Another Bicycle Garage Indy Contest

Here is a contrest entry that won me $100.00. That was almost enough to pay for my new BROOKS saddle.




Bicycle Garage IndyBGI FitnessBGI CalendarLocationsCouponPromotionsYour New Bicycle: MY new bike! by Steve Riffe
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 by Customers, Friends and Fans of Bicycle Garage Indy
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In 1984 I decided to build the best bike I could. I ordered a custom frame built of Columbus tubing. I searched high and low for Campagnolo equipment. I used Record derailleurs, crank, seat post and brakes as most would. Then I had wheels made up with Campy hubs. To top this off I scrounged to find Campy seat post bolt, handlebar plugs, toe clips, and head for the Silca pump. Then I finished it with Cinelli stem and bars.
The following summer my daughter and I made it to the White River Games in Indy. I road it in the road race but didn’t qualify for the Time trials at the Major Taylor Velodrome. My daughter did make it to the time trials and as I watched her warming up on her heavy old Nishiki bike and saw what she was against. I got an idea. I went out got “MY” new bike and lowered the saddle. The rest is history. She came if first place for her age group. I may not have won on “MY” new bike but seeing her win was even better.

Name: Steve Riffe
Bicycle: Custom built Columbus
City: Leesburg
State: Indiana



Steve: Thanks from everyone at Bicycle Garage Indy for sharing Your Bicycle picture and Story. It is neat to see a picture from the then "new" Major Taylor Velodrome.

Bicycle Garage Indy

The BGI asks for stories and pictures from time to time. This is the second time this year they have posted one of mine.



Do you have a great picture of you and Your Bicycle from 2011? Wow it’s had to pick. 2011 has been a GREAT cycling year for me! Here is a picture of me putting the finishing touches to my 1972 Follis 472. I did a complete tear down, then powder coated and a rebuild with all the alloy parts polished. The next day’s shake down ride was flawless. The year has ended with 134 volunteer hours at The Chain Reaction Bike Shop in Goshen, IN. This has been a great experience. Helping others to ride that otherwise might not be able to. And being on the Warsaw / Winona Lake Bicycle Friendly Community task force to find safe bike routes in our community has been very rewarding also. Here’s looking to 2012 being an even better year for all riders!

Name: Steve Riffe
Bicycle: 1972 Follis 472
City: Leesburg
State: Indiana

Steve:  Thanks for your efforts in the Wasaw area for a more Bicycle Friendly Indiana!  And thanks from Bicycle Garage Indy for sharing Your Bicycle picture and story.  

Christmas Presents!

Christmas at our daughters this year was awesome! Great presents and a great meal! Then a tour of WORKING BIKES in Chicago on the 26th. Andrew made me a great shop stool and wind chimes all out of bike parts.

How much do I love cycling?

How much do we love cycling? This question was on Bicycling’s Face Book page and made me think about it. I have ridden for over 50 years and it just keeps getting better! I may not ride as far as I did when I toured from Indiana to N.Y., I may not climb the hills like I did when I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway or I may not go as fast as when would enter a race, but it is better. Now I ride slower but I help others to ride. Volunteering at the Chain Reaction Bike Project bike shop to recycle bikes for others that might not be able to afford one is better. I also am on the Warsaw / Winona Lake Bicycle Friendly Community task force. We are looking for safer bike routes in the community for kids and adults. It isn’t just about the riding but what you can do to make cycling better!

More Pictures of the Cannondale for Sale. See Last Post.

Santa Came Early!

I want to share something that happened Saturday at the Chain Reaction Bike Shop.
A man come into the shop and said he liked what we were doing. He was dressed very well and looked very professional. He donated a Cannondale CAADX Cyclecross bike to the shop. It is in new condition, not a scratch on it, the chain isn’t even dirty. It is a beautiful red and white with SRAM drive system. I measured it at 56 cm. Unfortunately, we were so caught up in the bike we didn’t get his name. This donated bike will be sold so lots of other bikes can be recycled for others! We are going to ask $1100.00 for this $2000.00 bike. I just had to put it on my trainer tonight and try it out .......SWEET!
K-Mart has its secret Santa’s that pay off others lay-a-ways and the Red Cross has its gold coin droppers but we had our own Christmas miracle.

Next Project

Where the Village Cyclery started.

Tandem Rebuild

Pictures above are of one of this summer’s rebuilds. I started with a 1970’s something Columbia tandem that had been given to me years ago. Not the one in picture, mine was much worse. I stripped it down to bare metal and repainted it. Then I turned it into a Mountain Bike style tandem. The biggest change is the new heavy duty rims built with the old hubs and drum brake. It is amazing how good a ride you get from it. The 50# plus weight give it a ride more like a limo compared to a small car.

Tandem Rebuild

Welcome to the Village Cyclery!

Welcome to the Village Cyclery!
The Village Cyclery was my bike shop in the 70’s. I now have a shop in my home for my own diversion, amusement and enjoyment. I work on my bikes and any others that I have time for.
I also volunteer at the Chain Reaction Bike Shop in Goshen. ( crbp.org )The Chain Reaction is part of the Chain Reaction Bike Project. I believe in this project. It is totally run on donations from the public. Bikes are donated and kids and adults can work to earn a bike. They can repair their own bike and learn bike repair at the same time. The volunteers are there to help and assist people working on bikes. We also rebuild used bikes for sale. We make bicycles available to others that otherwise might not be able to have one.