Bicycle Rentals, Repairs and Trail Services on the Upper Chesapeake Bay
We’re planning BIKETOBERFESTIVAL for Sat., Oct.
18. Bike rides, BBQ, raffle, contests and prizes, bands and a
beer/beverage garden will help celebrate the new season. Look for details here in September. The fun event will help raise funds for the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps new bicycle EMT unit. Big party at Biller’s Bikes! (We’ll celebrate our first year!)
See www.billersbikes.com/events.html for detailed information.
Biller’s Bikes new and used parts service is growing fast. We stock the tires, tubes, and brake, cable and chain parts you need. You can buy many parts second-hand including wheels, handlebars, seatposts, shifters and brake levers, wheels and hundreds of sundry parts. We keep some basic accessories in stock and can often special order without deposit and receive parts within 48-hours. See our “Rentals and Repairs” page at www.billersbikes.com
Biller’s Bikes has several customers with our rental road bikes racing the North East Triathlon (run/swim/bike) tomorrow, August 17. The bike race’s Cecil County bike route follows part of the East Coast Greenway from North East to near Elkton. Watch for our shop to play a bigger role next year. Good luck to Melinda, Kristine, James and Andy!
Biller’s Bikes is good at refurbishing old family bikes. We appreciate old bikes, understand their needs, and have the parts, know-how and tools to fix them up. Here are a few things to look for in a bike at the garage sale, in the basement, under the porch, or at the thrift store.
1) Is the bike older and American- or European made?
Family bikes were made in the USA through the early 90s. Schwinns, Huffys and Roadmasters, to name a few popular brands, were built of good steel, were well-manufactured and assembled, and had quality finishes. There was good quality control. Most Chinese-built Walmart and Target bikes today, often having the same name, usually pale by comparison. There are good ones, but there are many bad apples. It has little to do with China; it has everything to do with manufacturing (read profit) decisions.
There are very real reasons that thirty-year-old bike is still around.
2) Is the crank sound? Is the rear wheel wobbly?
Bad cranks often indicate a bike best used for parts. It’s the heart of the bike. Bent rear wheels or those with bad gears or hubs may require replacement. This might be more expensive than the bike is worth and often comes with other problems.
3) Does the frame fit you? Is the bike comfortable?
Too big or too small bikes will leave you disappointed no matter how fixed up they are.
4) Seats, tires and brakes are not all that expensive to replace. A little rust isn’t bad either; much is surface and can be removed with a little hard work. Pitting can be a show-stopper. It depends.
5) Bring the bike by our shop. We’ll give you advice on whether the bike is the one for you to refurbish. Often the choice is a personal one.
6) Many newer bikes are junk. They are throwaway and not worth repair. Bad metal, cheap chrome, misfit parts, bad assembly. Shiney paint doesn’t make a good bike. (Beware of newer Mongooses and Roadmasters, we have little luck with them. Bad metal.)
7) Sometimes we are asked to fix “almost brand new” bikes that aren’t worth major refurbishment. We wish we were there when the bike was purchased and now it’s too late.
If the bike strikes your fancy, follow your bliss. But beware of crappy bikes hidden in fancy paint. An old rusty Huffy can be a diamond in the rough…
First day of the sale HALF the bikes went home with happy bikers! We still have four vintage coaster-brake bikes, four derailleur (multi-speed) bikes, several cruisers, two folding bikes, and a half-dozen quality kids bikes. Shop opens Friday 8-6. Saturday and Sunday, 8-2. Early bird gets the worm!
Bike buyers at the Biller’s Bikes “Rental Round-Up Sale” are entitled to ring our WWII ship’s bell! One ring per bike, please!
We’re offering extended posted hours Thursday and Friday for the “Rental Round-Up” sale–8 to 6. Saturday and Sunday we’ll close at 2.
The bikes out on the grass are for sale (bikes on the deck and trailer are not). Sale bikes are tagged. All bikes are As-Is, all sales are Final. There are kids bikes, hybrids, townbikes, cruisers and vintage classics. No repairs, adjustments or parts are included. We accept cash and credit cards for sale bikes.
The pre-sale interest has proven exciting! Folks are definitely “biking Havre de Grace!”
Two Days Left for the Big Sale! If you squint a little our bridge crossing bike trailer sort of looks like a rodeo corral (that’s the drop-down steps). We started pulling out bikes today and are amazed at how many different sizes and types of bikes we’ll be selling. (We count the tires and divide by two.) There’s definitely something for everyone.
Sale starts Thursday 8-6, Friday 8-6, Sat and Sun 8-2. All sales final, no early bird or set asides, first come first serve, credit and cash accepted.
Just three days left ’til the big bike sale!
Mom and Dad, we have quality kids’ bikes galore, better and cheaper than the big box stores. Many are custom-built from the finest parts by our creative and conscientous shop. Bring the kids! They’ll have the best bike in the neighborhood!
Just six days ’til Biller’s Bikes first annual rental bike “round-up sale.” We have almost brand new bikes, rebuilt and refurbished classics, workhorse rental “go-to” bikes, rusty old beaters, and more. Tagged bikes will appear Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. Tell your friends!
