Saturday, May 25, 2013

Riding in a new direction

As the many of you who I've seen in person in the last couple of weeks already know,  I'm in the process of making a big change in my life.   After 16 years of making my living as an architect, I've quit my job, and am starting on another path, running a bicycle shop specializing in transportation cycling.

As longtime readers and locals know, Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, and environs have a flourishing transportation bicycling scene.  More and more people are realizing that a bicycle is the most convenient way around a dense and parking- challenged city, as well as being healthy, green and fun! So it's almost shocking that there's no place in town to test-ride a bakfiets, and very few where you can buy a traditional step through city bike with fenders, chainguard, rack and lights built in.  There also aren't many places that focus on bicycling with kids, which I think is increasingly needed as people who bike everywhere start families and want to continue their cycling lifestyle, and pass it along to their kids.


So, I'm going to try to fill that gap with a new shop called Bicycle Belle.   I've rented space on a prime cycling route- the corner of Beacon St and Oxford St (368 Beacon) on the Somerville/ Cambridge line; hopefully soon to be the head of the new cycletrack.  It's freshly painted and I've replaced the fluorescent tubes with decorative lights.  I'm in the process of ordering bikes and accessories, installing shop fixtures and generally getting things sorted and set up.  It's been a busy couple of weeks, both before I quit my job, and this first week that I'm working full time on the shop.

The first boxes of accessories and the first set of bikes will arrive next week, and we'll be getting bikes through the summer as longer lead time european bikes (Workcycles and Paper bikes)  start to trickle in.

It's a big scary leap into the unknown, as I know absolutely nothing about retail- I never even worked in a shop in high school- I was a waitress instead!   But it's something I have a passion for, something I follow obsessively in my free time, and something I hope that the city needs and wants.  I've already had some ups and downs, and I'm sure that will continue, as I learn the ropes and figure out the industry, the retail business and the market.   I hope that I can provide a real service to people looking for these kinds of bikes, and maybe even make a living doing it.  I just have to trust that I can figure out all the details along the way!

I'm incredibly grateful to the support of my family, the Scientists' family (my family too now!) my bikey friends who have been giving support- especially Velouria from Lovely Bicycle who has been meeting with me for months helping me plot and scheme.   And more than anyone the Scientist,  who is not only taking on the responsibility of supporting us while I get this off the ground, but has enthusiastically encouraged me through all the planning and dreaming and teeth-gnashing.

I don't have a firm opening date, but I expect it will be in the month of June.  I suspect that this blog may become a diary more about opening a bike shop than riding, as I work to make it all happen.
Please let me know if you have any suggestions for inventory or other ideas, and I hope to see those of you in the Boston area at the shop once it's open for business!



53 comments:

  1. Wow! Congratulations on taking the leap, and good luck!

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  2. Good for you!Changing career at any stage of life is a stressful,albeit rewarding thing to do.You are obviously passionate about bikes and cycling so I'm sure your new venture will be a success.

    Best wishes for the future of,'Bycicle Belle',

    Ian,Melbourne

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  3. Wow!! Very exciting. I am very much looking forward to stopping in once you're open.

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  4. I'm a software development consultant but share your passion for bikes and wish/hope to do the same. I'll be following with admiring encouragement. Am sure you'll not regret doing this. Best of luck!

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  5. Powerful positive energy and encouragement coming your way. What a great move; to live your passion. Stick to it and believe in yourself.

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  6. I think Emily at Hub will keep up with repairs for me, but this is sorely needed! (that and last time I was in the amount of bikes she had in for repair had taken over the shop!!) All the best and I will stay tuned for a launch date. I think I will be looking for another bike sometime later this year or early next year, not sure yet but this would be my first go-to spot! It is a shame you are not in Cambridge since they have some amazing business workshops you could go to that really go into retail best practices and local examples, I don't know if Somerville is as good in offering these classes.

    I will also tell my cycling friend who lives just down the road about the shop, I am sure he would be very interested in having something closer by..

