Java Update

JavaNov
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna.

The little puppy that appeared at bikes@vienna in March has grown. Java has become a "big, brown dog". She has two basic speeds which are on and off. It would be fine if "on" was not so frenetic. "Off" is sweet with her lying down on your feet so she knows when you're moving.

Absent from this photo is a colorful Vienna Dogs handkerchief which Java wears to work. We get questions about the Vienna Dogs attire. It can be found at www.viennadogs.org. Perhaps a holiday gift idea? Proceeds help support the Vienna Dog Park on Old Courthouse Road.

Mary's Ride

Mary'sRide
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna.

This handsome group of riders went out on Saturday morning after Thanksgiving. Mary Buckwalter, shown in the center of the front row, invited friends and family to the Saturday morning ride. Mary is patron of bikes@vienna. She is energetic in promoting cycling, researching new products, and sharing her love of riding. We appreciate her.

This group includes many long time customers, riders on our Full Moon Rides, and riders in the Halloween Parade. They enjoy cycling and they have a good time.

"No Go" for the Guilt Reduction Ride

Happy Thanksgiving,

The Guilt Reduction Ride is a "No Go" for this morning.  Surfaces are wet and there is a mist falling with another weather front coming toward us.

The CHO Food Drive continues for several weeks.  The Holiday Stroll on Church Street which is this coming Monday evening would be a great time to bring by your contributions of foodstuff.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday.

The Bike Friday Family Tandem for the Holidays

FamilyTandem
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna.

I ordered this Family Tandem for the holiday season. This Bike Friday is very adjustable so it will accommodate a wide range of adults and adults riding with children. It has a basic 8 speed drivetrain which serves the needs of many riders.

You get all this adjustability and because it is a Bike Friday it can be disassembled for packing and transport. This is a bike that you can ride near home or on the other side of the world. It opens doors to so many uses.........that's why it is a perfect holiday gift

Blue Sky Cycling Cart for Austin

Ruby's
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna.

The Ruby family came to visit us last weekend. They were looking at the Blue Sky Cycling Cart for son, Austin. Blue Sky builds a cart with a molded seat that has a five point strap system. The cart will accomodate up to 200 pounds. It has options that allow the individual to be enclosed or (as we did for this test ride) open to the world. The connection to the bike is at the seatpost.

Austin's little sister helped her father, Keith, do a test ride. The Ruby's ordered a cart for Austin. It should provide Austin and the whole family with lots of riding enjoyment.

Come talk to us about a Blue Sky Cycling Cart if you have a family member with special needs that you want to enjoy the experience of cycling.

Tim at UBI

As was mentioned earlier, our head mechanic, Tim Fricker, is attending a two week class at the United Bicycle Institute. The class is entitled Chromoly Brazing Frame Building. Tim is featured on the UBI class photo page. We're anxious to check out his work; with luck he'll return with a completed bike frame.

Guilt Reduction Ride at 8:30 AM on Thanksgiving morning

You are invited to join me for bikes@vienna's Guilt Reduction Ride on Thanksgiving morning. I start serving hot cider and oatmeal/raisin cookies at 8 AM. The ride starts at 8:30 AM going west on the W&OD Trail. The ride will go to the train station in Herndon and return to Vienna. You can go further or ride less depending on your schedule.

The ride is called the Guilt Reduction Ride because many of us will over consume during this day of feasting. If you've ridden twenty miles in the morning then you should be able to feel less guilty. The second reason is that you are asked to bring food stuffs for the Committee Helping Others (CHO) Food Drive. You will have acted to help others during the holiday season and that reduces guilt. Please invite friends and family to join you and bring lots of food stuffs for CHO.

If the weather is questionable you can call the bikes@vienna number (703.938.8900) after 7 AM to learn if we plan to ride.

Adaptive Cycling Equipment in 2007

bikes@vienna is known for recumbents, trikes, tandems, and folding bikes. We relish the opportunity to help people find a way to enjoy cycling.

We're working this fall and winter to identify, test, and then acquire equipment which will allow more people to experience the joy of cycling. This means that we're looking at trailers, trail-a-bikes, trikes, and tandems which meet special needs,

The Greenspeed GTH shown in the photo is an example of a high end trike developed for commuting and touring. The trike is a handcrank model outfitted with 54 speeds, drum brakes, rear fender, and rear view mirror. This model will appeal to an adult who is serious about cycling.

You'll see other examples here for kids and adults in the next couple of weeks. We've found that our customers give us great ideas, feedback. and contacts. Adaptive cycling equipment is expanding into new frontiers for us so we need your help. Please email us with your suggestions. Send your messages to john@bikesatvienna.

