Updating our Web Site

We're in the process of updating our Web Site.  We apologize for any inconvenience and for any outdated material, but please bear with us.  Some of the updates include:

• We'll match or beat any legitimate/authorized, advertised price on trikes, bikes, and accessories.  To qualify, you must bring in an original advertisement (no photocopies or ads written in crayon), and the advertised price must be authorized by the manufacturer.  Most manufacturers have "Minimum Advertised Prices" (MAP) for their products.  If a dealer's prices are lower than MAP, then beware: they're potentially selling you outdated merchandise or even going out of business and must sell off their remaining merchandise.  Once they're out of business, you're stuck with a product that may need repairs or warranty work.  Otherwise, the manufacturer may drop them as an authorized dealer, and you're stuck again with a product that the dealer can't repair and/or provide warranty service.  Dealers other than the one at which you purchased your product must charge labor for warranty service.
• Product Prices are being updated by the manufacturers, so we need to update our Web Site.
• Product(s) availability being modified by manufacturers, so we need to update our Web Site.
• Although we've been a BionX eAssist dealer for several years now, people have commented that it wasn't shown on our Home Page so they didn't know it.  It has been on our Web Site in other locations though.  So to avoid any confusion, we're adding the BionX logo and other information on our Home Page.
• We updated the site a while back to show our current Hours of Operation.  Unfortunately, we apparently didn't publish the update correctly.  So now we're updating the hours again and hopefully it will all be good.  Our current hours are Monday through Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Look for these updates and more in the next few days.

Current Status of T. Ryx Staff

As of the Fall of 2012, Hoppy is "Semi-Retired" from the shop!  What does that mean?  Well, I wish it meant that I didn't have to work any more.  But until Jeremiah (my son, our Shop Manager/main salesman), Matt (our dedicated Trike Mechanic and salesman), and John (our dedicated Bike mechanic and salesman) are completely up to speed on all the recumbent trikes we sell, I still have to work here.  They're catching up quickly, and in most cases they don't need me here getting in their way.  But when they can't answer a specific question or just need my expertise, I'm available.   I'm scheduled to be here on Sundays from 11:00 AM til 3:00 PM, but I'm "on-call" during business hours any other day and time.  Notable exceptions are often Saturdays when we've got a group ride scheduled, and days when I'm out of town.

As mechanics, Matt and John are both experts.  Matt's focus is on Trikes, but he's also a top bike mechanic.  When bike jobs are more than John can handle, Matt steps in.  John's focus is on Bikes, but he's also a top trike mechanic.  When Matt needs some help keeping up, John is here to help.  Jeremiah, while spending most of his time running the shop, paying bills, ordering merchandise, and overall bookkeeping, is also a top mechanic.  In fact, he has trained some of our mechanics over the years.

Matt is normally scheduled to work every day except Wednesdays and Thursdays.  He sometimes works other days as well.

John is generally here on Wednesdays and Thursdays, depending on his class schedule at College.

Jeremiah is our Shop Manager, Gravity MTB Team Manager, and Bike Guru.  As such, he's typically at the shop Monday's through Saturdays, but sometimes comes in on Sundays, too.  During the racing season, he may be out of town for anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks per month.  He's also our main POC for recumbent trikes now.

All-in-all, our staff represents the best in the field of cycling.  If there's anything you need and we don't have it now, we can normally get it quickly.  If it pertains to bicycles (any kind) or recumbent trikes, T. Ryx and Bike Vault are, together, your go-to shop.  We're big enough to handle anything, but small enough to treat you like family.

NEW DEMO TRIKES ARE HERE!

As part of our efforts to address our customers' needs, we sold several of our showroom demo trikes and ordered new ones.  Watch for other changes in the next few months also.  These past few days have seen most of our new demos arrive as well as a couple of trikes for our inventory.  We are in the process of assembling the demos now, and will have them completed by the end of the week (by Saturday, July 21).  Here's a list of what we currently have available for test riding:

Catrike Road (assembly finished today)
Catrike Expedition (finished and on the floor)
Greenspeed Magnum (finished and on the floor)
Greenspeed GT-5 (this one is still for sale off the floor)
HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS (with a lot of upgrades...this is my personal trike also)
HP Velotechnik Gekko FX (to be finished Friday)
Hase Pino (Recumbent/Diamond-Frame bicycle; on the floor)
ICE Adventure FS+ (to be finished Friday)
Our TerraTrike Rover-8 is in transit from Michigan.  We expect it any day now. **

We also have two base model Gekkos-FX in stock, and can build one up for you within a day (while supplies last) if you purchase one now.  We have a red frame and a blue frame.

We still have three consignment  trikes for sale also (see our Web Page for details):

2008 TerraTrike Tandem (virtually new).  This is the tandem based on the Tour model, not the Rover Tandem.  **We have the Rover Tandem extension here at the shop.  So if you'd like to test ride the Rover Tandem, just call ahead and we'll set it up for you.  Give us a day or so to transform it simply because our service department may get busy with customers.  (Ordinarily it would only take an hour or so to do the work.)

2007 Greenspeed GT-5 (major upgrades).

2006 Greenspeed GTO (major upgrades)

Remember, we're currently accepting trade-in trikes toward the purchase of new trikes.  Any condition, even non-operating.  Minimum $50 trade-in value.  (See our previous posting for details, or call/email/text me, or visit the shop.  Hoppy)

Come check these babies out!

