Re: [RBW] Re: New Portland bike shop

2012-03-25 Thread James Warren 


I live in Los Angeles County, and one thing I always notice when I go down to San Diego to ride is the greater number of San Diego riders who are still riding that awesome bike they got in 1990 or 1995 or something like that. I'm talking something like that expensiveLitespeed of the late 90's still being ridden quite athleticallynow with its "outdated"threaded stem. I see more of that in SD than in LA.

-Jim W.
-Original Message- From: Esteban Sent: Mar 25, 2012 7:28 PM To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com Subject: [RBW] Re: New Portland bike shop Actually, we have nearly triple the population of Portland, and a huge number of riders here in San Diego. Lots of commuters, but its more spread out and less "cultural" than in Portland or along Valencia St. in SF or certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn. We have a lower percentage of commuters, but sheer numbers would be competitive at the least. Of course, we have an absolutely, perhaps unmatched, group of roadies, mtb'ers and triathletes (and some of the best riding anywhere for these pursuits). And we have a lot of people with a lot of money - the kind of folks who spend $10K on a bike every couple of years. Its an untapped market for a "coffee shop" kind of commuting/shopping bike. Its just a matter of getting people to make the connections - maybe Grant's book will help, or the upcoming San Diego Bike Summit next weekend, or all the new paint being applied for bike lanes and sharrows around San Diego. But just because folks don't look the part (fenders, fancy bags, beards [that would be me]) doesn't mean they're not committed commuters. 

San Diego is probably like a lot of cities in that what people want is the cultural aspect of cycling that makes it feel more like a movement than a bunch of people making their own decisions to ride for fun, transportation, or exercise. That's what is happening in lots of cities. What Velo Cult was successful at was making it feel real. Think about Box Dog in SF - they have done fantastic because they have the good parts  service, but also because they ride - A LOT - the kind of riding that gives people ideas. Randonees, mixed-terrain rides, etc - the kind of riding that leads popular taste rather than follows it. We need more blogs and shops and retailers who do what Riv does - lead. 

With commuters and utility riders, I frankly think a big barrier to community is the dork factor that comes out. I'm not talking bike nerd stuff - but seriously wonky dorky vehicular cyclists (often men) who are just turn-offs to so many new riders. The more I think about advocacy and fun and "community," the more I think "just ride the damn bike and invite others." Sorry for the thesis here - maybe some thoughts for me to develop elsewhere.On Sunday, March 25, 2012 6:57:59 PM UTC-7, Michael_S wrote:
Micro-brewson tap? never had that down here, although Station Tavern next door is the best.  I miss them even though I just moved to San Diego permanently. I had been there many times. I'm sure they will do well there, I believe there is a larger population of the cyclist they best serve. 

~mike
Carlsbad Ca.On Sunday, March 25, 2012 9:15:47 AM UTC-7, velomann wrote:
I attended the grand opening of Velo Cult here in Portland last night. I have a feeling this is going to be my new favorite bike shop. Heavy emphasis on Riv-ish and classic bike lore, with nary a carbon racing bike in sight. In fact, when you walk in the door you have to look around a bit to find any merchandise - parts and bikes are all towards the back. Lots of Nitto, Brooks, Velo-Orange, and On One (who also just moved to Portland). New bikes appear to be Surly, Raleigh, and All City cycles. The main attraction, though, is the space. Appears designed more as a shrine to the classic mountain and road bikes owner Sky Boyer has on display, including an original Steve Potts, early Bontrager cross bike, a beautiful Follis tandem, and lots of stuff I'm forgetting. The place is seems designed more to hang out and talk bikes than to sell you something - though there's plenty to buy. Surprisingly, Portland doesn't really have a shop like this - most of our shops seem either race obsessed, fixie focused, or a hodge-podge of everything on 2 wheels. I think they will do well here. And there's microbrews on tap. Coffee and food coming soon, I hear. Pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/​​116897251123335733984/​​VeloCultGrandOpening 
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Re: [RBW] Re: New Portland bike shop

2012-03-25 Thread Joe Broach 
On Sun, Mar 25, 2012 at 7:28 PM, Esteban proto...@gmail.com wrote:
 Actually, we have nearly triple the population of Portland, and a huge
 number of riders here in San Diego.  Lots of commuters, but its more spread
 out and less cultural than in Portland or along Valencia St. in SF or
 certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn.  We have a lower percentage of commuters,
 but sheer numbers would be competitive at the least.

Boyer explained a bit about the impetus to move in a local interview:
http://bit.ly/ze24Ol

--
Velo Cult turned into a destination shop, with people from all over
the world seeking it out on visits to San Diego (a very popular
tourist destination). The shop had a very loyal local following as
customers flocked to Boyer for his steel bikes and the gritty feel of
his shop. But Boyer says San Diegans, on the whole, never really
understood Velo Cult and that the city's lack of support for
independent, local businesses was in sharp contrast to what he'd seen
on visits to Portland.

