Bike | Bike Shops | Rides

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q & A with Don Duphanais. of Danielson Adventure Sports on Building a Bike Shop Business

DailyBicycle: As of Feb 2010 you’re working on launching a second bike shop. But before we get into the nuts and bolts of it, tell us a little about your first bike shop, Danielson Adventure Sports, and how you grew it into the successful shop it is today. I remember when you first had the idea of setting up that shop, you only had a few hundred bucks to do it with! Tell us something about that too.

Don Duphanais: For 10 years or so I managed bike shops all over the country, everything from chains, to mom and pops. I always knew I wanted to open my own shop and in 2005 I got that chance. I started with $350, no small business loan or finacial backer and found a building and the owner was willing to give me a rental deal on. When I opened the walls were bare, I was banking on my years of retail, bike shop experience and personality to get me started. It worked.

DailyBicycle: What’s motivated you to open another shop? Anything unique about this next one?

Don Duphanais: I’ve always been up for a challenge and looking for ways to increase customer base. Opening a new store with a completely diferent vibe is one of those examples. The new store has an outdoor service area, cafe style seating, coffee and will sell home beer making kits.

DailyBicycle: Coffee shop? Cool! Home brew kits? Nice! An outdoor service area? Come on! Why outdoors and how do you plan to pull this off for a shop in northern Connecticut?

Don Duphanais: Ok, I’ll be the first to admit it’s not mainstream but it just might be unique enough to work. The service area will be open April 1st to Sept.31st. Our main goal is to use this opportunity to get more people to the main store while catering to there basic needs on site. I tell my staff all the time; we don’t need the whole pie, just a piece. Eventually the piece gets bigger and all is good.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Don!

Stay tuned daily for fresh dialogue! This Q&A between DB & Don will run through March 2010, to the opening date of Don’s new bike shop.

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Strictly Bicycles (Fort Lee, NJ)

Simply the best New York City bike shop in New Jersey! If location is key to a bike retailer’s success, then Nelson at Strictly Bicycles has probably placed a check mark next to ‘Find a high traffic, targeted location’ on his to-do list. Located on Hudson Terrace, a road that funnels hundreds of New York City riders on any given weekend day from Manhattan onto New Jersey’s cycling mecca of a road, 9W, Stricly Bicycles stands proud and waiting to serve its customers with open arms. There are a dozen qualities that make this an excellent bike shop and that’s even before you get into their varied selection of high end road bike lines. The shop truly caters to its customer’s needs. Here are a few examples: 1) During Summer and Fall hours, Nelson opens the shop early enough on the weekends so that early morning riders in need of cycling nutrition, a spare tube, a pump or a restroom have a place they can rely on for that early day support. I’ve started rides at 8am and been able to walk into the shop for a quick restroom break before hitting 9W. Given that most shops in the area open around 11am, this is gift to all riders of which I’m truly grateful to Nelson and his early morning staff! 2) The staging area in the parking lot is useful for riders waiting for their ride partners, a quick change of a leaky tube or just chatting with other riders. During shop hours, there’s always an air pump conveniently placed there for anyone to use. 3) Good coffee at their full service coffee bar. You’ll usually see Eddie behind the counter ready to serve up a hot cup of coffee before or after your ride. I usually stop in post-ride to reward myself with a cup of coffee. It’s one of the simple joys in life I experience being a cyclist in this area. 4) Nelson and Eddie work harmoniously as the front men of the shop to provide knowledge and support to customers. Given the numerous high-end bicycle lines they carry, their knowledge must be able to address all the questions they get from someone willing to ante up $3k+ for the latest road machine. And all that necessary knowledge, they do have and willing to ‘serve up’!

The shop has grown on me. Each time I pop in for a cup of coffee (and it’s never without some thoughtful cycling related conversation with Eddie) or talk to Nelson about a bike or a part, buy ride nutrition or just to browse the shop’s never-ending eye candy, I get to know the shop a little more. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorites in the area.

Bottom line: Visit this beautiful bike shop for some excellent service, wide selection of high end road bikes, cycling wear and nutrition or a good cup of coffee at their full service coffee bar.

Strictly Bicycles

2347 Hudson Terrace

Fort Lee, NJ 07024

201-944-7074

Website: www.strictlybicycles.com/

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Tenafly Bicycle Workshop

If I could sum it up in a single sentence, the Bicycle Workshop is all about taking care of the customer. You could easily drive or even pedal by this shop and miss out on it. Located on County road in Tenafly, NJ, it’s located in a residential neighborhood just as you enter into Tenafly’s business district. It’d be a shame to miss it because the owners and wrenchers here absolutely love bikes and everything about them. But even better is that they love taking care of their customers. Co-owners Rich and Dov, make it a point to really listen and understand your bike problem then offer up what’s usually an ideal solution. There’s no trying to sell you anything you may not need or can’t afford. These are among the most honest guys I know in this business. The shop itself is an interesting mix of Trek and some lesser known, but respected bike brands. Some of these include Niner Bikes, Surly, Look, Vicious Cycles and Titus.

An interesting twist to the shop is the integrated art gallery for local artists to display their works. They launch each new artist showing with a party. Pop in and say hi to Rich, Dov, Jude, Louis and Leo. They’re a great bunch of guys who will take the time to ‘customize’ a solution for you. Or just ask them to make you a cup of coffee while you browse the bikes and the art.

Bottom line: Visit this shop to see some unique bikes and to get excellent customer service.

Tenafly Bicycle Workshop

175 County Road

Tenafly, NJ 07670

201-568-9372

Website: www.bicycleworkshop.com

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

NYC Velo Bike Shop

What I first noticed about NYC Velo is it blended quite nicely with the earthy stores and restaurants flanking its 2nd avenue home in Mahnattan’s east village neighborhood. I’m impressed by its confident presence among the established small businesses that surround it. For a mid to high-end bike shop, it seems to belong just where it is. Being a lover of bikes and bike shops, I walked in for a self-tour. What I had liked from the outside I began to love from the inside! After a quick run-through of the bikes that lined the brick walls I noticed that none of the brands were from the two industry heavyweights; Specialized and Trek. I didn’t see a single bike from the two titans. What I did see were brands like Turner, Independent Fabrication, Salsa, Felt, Swobo, Surly, Civia and even an old Fat Chance mountain bike. But the bike selection wasn’t the only thing that caught my attention. There’s also an interesting selection of clothing on the center island. The NYC Velo wool jerseys are pretty cool, I’m thinking of picking one up for warmth during my cold winter rides throughout the city. The NYC Velo logo’d t-shirts using quality American Apparel garb are something I’d wear too because they look cool and feel comfy! The staff, while friendly enough, has a bit of an edge to their attitudes but I can expect that from a bike shop in the lower East Village. It’s understandable. But they’re helpful if you express interest and they’re also knowledgeable about the brands they carry. As of this writing, I haven’t had to take my bike in for servicing so I can’t comment on the wrenching at this shop. Have you taken your bike in for repair at this shop? How would you rate the level of skill and service?

Bottom line: Visit this shop if you want to see unique bikes and cycling clothes.

NYC Velo

64 2^nd Avenue

NY, NY 10003

212-253-7771

Website: www.nycvelo.com