Atomic Cycles (818) 609-0113
17322 Saticoy Van Nuys, CA. 91406 11-6 Tues-Sat 12-5 Sun. Closed Mondays...
Recent Events: (scroll past if you don't care)
Summer is here and it's been a really busy season so far. In an effort to make things go smooth for both you and myself please keep a few things in mind:
1. My repair work is done on a first come-first serve basis. I will not break this protocol because someone really needs their bike or came from far away. Often times, I'll have repairs already on hand so you'll have to leave your bike. Flat tires I do right away but flats only, if you need a flat fixed and a brake adjust then you'll have to put your bike in the repair line for example.
2. I get asked this a lot but there is no way for me to give you an exact time when your repair will be done. On a general level, repairs turned in before 1pm will be done the same day and others the same day or the next day. That is the best I can hold myself to and it is still very fast. Calling ahead of time to see how busy I am will not help much as often as this happens by the time you arrive more repairs will have shown up. I'm only one person and thus can only do so much at a given time, please be realistic in your expectations on your repair being returned to you.
3. My slowest days tend to be Fridays and my busiest days are Tuesdays and Saturdays. Keep this in mind if your repair is urgent or you can wait a while.
Choppercabras 9th Annual Spring Thing was a hit. Click here for some Pics . Thanks for everyone showing up and having a good time and to my friends who helped make it happen.
Bicycle Swapmeet came and went. Click here for pics. Next one in September.
January we finished up the 3rd Coaster Brake Challenge. It was the biggest one yet with 36 smoking coaster brake hubs pounding the dirt. We had some fast people out for this one but many of them only made a race or two, I understand it's hard to make every race at least you got the T-Shirt! For additional information about the Coaster Brake Challenge, click here.
In February we did the Klunker Run! We had five categories: Coaster brake only, Dept Store bike worth 200 dollars or less, Vintage Mountain bike, Single Speed, and Open (any kind of bike). We had 25 people do the race that started with a Le Mans start (running to your bike). Each lap was a mile of swoopy single track and a climb out of the canyon, really some great stuff. Great crowd, we had bb-q afterwards and we earned it! Never has a man put a Huffy through it's paces like I did on this race. For gratuitous pics, click here.
Just completed the Reseda to
the Sea ride that went the old race route, the first mountain bike race that
started in or around 1980. We had a huge turn out of over 40 bikers. About 1/3
was vintage tin, klunkers and the like. Some super rare stuff hitting the muddy
single track like a VVA and a Steve Potts bike. Hope to do it again next year. Pics
and text here. And some more
pics here.
As an experiment and a way to showcase our new wheel sets, I made a BMX conversion from a Taiwanese Schwinn. The real (vintage) bikes are prohibitively expensive, so why not weld some BMX drop outs on a bike and enjoy the ride? That's just what I did, the response I got was very positive, so I'm making four more, I have one complete left and one frame. Also I just built a cargo bike that has a forward bed with a 20" front wheel steered by linkage and ladies mountain bike for the rear. I never made one before but it rode pretty nice when we threw some old parts on it for a test spin. The owner is going to ride it around for a bit to see how it holds up before putting a finish on it. To see pics of these two projects and many more click here. I now have some of these bmx bikes for sale at the shop. Come on by and check it out. ALL SOLD OUT, INCLUDING THE WHEELS
Furthermore, I have two weekly rides going. Tuesdays is a BMX ride and Thursdays is a night time Mountain bike ride. See the events section below for further details.
Coaster Brake Challenge #4 is here! Click of the flyer to see the details. I'm really excited for this event as it's just gotten bigger and better each time, the people are awesome and we race hard! You've never seen a huffy put through so much abuse! If you like mountain biking then check it out, it's a very fun series.
"These bladder wheeled bicycles are diabolical devices of the Demon of Darkness. They are contrivances to trap the feet of the unwary and skin the nose of the innocent. They are full of guile and deceit! When you think you have broken one to ride and subdued its wild and Satanic nature, behold it bucketh you off in the road and teareth a great hole in your pants. Look not upon the bike when it bloweth upon its wheels, for at last it bucketh like a bronco and hurteth like thunder. Who has skinned legs? Who has a bloody nose? Who has the ripped breeches? They that dally along with the bicycle!"
from a sermon, Maryland, 1896.
