Bicycle Stories

ADVANCE NOTE: Closed on Thanksgiving and #GetOutside day (a.k.a. Black Friday)

November 17, 2017 by Trophy Bikes, posted in Bicycle Stories, Events, Featured Service, Our GRUELING SKED!

One of the important things about bicycling is that you can choose your own path. The current consumer tsunami that is Thanksgiving and Black Friday, as currently practiced, are, um, the opposite of that. We are in total agreement with REI and other enlightened retailers that being closed on these days is a win for staff and citizens who can then get to hang with family and friends, or just ride off down the path alone for a while, even! Thus please note that we will be closed Nov. 23-24.

WE WILL BE BACK ON DECK for Small Biz Saturday, Nov. 25th, starting at 10 a.m.

– to resume our semi-grueling 7-day/week schedule:

8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays • 10-4 Sat. + Sun.

Cheers, and enjoy your calories – and the rides that burn them off.

(NOTE: Trophy Bikes is at 712 N. 2nd St., though we started at 757 S. 8th, above)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING (and see you Saturday!)

November 25, 2015 by Trophy Bikes, posted in Bicycle Stories, Events

Do please note that we will be closed for Thanksgiving and also for the artificial shopping frenzy session that some call Black Friday. We think you should refrain from shopping on those days; if enough of us do so, the big boxes will let their staff enjoy the holiday with their families. Then come to us on Saturday and just let that debit card rip!

This historically accurate illustration is the work of one of our favorite peoples, Mr. Peter Dalkner — find him now at http://www.justeleanor.com

IN OTHER NEWS: Trophy stalwarts Bob Burdalski and Nick Manta will return to Pittsburgh on Saturday for their second crack at THE DIRTY DOZEN, a day-long adventure that tackles 12 of that city’s steepest hills. The DD regulations note that if a rider put a foot down on any hill, he or she must go back down and start again… Wish the fellows luck!

SAVE THE DATE: Trophy Bikes would like to see you at our HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE on Thursday, Dec. 17th. We will have adult beverages, salty snacks and more. You can even pick up some warm socks for the ride home if you like! Starts around 5 p.m. and goes till a bit after our usual closing time of 7 p.m.

GOT A BROMPTON? GET ANOTHER!: Announcing an unusual holiday promo at Trophy Bikes. If you have a Brompton, you already know how good these British-made folders are. You also know that they bear a noteworthy price tag. From now up until the start of Christmas Week, we can help a bit with that part. Bring your Brompton bike to Trophy Bikes and we’ll take $101 off the cost of any Bespoke Brompton special order. (fine print: cannot be combined with any other discounts; must be paid in full at time of order, all sales final) This offer good ONLY through Dec. 22 . Oh, and while your Brompton is in the shop, we’ll check it over and let you know of any service needs.

PHILLY BIKE EXPO DOINGS!

October 20, 2015 by Trophy Bikes, posted in Bicycle Stories, Events, Philly Bike Expo

Trophy Bikes will be at the Philly Bike Expo Nov. 7-8, & you should be as well! We’ll be showing the latest from BROMPTON and SURLY.

We’ll also have some fun rides.

• Saturday, there is a Brompton Breakfast Roll to the Bike Expo. Meets 9 a.m. sharp inside Amtrak 30th St. Station (at the central info booth). We’ll ramble up and under Philadelphia’s lively center city before winding up at the Expo right around opening. NOTE: your Brompton bicycle gets you into the Expo free, including secure indoor bike parking.

• Sunday morning, DO the BUMP! This challenging ride will tackle a choice selection of Philadelphia’s oldest cobbled, brick-paved, crumbling historic streets. We rumble over the roughest roads in Kensington and Old City before arriving at the Philly Bike Expo. There will be priceless Swag thanks to Surly Bikes. MEETS 8:45 sharp at Trophy Bikes, 712 N. 2nd St. NOTE: we strongly recommend min. tire size of 2″/38mm AND helmet, spare tubes, gloves and sense of humor. Please check in at our FB Events Page!