TRADE IN YOUR RECUMBENT TRIKE

T. Ryx now welcomes you to bring your used recumbent trikes in any condition as trade-ins towards the purchase of any new trikes we sell.  No matter what the condition of your current recumbent trike, we'll take it as a trade-in and reduce the price of your new trike valued at $2000 or more by a minimum of $100, or a new trike valued at under $2000 by a minimum of $50.  This trade-in value will apply even if your trade-in trike is not operational.  Assuming not all trade-ins will be junk, our mechanics will determine the full trade-in value of your used trike when you bring it in. To qualify for this offer, you must provide the original receipt or other proof of ownership of the trade-in trike.  The receipt will also aid in our determination of the trade-in value.  Our goal is to get you out there riding. If you can't ride your current recumbent trike because of its condition, or you just don't like the one you have, this is your opportunity to trade it in towards the recumbent trike you really want.  Trade-in trikes must be clean and operational in order to get the highest trade-in value possible.  This offer does not currently apply to standard bicycles, and we are not purchasing trikes and bikes outright (i.e., no “Cash for Trikes”).  If you’re not satisfied with the trade-in value we can offer, we have other options:

• As always, if you have a good condition, good or better quality, recumbent trike that you'd like to sell, we can sell it for you on consignment. Our policy is to sell only good quality, good condition trikes on consignment. Our service fee is 20% of the selling price. Any required preparation or maintenance work is charged at our standard rates, and either can be paid by the owner prior to the sale or we can deduct it from the owner's proceeds after the sale.

• We are also accepting donations of recumbent trikes.  Where practical, donated trikes will be restored and sold as used trikes.  All proceeds from donated trikes will be contributed to charity (e.g., used to support UNICEF’s program to help stop child prostitution and other child abuse).  Tyrannosaurus, Inc. will provide all parts and labor for these donated trikes. Note: we are not a 401 (c) (3) or other non-profit organization ourselves, so we cannot advise you to claim the donation yourself as a tax deduction.  But these contributions will be used to support good causes.  If you prefer to sell your trike yourself and/or donate directly to a charity, our mechanics can help you increase the value of your trike by restoring or repairing it at our standard rates.

Please call or email us if you have any questions or concerns.

TRIKE MANUFACTURERS RUNNING SHORT OF STOCK!

Well, 'tis the season.  Yup, cycling season is upon us NOW.  We've been informed by several of our manufacturers that some models and configurations are either very low on stock or completely OUT OF STOCK!  Maybe it sounds like an oximoron, but NOW IS THE TIME TO ORDER YOUR NEW RECUMBENT TRIKE!!!  Don't wait, or the delay will be even longer!

Sure, certain models are currently out of stock and you won't get your trike as soon as you had hoped, but plenty of other buyers will be ordering now so that they can get their trike with the next shipment from the manufacturer.  Ultimately, that means the next shipment will run out too.  Yes, this is bad news, but it's not to be unexpected.  Le Tour de France will begin in just a few weeks, and other races, like the Tour of California and other major races in Europe, are already finished.  People's interest in cycling are awakening around the world.  So, while trikes are technically not bicycles (3 wheels versus 2), we've been selling a lot of trikes with the current cycling season.

Below is a list of the trikes that we've heard about from the manufacturers:

• Catrike Road (redesigned with rear-suspension) - Sold out of the first batch.  Next availability expected in July.
• HP Velotechnik Gekko (U.S. base model) - Sold out until further notice.
• HP Velotechnik Scorpion FS - Sold out until further notice.
• Greenspeed GT-1 - U.S. distributor just received a shipment and has a few left in red and green.  Other models running low also.
• ICE trike models - Available, but manufacturer is behind schedule due to the Queen's 60th Jubilee.  Orders will be shipping again at the end of June.
• Hase - Trikes hand-built, so still available.  Busy season has caused backlogs, so expect some delays.
• TerraTrike - All trike shipments are being delayed due to a 63% increase in sales this year.  Additionally, Rover-8 and Rambler-8 models have been delayed due to delays overseas of components.  Our recent order was delayed until the end of July, so new orders may be delayed even more.
• KMX Karts - The U.S. distributor announced that most or all models are low in stock.

Again, stock shortages were not unexpected.  This is partly due to the spring/summer cycling season, and partly due to the economy.  Prices of automobiles, gas, and travel have shot up and are expected to keep climbing.  Gasoline is expected to be over $5.00 by mid-summer here in the USA.  It's already much higher in most other countries.  People are realizing that recumbent trikes are much more comfortable and easier to ride than standard bicycles, and they run on WATER...and maybe a banana or some other energy food.  They can even be equipped with electric assist motors.  People are riding a lot more, and many want to get in on the action with recumbent trikes.  Order yours now!

NEW SUMMER HOURS

In order to better serve our customers and friends of the shop, T. Ryx and Bike Vault (along with our other subsidiaries) are changing to new Summer Hours.  We'll still be closed on Mondays, but in order to have time to tackle administrative duties, our new hours will change to:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

After we try this schedule for a while, we might need to change it again to fine tune our hours of operation.  Our goal is to suit the needs of our customers the best we possibly can.

T. RYX NEWSLETTER

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!! I can hear the old-time paper carriers crying in the streets now. The first three issues of T. Ryx News have hit the streets! Coming to an email address near you! "Wait a minute, can vee stop the gimmicks?" (If you watch TV in the San Diego area, you may recognize that quote from a used car ad.) But serially, ...

Anyway, our new monthly (so far) newsletter is not just an advertising gimmick. Sure, we will announce some specials and sales periodically, but it's main focus is to bring you breaking news, updates, recommendations, reviews and other information related to recumbent cycling. Our specialty, of course, will be recumbent trikes, handcycles, velomobiles, and accessories related to these cycles. We'll give suggestions for group riding, safety, security, and other matters of interest.

If you'd like to receive our award-winning publication, rated best of its kind by 9 out of 10 doctors, shoot me an email saying so and I'll add you to the mailing list. (Note: I didn't specifiy what award, what "its kind" is, or who the 9 "doctors" were, did I?) My email address is Hoppy@T-Ryx.com