As someone who has worked as a volunteer on bike advocacy issues,
Boyer was also frustrated at the lack of progress (due in large part
to the dominance of the vehicular cycling philosophy in San Diego) in
building a bikeway network.

My employees have been waiting for me to make this move for years...
We were in the wrong city, he said.
---

I'm kind of surprised something like Velo Cult didn't already exist
here yet. Funny that it's being imported from SoCal, but I'm not
complaining!

Best,
joe broach
portland, or
http://cyclerslife.blogspot.com/

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Re: [RBW] Re: New Portland bike shop

2012-03-25 Thread Esteban 
the city's lack of support for
independent, local businesses

I dunno - the other local, independent bike shops here seem do to quite 
well.  I think Sky is talking about becoming something bigger, and he 
thought Portland would facilitate it.  He's probably right.  I hope so, as 
they are just great people with a love for bicycles.  Maybe its like if you 
want to take your craft beer business to the next level, you might move to 
San Diego, where there's a total scene and pre-constituted, 
historically-situated market for it (Although Blind Pig left after 
pioneering the San Diego-style double IPA).  I was just talking the other 
day with a woman who started a coffee shop business down here, moving from 
SF (talk about a pre-constituted coffee scene!).  She was going to brew 
Blue Bottle, but found out that customers preferred locally-roasted coffee. 
 Go figure.  Funny, at my university, I meet parents from Portland, and 
never once have I had an affirmative to my question, do you ride?  They 
all live in the suburbs and say its just for downtown (!).  And then you 
have Walnut Creek, with excellent riding around Mt. Diablo, and you've got 
to ride on the damn sidewalk on Ygnacio Valley!  Strange world. Regardless, 
Portland is lucky because they're getting a real treat.  When VC was a 
small shop in La Jolla, they had a Riv bumper sticker in the window. 
 That's what first drew me in. 

As for San Diego and the old awesome bikes still on the road - its notable 
that randonneuring in the U.S. started here, triathlons were invented here, 
and we're home to a slew of non-zietgiest bike industry stuff like Holland, 
Wanta, Joe Bell, Speedplay, Baylis, etc.  

I think there are a lot of big cities like San Diego - lots of riders, 
relatively small percentage of commuters, infrastructure on the brink of 
something excellent.  This is where Grant's book could really do the trick 
- just ride, have fun, dont' concern yourself with a scene.  Ride with 
people who you want to have fun with.  Dont' worry about what people think. 
 How many of us have stoked curiosity from other riders, pedestrians, or 
drivers just from being atop a Riv - people don't quite know what to make 
of it (vintage? hybrid?).  Invite them to ride.  David's So Cal Riv Rides 
have been a godsend.  I had never ridden with other people before!  Give 
people new ideas about how much fun it can be atop a sensible bike.  

On Sunday, March 25, 2012 7:54:12 PM UTC-7, James Warren wrote:

  I live in Los Angeles County, and one thing I always notice when I go 
 down to San Diego to ride is the greater number of San Diego riders who are 
 still riding that awesome bike they got in 1990 or 1995 or something like 
 that. I'm talking something like that expensive Litespeed of the late 90's 
 still being ridden quite athletically now with its outdated threaded 
 stem. I see more of that in SD than in LA.

  

 -Jim W.

 -Original Message- 
 From: Esteban 
 Sent: Mar 25, 2012 7:28 PM 
 To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.​com rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com 
 Subject: [RBW] Re: New Portland bike shop 

 Actually, we have nearly triple the population of Portland, and a huge 
 number of riders here in San Diego.  Lots of commuters, but its more spread 
 out and less cultural than in Portland or along Valencia St. in SF or 
 certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn.  We have a lower percentage of 
 commuters, but sheer numbers would be competitive at the least.  Of course, 
 we have an absolutely, perhaps unmatched, group of roadies, mtb'ers and 
 triathletes (and some of the best riding anywhere for these pursuits).  And 
 we have a lot of people with a lot of money - the kind of folks who spend 
 $10K on a bike every couple of years.  Its an untapped market for a coffee 
 shop kind of commuting/shopping bike.  Its just a matter of getting people 
 to make the connections - maybe Grant's book will help, or the upcoming San 
 Diego Bike Summit next weekend, or all the new paint being applied for bike 
 lanes and sharrows around San Diego.  But just because folks don't look the 
 part (fenders, fancy bags, beards [that would be me]) doesn't mean they're 
 not committed commuters.   

 San Diego is probably like a lot of cities in that what people want is the 
 cultural aspect of cycling that makes it feel more like a movement than a 
 bunch of people making their own decisions to ride for fun, transportation, 
 or exercise.  That's what is happening in lots of cities.  What Velo Cult 
 was successful at was making it feel real.  Think about Box Dog in SF - 
 they have done fantastic because they have the good parts  service, but 
 also because they ride - A LOT - the kind of riding that gives people 
 ideas.  Randonees, mixed-terrain rides, etc - the kind of riding that leads 
 popular taste rather than follows it.  We need more blogs and shops and 
 retailers who do what Riv does - lead.  

 With commuters and utility riders, I frankly think a big