) is held along the back roads of the Northern Neck during September 26-28.

I'm working on a list and I'll try to share it with you later this month.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

A First Ride.....Tuesday at 1:30

The Sunday paper is filled with ads for wonder products that help an individual lose weight. Yesterday I noted a steady stream of people going to the workout facility across Church Street from us. It is the time of year that we take stock in our health and begin new regiments of exercise.

I want to return to an old form of exercise for me.....riding a bicycle. I invite you to join me on Tuesday, January 1, 2008 at 1:30 for a ride and social outing that will depart from the store. I think it would be fun to ride to the start of the W&OD. Just above Columbia Pike there is a parallel trail to the W&OD which loops through Barcroft Park and leads to Point 0 down by the Beanie Weenie so this ride will have some exploring.

The ride will be about 25 miles, but the wonderful thing about the W&OD is that if someone gets tired they can just turnaround and head home. Also with the route I'm suggesting it is possible to use Metro for the return to Vienna if needed.

I'm suggesting a 1:30 start because the forecast is for rain in the morning. The temperatures are supposed to be in the mid 40s. Find your stocking cap that goes under your helmet. Look for those new cycling gloves. Fill up those water bottles. Pump up those tires and let's go for a ride.

I'll be at the store at 1 PM if someone needs to pump their tires. I'll see if I can have some hot cider so we can get a warm start.

See you New Year's Day.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

January & February We're Encouraging Appointments

We're going into the two months that are the least fun in my view. Certainly with good weather people will be riding bikes, but there is much less good weather so we are constricting our hours more. For the last few days of December, January, and February we plan to be open:

MONDAY 10:00–6:00
TUESDAY CLOSED
WEDNESDAY CLOSED
THURSDAY 10:00–6:00
FRIDAY 10:00–6:00
SATURDAY 10:00–5:00
SUNDAY 10:00–5:00

We will be pleased to stay open later or open earlier by appointment.

Allow me to say that again......We will be pleased to stay open later or open earlier by appointment. Those are not hollow words. We want your business, but it is not wise in the winter to have long hours when no one is coming into the store.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Duplex on Prius


Duplex_on_Prius_s_20070525
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
It is necessary to be creative when you own a Duplex tandem and a Prius automobile. This photo confirms the creativity of one of the bikes@vienna customers.

In cooler (exchange for "slower") times I get a chance to look through things from earlier in the year. This photo once again captured my attention. Using a hitch mount and roof mount racks in concert this transportation.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Jeanette Jay TV Show


JeanetteJay
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna
People ask what I do in the winter. They assume that it must be a slow time with the weather allowing fewer opportunities to ride a bike. Here in Northern Virginia people ride their bikes all year except when (like today) there is ice and snow on the roads and trails.

I do have fewer people coming to the store, but I go where the people are gathering. This photo is an example. From the home page you can tell that I'm trying to publicize the Draisin products. In November Michael Denu of Draisin and I took Draisin trikes to the World Congress on Disabilities at the Washington Convention Center. This weekend Ces and I will be in Richmond for the Caring Communities event at the Richmond Raceway called World of Possibilities Expo.

This photo is an interview being conducted for the Jeanette Jay TV Show which is aired in Buffalo, NY. bikes@vienna is the only Draisin outlet in the United States so I'll take publicity anywhere I can get it, but my primary focus for the next six months is the area a three hour drive from Vienna. From Virginia Beach to Philadelphia I'm looking for opportunities to show Draisin trikes,

Monday, November 26, 2007

Holiday Stroll rescheduled for Monday, Dec 3rd

The rain forecast for this evening has resulted in the Holiday Stroll on Church Street being rescheduled for next Monday evening (6:30 PM to 9:00 PM on December 3). The schedule of events will be the same as posted in an earlier blog entry on this page. Please adjust your calendar and come join the fun next Monday.