As quoted from: A social History of the Bicycle, Robert A. Smith
EVENTS!
Bicycle Swap Meets * Choppercabras Halloween Ride & Spring Thing * Coaster Brake Challenge
Up coming events:
BMX CRUISE NIGHTS!!!
Every Tuesday 7 pm.
We get together and ride our bmx bikes. Get there by 7pm, we leave by 7:15. We don't wait for laggers, so DON'T BE LATE!!! RAIN CANCELLES. We usually go to some spot for grub that's a few miles away. And we RIDE. This is not a few block cruise or some hipster ride with beer stops, we don't stop unless one of us breaks down. Usually a 2-3 hour or so affair. Strongly recommend a 24" or 26 bmx cruiser as we like to keep up the pace but you can roll on a 20" if you've got the legs. We gladly welcome new school bikes and of course love the vintage rides. Bring lights, tools, tubes, pump, etc so you don't hang up the whole ride with a flat. The ride is fun paced but you'll need to keep up, be sure that you do. We ride under every condition except rain, which cancels. We're not trying to exclude but you'll need a bmx bike of some sort (we're ok with converted bikes, Schwinns with box bars etc.), no fixies etc though, we're going for a theme and that theme is bmx. Cool heads, that vintage rig was meant to be ridden, not hung up on a wall! Let's ride!!!
We want all years of bikes, if you don't have a vintage one, that's fine by us. And no, I don't have any vintage bmx cruisers for sale, Sorry.
Also, the 4130 BMX club holds a ride on the second Saturday of the month. Meet point the Hollywood and Highland Metro station. Meet at 7pm, roll out at 7:30. Please make sure your bike is in good running condition and that you're fit enough to ride a few miles through LA. This ain't no show n' go. See the video below to get an idea:
Night time Mountain Bike riding!!!
Bring lights (bright ones), It's a shorty loop good for old timers and people just getting into the sport, not fast or hard but fun. Recommended to bring a helmet because we're riding in the dark. Bring a tube, pump & tool so you don't kill the ride with a mechanical. Can be done on a single speed, full rigid etc. We'll expand the ride and loop as people join us. Also, We leave at 7 pm. Not 7:15, not 7:30 but 7. Be on time. This ride take anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. Come join the fun. Riding with a group is much more enjoyable than riding solo.
3rd Sunday in April and 1st Sunday in September. Free to show up, free to sell your stuff. Mini bike, go karts stuff fine too. 8 am to 12 noon. I share a parking lot with a popular bar so get there early to set up as the space is limited to about 10-20 spaces. Spaces are limited to one per person or group and are on a first come, first serve basis. Bring your own tables, change and chairs. Convince store across the street, the bar has pub grub...Last time I had about 15 vendors and loads of people passing through all day. I have about 20 crates full of bike parts, 1000's and 1000's of things, I pull the contents of my used parts storage out and you can have at it. Bring your stuff, no matter how little you have. You never know who's looking to buy. Feel free to take the flyer and re-post it elsewhere.
Sellers: Please note that if you expect top dollar (ebay dollars) for your bikes expect to take them home unsold. This is a bargain hunters meet and you should have a good selection of things that you're willing to sell for cheap as well as high end and collectable stuff. Just some fyi....
I don't know what will be there and I have no way of knowing. I do not have physic powers, it's a stupid question that you know I have no real way of answering yet I hear it over and over... Just show up.
Click on Flyer for further details...
CLICK ON FLYER FOR DETAILS!!
Great
event everyone! Go ahead and click here for
pics, more on the way and check out
the vid of the Le mans Start!
(See below)
17322 Saticoy Van Nuys CA, 91406 (818) 609-0113
Tues-Sat 11-6 Sun 12-5 Monday closed. (all Mondays)
*Used Bikes*Uesd Parts*NOS Parts*Customizing*Repairs*Welding*
Many Used parts, full line of new parts available at any large shop.
Specializing in used and vintage bicycles, strong knowledge base in older bikes. All forms of repairs on any kind of bicycle done, usually with a same day turn-around.
