Bikes Shall Someday Rule The World...

New Blog

2010-09-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

This blog will no longer be updated. Check out the new JBS blog here.

A great write up about the Allegheny Highlands Railtrail

2010-09-10T16:21:00.000-07:00

Allegheny Highlands Trail is a level path in middle of W. Virginia mountains

By BOB DOWNING

Akron Beacon Journal

PARSONS, W.Va. - It was no contest: The yellow jackets won.

I had pedaled from Parsons to Hendricks. I got off my bike in Hendricks (population 317) to check the information kiosk for a new trail map.

A few yellow jackets buzzed. One got stuck in my jacket sleeve. That angered him. He stung me and called in reinforcements.

I took off running and swatting. I got about a dozen stings to my hands, face and the back of my head. Ouch times 12. But there was no allergic reaction; I could still gratefully breathe and swallow.

Welcome to West Virginia's Allegheny Highlands Trail.

The rail-trail stretches 21 miles along U.S. 219 from Elkins in Randolph County to Parsons in neighboring Tucker County. That section opened in 2001.

Most of Tucker County and 25 percent of Randolph County lie within the rugged 919,000-acre Monongahela National Forest. The elevations within the national forest range from 1,000 feet to 4,863 feet.

But the Allegheny Highlands Trail is mostly flat, and that's the biggest surprise.

The trail follows the route of the old West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh Railway that was built in 1884 by Henry Gassaway Davis. Later it became the Western Maryland Railway. That explains the lack of steep grades in a land dominated by mountains.

Now the trail runs an additional 2.63 miles from Parsons with its old railroad depot along the Black Fork River to Hendricks. That pretty section opened in early 2004.

A 1.04-mile section in Parsons was completed in late 2009.

A new bridge is under construction on U.S. 219 at the edge of Parsons for the highway and trail. The trail is now detoured through the U.S. Forest Service's Nursery Bottom forest research center at Bretz.

Parsons (population 1,784) also wants to restore the old 240-foot-long Western Maryland Railway bridge over the Shavers Fork River into a trail-only structure.

A 0.8-mile southern section through Elkins is still to be completed, from Highland Park to the restored Western Maryland Railway station in the Elkins rail yard.

The trail will be 25 miles when completed.

A warning: West Virginia's Allegheny Highlands Trail is different from Pennsylvania's old Allegheny Highlands Trail that now is part of the Great Allegheny Passage that runs from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Md.

But the Allegheny Highlands Trail is a work in progress.

There are plans to extend the trail from Hendricks to the northeast, up the Blackwater Canyon 10 miles to Thomas at the edge of Canaan Valley, and from Douglas to Mount Storm.

That section from Hendricks to Thomas (population 713) will be a steep uphill climb: an ascent of nearly 1,300 feet. You can hike and bike that section now, although it is not yet improved.

Trail supporters are also working with the Allegheny Highlands Trail Partners to connect Thomas to Cumberland and the Great Allegheny Passage in western Maryland.

There will be a guided ride through the Blackwater Canyon from Thomas to Bretz on Sept. 25. The 12.5-mile downhill ride will begin at 1 p.m. Helmets are required.

The ride should take about three hours with rest stops and history stops. Shuttle service will be offered to the drivers of vehicles. The ride is not recommended for children under 10. For more information, call 304-637-7505 or e-mail info@highlandstrail.org.

Some of the best hiking and biking options along the Allegheny Highlands Trail between Parsons and Elkins are found just off the rail-trail on roads and single-track trails that lead into the national forest, according to the Highlands Trail Foundation, a grass-roots group based in Elkins.

The rail-trail provides easy access to empty back roads and wooded trails in the national forest, including those on Pheasant Mountain, for hikers and bikers.

The South Haddix Trail is an experts-only 12-mile ride that starts at Montrose. You ride up an old logging road, climbing a ridge to the east to reach a single-track trail that appeals to mountain bikers willing to climb a steep ridge and savor a wild descent.

You can also access the South Haddix Trail from Moore via Forest Service Road No. 116. It is a loop of nearly 20 miles.

The Upper Shingle Tree/Pheasant Mountain ride is a 4-mile loop from Porterwood. The trail climbs on a narrow-gauge railroad bed and then descends on a forest service road. It is accessible from Forest Service Road No. 933 at the Cheat Cooperative Wildlife Management Area.

You can also ride 15 1/2 miles from Kerens along the pretty Shavers Fork of the Cheat River.

Kerens offers a series of short loops to the west on Laurel Mountain's back roads and trails for beginners and intermediate riders.

The trail foundation lists 11 suggested loop rides off the Allegheny Highlands Trail in a trail map/brochure it distributes.

The trail runs through remote and undeveloped countryside, forests, meadows, farms, wetlands and small towns.

Geocaches have been installed along the trail for people with global positioning system (GPS) gear.

The trail's southern terminus is currently at Highland Park on the northern edge of Elkins, the Randolph County seat and a one-time railroad, lumber and coal town.

The trail was built by the West Virginia Department of Highways as a bicycle accommodation for the new Corridor H highway.

The sections closest to Elkins and Parsons are asphalt paved. The middle section through the farm country along Leading Creek is rolled limestone.

The grade is fairly easy in both directions, but gently descends from the Randolph-Tucker county line in both directions. The high point is between Montrose and Moore.

The easiest way is to start in Elkins, not Parsons.

Parking is available at Highland Park, Gilman, Kerens, Montrose, Porterwood, Parsons, Bretz and Hendricks.

The rail-trail is open to all nonmotorized recreational use including walking, bicycling, riding horses, rollerblading, skateboarding and cross-country skiing. Electric wheelchairs are permitted.

Equestrian use is discouraged on the paved trail sections near Elkins and Parsons.

