The Vintage Fixie Joins the Biking Community
As autumn comes to the Hudson Valley, locals and tourists flock to nearby hiking and biking trails to enjoy the last few days of sunshine.
For local bike shops, the fall season in particularly busy with rentals flying off the shelves and repairs constantly entering the door. One shop excited for the upcoming season is The “Vintage Fixie” Bicycle Company.
Located on Dutchess Turnpike directly across from the Arlington Animal Shelter, The Vintage Fixie opened its doors earlier this summer and has been busy since. Shop owner Jeffrey Ellison Capers, who has been repairing bikes since his days as a bike delivery messenger in the city, initially started his business out of his garage offering custom order fixed-gear bikes and delivery. Today, him and his business partner, Sean Michael Joseph Cline, look to get bikes into the hands of the people that need them the most and share their knowledge of bicycle repairs with customers.
“When I was young and I didn’t know how to repair my bike, it was really great to be able to go to my local bike shop and be able to learn,” Capers said. “I would like to tell everyone how to fix things. If I see you less, that’s good.”
Since starting business, The Vintage Fixie has been able to reach many people in need of bicycles, particularly those just entering the country. One of the shop’s most recent customers was a Chilean immigrant who found the company on E-bay and needed a bike as soon as he landed in New York City. Capers met the customer at Grand Central Station to hand deliver the newly restored 1994 Cyclocross Miyata.
In addition to restoration, The Vintage Fixie also offers rental services with prices starting at $10 an hour and deals with classic repair issues such as flats and rusty parts.
“People are finally understanding that these bikes are worth some money, so I’ve been seeing a lot of rusty things come into the shop lately,” Capers said. “I love that because there’s always saving it. You can always save the old stuff because it’s not made cheaply. It’s made with steal. It’s made to last.”
Heading into the fall months, Capers encourages bikers to get out early in the morning to take advantage of the empty trails and the best biking weather. He also suggests getting a bell and always wearing a helmet.
“I see too many people not wearing helmets these days,” said Capers. “I have a theory and that theory is people that don’t wear their helmets haven’t hit their head really hard yet. It’s only a matter of time. It’s only a matter of time people.”
If you are looking for a trail to ride in the upcoming months, Capers recommends the local rail trails including the Hudson Valley Rail Trail, located in the town of Lloyd and stretching from the Hudson River through Highland, and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, located in Wassaic north of the Metro-North Railroad Harlem Line terminus. You can also check out the bike trail map for your area at: https://www.dot.ny.gov/bicycle/maps.
