Today's post is a double edged sword. I say this because one of our long time friends and colleague David Rodan is leaving Via Bicycle. I am very happy for him and yet I am also quite saddened by his departure. I will miss seeing him every day at work and all that goes along with the professional relationship. He has a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of cycling. In particular he is one of the best mechanics I know, and is the go to guy for advice on how to get a job done right the first time. I do not know how we are going to get on without him. I guess I / we really have to step our game up! David can do it all, he is our head wrench and also does all the product ordering for the store. He is also a competant frame builder with a few years of experience at Bilenky Cycle Works and a handful of complete frames under his belt. He does most of the torch work here at Via Bicycle along with Curtis. David trained me when I started here at Via, and was very patient and encouraging. He is quite humble about his skill level, and a great listener in a world where most people cannot wait for the opportunity to talk. He lets his excellent work do the talking. Something I personally aspire to. Cheers to David Rodan, we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. His apron will be hung from the rafters.
David started hanging around Via Bicycle in late 2000, mostly talking shop with Joel Flood about bikes and music. He started working here in the spring of 2002 full time and worked at the front end of the shop diagnosing repairs and selling bikes along side Curtis, Adam, Corey, and Sarah. He learned quickly and rose through the ranks at lightning speed. David then became a mechanic in the spring'ish of 2005 with Joel, Frank, and Larry. He continued to also do all the product ordering for the store. Then in 2007 he met his wife Emily, who was a customer here at Via Bicycle. They dated for a few years and were married in 2011. They currently have a beautiful daughter, Naomi who was born in 2014 and looks just like him!
David also worked at Bilenky Cycle Works here in Philadelphia. He started there in late 2008 - through early 2011 while he also worked at Via Bicycle full time. There he learned the craft of frame building, and like I mentioned earlier, has a handful of bikes he built under his belt.
David also has great taste in music and is a very good DJ. We played music together for many years alongside Joel Flood and had many wild nights, good times! Now we are old and have responsibilities / families and can't party like we used to, but we have the memories, or lack there of! David is a strong rider as well, no arm chair cyclist, who truly loves bikes and walks it like he talks it. I am honored to call him my friend. Here are a few photos spanning his career here at Via Bicycle.
Davis with an RRA he restored for the shop.
Early in his career at Via. Note that bikes are now on the opposite wall of the store.
Fixing a bike.
A night at the velodrome in Trexlertown, PA. Also pictured: Simon Firth, John Stehlin, Joel Flood, and Pat Gaffney
Much party at the Khyber.
Colgate smile!