For more information, contact the Highlands Trail Foundation at P.O. Box 2862, Elkins, WV 26241. You can also check out http://www.highlandstrail.org. You can also get information from the Randolph County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 315 Railroad Ave., Suite 1, Elkins, WV 26241, 800-422-3304, http://www.randolphcountywv.com. Also the Tucker County Convention & Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 565, Davis, WV 26260, 800-782-2775, http://www.canaanvalley.org. You can also get topographic maps of the Monongahela National Forest at the U.S. Forest Service office in Elkins. It is at 200 Sycamore St., Elkins, WV 26241, 304-636-1800. The Internet site is http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf. There are also three bike shops in the area with rentals, shuttles and helpful information:

-Blackwater Bikes, Davis, 304-259-5286.

-Joey's Bike Shop, Elkins, 304-636-0219.

Other nearby attractions include whitewater trips on the Cheat River, the Fernow Experimental Forest, the Otter Creek Wilderness, Blackwater Falls State Park, Canaan Valley State Park and the Dolly Sods Wilderness.

Bob Downing: bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com

Posted on Mon, Aug. 30, 2010 07:08 AM

SM 100

2010-09-09T05:48:00.001-07:00

ShenandoahMt 100: Mandi 14th woman, 10 hours 36 minutes. Overall she hung in there for a better than mid pack finish.

Me 52nd overall, 8 hours 42
minutes. I rode a fast somewhat party pace all day. Didn't want to dig to deep was more concerned about enjoying my day.

John Weber, 9:34! Awesome finishing time for a fella who only rides 3 times a week!!!

Team JBS got some great exposure at a national level event and we all had a great painful time.

Whitmeadow Rendezvous!!!

2010-08-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

Steve,John,Mandi,Me, Andy, Greta(she did the abbreviated Rendezvous) and Sara.

Sara

John's thigh and Mandi.

Andy(he always rides with his eyes closed)

Steve

The Whitmeadow Rendezvous was a smashing success!!! Six people including myself tackled the hair raising trails up on Cheat Mountain. Bruises and bumps abounded but no one had any serious injuries. The ride consisted of: Stonecoal, Crouch, Whitmeadow and the Shavers Fork River trail. The ride length was somewhere around 22 slow rolling miles. The conditions were perfect, dryish, sunny with a nice breeze. Post ride libations flowed freely and tasted excellent!

A big thanks to all that attended and a special big thanks to the fellas from the West Virginia Mountain Trail Runners. Dan Lehmann, Joel Wolpert and Adam Casseday have the trails up on cheat mountain in the best shape ever!

Joey

Saturday August 21st

2010-08-20T18:25:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is the second JBS sponsored WVMBA fun ride of the year, The Whitmeadow Rendezvous (best french ascent). The shop will be closed and I will be riding my bike for as long as possible. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Whitmeadow Rendezvous

2010-08-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

The Whitmeadow Rendezvous WVMBA fun ride is just around the corner, August 21st to be exact.

Here are few details:

Where: The ride will be departing from FS road 209, off of RT 250 South of Huttonsville WV. If you are unfamiliar with the area your best bet is to swing by JBS and just follow us up.

When: The ride will start at roughly 11am Saturday August 21 on FS 209. We will be leaving from JBS at 10:00am.

What: This ride is not for novices! The trails are very rooty, rocky, slippery, slow and steep. Some of the most technical riding in WV! The trails are not manicured or groomed in anyway. Simply this ride is tough and scary. Distance will be roughly 17miles and will consist of techy singletrack and some fairly long FS road climbs.

Need any more info: joeysbikeshop@hotmail.com or 304-636-0219

Trail Allert!!!

2010-08-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

The Charleston/DC bureaucrats are once again trying to take trails away from a user group to which I and many others belong. Someone thought it was a good idea to add North Fork Mountain Trail to a some pending wilderness legislation. North Fork is by far one of the most beautiful and rugged rides in WV. I have ridden it several times over the years and would hate to be forced into becoming an outlaw to ride it in the future.

Contact your supposed representative and let them know that you want them to keep there greedy blood stained hands off of our trails.

Head on over to IMBA sign up and join the fight.

Joey

Anniversary Sale!!!

2010-07-22T05:15:00.000-07:00

Joey's Bike Shop has been serving the cycling community in the Elkins area for three years now!

As a way to celebrate our 3rd year anniversary we are having a SALE!!!

Sale starts Saturday July 24th and ends August 7th:

All 2008-2009 bikes are 15% off or more in most cases!!

All 2010 bikes are 10% off!

All accessories (gloves,cycling computers, mirrors etc...) are also 10%off excludes repair parts.

Big Bear 2x12...

2010-06-13T08:12:00.000-07:00

So this is how it works. One race, 6 laps, two people. Each person has to do 3 laps. Total mileage 39ish miles. Mandi and I entered the coed pro class. On the line $1000.

So this is how it went down:

First lap, Me: I choked on the start and got into the woods somewhere around 20th. I struggled through the first half of the lap but by the midway point my legs had snapped back into shape. I finished up in 6th place overall second in class. Not to shabby for such a poor start.

Second lap, Mandi: In her words "I rode like poo". She could not get into any rhythm and felt if she was riding to hard for the speed she was moving. We lost two positions. 2nd after first lap, 4 after second lap.

Third lap, Me: I had my work cut out for me. I had about a minute to make up on Brad Wilhelm and fourish on Gunnar. I started my lap slow, worked into it and by the end had put about 3 minutes on Brad and maybe a minute on Gunnar. 4th place back to second.

Forth lap, Mandi: The sky opened and the rain came down, hard. The winds picked up and the temperature dropped. All of which played to Mandi's favor. She likes tough girl conditions. Mandi got caught by Betsy but she closed in on Sue, of the Sue and Justin team, the leading team. Started second, came in third, but closed in on Sue and Justin.

Fifth lap, Me: I pooped the bed, sort of. I rode well but not fast. I was struggling with an upset stomach. I didn't reel Gunnar or Justin back in but I opened up a bigger gap over Brad. I limited are losses and left Mandi in a fairly good position going into the last lap. Started third finished in third.

Sixth lap, Mandi: Before starting the lap Mandi was waiting for me in the start tent on the verge of puking. She had nothing in her stomach and figured that the last lap would be a real struggle. She was wrong, she had wings! Mandi caught second place, Sue, and preceded to ride like she has never ridden before. Mandi said she rode like she had some one elses legs.

