Every bike show has a Villin
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
Hammered lugs.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Carbon Fiber Independent Fabrication
2010-02-27 08.57.30.jpg
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
Indy. Fab. at the 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show.
Cykelmageren
Cykelmageren
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
These guys let you thread your own hub for that custom look. They offer tons of options and are now testing the market to see if there goods are in demand. NAHBS 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Quiring Road Bike @ 2010 NAHBS
Our good friend Scott Quiring of Quiring Cycles and QBall Bikes displayed this road bike at the 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle show in VA.
Villin Cycle Works
Villin Cycle Works
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
Cool head tube junction from our friends at Villin Cycle Works.
Pretty Prince
This Prince (on display at the 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show) is wrapped in pretty paint by Velo Colour.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
YiPsan Show and North American Handmade Bicycle Show Announcement
Thanks to Renold and all who attended our YiPsan event yesterday. If you missed it the two bikes pictured are now on their way to the North American Handmade Bicycle Show (NAHBS) in Richmond, Virgina. The drop bar bike is a well equipped randonneur machine with racks, fenders, and generator lighting. This bike just might show up in PBP next year. The yellow "sunflower bike" was made for TBE's own Danielle to enjoy on the C&O with little one in tow.
If you can't make it to the 2010 NAHBS, fear not. TBE will be there in force Blogging, YouTubeing, Flickring, and Facebooking the whole time so stay close to your computer and enjoy the virtual show.
A BIG Special thanks to Ron for helping us set up and tear down!!!
Blog (ummmm you're here now silly)
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Keeping the Pant Leg Clean (With Style)
I posted a few pictures on Flickr about this project but here is the full report.
I wanted a simple and attractive chain guard to go on a very special YiPsan cruiser for my lovely wife. Naturally, I could not find what I wanted so I made it.
I started with a K-Edge cross guard. I cut out the logo and every other support. After some filing, sanding and polishing I was happy with the result.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Snow, Snow Snow
We were so disappointed by the amount of snow fall that Danielle, Tom, and Geoffrey left TBE to go somewhere with more snow: Wyoming. This picture includes Black Mountain & vacation refreshment. Still, it is always good to be home.... well kinda.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
YiPsan Bicycle NAHBS Pre-Show
If you have any interest in beautifully handcrafted bicycles please join us Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7:00pm. The Bicycle Escape is honored to host frame builder Renold Yip of YiPsan Bicycles. Renold will be doing an advanced showing of his 2010 North American Handmade Bicycle Show bikes as well as doing a presentation on his craft. In classic TBE fashion there will be plenty of great food and drink. This year we have the added treat of sweets made by Ready to Serve!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Thanks Fenders...
Thanks Fenders...
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
...sorry bar tape, but you gotta get while the gettings good.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Seat Restoration
A while back we restored an old bicycle but used a modern seat (think reproductionish) anyway, the owner of the bike came across a seat of the same style as the stock seat but in horrible condition. That's where we come in. After sand blasting and painting the base, having the bits and pieces re-chromed, and the top re-upholstered the seat is as good as new. It was a fun and unique repair. We have more pictures posted here.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Lugged Greg LeMond
Greg LeMond
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
We just had this Greg LeMond pass through the shop and I deemed it blog-worthy. The bike is in fantastic condition. Click the picture to see more images.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
IF Build
We recently built this Independent Fabrication Factory Light Weight and have been negligant about posting pictures. It is a stock bike but we elected to have some custom paint work done. Ryan and Tom picked the colors so if you don't dig it you have us to blame. The bike is dressed up in Ultegra parts and as always there are more pictures here.
Friday, January 01, 2010
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Not In Today
FWD:
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
We will be closed all or part of today to observe a Son's of Anarchy marathon.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Bike Barn Blues
Yep, some bastard stole our beautiful new bench from in front of the bike barn. What is this world coming too???
