Q: Is Bicycle Quarterly only about old bikes?
A: No, Bicycle Quarterly is about quality bikes in the widest sense. We do examine the history of cycling and present amazing old bikes, but we also test the latest bikes from the best builders. Technical articles in Bicycle Quarterly present issues such as frame geometry or tire performance that are of interest to all cyclists.
Q: Is Bicycle Quarterly related to Vintage Bicycle Quarterly?
A: Yes. In 2006, Vintage Bicycle Quarterly changed its name to Bicycle Quarterly to reflect its focus on the all aspects of cycling.
Q: Most bike magazines like everything their advertisers sell. How about you?
A: Most bicycle magazines are financed through advertising. Contrasting this, more than 90% of Bicycle Quarterly's revenues come from readers' subscriptions. So we can afford to tell you what we think, even if it offends our advertisers. In fact, advertisers who make good products, appreciate our honest reviews: If we like something, it really is very good.
Q: You advertise a 1-year subscription for the U.S. at $30, yet the price online is $32. Which price is correct?
A: Payment by check receives a $ 2 discount, which is not available for credit card payment. This reflects the lower processing fees for checks.
Q: Is my subscription still current? Will I receive a renewal notice when it runs out?
A: The last issue of your subscription will include a note printed on the mailing envelope. In addition, if we have your e-mail address, you will receive a renewal notice via e-mail. However, you can renew at any time, and we just extend your subscription.
Q: Are back issues available?
A: Yes, all issues are available. Click here for more information.
Q: Who is Il Vecchio?
A: George Gibbs, owner of Il Vecchio Bicycles, a bike shop in Seattle's Leschi neighborhood, is a good friend of Jan Heine, editor of Bicycle Quarterly . George collects Jan's mail. That way, Jan and George see each other several times a week even with their busy lives. Contrary to common belief, Jan Heine does not own a bike shop.
Q: Is your book "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles" available in bookstores? How about Amazon.com?
A: Yes, our book is available in many quality bookstores and bicycle shops. We like to support these stores. However, the book is not available at discount sites. The price Amazon.com would pay for our book is less than the production cost! Most publishers get around this problem by having a larger mark-up, but we wanted our book to be affordable for all customers. So in effect, everybody gets a discounted price.
Q: I have an old bike. Can you tell me its value?
A: As a matter of policy, Bicycle Quarterly does not comment on bicycle values. These values fluctuate with time and other factors. In the end, each bicycle is worth as much as somebody is willing to pay for it.
Q: I have an old bike. I could not find any information on it on your site. Where might I find help?
A: A good source of information is the Classic Rendezvous web-site (www.classicrendezvous.com), which also includes a e-mail list where you can ask questions (or search the archives).
Q: How is the "Limited Edition" of "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles" different from your standard edition?
A: The Limited Edition is signed and numbered. It includes three 8x10" ready-to-frame reprints of three of the most stunning photographs from the book, made by a professional photo lab directly from the original medium-format positives. There will be only 50 copies of the Limited Edition. The basic book is the same for both editions. All copies of "The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles" were made to the highest standards, with cloth-sewn hardcover binding and archival paper. The Limited Edition is sold out.