We finished up with a strong second place showing.

The Big Bear 2x12 was an incredibly fun and challenging event. Our hats are of to Mark Schooley and the Big Bear crew. You folks but together a superbly run event in very short order. I hope it continues for years to come.

Peace, Joey

2010-05-19T04:54:00.000-07:00

Don't forget May is national bike month. The week of May 17-23 is national bike to work week.

Great Weekend!!!!

2010-05-17T05:14:00.000-07:00

Carryn

John

The Crew: John, Carryn, Bruce, Scott, Andrew, Mike, ME, Mandi, Sarah and John.

Andy

Mike

"Sabrina" and Mandi

John

The 3rd annual Shingletree Shuffle went off without a hitch on Saturday. Ten riders, no broken bones, no broken bikes. The weather was picture perfect! Blue skies, coolish temps and loads of sunshine. Big thanks to everyone who attended and please feel free to ride the Shingletree trail network anytime you like.

Peace, Joey

Bonus: Mandi and I went down to Bluefield WV Sunday for the Crying Wolf Challenge MTB race. Mandi and I were both big wieners! Yeah!!! Mandi 1st expert women! Me first overall!

Shingletree Shuffle...

2010-05-11T05:41:00.000-07:00

When: Saturday May 15th, 11am!!

Where: Porterwood terminus of Allegheny Highlands Trail. 219 North. Just a bit south of Parsons.

What: 15ish miles of West "by golly" Virginia singletrack. Long semi arduous climbs followed by fast flowy singletrack descents. Not for the for the weak of heart or timid of spirit.

If you need more info: joeysbikeshop@hotmail.com

Shingletree/Clover

Map your trip with EveryTrail

Thursday Ride: Pheasant Mountain

2010-05-07T05:29:00.000-07:00

Small group this past Thursday for the JBS ride. Just Mandi, Mike Stennes and me. We did a 15 mile ride up on Pheasant Mountain. It was a beautiful evening and a very enjoyable ride.

Joey

Post Race interview MMM

2010-05-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

Cycling Videos on CyclingDirt

Thursday South Haddix Hussle...

2010-04-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Where we did the hussle.

Me fixing Ben's chain the first time. Lucky for him I have broken plenty of chains in my day.

Ben.

Mike #2

The Crew: Three Elkinites, three Buchaneers, and one Clarksburger.

John in his favorite position.

The Mandena.

Jake

Mike on the SS.

Once again we had a great JBS Thursday evening group ride. This time the eclectic crew converged on Mont-rose WV and hit up South Haddix trail. South Haddix is a typical WV ridge ride. Straight up, straight down. Aside from a couple broke chains or should I say one chain that was broken twice, the ride went off without a hitch. Thanks fellas, it was a hoot.

Peace, Joey

Thursday Shingletree Shakedown...

2010-04-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

The crew. Three Elkinites and five Parsonsites.

Andy and his AWD machine.

Wayne the one braked wonder.

Mandi showing all the fellas how "it" is done.

Chris almost making it.

15 miles of sweet WV singletrack! Dry, fast and most importantly fun. Thanks guys for a great Thursday evening ride.

Peace, Joey

Shingletree Trail at EveryTrail

Map your trip with EveryTrail

Mug Shot...

2010-04-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

Podium mugs from Big Bear!!! Mandi 2nd woman!!! Joey 4th overall!!! Great way to start the race season.

Joey

New Mail Box!!!

2010-04-09T05:47:00.000-07:00

I have had this idea kicking around in my head for a while. It is a broken frame and a non functioning fork. A gutted headset and a very long Coda stem that should have never been and never will be installed on a bike again. My mail man gave it a thumbs up!

Joey

Get them while they last

2010-03-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

Get them while they last!

Green or Black
Tec Tees
$25.00

Email Joey at joeysbikeshop@hotmail.com to get yours.

Bike Review: Fuji SLM 2.0

2010-03-29T05:16:00.000-07:00

I received my Fuji SLM 2.0 back in mid January. Needless to say I did not get to ride my new carbon steed much this winter. Winter has broke and spring has sprung, the long ardeous rides of a want-a-be mountain bike racer have commenced again. I have gotten in several long dual sport(road/trail/dirt road/doubletrack) style rides and several all singletrack "hot lap" rides. So without further ado a little bike review.

Climbing: What can I say the bike weighs 21lbs out of the box! I swapped a few of the stock parts with some of my own, either for additional weight savings or because of comfort issues. The bike now weighs some where in the 20lb range with my heavy "winter" tires still installed. There are no issues with maintaining traction over roots or rocks and there is no discernible lateral flex. Basically the bike climbs like a rocket headed toward the moon!

Descending: Once again the lightness of the bike is very noticeable. Changing lines on even the roughest descents is not a problem. I feel as if I can just pick the bike up easily and place it anywhere on the the trail I want. The frame offers a degree of horizontal flex very akin to a nice riding steel hardtail. The Rock Shox Sid suspension fork feels very much like her slightly more portly sister Reba and does an admirable job of soaking up the small chattery stuff along with the big hits.

Cornering: . The Fuji SLM 2.0 steers quick without that annoying twitchy race bike feel. The bike holds a nice line through even the most rutted corners.

Hammering Along: What can I say, this bike wants to be ridden hard. The more aggressive you are the more you are rewarded. The SLM 2.0 loves it when you jump up off the saddle and attack a hill. That it is what this bike is designed for.

The Verdict: BRING ON RACE SEASON!!!