Monday, December 07, 2009
Geared Crank Excites the Commuter Market
With all the attention that commuter bikes have been getting lately (there was even a report on NPR this very morning) it is no surprise that more commuter oriented products are being released. Below is an article from Bicycle Retailer about a new two speed, internally geared crank. Geared cranks are nothing new. There is the Schlumpf system where you strike the center of the crank to change gears . The SRAM option, designed for all-mountain/freeride bikes. And now the newest option from FSA specifically designed to add durability and reliability to transportation bikes. It will be operated by a handle bar mounted shifter. (Sorry no good pictures at this time)
Patterson Drives Ahead with FSA
Sam Patterson has his eye on urban commuters. And he’s betting that a new crankset he designed will intrigue product managers looking to give 2011 commuter bikes a new look. Pattersonisno stranger to the industry. He helped put SRAM on the map with his work designing Grip Shift and other key SRAM components. He spent 14 years at the company before leaving in 2000. Back in the mid-1980s, Patterson had been working on exotic fuel injection systems at a boutique R&D lab in San Diego. He met SRAM’s Stan Day while skiing at Park City. Day had gone to school with Patterson’s brother. Patterson, tired of sucking in gasoline and diesel fumes, began kicking around product ideas with Day and eventually they came up with Grip Shift for road bikes. Day, a triathlete, wanted to shift from the drops without reaching for downtube shift levers. The 55-year-old mechanical engineer has now teamed up with FSA to introduce the Metropolis Patterson Transmission (PT), a new internal two-speed planetary-geared crankset. It seems Patterson has harbored a long-simmering dislike for front derailleurs. And this crankset eliminates them. From a manufacturers’ standpoint, installing the Metro PT is a snap on the assembly line. It’s compatible with most conventional frame designs. Forget installing and setting front derailleurs. No need for a chain guard to protect pant legs from grease. Shifts are lightening fast. And you can shift under load at will. It has a 1.6-to-1 gear ratio with drive gears of 28T and 43T. Use any rear cassette you like or internal-gear hubs. It’s a cast aluminum crankset with an eye-catching, brushed alloy silver finish. If there’s a downside, the unit weighs 1,780 grams, but Patterson said it can be trimmed to about 1,500 grams. As for pricing, Patterson said his first year’s goal is to produce a modest volume at a high enough price to keep him in business. Year two, as demand ramps up, pricing will come down. This was Patterson’s first public unveiling of the system. Douglas Chiang, FSA’s managing director, said he’s optimistic about the new addition to FSA’s Metropolis group, a line of city-style handlebars, stems, seatposts and cranksets. Patterson has a multiyear agreement with Chiang. Judging from the number of people test riding the Metro at Saturday’s Ride On event at the Freshfields Resort and Conference Center, Chiang and Patterson have reason to be optimistic. At one point, a European product manager interrupted a conversation to ask whether the system could be used with a belt drive. Patterson assured him that with some minor modifications, a beltdrive option would pose few problems. The Metropolis PT was installed on a sleek Giant city bike. It looked great. A test ride confirmed Patterson’s boasts. It shifts instantly and there’s no balking when shifting under load. If there was a disconcerting moment it was the three-speed shifter. I initially kept searching for that third shift, but there was none. After a few minutes, it wasn’t an issue. Patterson said the system should appeal, at first, to the European commuting market. “It’s a functional replacement for a front derailleur, the internal shifting is fast and works under load, it never derails and will fit any bike with downtube cable routing and fixed chain stays,” he said. — Marc Sani Bicycle Retailer and Industry News Dec. 7th 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
More Work to be Done
The WHEN: Saturday November 14, 9am
The WHAT: The park has wanted to bypass the lakeside trail that the fishermen use for a considerably long time. It was flagged some time ago, and we had waited on approvals which are finally here! So we are going to start building this trail!
The WHY: The lakeside trail is unsustainable, and really not that much fun or that long. It is the small narrow segment on the south end of the lake that goes between the dam and the campground touching the lake side. Fishermen crowd thenselves along this narrow trail for extended periods of time. The bypass will connect the end of the dam with the orange trail further up the hill, which will bypass the lakeside trail leaving it to the fishermen and the perennially wet areas of the lower orange trail. Eventually the orange and this new trail will be blazed red, and the hugely steep and eroded portion of the red that drops off the escarpment will be permanently closed. This will make the red longer, sustainable and more fun. The race course will use this new trail, so we would like to finish it by spring.
The HOW: There will be corridor cleaning, bench cutting, and rock aligning. The trail is going to have to go through some pretty rough areas, so some special things need to be built. There is a rock garden which we will need to build a rock path through. Think the new blue reroute in the watershed. Similar, but not nearly as long.
The BENEFIT: No new trail has been built in Greenbrier in a long, long time. Over a year ago, I submitted a proposal of several trail segments that will link up existing unused trails, and extending into currently unused area. The proposal is in several phases. This would be the first phase. The park agreed to move ahead in this phase. A good showing of quality and swift trail building will show the park that we are serious about moving forward with the other phases of the proposal. A decent turnout of hearty workers is essential to this success. There are some incredible areas that we can hopefully expand into.