Back to school

Tim Fricker, our head mechanic, is attending a frame building class at United Bicycle Institute, affectionately known as “Bike School”. He has a passion for lug-framed steel bikes, and you can read about his current stable of bikes on our articles page. We're anxious to see the results of his classwork; if he is lucky and has the time, he should return with a complete bike frame.

Crash Dummies Ride in Halloween Parade

Romello
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna.

We had a number of creative costumes in our group that rode in the Halloween Parade. In the item below you can see a photo of Geoff and Sandi in their clown costumes. The Romellos came as Crash Dummies which were terrific. There was a bit of a chill in the air and I suspect they were warmer than most of us under those masks.

I was pleased with our turn out to ride in the parade. The crowd response was very positive to our riders.

Monster Mash on Maple

That's the title of the series of photos from the Vienna Halloween Parade in the Vienna Connection. As you know, bikes@vienna cyclists participate in the parade each year and gather at the shop afterwards for refreshments. We had a great time this year and there were some wonderful costumes on display.

Our own Geoff Steele and his wife are featured in their clown costumes, riding their recumbent tandem. For a photo of Al Tyre on his Catrike 700 slapping fives with the enthusiastic crowd, check out the printed version. Plan on joining us next year.

Commuter bikes

A radical idea is sweeping the world of American bicycle manufacturing: building bikes that people will use for actual transportation.

The New Business Cycle, Wall Street Journal article, October 6, 2006.

For too long bike manufacturers concentrated on a few markets; recreational riders who wanted fast, lightweight road bikes, or mountain bikers who wanted suspended bikes with fat tires. Hybrid bikes have become popular, but most require additional accessories be added to allow bike commuting. The lightweight road bike and mountain bike frames are built in such a way that it is usually difficult to attached racks and fenders. Commuter bikes on the other hand generally come with integrated racks, fenders, and lights.

We carry the Uptown 8 bicycles made by Breezer Bikes that are mentioned in the article above. They come ready for commuting, with fenders, integrated lighting systems, a rack, puncture-resistant tires, and a chainguard. We also carry other bikes appropriate for commuting.

Many of our customers have already discovered the benefits of commuting to work by bike. Many use folding bikes in combination with Metro, others ride long distances on recumbents or uprights outfitted with racks, fenders, lights, bags, etc. They don't generate pollution or sit in traffic for long periods of time. They have fun, they get exercise, and they save money. They don't worry if their commute will take 20 minutes or an hour; they know how long it takes to cycle to work or to the store or wherever their regular commute trips take them. If you don't already, now is a good time to start commuting by bike.

A small communication problem

Our DSL connection which allows us to roam the internet as well as read and create email is not working. It failed on Friday afternoon during a time of gusting winds and a power outage. We have been working with the service provider and we hope it become active today, but we wanted you to know that if you send us an email today it may not get answered until the evening.

Recumbent blogs

We've added a links to a couple of recumbent blogs on the left side of this window. You'll find some interesting articles on the latest developments in the recumbent world in The Recumbent Blog and in Recumbent Cyclist, Bob Bryant's blog, the publisher of Recumbent Cyclists News. Be careful, blog reading can be habit-forming.

Take a look at this beautiful Tour Easy that was assembled for author of The Recumbent Blog. It has many accessories that you'll usually only see on a traditional lug-framed steel bicycle such as Dura-Ace Bar-end/Paul Thumbies for shifters, Nigel Smythe & Sons bags, Rivendell Cork grips, and Full Wood, Figured Maple fenders. It's a work of art.

Eric and his KMX Kart

Eric
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna.

This is the inspiring story of a determined young person which warmed my heart. Here is the message from Eric's father, Mark:

John,

I thought you might find this interesting--my 8-year old son, Erik, joined the "Opportunity for Success" bicycle ride last Friday, which highlighted the need for employment of people with disabilities as part of disability awareness month. Erik has spina bifida, which limits his mobility and made riding an upright bike very difficult.  He had pretty much given up on biking when I learned about the KMX and ordered one from your shop.  The KMX has worked wonderfully for him after a few modifications, and really improved his self confidence.

The ride started with a core group of riders in New York, and people were invited to join the group as they went through each town along the route. There were supposed to be several hundred people joining the ride in DC, but that portion of the ride ended up being cancelled due to the poor weather (50 degrees and pouring rain) so only the core group rode through DC.

Erik had been "training" for several months for the DC portion of the ride using his KMX trike from Bikes at Vienna, but we were a little concerned about the bad weather. We offered him the option of backing out since it was cold and raining, but his response was "pack my raincoat." I had initially been worried he wouldn't be able to complete the 2-mile long DC portion of the ride.  However, he practiced for several months and we literally had to get him to slow down during the actual ride (despite the weather) because some of the adult riders couldn't keep up.