Spec:

S, M, L
Color(s)	Carbon
Main frame	C-10 Super Lite T3 High Modulus carbon with custom weave carbon strands with RIB (Re-inforced I Beam), Integrated aluminum cupped head tube, Double water bottle mounts.
Rear triangle	C-10 Super Lite T3 High Modulus carbon stays with shaped ride tuned chainstay, cold forged dropout with replaceable hanger and CNC Disc mount only option
Fork	NEW Rock Shox SID Team, 100mm Travel w/ PopLoc Remote
Crankset	Shimano XT w/ Integrated spindle, 22/32/44T(changed the big ring to a 42)
Bottom bracket	--
Pedals	Shimano
Front derailleur	Shimano XT, 34.9mm
Rear derailleur	Shimano XT Shadow (changed to a SRAM X9 mid cage)
Shifters	Shimano XT Trigger, 27-speed (changed to X7 gripshift front,X9 trigger back)
Cassette	Shimano XT, 11-34T 9-speed
Chain	Shimano HG-73, 9 speed (SRAM)
Wheelset	Shimano XT Tubeless Disc, 26"( changed to WTB Laserdisc light/Stans 355)
Tires	Schwalbe Racing Ralph UST, 26 X 2.1"(Schwalbe Fat Albert for winter/spring)
Tubes	Nil
Brake set	Shimano XT Hydraulic Disc
Brake levers	Shimano XT
Headset	Ritchey Logic Zero Pro 1 1/8" Press Fit Integrated, 30mm spacers
Handlebar	Ritchey WCS Al Flatbar( Salsa Pro Moto 17 degree sweep)
Stem	Ritchey WCS V3, 1 1/8"
Tape/grip	Fuji Lock-On Kraton rubber (WTB technical)
Saddle	Ritchey Streem WCS (WTB Shadow v)
Seat post	Ritchey WCS forged Al, 350mm (Thomson no offset)
Seat clamp	Fuji Superlite Alloy, 34.9mm Laser Etched

Thursday Evening Road Ride presented by Joey

2010-03-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

Were is every one? 5:30 sharp.

Floyd was there so it turned into hammer fest.

Cobbles!

Colts foot

2010-03-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

Allegheny Highlands Trail is now clear of snow!!!

First Colts foot sighting of 2010 (St. Patrick's days)

Back to Regular Hours...

2010-03-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

Monday: 9-5
Tuesday: 9-5
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 9-5
Friday: 9-6
Saturday: 9-2
Sunday: Closed

Evening and Wednesday/Sunday customers call first for an appointment.

AWD

2010-03-06T05:49:00.001-08:00

Andy and his AWD machine between two AWD machines!

Pictured with the best AWD car in the world.

Front gear interface.

Rear gear interface.

Check out Andy's AWD Christini mountain bike. Yep All Wheel Drive, 2wd! It is down right awesome. He ordered the frame kit directly from Christini Bikes and got all the parts from me. We built it all up yesterday and then commenced to play with it the snow. The front wheel drive definitely adds a good deal of drag but makes up for it with its go anywhere ability.

It is the perfect Andy bike.

Joey

Winter Riding Tips...

2010-03-05T05:39:00.000-08:00

Winter has subsided enough here in Randolph County to allow for some road riding, sketchy road riding. Snow, Ice, giant pot holes and rabid deer looking for food are all menaces to safety this time of year. So with out further ado Joey's 10 tips for safer winter riding.

1) Lower your air pressure. That goes for MTB's and road bikes. Actually better yet leave the road bike at home.

2) Look ahead. Just like in mountain bike riding, look down the road and try to anticipate the next sketchy obstacle.

3) Be prepared and stay loose. No death griping the bars and when your wheels start sliding just go with it.

4) Move over. Give motorists plenty of room. They are dealing with poor road conditions also and are not always on the look out for cyclists this time of year.

5) Dress for the occasion. This could be an entire post in its self. Remember layers, zip and unzip as needed. Do not perspire to much: wet= cold.

6) Take extra gloves. Once again sweating in you gloves going up will make them feel awful cold coming down.

7) Warm shoes are a must. The extremities get cold well before the core. Winter riding shoes, over shoes/booties and/or shoes that are one size larger (so you can layer) all work. Remember leave enough room to allow for wiggling your toes. Keep the little piggies moving and they will stay warm .

8) Fenders!!!! Road grime in the chamios sucks.

9) Glasses. Cinders in your eyes hurt. Glasses also add a little coverage to keep your face warm.

10) Wet lube and lots of it. Keep your chain saturated with a nice high quality wet lube such as Finish Line XC lube. Also rinse your drivetrain as soon as you get back from riding. I usually just dump a bucket of hot water over the drivetrain to wash off any accumulated salt and then wipe it down. Salt leads to rust which leads to diminished drivetrain life.

There you have it, Joey's top 10 musts for enjoyable (yeah right) winter riding.

20 more days untill Spring!

2010-03-01T06:32:00.000-08:00

The Spring anticipation sale is still going on.
All in stock bikes are 15% off.
All in stock accessories 15% off.
Quick tunes $20
Complete Tunes $85 (normally a $100)
Spring anticipation sale ends March 21st.
Once Spring is here we will no longer be anticipating it.

Joey

2010-02-24T05:59:00.000-08:00

Pivot Sign 24 Hour World Champion	February 2010

Jason English, 24 Hour World Champion, Is on Pivot in 2010

The reigning World 24 Hour champion is riding Pivot Cycles for the 2010 season. Jason English, from Port Macquarie, Australia will defend his title aboard the USA's most innovative full suspension mountain bikes. "Jason is a perfect match for Pivot," said Adam Vincent, Pivot's marketing manager. "He demands a bike that is lightweight, stiff and precise and pedals with efficiency. The Mach 4's innovative frame design with dw-link technology delivers." English will be riding the 2010 Pivot Mach 4 with Fox Suspension, DT Wheels, Magura Brakes, and Kenda Tires. His bike weighs in less than 22 lbs and gives him an advantage in efficiency and handling over some of the world's toughest race courses. English rode the Mach 4 to victory at his first race of the year, the JetBlack 24Hours in Sydney Feb 13.

And a word from Chris Cocalis:

We at Pivot Cycles believe in putting the best components on the best bikes. We use the most cutting edge Fox suspension and DT wheels and not cheaper house brand stuff. This is most noticed in the suspension component, cranks, and the wheels. We get better traction on the climbs, have a stiffer frame, with pivot longevity and tolerances that are in a different league. Most magazine editors in the US rides a Pivot as their personal bike. Many of them have purchased bikes from us after a test. These guys can ride anything they want, yet it is the Pivot that they prefer as their favorite bike when they are testing components or just want to go ride when not testing something for the magazine. Even the head suspension test engineer at Fox has a Mach 5 that he rides as his personal trail bike. He feels that it is the best example for highlighting Fox technology because the suspension design is so dialed to work perfectly with the Fox suspension. Pivot is an engineering based company with the total goal of building the most efficient high performance full suspension bicycles that also take into account shifting performance, cable routing, ease of assembly, serviceability, and longevity.