Customizing: custom choppers, cruisers, and everything else in between. Can weld bmx or track dropouts to your old steel road bike frame.
Restorations: Bicycle restorations and refurbishing available, frame painting
My shop is a "full service" shop like the bicycle shops of years gone by. I will fix any bike, do painting, make custom parts, modify components, weld broken frames, build wheels, tackle weird projects even if only loosely bicycle related. Most shops look at a damaged part and will only offer to replace it while I will do my best to repair it at a lower cost and quicker than any other shop in the greater Los Angeles area, hands down. If you doubt me, feel free to shop around.
The Atomic Fireball custom paint
I'm now offering the "Atomic Fireball" custom
metalflake paint jobs starting at 350.00 for a single color in dazzling metal
flake automotive finish. Sparkley as hell and smooth to the touch in a rainbow
of colors. Come marvel at this bike in person at:
Atomic Cycles
17322 Saticoy
Van Nuys, CA 91406
I also carry mini bike and go-kart parts from Azusa
Bicycle Restoration
Before After
"There are very few accomplishments of
any value that can be gained without practice, and that which takes the least
time to learn is usually the least valuable when learned."
The Eagle Bicycle Co. catalog 1890
Click here for list of Vintage bikes for sale
Click Here to See More Choppercabras Bicycle Mayhem!
Events:
Choppercabras Rides/Events
I have two big rides/events every year: The Spring Thing Held on the Last Sunday of May, and the Choppercabras Halloween ride held on the last Sunday Of October.
The events that take place vary from year to year and event to event, they have included the following: Midget Figure 8 race, midget devil take the hindmost race, Ben Hurt Chariot race, Tall bike battle royale, Hands of the Armageddon race of doom, demolition derby. I'll keep coming up with ways to do crazy things on bikes if people keep showing up.
The events always include a bike ride of slow pace and a free bb-q after the ride.
These events start at noon. Always. Show up late and miss, you've been duly warned. Noon is not "early". On time. Noon. Not 12:30, not 1:00 pm, NOON! Get it? People come up to me and say "Aww, I was late I missed it." Yes you did. I usually get 200-300 people in attendance, meaning your presence will not make or break the event, no one is going to wait up for you...you've been duly warned.
Coaster
Brake Challenge:
January and July every
Sunday. 4 races each series. Coasterbrake bikes only with no hand brakes. These
are very trying off-road races in a point series.
Click the old flyer for details.
Swap Meet:
3rd Sunday in April and 1st Sunday in September. Free to show up, free to sell your stuff. Mini bike, go karts stuff fine too. 8 am to 2 pm. I share a parking lot with a popular bar so get there early to set up as the space is limited to about 10-20 spaces. Spaces are limited to one per person or group and are on a first come, first serve basis. Bring your own tables, change and chairs. Convince store across the street, the bar has pub grub...Last time I had about 15 vendors and loads of people passing through all day. I have about 20 crates full of bike parts, 1000's and 1000's of things, I pull the contents of my used parts storage out and you can have at it. Bring your stuff, no matter how little you have. You never know who's looking to buy. Feel free to take the flyer and re-post it elsewhere.
Sellers: Please note that if you expect top dollar (ebay dollars) for your bikes expect to take them home unsold. This is a bargain hunters meet and you should have a good selection of things that you're willing to sell for cheap as well as high end and collectable stuff. Just some fyi....
Some frequently asked questions:
Q: I need a seatpost, it's about "this" big.
A: One of the the things that is not standardized on bicycles is seatposts. There are around 20 + different sizes and you'll need your EXACT size to fit right. Guessing DOES NOT WORK. You'll need the old seatpost or the bike to get the correct size. A lose seatpost will ruin your frame and forcing a larger one will ruin the frame as well. This seems to be a constant point of contention but you can't argue with the facts. Save time and anguish, bring the bike in, solve the problem. The end.
Q: When I ride, I get saddle sore. Will a bigger seat help?
A: Ride more. A bigger seat will help a little but you really need to get some saddle time, this will get you used to riding and thus less saddle soreness. If you're not riding for at least a 1/2 hour three times a week, you're not going to reap much benefit from it.
Q: My back hurts when I ride my mountain bike.