I was his run-along pit crew in case he needed technical assistance (he didn't), and to take pictures along the way.

Here is a press release with some info:

http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1492

Thanks for your help getting the KMX,


Mark


The photo shows Eric on a much nicer day than he experienced on the ride last week.

2006 Safe Kid Day is Saturday, October 14

2006 Safe Kid Day is Saturday, October 14
Originally uploaded by bikes@vienna.

Saturday we will be doing the safety checks on bikes at the Bike Rodeo which is just one aspect of Safe Kid Day & KidsFest. The activities of the day begins at 10 AM and continues to 2 PM. The location is the Faith Baptist Church at 301 Center St., S.

We invite you to bring your family to this free, community event. Please read the adjoining flyer for more information.

Moving the Full Moon Ride to Sunday

The rain and the cool weather have convinced us to move the Full Moon Ride from this evening to tomorrow (Sunday) evening. We hope that Sunday will be drier. The start time will again be 8 PM. Please remember to bring your lights and helmet. You might like to bring a light, windbreaker and perhaps some light weight gloves.

It was almost "Bye, Bye Birdy"

John Hayes has been a long time patron of bikes@vienna. Here is a message I received today about his travels and his Birdy.


John,

    I was searching the Birdy on the WEB and came across your WEB page.  Yesterday (Thurs 10/5) Kathy, Henry (Williams younger brother), and I came back from Florida.  We spent a week down there visiting my mother (near Orlando).  I took my Birdy as we flew (usually I drive with road and recumbent bikes on top).  I notice that you are renting the Birdy-in-a- bag!  Great!!  You remember I took my Birdy-in-a-bag (bought them both from you) to Italy.  What a great trip which was even more enjoyable with my Birdy along.  That BAG with the wheels on one end and the handle on the other was in tow from Florence to Rome (via train) and through the streets of Rome (just to the hotel).  I rode the Birdy daily in Tuscany, all around Florence, and some in Rome.

    I use this "fold up" as an easy take along (just in case I get a chance to ride) all over PA and on frequent visits to VA.  As I mentioned I just took it to Florida and back this past week.  On this trip they lost my Birdy which caused me 24 hrs of consternation and a torn hand strap.  Actually, the tag came off (so they tell me) and the Birdy didn't know what flight it was supposed to board.  I filed a claim describing my "luggage" as a bicycle with the word "BIRDY" on a soft sided large suit case.  This was enough for them to find her and send her on her way (claimed 24 hrs later).  So, late today (Fri) we were re-united and Kathy and I drove up to Laurel Hill (our home in the beautiful Western Pa mountains).

    I have not been riding as much - miss the W&OD Trail.  We have a few more hills up here than No. VA.  I'll also miss the fun at your Halloween parade.  I'll be sure to stop by the next time we are in the area - William is due for a new bike this Christmas.  Keep up the great work and bike shop.  Ride safe!

 

    PS - Any one interested in hearing how great the "fold-ups" are and how I have traveled with my Birdy, well you know me - I'll swap bicycle stories any time (some say "all the time").  And the "GREAT" place to buy one, with great service and instruction is Bikes @ Vienna!

 

            Sharing the road, riding safe,

                                                        John Hayes 

Randy Kling leading by example

Our customer, Randy Kling, approaches life with gusto. His first recumbent was an EZ Sport as he started commuting to work in Washington. After a year he traded up for a Tour Easy Expedition. Then he dressed the Tour Easy up with a body stocking. Now he has one of each of the body stockings available from Easy Racers. He was in to the store last Saturday to pick up a new Stars and Stripes model.

You can see Randy and his Stars and Stripes outfitted Tour Easy at http://www.railstotrails.org/newsandpubs/features/20060921_AlternativeTransportation.html?s_oo=EX2Q9hmjxyVcB_oE5wuYLw. This is a story on the Rails To Trails Conservancy website about bike commuting. There is a terrific photo of Randy with the Potomac River as the backdrop.

From reading the article I learned that Randy has given up his automobile. Randy, you're my hero.

Interbike reports

Bryan Ball of BentRider Online has written a series of articles about the latest developments in the recumbent world presented at Interbike 2006. Rans introduced a titanium version of the Stratus XP, and a new model the V3 titanium. There are several new variations on their crank forward line as well. Easy Racers will soon be selling a carbon fiber highracer with a 700C rear wheel and a 650C front wheel. Two other carbon fiber bikes were introduced as well, the C-Rush and a monotube model the Javelin.

John Schubert of Adventure Cycling has also written about Interbike on the Adventure Cycling Blog.