Ice cycles...

2010-02-16T06:11:00.000-08:00

Recent Pics...

2010-02-05T13:25:00.001-08:00

The riding conditions lately have been down right miserable. But nothing has been keeping Mandi and I off our new Fuji bikes. The snow has been heavy and wet which makes for slow going and an awesome workout. This weekend looks as if it will be a wash for the riding so it may be back to the skis for a few days. Anything to stay of the trainer.

Joey

Spring Anticipation Sale!!!!

2010-02-02T13:04:00.000-08:00

Spring is just around the corner, I hope.

So in anticipation of longer days , colts foot and warmer temperatures Joey's Bike Shop is having a sale.

All in stock bikes: 20% off or more
All special order bikes: 10% of with and 20% deposit
Quick tunes: $20
Complete tunes: $85

Also don't forget about Joey's growing selection of pre-loved bikes. Ranging in price from $50-$1800.

So drag those bikes out, dust then off, and bring them down to JBS so I can work my magic.

Joey

Get them while they last...

2010-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

2009 Kestrel Evoke. Full carbon frame, full carbon fork, Shimano 105 components.
Was: $2600 Now: $1600!!!
Drop by the shop, throw down 20% and I will order you one of your own.

2009 Fuji SL-1 (SRAM) 14.7 lbs!!!
Was: $7600 Now: $4000
Make this baby yours.

The ultimate magic carpet ride.
2009 Fuji Outland RC 29er
Was: $4850 Now: $2800!!!

JBS also has small selection of more affordable bikes all ready to find new homes. And don't for get the great selection of used bikes: ranging in price from $50-$150

JBS on Facebook...

2010-01-15T10:26:00.000-08:00

Check out Joey's Bike Shop on Facebook.

Shavers-Bickles Ski...

2010-01-15T10:23:00.000-08:00

First tracks on Bickles. No tire tracks, no footprints, no ski tracks(until we arrived). What a wonderful human powered day it was.

Peace, Joey

2010 Pivot Mach 4...

2009-12-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

Here it is! Isn't it just lovely.

Quality to the power of 10.

Where you can get one.

Joey

Big Snow of '09 (Dec. 19th)

2009-12-29T07:01:00.000-08:00

Saturday:

The snowmobile was completely covered.

Skied right out the bike shop door Saturday morning and...

...down to the rail trail. Were I broke tracks for Mandi so she could SKI to work. Her boss was ecstatic as she to is also an avid skier.

Sunday:
Skied right from the house. That has only happened a couple time since we moved to Elkins.

Monday:

Open for Business.

Big pile of snow just begging for a snow cave!

Happy Winter Solstice, Joey.

Mini-Review: Breezer Finesse

2009-12-07T07:12:00.000-08:00

Submitted by Frank Wuerthele on Wed, 12/02/2009 - 09:48

When the daily commute is long and the round trip demands speed and function above all, the Breezer Finesse is a bike worthy of consideration.

Under the Breezer tent at this year's Interbike Dirt Demo, it was no surprise to have Joe Breeze himself personally prep and detail my Vegas commuter. (Our compound was a few miles outside the Strip and offered a great opportunity to test ride-to-work commuter bikes.) Joe prefers to be in the mix. His accomplishments are numerous. He has achieved the highest level of respect amongst his racing, design, frame building and advocacy peers. Yet, more than anything, all Joe Breeze wants is for us to enjoy the ride.

I've ridden plenty of "purpose-built" advertised bicycles. Few have delivered as well on their promise as the $1800 Finesse. The merits of this bike go well beyond its advertisement as "a fine-tuned speed machine."

The chassis is a butted 7005 aluminum frame—stiff and light. That's good. The frame is painted in a rich, BMW-like blue and accessorized with a carbon fork and seat post—light and vibration-damping to smooth out the ride and ease my back pain. That's good too. It has an eccentric bottom bracket. Why is that good? It keeps tension on the chain (as this bike comes with an internal geared hub—more about this later) and it makes for a quick change in the case of a flat rear tire. But more than anything what I really liked about the frame was how it felt when riding, just the right balance between an aggressive road bike position and the comfort of a hybrid. It didn't twitch or wobble at speed under a load. It was still comfortable. And most of all, it was fast!

The component bundle selected for this bicycle is top-shelf. I've never ridden Shimano's top-of-the-line Alfine component group before and didn't know just why it is held in such high regard until we set out on our first ride. As we approached a busy intersection, a traffic light quickly turned red and caught me by surprise. I didn't have to down-shift while still pedaling toward the light. The Alfine shifter partnered with the 8-speed internally geared hub allowed me to shift while at a standstill. That's huge! It allowed me to focus on traffic instead of shifting. Of course, the transmission also worked flawlessly when on the move.

The feel of the Alfine brake levers mated to the Shimano hydraulic brakes instilled confidence—powerful but not too grabby. One-finger braking allows me to keep the rest of my fingers on the handlebar doing their job—steering accurately. When hauling ass to work and back these brakes will help shave off some time and keep you safer in traffic.

Inevitably I'll slam a curb or pothole with the bike loaded down. Shimano's Alfine hubs laced with double-butted spokes to Shimano rims are solid and reliable yet do not detract from the need for speed. As much as I try to pronounce "Schwalbe" correctly I just can't. But from experience I can announce that their Marathon Racer tires are an excellent choice to make the ride faster and safely navigate around that occasional gravel blob that jumps in your immediate line just as a 16-wheeler is buzzing past.

Attention to detail—the extras parts on the Finesse are what really elevates an already distinguished bicycle to the next level. In many cases a commuter bike comes plain and the rider has to take the time, effort and money to purchase the stuff that makes the rig safe, functional and comfortable. The Finesse comes with almost all of the goodies you can ask for.