    All the best! (great to see another female run shop too!)
    John

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    1. I'll have to look into the Cambridge classes- I might still be eligible as a Cambridge resident

      Also I'm not going to do maintanence except warranty service of bikes I sell, at least for now.I will refer everyone else to Hub. Emily and I are so close together that it makes sense for us to work together in serving the community's needs

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    2. Re. Cambridge small business support, see http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/econdev/smallbusiness.aspx

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  7. Good luck! I hope it'll work out and it certainly will if your determination is a factor.

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  8. How exciting! I wish you the best on your new venture.

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  9. Congratulations! It is a brave decision but I am pretty sure you will not regret it. The architect position would probably pay the bills a bit better but I can imagine, it is nowhere close on job satisfaction scale to running your own bike store.

    I think that the theme is spot on. There are not many stores around focused strictly on transportation cycling. Don't forget to include options for kids. And one more thing - electric bikes. They fill the gap between a car and a regular bike pretty well and may be a good option for some people.

    As far as the blog content. I think we wouldn't mind news about your new profession.

    If I may have a suggestion - please try to get some Xtracycle Edgerunners for your store. They are impossible to find around Boston (the closest distributor is in NYC) and are a very interesting transportation option. I may even become one of your first clients then!

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  10. This is very good news. I've been hoping someone would take the plunge in the Boston area. I will be a supporter. And I'm especially psyched that you mentioned Paper Bicycle. Not having time to go to NYC, I've been corresponding with the builder about bringing one in. But I really want to try the single speed before deciding. So you already have a possible sale lined up. Good Luck with everything.

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    1. Rjd. I'm bringing in one single speed and 1 8 speed. I've already specified the configuration and colors, but it's probably not to late to change them if you have a strong preference. Contact me at bicyclebelleboston (at) gmail and we can discuss. Also I might be able to arrange a test ride for you of a single speed. I rode it before ordering, and it's surprisingly peppy.

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  11. Awesome ! Best of luck.

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  12. Congratulations!
    You are now on my list of places to visit when I come to Boston.


    I have sent my son your new store address, he lives in Sommerville and will be needing a good mechanic that is nearby.

    Aaron

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    1. Aaron, I'd love to see you when you're in town. But tell your son to go to Emily at Hub Bicycle, as I'm not really going to do repairs except on what I sell. Shes just down the street and repair is her focus.

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    2. That is over half a mile further away, long ways to push a bike with a flat tire ;-)

      Aaron

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  13. Good luck in your new adventure, from a reader in the UK.

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  14. Congratulations! I've heard Velouria talk about the lack of transportation cycling shops in the Boston area. I wish you all the best, and I can't wait to see photos of what the new shop looks like.

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  15. This is awesome! Can't wait for your opening. Good luck. We will be sure to show up and test ride the bakfiets... the lack of opportunity to test these guys out are a big reason why we don't have one yet!

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  16. Can't wait for you to open; it must be terrifyingly exciting for you!
    At least in the few stores I tend to shop at, I can't find any decent handlebar grips; I was never able to get the cork grips to stay in place. I've been using Ergon grips lately (they clamp on) and like them, but they don't seem to be offered by my most local shop anymore. As freddly as they are, I'm aslo interested in their pedals.
    I also think it would be great to have a dyno hub and light dealer in town.

    Best of luck!
    Mark

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    1. Have you tried 3M spray adhesive on cork grips? That's what I use, and it's been great.
      I had no problems with the first ones coming off, until the bike fell over and one cracked and broke off. When I did remove them, it was not difficult- I think I used a knife and some PB blaster to get them loose and then they came right off.

      I will be starting off with a small selection of pre-built dyno-wheels and lights and will be able to get them pretty quickly if you need something specific.

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  17. Wow, congrats and good luck. Looking forward to following your progress. =)

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  18. This sounds wonderful! Best of luck with the store, and I'm looking forward to stopping by once you open!

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  19. Will you be selling Gazelles and/or Pashleys?

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    1. Definitely not Pashleys, and probably not Gazelles- although I'll be bringing in Yepp child seats from the same company as Gazelle, so if you had a specific model you wanted to special order come talk to me.
      In that category of "stable European city bike" I'll have the Paper Bicycle, and both the FR8 and GR8 from Workcycles.

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  20. Fantastic! Looking forward to doing my part to keep you in business. :-)

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  21. Might look at what is sold at Dutch Bike Bits (mail order from Netherlands) to see what is good to carry.

