Hey, it's almost time. More bikes arrive this week. Did you know that Chicago has a 24 hr. Home Depot. Yup, you can buy hand tools and light bulbs at midnight. Sorry I don't have much time to blather on about how happy we are to be here, but here are some photos from my last days in Seattle and our new home in Chicago. Hope to see you sometime in the shop soon. Our hours will be 11 AM to 6 PM Saturday the 18th.

Ah, what a super opening party. We're still buzzing, and not just because there's some beer left in the keg. Thanks to the 100 or so who came out to celebrate throughout the course of a very long evening. Also, thanks to those of you who brought their kids along for the ride — literally. I enjoyed their zeal for two-wheeled transport. Tim and Anne from Carfreedays have already posted some superb reportage and fine pic's. Nice job with the rear curtain sync Tim. I've managed to post a few pic's I had a chance to snap, while I wasn't running around blabbing, adjusting seat posts, perfecting my Birdy trade show folding demo or stuffing brats and chips into my mouth. I have no better way of describing the joy that people generated through the multiple Conference Bike expeditions to Ballard Avenue than to point you at the image of a laughing Val piloting one of the two notorious CoBi's. Thanks Val, you are a the Admiral of the Fleet. We are already looking forward to our next event this spring.

Some of you may have been wondering when it was finally going to happen, when we officially open the doors of our retail space. Well, tonight is the night we celebrate that great moment. Of course we'll be at the Seattle Bike Expo this morning and a bit into the afternoon, but this evening after the show, we'll be throwing down some BBQ, hoisting some beers and toasting our staff, friends and family who helped us get this far. It also happens to be founder David Schmidt's birthday as well as longtime friend Gaylene Meyer's birthday, so a cheers to them, or two, or more, will be in order. I've got a bottle of champagne for that. For all of you lucky enough to be reading this blog post this morning or afternoon, well, you're invited too. So come on down to our shop this evening at 6PM and join us.