Lights matter. The Finesse comes equipped with Busch & Muller's hub-powered headlight and taillight package, called the Lumotec IQ Fly Senso Plus. With a name like that you know that it's got to be totally rad. Really bright, no maintenance—no batteries, reliable, along with clever and clean wire routing integrated into the frame. All these things make the nighttime commute back home safe and quick without any fuss.

When I do long rides, I appreciate having multiple hand positions at my disposal to help keep my back pain-free. The Finesse addresses that need with the addition of adjustable "Joe Bars," bar extensions attached on each side of the stem of the swept-back riser handlebar. When the opportunity presents itself on long straights I can get low on the Joe Bars and really crank it out, and it gives my back a different angle to keep the pain in check. In addition to the Joe Bars, a Ritchey adjustable stem allows the rider to dial in just the right angle for the ride.

Front and rear fenders and a chain guard help to keep things clean and dry on crappy, wet days. A warning bell comes in handy when overtaking other slower commuters (who unfortunately aren't riding a Finesse). To round out the Finesse's well-appointed package, a really cool "Truss Sport" rear rack mounts higher up on the seatstays, offering a cleaner look and less wind resistance than traditional rear racks, but unfortunately it does not support standard panniers. Shucks.

All things considered, the Breezer Finesse offers clean, crisp lines, a regal paint scheme, a machine designed for speed and function that comes bundled with all the right goodies packaged expertly together. All you need now is to move far enough away from the job to appreciate the ride.

Breezer Bikes is online at www.breezerbikes.com.

SUNday...

2009-11-30T12:58:00.001-08:00

It was a tad snowy starting but once we got up high and in to the sun it was marvelous. Every weekend this month has been great. Warm, sunny and dry. I really hope it continues. Fingers crossed.

Peace, Joey.

Happy First Snow Day...

2009-11-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

Hey there cycling enthusiast. What a great fall it has been! The weather could not be beat. Warm and dry just like fall should be. But alas it had to end. Today the snow flakes are dancing around in dizzy little circles. Some are accumulating but for the most part they are all melting away into oblivion.

The snow flakes act as a reminder though. A reminder that Christmas is just around the corner! In celebration of the Holiday season JOEY'S Bike Shop is having a BIG SALE.

All Bikes in stock 20% off.

All special order bikes 10% off.

All in stock items 20% off.

All special order items 15% off.

Also JOEY'S has a rather large selection of USED bikes. Ranging from 24" wheeled kids to a mondo large cruiser bike. Priced from $50---$130.

Have some old cycling gear lying around? Have a couple old bikes collecting dust in the garage? Let ME sell them for you on EBAY!! For a nominal fee I will sell your "stuff" on EBAY and make you some CASH. I have been "EBAYING" for several years now and have a perfect 100% rating.

Peace, Joey

PS: Remember to always shop locally and support those that support you.

North Fork...

2009-11-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

North Forked again and boy was it mighty beautiful up on that wonderful ridge on Sunday. A rowdy bunch we were: Mandi, John, Me and (gasp) Jason Cyr. It would have been the perfect ride if wouldn't have been for all my pesky flats. I guess 850 grams tires just are not tough enough for my 115 lb bee-hind. If you have never rode North Fork trail you shouldn't or maybe you should. It is up to you.

Peace, Joey

Slaty Ride...

2009-10-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

Corral? No, corral mushroom under glass.

John rode 30 miles in his dress shoes! That will teach him.

The pond but no beavers.

Peace, Joey

Sully...

2009-10-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in the Elkins area and are looking for a killer road ride look no further. We call it the Sully ride you will call it tough.

Peace, Joey

Dirt Rag Mini Review: Fuji Cross RC

2009-10-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

Submitted by shannon on Thu, 10/08/2009 - 12:43

At the closing of this year's Interbike Dirt Demo in Bootleg Canyon I wandered over to the Fuji Bicycles compound to pick up my three-day loaner bike, a Fuji Cross RC. Unlike most of the other bikes that were loaned to the Bicycle Times/Dirt Rag staff, mine wasn't strictly a city bike. It didn't fold for easy transporting, have a hard leather saddle, or color matched fenders. Instead, I opted for a do anything, go anywhere, take a beating machine, because in Las Vegas you never know where the evening will take you.

I discovered immediately by the multiple "Hey! Nice Bike!" as I made my way back to the van, that the Fuji Cross RC draws a lot of attention and people recognize it as a badass cyclocross bike. So, I decided to leave it a little on the dusty side during the test to roll incognito. Even with a layer of desert obscuring the Dead Chrome/ Orange paint the compliments kept coming over the next three days, and for good reason.

Fuji's A-6 Quaternary custom butted aluminum frame has an eye catching flat top tube with cable routing along the topside to make shouldering the bike comfortable and easy during races. Along with the Fuji bonded Carbon Cross fork with aluminum steerer, Fuji carbon bar and seatpost, and Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheelset the Cross RC looks hot and rides like a rocket.

Even before the first pedal stroke I could tell that the frameset was stiff, and throwing a leg over the bar to commute to the convention center, my preconceived notion was confirmed. This bike gets up and goes with seemingly all energy transferred from my legs to the rear wheel. And when standing and cranking on the pedals I didn't feel any flex from the frame or fork. The quick pickup and un-wasted, sustained power was much appreciated when zipping along with multiple lanes of traffic and through construction zones.

Handling felt quick and snappy up front, and the riding position is pretty aggressive due to the 110mm stem combined with the 72-degree head tube and 73-degree seat tube. The 16.9" chainstays allow the rear to track fast and the 40.77" wheelbase of the size 58cm tester, along with the solid frame, gave the Cross RC a very live and active feel. While this bike performed excellent as a commuter in my time of need, I wish I had the opportunity to get it on its home turf and push the boundaries on grass and mud.