    Cork grips, the trick I learned is hair spray. Another thing to try when they really are too loose, is a piece of tape run long and folded into the bar-end to add a little extra. And to get them off, an air hose, either a nozzle against a hole in the end (if there is one) or a ball-inflation needle on a shrader, stuck in through a tiny hole. I've done that with a floor pump.

    Good luck.

    I have a theory, maybe not a good one, that everyone should have a hub generator and lights that are always on. That's expensive, though.

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  22. This is some very awesome news. Congratulations!

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  23. Nothing much to offer except good luck with it! As I'm sure you know, you can't be all things to all people but need a focus in your inventory. A couple of gratuitous suggestions:

    - Maybe you can get good margins on useful accessories that work on most or all bikes; that may expand your markets (reaching people who already have bikes and not requiring you to carry super-specialized parts).

    - Offer hub-generator wheels and lighting, very useful for transportation since so many trips will be in the dark.

    - I hope that people can be patient if you need to order a bike (someone loves what you have in your shop but hates the color, etc.).

    Your connectedness with urban cycling on various fronts should help you. Alas, I'm not looking to buy any more bikes but I look forward to seeing your shop open and to recommending you.

    I sure hope you don't become like the boat shop owner who goes into it for his love of boating but never gets time to enjoy it!

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  24. Good luck. Sounds like quite an adventure. I hope that this trend takes off.

    I know nothing really about cargo bikes but while vacationing in Denmark over the last few years I saw quite a few. This brand seemed to be the more popular and appeared to be easily reconfigurable for cargo and kids. http://www.nihola.com/home.html It looks lighter and more high tech than the bakfiets. I also saw a few of these http://www.triobike.com/.

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  25. Good luck. Sounds like quite an adventure. I hope that this trend takes off.

    I know nothing really about cargo bikes but while vacationing in Denmark over the last few years I saw quite a few. This brand seemed to be the more popular and appeared to be easily reconfigurable for cargo and kids. http://www.nihola.com/home.html It looks lighter and more high tech than the bakfiets. I also saw a few of these http://www.triobike.com/.

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  26. I don't know if there's enough market share, but I would so love to see a shop carry plus-sized women's cycling clothing. I can't buy cycling stuff in stores -- and I'm only a street-size 16-18. It would be awesome to be able to go somewhere and try stuff on.

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    1. Antimony, I hear your pain- I have a hard time finding any athletic clothing that fits women with curves, let alone plus size. I'm not really planning to carry any "cycling clothing" right now, just loosely fit reflective gear and possibly one-size-fits-all raingear.

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    2. Makes sense. Good luck, and I'm sure I'll be by once you're open, even if I don't need a cargo bike right now.

      Are you thinking of carrying trailers?

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  27. My name is Laura Smead and I work for Somerville Department of Traffic and Parking. I wanted to let you know about the “Business Permit Parking Program” which is designed to help members of our business community find reliable parking options near their workplace. Permits are $150 per year for on-street locations and $100 per month in the off-street lots. Parking assignments are based on nearest availability to your workplace. You can learn more about Traffic and Parking on our website, parksomerville.com. Best wishes, Laura

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    1. Thanks Laura, but I expect I'll mostly bike the mile or so from my house to the shop, or take the T to Porter if the weather is truly terrible. If need be my husband has a Cambridge parking sticker, so he can park nearby on Oxford St.
      Honestly I'd rather see the parking in front of my store metered during business hours so that there's turnover and customers can find a spot. Oh, and I'd love more bike parking racks, but since the sidewalk will probably be torn up next year, it's probably not worth putting them in now.

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  28. Very exciting news--congratulations! Will definitely be trekking over from JP to visit.

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  29. Awesome! Would love to see some 20" dynohub equipped wheels and aftermarket e-bike conversion kits, like Stokemonkey. Best of luck!

    Todd
    http://bostonbiking.blogspot.com

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  30. Oh my goodness that is so exciting!!! I can't wait to come visit! Good luck with your shop. I'll be watching from afar, but trying to figure out where I can squeeze in a trip to the Boston area to see you! Congrats on your big move!

