At Blackstone Bicycle Works, we understand the essential chemistry of kids and bikes, but it appears that we are beginning to understand the physics as well. On July 23, 2008, our Youth Program welcomed Heinrich Jaeger, prominent University of Chicago physics professor, and two of his lab assistants to the shop. "Bikes are a wonderful tool for introducing kids to the study of physics," according to Blackstone staff member Aaron Swanton. "We spent some time answering the simple question why is it so easy to balance on a bike when you're rolling and impossible to balance once you stop?"

Blackstone Bicycle Works was recently featured on Chicago Tonight in a piece by video journalist Jay Shefsky. We highly recommend you take a look.

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BBW needs your old bikes!Your donated used bicycles help support educational programming that offers an earn-a-bike program, mechanical skills, and entrepreneurial training to Woodlawn youth (and helps you to reclaim useful space in your garage and basement). You may drop off bikes during business hours (Wed-Fri 1-5, Sat 12-5) or arrange for local pick up of three or more adult-sized bikes. Contact us at 773.241.5458.Blackstone Bicycle Works is a program of the Experimental Station.   

Stop in at Blackstone Bicycle Works on Friday, August 17 (12-5pm) and learn about bicycle safety and repair from Mayor Daley's Bicycle Ambassadors. The afternoon at BBW will be followed by a ride to Chinatown led by the Bicycle Ambassadors, beginning at 6pm.

The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, a non-profit, will be holding its annual Fundraising Event at the Experimental Station on Saturday, July 21st.

Come celebrate and support bicycling in the city of Chicago, enjoy seasonal hors d'oeuvres and Goose Island Summertime, dance and participate in a big-ticket silent auction and raffle.

Tickets: $40 for CBF members, $45 for non-members.

Go now to www.biketraffic.org/bash for tickets. Attendance capped at 300!

Blackstone Bicycle Works is reorganizing its inventory and pricing. Therefore, we have hundreds of items to sell at cost. Our inventory reduction sale will feature used parts, at-cost merchandise, safety products, frames, rims, stems, gloves, pumps, fenders, saddles, apparel, tools, bmx components, and refurbished bicycles.Our selection of frames and refurbished bikes includes: Bianchi, Cannondale, Gary Fisher, Klein, Trek, Schwinn, Diamondback, cruisers, children's bikes, road bikes and mountain bikes. We also perform light tune-ups and flat repairs.

Hey gals, would you like to gain some bicycling independence? The Cycling Sisters will be offering two bike repair workshops this month at Blackstone Bicycle Works. On Saturday, June 16, from 11am-1pm, you can learn to fix your own flat tire.On Saturday, June 30, from 12pm-3pm, you can learn to fix a flat and to clean your chain. The cost of this workshop is $10. For more information about Cycling Sisters and to register in advance for workshops, visit their website at www.cyclingsisters.org.

If you would like to donate to the Michael R. Malec McKenna Memorial Fund online, please use our PayPal Donation button on the right. When you make your donation, please type "Memorial Fund" in the space provided.If you prefer to send a check, please make it payable to "Experimental Station" and note "Memorial Fund" on the Memo line. Mail it to: Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637.

Blackstone Bicycle Works (BBW), our youth education program and community bike shop, officially opened its doors on October 14. BBW's mission is to provide educational and recreational opportunities to local boys and girls (ages 9 and up) in the context of a retail bicycle shop. We also serve the public by offering bicycle repair, sales of bikes, parts and accessories, and bicycle mechanics classes for adults. We are located at 6100 S. Blackstone Avenue. Our phone number is 773.241.5458. Bike shop hours:

Chicago artist Kevin Jenning's oak-veneered girl's bike was on exhibition during open shop hours at Blackstone Bicycle Works, from October through December of 2006. This project was Jenning's first veneer on bike project. According to the artist, "I think it turned out okay... I thought it would be a little bigger but I guess, after all, it's still a girl's bike."