At first glance I wasn't crazy about the shape redesign of the new Shimano Ultegra shifter/brake levers and thought they would be more difficult to use during braking while riding with my hands on the hoods. They ended up feeling comfortable and the levers were easier to reach while operating from the drops. Shimano's Ultegra 10-speed drivetrain functioned flawless and got along well with the FSA Gossamer Cross crankset. I would have liked more stopping power from the TRP EuroX cantilever brakes, but that has been the demon of all cantilever brakes that I've ridden. For those that like bar mounted brakes, the Cross RC also has a set of Tektro RL-951 brake levers mounted to the flats of the drop bar.

Any cross racers out there, or those thinking about racing, looking for a light-weight, stiff and fast cyclocross bike will be pleasantly surprised by the Fuji Cross RC. You get a lot of bike for the MSRP of $2400, so check it out.

Cool Bikes and good deals...

2009-10-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

15 lbs!!! Carbon everywhere!!! Want to see a sweet Pro level road bike stop by and check it out. Was:$7600 Now: $5500

2009 Fuji Cross Comp
Was: $1480
Now: $1000

2009 Fuji Outland RC 29
Was: $4850
Now: $3400

2009 Fuji Dynamite 24" Kids bike.
Was: $460
Now: $400

All 2009 bikes are 15% off. Come and get them why the last.

Joey

Tour de Lilly...

2009-10-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

Tour de Lilly was a hoot this year. Roger and the crew at BWB know how to have a good time and put together a good ride.

Joey.

2010 Fuji!!!

2009-10-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

View 2010 Fuji's here.

The Fuji Bikes brand has roots dating back to 1899. Over the years the brand has evolved into a complete line of bicycles for all disciplines. From high-end professionally raced road and mountain bikes to beach cruisers and kids models, there’s a Fuji out there to suit just about any need.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, with offices in Europe and Asia, Fuji bicycles are proudly distributed world-wide through the independent bicycle dealer network.

A complete line of men’s and women’s bicycles including: road, mountain, triathlon, track, cyclocross, touring, cruiser, hybrid, campus, path & trail, as well as kids and police models.

Weekend Ride Pics...

2009-09-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

Decided to skip the hypothermia fest that was the Revenge and did a big ride on Sunday. Mandi, John, The Viking and I did a loop on Shingletree and then headed across 219 and did South Haddix. All of which are in wonderful shape. Lots of yellows and reds. Get out and shred why the shredding is good.

Peace, Joey.

Big events this coming weekend...

2009-09-22T04:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday:

Option One: Leaf peepers ride on the Allegheny Highlands Rail Trail. Ride Starts at 1:00 pm in Thomas. A shuttle will be leaving the Bretz parking lot at 12:00 pm for those of you who only want to ride down and not back up the canyon.

Option Two: Revenge of the Rattlesnake ultra endurance mountain bike race. 44 miles of super challenging technical trails. Race starts at 11:00 am at Blackwater Bikes in Davis. Should be an Ultra good time.

Get out and enjoy the first weekend of fall.

Peace, Joey.

Wednesday Canyon Ride...

2009-09-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

Peeping through a leaf.

Douglas Falls. The orange rocks are so beautiful!

Yes, I got another new bike! I know, I know. What can I say I am totally schizophrenic.

Them there are some rocks!

Mandi and I rode up the Allegheny Highlands Railtrail along Blackwater canyon Yesterday. Then we headed up Canyon Rim road to Limerock trail. Limerock is so rough but totally worth the effort just to see the runs that cross it. It is worth doing once every four or so years. Sorry no Garmin map of the ride, I am so over that thing.

Peace, Joey

Fall Anticipation Sale...

2009-08-18T08:38:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone.

The best riding time of the year is just around the corner FALL.

So in anticipation of fall I am marking down all 2009 bikes in stock 15%

Also all back to school accessories (locks, racks, helmets etc...) are 15% off. Basically if you come in and you look all sad and destraught because it is time to go back to prison, sorry school, I will take pity on you and give you a 15% discount.

Huckleberry trail a WV gem...

2009-08-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

Dry fork road to Spruce Knob, to Judy Springs, up Bear Hunter(almost unrideable due to equestrian damage), to Allegheny trail, up through Grouse Management area back to camp. Followed by a little picnic and beer. "Fellas it doesn't get much better than this".

Ride can be seen here...

Peace, Joey.

Bigger Cheat Ride...

2009-08-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

Ride is here.

It was a great ride. Don't let the milage and time fool you. The trails off of FS 92 are slow, technical and require lots of deliberate moves. Awesome typical WV riding.

If you want to ride on Cheat let me know and I will Email you a map.

Joey

The Real Cheat Challenge...

2009-08-06T11:25:00.001-07:00

Monday Night hike pic.

Mandi and I headed up to Cheat Mountain yesterday to do some riding. The trails on Cheat are some of the most technically treacherous trails is WV. Slippery rocks, lots of giant root formations and some nice big drops. If you are in to technically challenging trails and do not mind hitting the deck a time or ten give me holler and we can go ride on Cheat.

Peace, JOEY.

The Great Tour de Mocacinno...

2009-07-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

Every one hanging out to see if they have the best "hand".

The big wiener.

The reward for just registering.

The reward for just registering part duo.

Were the ride came together.

The great Tour de Mocacinno was this past Saturday. It was fund raising campaign and membership drive all in one. Not to mention a poker run. Rider chose to either start in Elkins or Parsons, the end I was in charge of. At there desired starting point the participants was dealt half of a poker hand. Then they hopped on there bikes and headed towards Montrose. In Mont-rose riders were dealt the rest of there hand, best hand wins 50 smackers. Also in Montrose riders rewarded with Frappucicno or water and a yummy locally made granola bar. All participants seemed to a have smashing good time. YOU should attend next year.

JOEY

Carothers bike...

2009-06-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

Joey's Bike Shop is a Ventana Bikes dealer! Come on you know you want one! Sally dosen't really need those braces and Johnny dosen't really need to go to college.

JOEY

Wednesday day off... my b-day!