The WHERE: Directions to the park are here: Instead of meeting in our usual location by the boat ramp, we are meeting at the south end of the parking lots across from the Visitors Center. Not the tiny parking lot forthe VC, but in the big lot towards the beach. Enter the park, bear left at the split, and turn into the big lot just before the campground gate.
There will be tools to use, please bring the usual water/snack/gloves/warm clothes, and be ready to get dirty! RSVP's appreciated email: phil_vw(at)yahoo(dot)com
The WHAT: The park has wanted to bypass the lakeside trail that the fishermen use for a considerably long time. It was flagged some time ago, and we had waited on approvals which are finally here! So we are going to start building this trail!
The WHY: The lakeside trail is unsustainable, and really not that much fun or that long. It is the small narrow segment on the south end of the lake that goes between the dam and the campground touching the lake side. Fishermen crowd thenselves along this narrow trail for extended periods of time. The bypass will connect the end of the dam with the orange trail further up the hill, which will bypass the lakeside trail leaving it to the fishermen and the perennially wet areas of the lower orange trail. Eventually the orange and this new trail will be blazed red, and the hugely steep and eroded portion of the red that drops off the escarpment will be permanently closed. This will make the red longer, sustainable and more fun. The race course will use this new trail, so we would like to finish it by spring.
The HOW: There will be corridor cleaning, bench cutting, and rock aligning. The trail is going to have to go through some pretty rough areas, so some special things need to be built. There is a rock garden which we will need to build a rock path through. Think the new blue reroute in the watershed. Similar, but not nearly as long.
The BENEFIT: No new trail has been built in Greenbrier in a long, long time. Over a year ago, I submitted a proposal of several trail segments that will link up existing unused trails, and extending into currently unused area. The proposal is in several phases. This would be the first phase. The park agreed to move ahead in this phase. A good showing of quality and swift trail building will show the park that we are serious about moving forward with the other phases of the proposal. A decent turnout of hearty workers is essential to this success. There are some incredible areas that we can hopefully expand into.
The WHERE: Directions to the park are here: Instead of meeting in our usual location by the boat ramp, we are meeting at the south end of the parking lots across from the Visitors Center. Not the tiny parking lot forthe VC, but in the big lot towards the beach. Enter the park, bear left at the split, and turn into the big lot just before the campground gate.
There will be tools to use, please bring the usual water/snack/gloves/warm clothes, and be ready to get dirty! RSVP's appreciated email: phil_vw(at)
Ribbon Cutting
Press Release:FREDERICK, MD, November 1, 2009 - The City of Frederick, MORE (The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts), a non-profit representing thousands of Mid-Atlantic mountain bikers, and IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association) have committed to enhance the existing trails in the Frederick Municipal Forest. MORE has been providing volunteer trail maintenance in the Frederick Municipal Forest for more than 15 years.
The Frederick Municipal Forest, 7,000 acres of forested land in western Frederick County, has been a popular destination for hikers, trail runners, hunters, equestrians and mountain bikers for many years. The Catoctin Trail, a 26 mile natural surface trail connecting Gambrill State Park, the Frederick Watershed, Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin National Park, bisects the Watershed and is currently the only blazed and mapped trail in the Forest.
MORE and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) have recently completed phase I of a trail work project that rerouted a severely eroded section of the Catoctin Trail. After more than 650 volunteer hours, this new one mile section of sustainably built trail is now open to all users.
“The City of Frederick, MORE, PATC, and IMBA met to discuss this endeavor, developed a plan, included all the stakeholders and made a significant improvement for recreation and the environment at no cost to the taxpayers,“ said Tim Davis, City Transportation Planner. “This sort of collaborative effort where the public resources and private non-profit agencies work together is how publically beneficial projects will come together in the future.”
MORE has recently received a $30k grant from the National Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and a grant from Trek Bikes and IMBA Trail Solutions and will use this funding as well as volunteer labor to continue efforts to improve the quality of the Catoctin Trail. MORE, PATC and the City of Frederick have begun planning phase II of the Catoctin Trail reroute project in order to make the trail more sustainable. The reroute is expected to be complete in the summer of 2010.
“The efforts of City of Frederick, MORE, PATC, and IMBA have turned eroding trails into environmentally sound trails. We look forward to continuing this partnership,” said MORE President Jason Stoner
Additionally, MORE and IMBA, in partnership with the City of Frederick, have agreed to donate their services to blaze and map a circuit loop of existing trails in the Forest. Once complete, a free online map will be available for all users and the new blazed system will make traveling the trails more enjoyable for all.