SURLY SUNDAY AT THE EXPO If you’re riding your Surly bike on Sunday, your ticket is free. Head straight for the heavily-guarded indoor valet bike parking and show them your ticket for free admission.

For all the latest Expo events, click HERE.

BRITISH BIKE WEEKEND RETURNS–Oct. 16-17-18 , 2015

October 6, 2015 by Trophy Bikes, posted in Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, Bicycle Stories, Events

The GGBW started out in 1996 as a nostalgic event for riders of classic English roadster 3-speed bicycles, and did pretty well for years, even getting some serious press from the Philadelphia Inquirer HERE. For 2015, we’re opening things up a bit and inviting owners of new machines to attend: That means Brompton folders, Moulton Spaceframes, and of course, the shiny new Pashley roadsters that look as if they rolled straight out of a 1930s factory. If you own an older bicycle, an F-frame Moulton, say, or a Raleigh Supercourse, Clubman or Tourist, we’d like to see you. Ditto if you’re pedaling a Bickerton, Lenton Sports or BSA. If it’s made in the UK and it pedals, the British Bike Weekend will offer you a ride, a cup of tea and something stronger during the Great British Bike & Pub Crawl which starts Saturday afternoon. On Saturday morning, we’ll pay visits by bicycle to three Philadelphia shops with strong UK connections: Via Bicycle, Firth & Wilson, and Trophy Bikes. All events start/finish close to center city Philadelphia. Please visit/like/share our Facebook Event page for a full schedule and to RSVP! Oh, and please note that workshops are open to all, but for our rides, we ask that you be aboard an English-made bicycle; thanks for your cooperation in that respect.

With Kind Regards, — Michael McGettigan / Trophy Bikes, LLC

The Great British Bike Weekend: Oct. 16-17-18

BIG Bike Picnic • This Sunday, 8/30 (trophy will close for it!)

August 28, 2015 by Trophy Bikes, posted in Bicycle Stories, Events

Join us to help cap a lovely summer of cycling this Sunday. Meet us at Trophy Bikes at 10:30, or at the Reading Terminal Market at 11:00 a.m. (12/Filbert entrance)… we’ll watch bikes while everyone shops for picnic goodies, then pedal off to Belmont Plateau.

Bike on out to Belmont for a Veggie-Burger (or even a beefy one)

Trophy is bringing a couple of grills, a cooler with malted beverages, plates and utensils, and etcetero. NOTE that our shop will be closed for this event.

Go here for more details!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1610733809204420/

Pre-Season Resolutions

March 10, 2014 by Trophy Bikes, posted in Bicycle Stories, Events

I thought I’d start with sharing some of my pre-season resolutions:

Build a wheelset. This is a skill I’ve been meaning to acquire for a few years, and I’m excited to finally have the chance to apprentice under mechanics Tray, TJ, and Mitch and make a new set of wheels for a soon-to-be-mine black 46cm Surly Cross-Check.
Overnight at French Creek. I can’t wait until the weather gets a little warmer to set out on my LHT and make my way out to French Creek with the rest of the Trophy Staff. It’s supposed to be beautiful, and I’ve got to get my legs back ASAP.
Find a big hill, and climb it. Weighted. All cards on the table, I’m not that great at climbing hills. I psyche myself out. On my last tour (stories about that later) I started to learn how to climb: slow, calm breathing, never going so hard that you couldn’t talk your way up the hill. Unfortunately, there weren’t that many huge climbs on my tour, so I never really got enough practice to master this zen technique. It would be nice to not waste so much energy on feeling nervous.
Bring back the Women*’s Flat Fixing Classes! I think it’s important that cycling shops pay attention to and create communities for women*. In my own experience, as I learned more about bikes I became more comfortable riding longer distances and to new places. Having the skills to fix a flat (or help another cyclist in need) can encourage people of all identifications to cycle more often. These classes will be free, they will be fun, they’ll be led by women, and they will be designed for beginners or people who need a refresher. A list of our upcoming events will be posted soon.
Conquer my cycling fears. This means riding a fixed gear bike, riding clipped in, going on a long ride alone, and learning to wheelie. I’m going to do it all, and I’m going to do it all before April 1st. No joke.

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