It must be Spring because we have received our long awaited supply of Dahon folding bikes. Yesterday a shipment of Jacks arrived and we started the assembly process.
So we now have 06 and 07 Dahon models in the store. We have the 06 models discounted by 10% which should make them appealing because costs have risen on the 07 models, but I have learned that color choices are important and the 07s have a number of attractive colors and many models feature the innovative seatpost pump. Yes, you pull the seatpost out of the seat tube and in a blink of the eye you have a pump to inflate your tires. It functions like a conventional floor pump. It does not have a built in guage, but maybe next year for that improvement.
Please come visit us and test ride a folding bike.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
Bike Friday Tikit, Bruce Wright, and Spring
This is a threebee.
We received our first Bike Friday Tikit this week. The bike lives up to its promotional buzz. The folding is amazingly fast and the end product is compact. This bike will give Brompton competition in the folding bike marketplace. The Bike Friday promotional campaign positions this bike to appeal to people interested in responsible and convenient transportation. It should be successful in that appeal.
Holding the Tikit is Bruce Wright who helps at bikes@vienna during the week. Bruce is an exceptional person in my view. I appreciate his help in the store. I admire his work as an advocate for cycling with Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling. His service to the public with his participation on several county advisory commissions benefits us all. So this is a little thick, but Bruce Wright deserves it.
Look just behind Bruce in the big green planter......pea vines and spinach. Spring keeps teasing us with cooler weather than what we want, but it is coming. Have you planted anything yet?
We received our first Bike Friday Tikit this week. The bike lives up to its promotional buzz. The folding is amazingly fast and the end product is compact. This bike will give Brompton competition in the folding bike marketplace. The Bike Friday promotional campaign positions this bike to appeal to people interested in responsible and convenient transportation. It should be successful in that appeal.
Holding the Tikit is Bruce Wright who helps at bikes@vienna during the week. Bruce is an exceptional person in my view. I appreciate his help in the store. I admire his work as an advocate for cycling with Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling. His service to the public with his participation on several county advisory commissions benefits us all. So this is a little thick, but Bruce Wright deserves it.
Look just behind Bruce in the big green planter......pea vines and spinach. Spring keeps teasing us with cooler weather than what we want, but it is coming. Have you planted anything yet?
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Coming to bikes@vienna --- Longbikes!
Underseat steering has been a weakness for bikes@vienna for the past several years. We sold Visions for five years and when Vision went out of business we didn't come up with a replacement. We are pleased to announce that in May we will have the Slipstream and Eliminator from Longbikes in the store for test rides and for sale.
There is happiness in Arlington these days. Geoff Steele has lobbied for bikes@vienna to carry Longbikes for years. Someone would come in to test recumbents and if Geoff was at the store he'd have them on his Vanguard which was daddy of the Slipstream. I'd point out to Geoff that I did not have a comparable underseat steering recumbent to sell the customer. Geoff would point out that I should.
Soooooo Geoff.........coming to bikes@vienna --- Longbikes!
There is happiness in Arlington these days. Geoff Steele has lobbied for bikes@vienna to carry Longbikes for years. Someone would come in to test recumbents and if Geoff was at the store he'd have them on his Vanguard which was daddy of the Slipstream. I'd point out to Geoff that I did not have a comparable underseat steering recumbent to sell the customer. Geoff would point out that I should.
Soooooo Geoff.........coming to bikes@vienna --- Longbikes!
Monday, April 02, 2007
The State of Repairs
Phone calls this time of year many times skip over the traditional "Hello" to "I've got a question for you". The question oft times is about service or repairs. Yes, we do service on bikes. Yes, we repair bikes. No, an appointment is not necessary to bring your bike to us. On a weekend you need to plan a little wait for your bike to be looked over and checked in.
After an exchange of information about our services then comes the question......how long will it take? Yesterday we were promising bikes to be returned a week from today. Just over a week is the answer now and that answer probably will get longer. Saturday, our day was primarily taking in bikes for service and repair. This is Fairfax County Public School's Spring Vacation so I expect us to have a steady stream of bikes coming in.