MORE (The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts), Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit representing thousands of area mountain bikers. Founded in 1992, MORE maintains more than 250 miles of natural surface trails in 25 state and county parks in the region. MORE members contribute more than 3,000 volunteer hours annually and have constructed nearly 100 miles of new, sustainable trail. The club also leads hundreds of rides each year at local parks, ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
The International Mountain Bicycling Association is a non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers worldwide. Since 1988, IMBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trail work participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, grassroots advocacy and innovative trail management solutions.
PATC, a non-profit, is the only agency that maintains the entire Catoctin Trail. PATC maintains and manages 1200 miles of trails in the Mid-Atlantic region including 240 miles of the Appalachian Trail. www.patc.net CFC agency 91413. EIN #53-0187508. Phone: (703)242-0693 x105. 118 Park St., SE, Vienna, VA 22180
The Frederick Municipal Forest, 7,000 acres of forested land in western Frederick County, has been a popular destination for hikers, trail runners, hunters, equestrians and mountain bikers for many years. The Catoctin Trail, a 26 mile natural surface trail connecting Gambrill State Park, the Frederick Watershed, Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin National Park, bisects the Watershed and is currently the only blazed and mapped trail in the Forest.
MORE and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) have recently completed phase I of a trail work project that rerouted a severely eroded section of the Catoctin Trail. After more than 650 volunteer hours, this new one mile section of sustainably built trail is now open to all users.
“The City of Frederick, MORE, PATC, and IMBA met to discuss this endeavor, developed a plan, included all the stakeholders and made a significant improvement for recreation and the environment at no cost to the taxpayers,“ said Tim Davis, City Transportation Planner. “This sort of collaborative effort where the public resources and private non-profit agencies work together is how publically beneficial projects will come together in the future.”
MORE has recently received a $30k grant from the National Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and a grant from Trek Bikes and IMBA Trail Solutions and will use this funding as well as volunteer labor to continue efforts to improve the quality of the Catoctin Trail. MORE, PATC and the City of Frederick have begun planning phase II of the Catoctin Trail reroute project in order to make the trail more sustainable. The reroute is expected to be complete in the summer of 2010.
“The efforts of City of Frederick, MORE, PATC, and IMBA have turned eroding trails into environmentally sound trails. We look forward to continuing this partnership,” said MORE President Jason Stoner
Additionally, MORE and IMBA, in partnership with the City of Frederick, have agreed to donate their services to blaze and map a circuit loop of existing trails in the Forest. Once complete, a free online map will be available for all users and the new blazed system will make traveling the trails more enjoyable for all.
MORE (The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts), Inc. is a 501c (3) non-profit representing thousands of area mountain bikers. Founded in 1992, MORE maintains more than 250 miles of natural surface trails in 25 state and county parks in the region. MORE members contribute more than 3,000 volunteer hours annually and have constructed nearly 100 miles of new, sustainable trail. The club also leads hundreds of rides each year at local parks, ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
The International Mountain Bicycling Association is a non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers worldwide. Since 1988, IMBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trail work participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, grassroots advocacy and innovative trail management solutions.
PATC, a non-profit, is the only agency that maintains the entire Catoctin Trail. PATC maintains and manages 1200 miles of trails in the Mid-Atlantic region including 240 miles of the Appalachian Trail. www.patc.net CFC agency 91413. EIN #53-0187508. Phone: (703)242-0693 x105. 118 Park St., SE, Vienna, VA 22180
PATC President Lee Sheaffer joins Joe, Phil, David, Clyde and 50 volunteers to open up the new Blue trail in the Frederick Watershed. Photo: Jay Divinagracia
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Gambrill Night Mountain Bike Rides Return
We are once again ready to start the off-season fun! Our Gambrill State Park night rides commence on November 18th and continue on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. The rides will continue through the off-season.
Click here for the skinny...
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
New IF Lightweight
We just finished a new stock build. It is a super rad Independent Fabrication Factory Lightweight built up with a Shimano Ultegra kit. The bike tips the scale at 17.15lbs and has the classic steel ride that anyone can enjoy. More pictures here.www.thebicycleescape.com
Monday, November 02, 2009
New Blue
New Blue
Originally uploaded by thebicycleescape
Thanks to all who helped make yesterdays trail work day a huge success. For those of you who do not know a section of the blue trail in the Frederick Watershed was closed and replaced with a more fun and sustainable section of trail.
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