2009-06-10T17:15:00.001-07:00

When Mandi asked me what I wanted to do today my response was RIDE. So ride we did. We hit up the home stomping ground of Shingle Tree and South Haddix trail. The USFS has done some work on Shingle tree recently and all the trees that were down are now gone with the exception of one that has fallen recently. It was a climbing extravaganza. The ride was followed by a dip in the river and then a trip to favorite town in WV, Davis. The reason for the trip to Davis was to go to lunch at the best darn burrito shop in the world Hellbenders. After consuming half a burrito, I could not get the whole thing down, we headed over to BWB to hang out with Roger and the gang for a few minutes. On the way home we decided to stop off for a little hike on loop rode to work off some burrito and to spend just a little more time outdoors.

All and all it was wonderful way to spend my b-day, riding my bike with my favorite person in the world.

Peace, JOEY.

Randy's new ride...

2009-06-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

Randy and his new steed a Fuji Tahoe 29 SL. To say he was pleased with it would be an understatement. I will post up a few more of my customer bikes as soon as I find them.

JOEY

Wednesday not so day off...

2009-06-04T18:25:00.000-07:00

Mobile bike repair...

...here.

Followed by an awesome ride.

Hey there...

2009-06-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to what will now be the Joey's Bike Shop happenings page. I will update this page often with group ride pics, shop pics and day to day happenings. For now here are some pics to tide you over.

New Website...

2008-10-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

joeysbikeshop.com

T-shirt factory.

2008-09-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

T-shirt pre-dye job.

The dye job.

Voila the finished product.

I would like a vowel please.

Mandi with the very attractive t-shirt model, Yuki.

Our friends John and Anne-Marie were in visiting last week from DC. They came over Wednesday night with a fun surprise, t-shirts, dye and iron on letters. We decided to play like hippies and make some tie dye shop t-shirts. We were thinking it would take a couple hours, three tops. Who were we kidding. FIVE hours later we had 5 shirts, a couple with some letters and some funky colored hands. Anne-Marie did a wonderful job photo documenting the whole a fair.

Peace, JOEY.

The bikes have arrived...

2008-09-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

Jones looking for customers.

Before

After

Lenny hanging out on the bench.

Karl hanging out in the bench.

The bikes actually showed up last week. I ordered two KHS westwoods, two Alite 500's, and two Alite 150's. The bikes all arrived in good shape with no missing parts. One of the reasons I went with the KHS line is because of there superior component spec to comparably priced bikes. Basically bang for the buck. Hopefully they all fly out the door and I can order some more soon, maybe even one for myself.

Peace, JOEY.

Press...

2008-08-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Bicycle Shop Opens in Highland Park

By Wayne Sheets Contributing Business Writer

Elkins' newest bicycle sales and repair shop opened on Aug. 18. Joey's Bike Shop, owned and operated by Joey Riddle, is located at 101 Johnson Ave., in Highland Park.

According to Riddle, he has been working on bikes of all makes and models since graduation from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1996.

"I worked for Fat Tire Cycle for seven years before its owner closed the Elkins store," Riddle said. "When I lost my job with Fat Tire, my wife and I decided to leave Elkins, but we couldn't find a buyer for our home.

"That turned out to be our good fortune, I suppose, because we didn't want to leave Elkins anyway," Riddle said. "So I decided since Elkins and the surrounding area doesn't have a bike repair facility, I would open my own."

Joey's Bike Shop is located just 300 yards from the Allegheny Highlands Rail Trail, and Riddle says that makes it convenient for people who might have a bike problem, or simply wish to come by for a visit.

"I am negotiating with the KHS Bicycle Company for the right to be a dealer for their line of bikes," Riddle said. "We should have all the necessary arrangements completed within the next two weeks."

According to promotional information, the KHS Bicycle Co. is headquartered in Rancho Dominquez, Calif., and bills itself as the "Biggest Little Bicycle Company in the World." It manufactures road, track, mountain, tandem, folding, cruiser and youth bicycles as well as Manhattan Cruisers and Free Agent BMX bikes.

"With the many years of experience in sales and repair of bicycles that I have, I look forward to serving the biking needs of our community and surrounding area," Riddle said.

The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Saturdays hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The shop is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. Appointments may be made for the days that the shop is closed and after regular business hours.

For more information, call Joey's Bike Shop at 636-0219.

Still plugging along...

2008-08-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

Things are finally starting to happen here at JOEY'S Bike Shop. I will make my first order of bikes next week! What brand? You will just have to wait. I got a load of new signs to plaster all over town. The word is getting out that there is a small bike shop in Elkins and the repair bikes have been coming in more steady now. I had a reporter stop by Tuesday from the Inter Mountain news paper. He snapped a few pictures and wrote a nice little business profile that should be appearing in the paper next week. Mandi and I with a little help from my dad finished up most of the remodeling in the bike shop. Aside from needing painted and a few finishing touches the hammer swinging is complete. So there you go, spread the word. Bikes shall someday rule the world, maybe.

Peace, JOEY

Getting there...

2008-07-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

Gots me a sign and some more stock. Now I just need some customers!

Store Hours...

2008-07-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

Monday: 9-5
Tuesday: 9-5
Wednesday: By Appointment
Thursday: 9-5
Friday: 9-5
Saturday: 9-3
Sunday: Closed

I also have evening hours by appointment. Just give me a call.

Coming along...

2008-07-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

JOEY'S Bike Shop LLC is coming along nicely. It has been a lot of work but I believe it will pay off someday.

First official day was July 1st.

Walls are painted, some of the shelves are hung and the parts and accessories are trickling in slowly.

New bench mounted work stand. Takes up less floor space.

Karl loves all the new boxes that seem to be arriving daily.

Peace, JOEY

Under Construction...

2008-07-02T05:24:00.000-07:00

I am defiantly a building construction novice but the garage renovation is coming along slowly but surely. Saturday my dad and I took down the garage door and built a store front. New door, new window now I just have to decide what color to paint it. Monday and Tuesday I put in 12+ hours hanging plywood, with Mandi's help. Now its paint time, I loath painting. Its a slow tedious process that does not fit my hurry up and get it done personality. I received my business license Monday so now everything is official like. Now I just have lots of little things to do like: get set up with some more parts vendors, find a bike line willing to sell me a few bikes, figure out when I should pay my TAXES etc...

Peace, JOEY.