This is part of the rites of Spring. Beautiful days motivate people to act to have their bike repaired. Yes, it would be wonderful if people acted to have the repair work done during the winter so their bikes are ready for the Spring, but that does not happen enough. So we appreciate the good weather, the enthusiastic cusomters, and the business that keeps our doors open.
Yes, we do servicing and repairs. Our "promise date" is just over a week (today).
After an exchange of information about our services then comes the question......how long will it take? Yesterday we were promising bikes to be returned a week from today. Just over a week is the answer now and that answer probably will get longer. Saturday, our day was primarily taking in bikes for service and repair. This is Fairfax County Public School's Spring Vacation so I expect us to have a steady stream of bikes coming in.
This is part of the rites of Spring. Beautiful days motivate people to act to have their bike repaired. Yes, it would be wonderful if people acted to have the repair work done during the winter so their bikes are ready for the Spring, but that does not happen enough. So we appreciate the good weather, the enthusiastic cusomters, and the business that keeps our doors open.
Yes, we do servicing and repairs. Our "promise date" is just over a week (today).
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Radar, do you now own my car?
Radar O'Reilly was supposedly from Ottumwa, IA. My hometown of Centerville, IA is about forty miles from Ottumwa. I watched MASH and Radar with special interest to see if Ottumwa would pop up in the dialogue.
Radar kept the 4077 moving. He would shove bunches of paper in front of Henry Blake for him to sign. There was one show after signing a pile of papers that Henry asked Radar --- "do you now own my car".
For bikes@vienna's first nine years we have not asked people to sign lots of forms. We get some surprised reactions during the process of renting a bike when we decline to take a credit card or drivers license as security and ask the important question, "Do you promise to return the bike?" People smiled and answered in the positive. We had very few issues arise from this method of trusting people.
Sadly, we have to change. Beginning in April we will be asking our rental customers to complete a "rental agreement". We will ask each renter over 18 years of age to complete the form which has check lists of our responsibilities and their responsibility for our equipment. It is a standardized form which you can view on our website in the area dealing with rentals. It would be wonderful if you could read through the rental agreement before you visit us for a rental.
I do not aspire to own your car. I'm not excited about the volume of paper that will be generated. I hope that this process can be smooth. I'll try to make it that way.
Radar kept the 4077 moving. He would shove bunches of paper in front of Henry Blake for him to sign. There was one show after signing a pile of papers that Henry asked Radar --- "do you now own my car".
For bikes@vienna's first nine years we have not asked people to sign lots of forms. We get some surprised reactions during the process of renting a bike when we decline to take a credit card or drivers license as security and ask the important question, "Do you promise to return the bike?" People smiled and answered in the positive. We had very few issues arise from this method of trusting people.
Sadly, we have to change. Beginning in April we will be asking our rental customers to complete a "rental agreement". We will ask each renter over 18 years of age to complete the form which has check lists of our responsibilities and their responsibility for our equipment. It is a standardized form which you can view on our website in the area dealing with rentals. It would be wonderful if you could read through the rental agreement before you visit us for a rental.
I do not aspire to own your car. I'm not excited about the volume of paper that will be generated. I hope that this process can be smooth. I'll try to make it that way.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Six Days A Week
During the winter we close on Tuesday and Wednesday. Beginning next Tuesday, April 3rd we will be open on Tuesdays until November. Yes, we will continue to be closed on Wednesday.
Our hours of operation will be :
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 AM to 7 PM
Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM
Wednesday closed
Remember we are happy to set up an appointment to meet you earlier or stay later than our typical hours. We know sometimes our schedule and your schedule won't match up without some flexibility. We can be flexible.
We are beginning to see the start of the spring rush for service. Now is the time to act on your need for service.
Our hours of operation will be :
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 AM to 7 PM
Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 6 PM
Wednesday closed
Remember we are happy to set up an appointment to meet you earlier or stay later than our typical hours. We know sometimes our schedule and your schedule won't match up without some flexibility. We can be flexible.