A: One, if you ride more, your body will adjust and you'll feel the pains of the road less and less. Secondly, if you still want to do something about it, I recommend ditching the straight bar (great for navigating dirt roads and bumps) to a swept back bar (that puts your hands in their normal relaxed position). You'll usually have to re-cable the bike.
Q: What is my bike worth?
A: What someone is willing to pay you for it. There is no Kelly blue book for bikes, used bikes of no particular caliber are not worth much and "collectable" bikes have no set value either. I pay next to nothing for bikes because they come easier to me than most people so my marginal utility for a given bicycle is less than a private citizen. I recommend you go on line and do your homework if you want top dollar for your bike. E-bay is generally an inflated price, so don't use it as your sole guide. Keep in mind that what you paid for it and sentimental value do not factor in.
Q: Are all Schwinns worth money?
A: No. Schwinn made many different kinds of bikes in the USA before they went overseas in the 1980's. Only some of the bikes they produced have a value to collectors. Varsities and Colligates are on the bottom of the barrel, girls bikes of any kind are low in the pecking order. Keep in mind that an original, unmolested bike in poor condition will fetch more than one that has be redone with non-factory parts and paint.
Q: Do you get "x" collectable bike in and how often?
A: I get this one a lot. I wield no control over what my inventory is from day to day. You cannot open up a catalogue and order vintage bikes. If something is rare back in the day then it will be even harder to find now. So for example, you're not going to find a 26" Cooks bros bmx because they only made a few of them for a few years in the 1970's. It's not going to happen, this stuff does not just wander into my shop on a regular basis. Not to mention that collector bikes are a small portion of my business and I make the majority of my money from low-end bikes. I'll sell 50 used mountain bikes before I sell one sting-ray, so I don't go out of my way to find this stuff. I'd say for every 300 bikes I get, I'll get one rare gem. High end bikes are similar because the people that buy them are aficionados and they know what they have and plan to keep it, so you don't find Italian road bikes for 10 bucks at a a yard sale and thus they seldom are hanging on my wall with a price tag on them.
I recommend the following:
e-bay. expensive but there it is.
Long Beach Bicycle swap meet. A collectors market, so expect to pay. Last time I went it was 10 bucks to get in and the pickings were slim.
Craig's list.
You'll have to go to countless garage sales and swap meets to find your treasure, it's hard work but it is the only way.
Q: Chinese Junk! Why?
A: All bikes come from China or Taiwan, get over it. The $99.00 klunker from wal-mart and the $6000.00 full suspension mountain bike with hydraulic disc brakes, they may even come from the same factory. Bicycles cannot be made in the US; it's too costly. Americans have the highest standard of living in the entire world, do you really think they will take jobs for 8 bucks an hour so the bicycle manufacture can sell a bike for a hundred bucks? No. We have labor laws and environmental laws that make the manufacture of mass produced bicycles out of the question. China does not, they are one of the most polluted countries in the entire world however. Bikes and parts used to be made in Japan and in 1985 our government with a few others tried to increase the value of the Yen in relation to our dollars (the g-5 summit) this made the cost of producing high quality but affordable bicycles and components out of the question. It was more commonly know as "yen-shock". This forced the Japanese to take their manufacturing to other places, namely Taiwan and China. Us Americans as avid consumers, wanted things cheaper and cheaper so guess what? You got it. Frankly if you buy a bike from Target or Wal-Mart you get exactly what you paid for: junk. Good bikes start in the 750+ dollar range. A 350.00 bike is only a step above the ones you get at the department store. You can use this stuff as long as you realize that it will break and break often. Building a bike here means huge costs in labor, taxes, infrastructure, and environmental fees and constraints. The costs to manufacture the tubing for the frames, the forging, stamping, casting, painting , chroming, of frames and parts would be huge. This would make a $99.00 beach cruiser cost about 650.00 just to have the "Made in USA" sticker on it. Inner tubes would be 15.00 each instead of 5.00, and so on. And who says it will be made better? How many people do you know that do just the bare minimum at their workplace as not to get fired? Exactly. So enough of this then, deal with it.
Flyers from events past....
Enough crap?
How about 1000's of event pics?