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  31. This sounds great and I wish I was in Boston to have access to a shop like this. A plea, even though I'm not local: remember that there are tall women out there! Bike manufacturers tend to forget this, but even when they make larger sizes of women's bikes, I find that the shops in my area just don't carry them, and it's so disheartening to want to spend upwards of $1K on a bike but not be able to find any to test-ride. I know women over 5'10" are outliers and it doesn't make economic sense for shops to carry a lot of stock in that size, but having at least a couple options available would make your shop really attractive to a seriously under-served market!

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    1. Ashley, One of the bikes that I'm very excited about carrying is the FR8 and GR8 from Workcycles which have a stepthrough design with a universal seatpost design that allows them to fit riders from about 5'-0" to 6'-8" It's a similar design to my bakfiets which both 5'6"ish me, and the 6'-5" Scientist can both ride comfortably. I'm even bringing in one bike that is supposed to comfortably fit a 7' tall person.

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    2. That is so great to hear! Thanks for thinking of all riders, not just "normal" ones :)

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  32. Great news! Any chance you'll have a Taga to try? I'm expecting in November and think these are brilliant, but currently the manufacturer has no way to try one...and for $1400+ it'd be nice to at least sit on it once! Fingers crossed :)

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  33. Congratulations and best of luck. I'm sure your getting good advice on your end so take comments with a grain of salt...
    - Remember that you have to think about it as a "business" and not just as fulfilling a passion. You won't do cycling or anyone any favors by digging a hole and shutting down. There will be many moments of feeling pressure to choose between your vision and your business.
    - I think the "no repairs" things is going to be somewhat problematic. Even the new bikes will need some tweaking and after care so someone has to be capable. And you'll get the inevitable flat tire walk-ins, "can't you just take a quick look?" people, etc. If Hub is filling up with bikes to be worked on, they've got more work than they can handle.
    - Maybe you could work out some "reselling" arrangement with Hub for custom wheel builds, larger jobs, etc. Turning people away for anything doesn't help you in the long run. Maybe they could act as your "off site repair service" with a little revenue sharing arrangement.
    - Pay very close attention to the margins on everything you sell, and how much time/effort typically goes in to selling those items. Your time and attention will be the big limiting factor on a lot of what you can do. You have to make the most of your time and find things that can be passed on to someone/somewhere else.
    - Your blog (or whatever you set up for the shop) may be the strongest thing you've got going for you. Traditional advertising has its uses, but nothing compares to building, feeding, and using powerful networks of interested people. Look a little at what flyingpigeon-la.com does. He's managed to use his activism, group rides, and online presence as a powerful force for his shop which has a similar focus.
    - Don't order too much inventory. Nothing kills a small business faster than having all its cash tied up in things you thought everyone wanted, yet never buy. You can sell what you think is best, but be prepared that customers will surprise you with what they select. You need to be able to adjust to those surprises.
    - Start researching how best to ship bikes. If you're selling things that are fairly unique, you will likely get a fair number of requests to ship. That's great, but shipping expenses on bikes are a killer. Know what you can and can't do for someone.

    Try to have some fun when you're not pulling your hair out! Best luck.

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  34. Fantastic, this is great news. Somerville/Cambridge and Boston has needed a real shop like this. Henry at Workcycles has desired to have Boston on his list. Thank you for doing this and looking forward to coming by for a visit.

    antbikemike

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  35. Mazel Tov!

    I look forward to seeing pictures of the opening day.

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  36. Congratulations on your career change, and good luck! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your opening, as I've recently moved to Cambridge, sold the car, and have been trying to figure out the best way to haul my hockey gear (a regular bag, or a goalie bag + pads, both with sticks) to nearby rinks. I think a trailer is the way to go, but will stop by to discuss with you once you flip the little sign in the door to "Open". :-)

    Dan

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  37. Can I just suggest Retrovelo? They make a mixte with Fat Franks! I have a Paula that I bought sight unseen 2.5 years ago and I LOVE THAT BIKE. I've now had the opportunity to try Workcycles (Oma & FR8), which I also considered at the time. I don't want them anymore. I did put the frame mounted Workcycles rack on my Retrovelo.

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  38. Congratulations on your exciting venture. Hope to check it out someday when I'm visiting friends in New England.
    Do you have a website yet?

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