We are beginning to see the start of the spring rush for service. Now is the time to act on your need for service.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Dahon Sale During March
March weather isn't feeling very Spring like today, but Spring is coming. We're clearing out the 06 Dahon models during March with a sale that gives you nice savings plus opportunities to make your new Dahon easier to use and store. Buy a Dahon 20" Wheel model and we will give you a slip cover which is an $18 value. Buy a 26" Wheel model and we'll sell you a bag for half price ($42.50 instead of $85). Our supply of these covers and bags is limited so act now.
The details for what we have in stock and the sale price are on our home page. Come test ride a Dahon folding bike and be ready for Spring.
The details for what we have in stock and the sale price are on our home page. Come test ride a Dahon folding bike and be ready for Spring.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Vienna Rotary Contributes $3000 of ViVa! Vienna Proceeds to Bikes For The World
Vienna Rotary is contributing almost $80,000 to local and international charities from the proceeds of ViVa! Vienna! Keith Oberg of Bikes For The World (left) is shown receiving a check for $3,000 at today's Rotary meeting. Keith told Rotarians that over 500 bikes were donated from the Vienna area in the past year. This check will be used to ship a container load of bikes probably to Central America.
Bikes For The World accepts bikes from the basements, garages, and storage sheds of the Mid Atlantic area and creates economic opportunities for people in needy areas. For years bikes@vienna has served as a collection point. You can bring your bicycle donation and a $10 per bike cash contribution to us anytime that we are open for business.
I'm pleased to help with the bike collection and I was proud to have the Vienna Rotary Club recognize Bikes For The World with such a nice check.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Wintertime at bikes@vienna
The long riding season is finally at an end. With the relatively mild temperatures that we experienced through much of January, people continued to ride. The recent snowfall has put a stop to that for most of us. Among the more adventuresome is our head mechanic Tim Fricker, who rode to work on Friday on his studded bike tires.
This is the perfect time to bring your bike in for it's Spring tuneup. All too often people wait until the weather is nice and they realize that their bike needs work. If you haven't had your bike in for a tuneup in a while, bring it in and we'll give it some tender loving care and get it back to you in just a day or two.
This is the perfect time to bring your bike in for it's Spring tuneup. All too often people wait until the weather is nice and they realize that their bike needs work. If you haven't had your bike in for a tuneup in a while, bring it in and we'll give it some tender loving care and get it back to you in just a day or two.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Bike To Work Day is May 18
The weather outside is chilling, but the prospects of Spring are thrilling. Nope.....my verse is pretty weak.
Here is the initial design for the 2007 Bike To Work Day. Friday, May 18th is the date. Yes, bikes@vienna and Whole Foods will operate the Vienna Pit Stop at Whole Foods. Yes, from 6 AM to 9 AM we'll be there to feed, repair, and cheer on the riders making their way to work that day.
With pride bikes@vienna is serving as an overall sponsor for the event for the third or fourth year. We got pretty good placement on the top line of the sponsors.
Now is the time to mark your calendar to participate in this event. Invite your friends and co-workers to join you. It is fun. It is good for you and the environment. It inspires others to act. Go to www.waba.org and register today.
Here is the initial design for the 2007 Bike To Work Day. Friday, May 18th is the date. Yes, bikes@vienna and Whole Foods will operate the Vienna Pit Stop at Whole Foods. Yes, from 6 AM to 9 AM we'll be there to feed, repair, and cheer on the riders making their way to work that day.
With pride bikes@vienna is serving as an overall sponsor for the event for the third or fourth year. We got pretty good placement on the top line of the sponsors.
Now is the time to mark your calendar to participate in this event. Invite your friends and co-workers to join you. It is fun. It is good for you and the environment. It inspires others to act. Go to www.waba.org and register today.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
W&OD Trail Report
As John wrote in the introduction:
Visit the W&OD Trail Report to read the latest news.
