Bike Shop Video Blog Gets Recognition From YouTube

With nearly 600 video blogs to date on YouTube, Westhampton Beach's Bike N' Kite was excited to learn that its YouTube channel, BikemanforU has gained recognition, being named one YouTube's world's best how-to channels.

The BikemanforU channel was one of 15 to receive the honor that was announced on Jan. 28.

With the recognition, the BikemanforU channel won $4,000 in production equipment, mentoring through private workshops with industry experts, as well as YouTube promotion.

"We got started because we needed videos to show people how to install and use the bicycle parts we were selling online," said Bart Birk, part owner of the family-owned, 37-year-old Bike N' Kite shop, located on Potunk Lane.

Birk's first video was posted on YouTube in 2009 using a basic flip camera and since he has enlisted his father, Joseph, and son, Antonio, to participate in the videos, each taking turns running camera and offering commentary.

"We're three generations," Birk noted. "We have so much fun as a family making videos that YouTube's quickly become our passion."

The videos, which focus on bicycle repair with a mix of how-to videos on vegetable gardening — another Birk family passion — feature humor and 35 years of bicycle knowledge. To date the channel has garnered a total 2.6 million views — 5,000 a day — and 6,700 subscribers.

Birk, whose videos blogs also appear on Patch under its local voices section, said he doesn't plan on stopping making videos anytime soon.

"Our hope is to continue to encourage personal growth and a positive attitude by helping people empower themselves," Birk said.

To watch Birk's video blogs on Patch, click here and to access his YouTube channel, click here.

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