Via Bicycles - A review

While there are many bicycle shops in Philadelphia there are none like Via Bicycles. Curtis Anthony opened in 1982 with a $5000.00 dollar loan from his mother with an antique bed for collateral. Finding Via Bicycles is very easy just watch for the van that is piled high with bicycles from one of their buying expeditions and a sidewalk lined with bikes ready for sale.

Thirty-one years later Curtis is still going strong at 9^th St. and South St. What makes Via Bicycles unique is they do not sell new bikes; they specialize in reconditioned bicycles for Philadelphia commuters. The shop is filled with fully reconditioned vintage British three speeds, Schwinn coaster brake and 3, 10, and 12 speed bicycles. As well as stocking parts for to make any needed repairs. They also have a collection of truly vintage bikes that can be repaired and ready to ride for the true collector.

Curtis understands that bicycles are meant to be ridden and not end up on display in a collection. This is exemplified by his daily ride, a vintage fixed gear bicycle; a restored 1886 Victor Penny Farthing complete with an 1872 wrench.  A bike that any other collector would never even consider riding on the streets of Philadelphia on a daily basis.

This approach carries over into his business; the bikes he sells are fully restored mechanically, rust free, and the original paint on the frame is in great shape. When Curtis tells you something about a bicycle you are considering buying, listen. Curtis is providing you with information that you never knew and is important to the process of finding the right bike for you. Similar to a chef explaining what ingredients are in your gourmet meal and why it tastes the way it does.

Curtis and his mechanics treat every customer with respect, a douche bag free zone when it comes to bicycle mechanics. They often provide maintenance tips to help you do things at home. Via Bicycles is my go to shop for repairs on all of my vintage bicycles.

DBAGS #1

Welcome to the Douche Bag Awareness Guidance System, this is not a test.  From time to time we will be activating the DBAGS system when pretentious cyclist think, “it’s all about me”.

Today’s DBAGS alert is about New York City based filmmaker Casey Neistat and his rant about bicycle parking. Sounding like someone who drives a car, Mr. Neistat in his latest YouTube video complains about how he can’t park his bike in front of the studio he rents and is often forced to park his bike down the block. Recently due to a bad job of locking his bike it was stolen.

Mr. Neistat has achieved a double DBAGS alert in the video. Due to limited bike parking he often resorts to locking his bike over another bike, the equivalent of double parking. Which makes it very difficult for you to get your bike out if your bike is under his bike.

The second alert is for his solution. Mr. Neistat is young, healthy, and physically fit and he could easily carry his bike inside his studio and keep it there. Instead his excuse is “ever been to new york city? nothing simple about bringing a bike inside”.  I’ve lived and bicycled in a number of cities in the United States, including NYC and short of someone telling me I can’t bring my bicycle inside. I’ve always managed to bring my bicycle inside without to much difficulty. So what is his solution, a video is worth 1000 words.

Installing a personal bike rack on a public street will not guarantee other people are going to use it. As for his whining about having to remove it, he could have just as easily created a time-lapse video documenting how many bikes are locked in the street over 30 days and lobbied New York City to install a bike rack. But that’s too much work and effort.

Congratulations Casey Neistat for being a double DBAGS alert, please let us know where to send your award.

Friday Funnies-Biker Gang

This is how sell bicycles to children of all ages.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Its rare that anyone posts a comment on the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia's blog, even rarer is when a post disagrees with the BCGP, but the rarest of them all is when multiple posts disagree with the BCGP.  On March 21 the BCGP announced the improvements made to the Schuylkill River Trail on the section from the Montgomery County/Philadelphia border to Manayunk.  There were multiple comments made, so we went on a field trip to see if there was a cause for concern.

The Good

Finally the paved section of the SRT along the Philadelphia section was widened from less than 5 feet to 12 feet that matches the rest of the trail and will make for safer experience for all trail users. Also after many years of use and some serious flooding along the Manayunk Tow Path erosion damage and the dilapidated wooden bridges that had become structurally unsound was repaired. The new bridges now have an asphalt ramp at each end to prevent erosion around the immediate area of the bridge.

The Bad

For all of the money that was spent on this massive undertaking something could have done something about the cobblestones that connect the towpath to the Nixon St. Instead we are stuck with the same wheel-sucking, rim bending section that is going to be a problem for every cyclist trying to ride through that area.

The Ugly

In the past the Connection from the SRT to the Canal Tow Path involved exiting the SRT and riding along Nixon St. to the Canal Tow Path. Now there is a 300-yard extension that runs parallel to Nixon and down to the intersection of Shawmont and Nixon. This does make this section of the trail ADA compliant. However every cyclist will come downhill into the intersection and cross on a diagonal, against traffic. Which is compounded by joggers, cyclists, and cars coming around the corner into expected any traffic. Which is an accident waiting to happen. Fortunately you can still turn right before the extension and use Nixon St.

Note the retaining wall that blocks the view of all traffic coming around the corner on the left

One commenter summed it up best: “Not a complaint, but feedback. Everyone LOVES all that was done with the exception of the trail dumping onto Shawmont. It is a somewhat dangerous design by most accounts, and we don't want to some day tell an injured cyclist to stop complaining. “

It was an experience

If you weren't at Rittenhouse Square last Thursday at 6pm you missed on opportunity to ride with Bike Snob NYC and a unique collection bicycles and their owners. The bikes ranged from the standard array of ten speeds, fixies and mountain bikes, along with a long tail bike, a Bike Fiet, a vintage Penny Farthing, and a Schwinn Triplet. As well as Bike Snob NYC's folder, a very nice bike, but I won't reveal what it is.

The Triplet was a rather unique bike, a steel framed Schwinn with drum bikes, and when you make a turn, its like make a turn in a truck. All of your turns are long and wide. I talked with the owner had he has several tandems in addition to the triplet. But what makes the triplet owner a rare individual is that he lives in a town house and he stores it inside. Which means carrying it up a flight of stairs, which is no easy feat.

Bike Snob NYC is one of the most low key and self-deprecating individuals I have ever met. Having him visit your town is like Weird Al Yankovic does a parody of your song. It’s an honor to be selected and you know that everyone will enjoy hearing it.

As for the ride itself you'll have to have to read about it here. But I will say this; Curtis of Via Bicycle made several emergency repair assists that kept everyone on the road and Bilenky Cycle Works for organizing this event.