We have invited frequent W&OD Trail users to report what they see during their use of the trail. Our hope is that it may benefit other users. It is the same information that gets passed on at intersections and water fountains as people meet and thoughtfully share what they've seen. Weather, activities, and life move quickly so accept this information as a cautionary rather than as factual.
Visit the W&OD Trail Report to read the latest news.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Bike Friday tikit
Bike Friday just announced the tikit.The tikit™ is now the world's fastest-folding bike - and certainly the only one with the incomparable Bike Friday ride.If you don't believe the quote, see for yourself:
being folded and unfolded. There are now also videos of being folded while waiting for the train, being folded to get on the bus, and being folded in the middle of the street. I know that last one seems impractical but it sure makes a statement about the fleet fold!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
W&OD Trail Patrol Seeks New Members
The W&OD Trail runs through the communities of
Saturday, January 27, 2007
The New Catrike 700 and Ken Atkins
Catrike's new 700 model has been stirring interest in Catrike lovers. Ken Atkins is shown on his new trike. He sold one of his families' two Catrikes and ordered this eye catching lime colored 700.
Yes, this is a staged photo. Ken wore a helmet when he test rode the trike.
We have been delivering Catrike Expeditions and 700s this month. I credit the balmy weather, Catrike's attractive additions to their product line and Catrike enthusiasts. I appreciate the business.
Yes, this is a staged photo. Ken wore a helmet when he test rode the trike.
We have been delivering Catrike Expeditions and 700s this month. I credit the balmy weather, Catrike's attractive additions to their product line and Catrike enthusiasts. I appreciate the business.
In Vienna.....Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?
I'm serving on the Town of Vienna Sidewalk Committee. We have been taking the information gathered from a questionairre in the Town newsletter and prioritizing projects to recommend to the Town Council.
Three of us have been working on the prioritization for the south side of town which has sixty projects. A stated philosophy has been to give priority to areas without sidewalks before areas with sidewalks on one side of the street. Which means that it will be necessary to cross the street in some places to continue to use the sidewalk.
After several hours of looking at maps and listings during last week I became blurry eyed on Friday. Comparing the listings to the map we'd find that a project already had an existing sidewalk on one side of the street.
Which led me to think......in Vienna, why did the chicken cross the road? The chicken wanted to continue to walk on the sidewalk. When that thought came to mind, I knew it was time to take a break.
Three of us have been working on the prioritization for the south side of town which has sixty projects. A stated philosophy has been to give priority to areas without sidewalks before areas with sidewalks on one side of the street. Which means that it will be necessary to cross the street in some places to continue to use the sidewalk.
After several hours of looking at maps and listings during last week I became blurry eyed on Friday. Comparing the listings to the map we'd find that a project already had an existing sidewalk on one side of the street.
Which led me to think......in Vienna, why did the chicken cross the road? The chicken wanted to continue to walk on the sidewalk. When that thought came to mind, I knew it was time to take a break.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
bikes@vienna Used
I have just completed adding several bikes to our bikes@vienna Used blog. You will find the link to that information below the weather.com information on the left of our home page. If you look through our offerings you'll find a wide range of recumbents, tandems, recumbent tandems, folding bikes, mountain bikes, children's bikes, and even an occasional cruiser. It's difficult to know what will be traded in or brought to us to sell on consignment.
We don't make much money on trade-ins. Our method is to estimate what price the bike will bring and deduct any repairs, parts, and cleaning that we believe are necessary to make it safe and saleable. Providing the option of accepting trade-ins does bring us customers. There are times when the value of the bike and what is necessary to make it saleable pass each other. In those cases we have to decline the trade offer and suggest that Bikes For The World would be a wonderful place to donate the bike and received a tax deduction.
We also provide the service of selling bikes on consignment. We estimate the value of the bike and what needs to be done to make it saleable. We post the bike on bikes@vienna Used and find the bike a good home. We charge 17.5% for the service. Again this is not a big money maker, but it brings customers to us.
We are almost three weeks into the new year. What do you dream of doing this year on a bicycle? Can you park that car and ride your bike on errands and to work? Can you create an adventure riding to explore an area and share that adventure with someone else? A bicycle, new or used, can enable us. Keep your eye on bikes@vienna Used because a bike may appear which sparks your imagination and helps you to pursue your dreams.
We don't make much money on trade-ins. Our method is to estimate what price the bike will bring and deduct any repairs, parts, and cleaning that we believe are necessary to make it safe and saleable. Providing the option of accepting trade-ins does bring us customers. There are times when the value of the bike and what is necessary to make it saleable pass each other. In those cases we have to decline the trade offer and suggest that Bikes For The World would be a wonderful place to donate the bike and received a tax deduction.
We also provide the service of selling bikes on consignment. We estimate the value of the bike and what needs to be done to make it saleable. We post the bike on bikes@vienna Used and find the bike a good home. We charge 17.5% for the service. Again this is not a big money maker, but it brings customers to us.
We are almost three weeks into the new year. What do you dream of doing this year on a bicycle? Can you park that car and ride your bike on errands and to work? Can you create an adventure riding to explore an area and share that adventure with someone else? A bicycle, new or used, can enable us. Keep your eye on bikes@vienna Used because a bike may appear which sparks your imagination and helps you to pursue your dreams.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Sleeping Santa
Did you have a good holiday? Yes, yes, we did have a wonderful holiday. My folks came from Iowa. The Seattle daughter and family, the Richmond son and family, and the recently moved out daughter were all here at our house. We enjoyed the two grandchildren of 15 and 18 months old. For extra excitement there were three good sized dogs and a paranoid cat. There was lots going on.
Obviously, there was more going on than I had the energy to handle. Ces snapped this photo on Christmas Eve. It was a quick nap before we went cycling to see the luminaries in northeast Vienna.
I hope you had a good holiday. I hope your 2007 is filled with enjoyable activities which include cycling.
Obviously, there was more going on than I had the energy to handle. Ces snapped this photo on Christmas Eve. It was a quick nap before we went cycling to see the luminaries in northeast Vienna.
I hope you had a good holiday. I hope your 2007 is filled with enjoyable activities which include cycling.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Recumbent Cyclist News
The Jan/Feb Recumbent Cyclist News (RCN) just arrived. It contains the 2007 Season Preview, an overview of recent recumbent, trike and crank forward trends. It also contains reviews of the 2007 Rans Dynamik crank forward bike, the 2007 WizWheelz Zoomer, and the front wheel drive Rans Cruzbike Freerider. RCN sells for $5.
Monday, January 01, 2007
First Ride may be a bit wet
We are just on the edge of this band of rain. I think there is a chance that it will move east by 9 AM. I'd like to ride my bike this morning so let's try to get a ride in. Join me at bikes@vienna at 9AM and be prepared for some rain drops.
Welcome 2007.
Welcome 2007.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Closed December 25-27/Join us for First Ride on New Year Day
We are an hour from closing for Christmas (3 PM on Sunday). The store will be closed on Christmas Day and then Tuesday and Wednesday which is our winter tradition. We'll be back on Thursday at 10 AM. We wish you a Merry Christmas.
On New Years Day we invite you to ride from bikes@vienna to Herndon on what we call First Ride. We'll leave the store at 9 AM. The 8 plus miles to Herndon will take about 45 minutes. Many of us will stop at Anitas for breakfast and then ride back to Vienna. Some members of our group will simply turn around and go home. Check here for more information as the time for the ride nears.
If you are traveling this holiday season we hope you will travel safely. If you are making resolutions for 2007 we hope you will include cycling and lots of visits to bikes@vienna.
On New Years Day we invite you to ride from bikes@vienna to Herndon on what we call First Ride. We'll leave the store at 9 AM. The 8 plus miles to Herndon will take about 45 minutes. Many of us will stop at Anitas for breakfast and then ride back to Vienna. Some members of our group will simply turn around and go home. Check here for more information as the time for the ride nears.
If you are traveling this holiday season we hope you will travel safely. If you are making resolutions for 2007 we hope you will include cycling and lots of visits to bikes@vienna.