Salt Lake City Bicycle Company

We sell 3-Wheelers

2011-02-02T16:08:00.000-08:00

One of the favorite bikes at the store for people sit themselves on and make comments like "i need one of these" Adult trikes. Here is a photo of two of the good guys that are ripping it up with their bikes. I love these two.

Local Wares.

2010-12-18T11:59:00.001-08:00

I like people who make useful things with their own hands.

When i see things that are great items that may fit into our bicycle store I think that maybe others will like these items too.

Here are things that I brought into the store for the holidays. I hope

to always keep a few things like this around because people that live in this community make cool stuff.

messenger bags from noelleo designs

cool womans handbag from Reclaimed Wreckage

Made fr

om re-purposed tubes. little flower detail is fun
.

Top Tube pad admired by the fixie crowd. hand made and printed by Mode.

Greeting Card based on the water color

check out artists here:

noelleodesigns; mode; velo city bags; reclaimed wreckage; patrice corneli

Galley Roll

2010-05-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Gallery Roll was a Great time.

Here is and segment from

Park City Television.

Very amazing group Oh! Wild Birds played that evening.

Gallery Roll this Friday May 21 6-9 pm

2010-05-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

large format photo by Tyler McEntireJoin us at Salt Lake City Bicycle Co. for our Second annual Gallery Roll.

Ladies Night April 13 2010

2010-05-02T21:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick slide show from the ladies night.

Good information and home-made cookies.

Hope you can make it next year.

Thanks for all photos by Beth Runkle - Cycle and Style

Other info about the night at Salty Spokes

Utah Bicycle Summit

2010-04-22T10:33:00.001-07:00

The Utah Bicycle Summit was last week and I am pleased that I attended. Here are some of the highlights of the event

A good sized group of people that care about the use of bicycles in this state.
A chance to get out of the store and re-connect with one of the reasons we are in this industry
Catch up with old friends that are doing good for cycling in Utah
Meet new friends that will be good for our future.

photos from the event

The good people from Bike Provo did a better job of reporting on the event than I could.

day 1

day 2

The Perfect Utah Bike

2009-11-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

Several of us were able to run down to Fruita, CO to demo some Trek and Gary Fisher full suspension bikes. Brent continues to salivate over the Superfly 100. My guess is that he'll have to own one soon enough. McCool tore it up on a Fuel EX 8 the first day, and a Remedy 9.9 the second day. He was really impressed with both, and was floored by how well the Remedy climbed for a bike with so much travel.

The first day I grabbed a Trek Scratch 9. It was way too much bike for how I ride, but I was really impressed with its ability to handle anything. The second day I think I found the perfect Utah bike - the Rumblefish II. It's nimble enough to climb and fly in the flats, yet burly enough to handle the technical stuff that Utah throws at us. It's a wonderful bike!

We'll post more about the trip in the next couple days. The riding was great and the weather beautiful.

Everything's Better By Bike

2009-10-26T00:03:00.000-07:00

I had Friday off, so a long ride was in order. I had planned to ride to Ogden by way of East Canyon, but weather and a couple other factors demanded a shorter ride. I decided to ride out to Antelope Island and then over to the Marina. Both destinations are beautiful - nobody can deny that. What always amazes me, however, is that everything in between is beautiful as well. Here's a short video taken while I rode along the I-15 frontage road north of Salt Lake City. Everything is, indeed, better by bike!

Super Fly have arrived

2009-10-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Gary Fisher Superfly 100
The best bike I have ever ridden. Really.

The engineers and designers at Fisher got this right.

I took this on the popular 157 trail. including a descent of Joy and was amazed. The way that they have re-worked the suspension on the back so that the wheel sits under your center of gravity makes it ride better than any other.

Everything else fits into the catagory of "what's not to like?"

29er
24.3 lbs. (the bike in the photo) 19.5"
Race Proven. 4 US Titles
Looks great.

great media.

2009-07-21T15:26:00.001-07:00

Salt Lake City Bicycle Co. was the delivery source for a new Trek District to what appears to be the center of the universe for district. Super cool bike, cool site. go there now

Gallery Roll

2009-05-21T07:17:00.001-07:00

We were excited to host this event. Over 20 artists with 60 pieces of work and hundreds of visitors to the store. the art will be up in the store until June 1. Come by the store to see and possibly purchase some art. We are fully stocked with bikes and accessories now we just made space for the art.
We will do this again next May.

music by Lake Mary

don't miss

2009-05-08T22:24:00.000-07:00

This ought to be one of the coolest events I have ever been a part of. I really am excited. There are some great art pieces including paintings. photography, and sculpture. We have caught the attention of some with this event. Read more here. SLUG MAGAZINE and 15BYTES

Underground

2009-04-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

We have been super busy here at SLCB. Here is what is going on in May.

Gallery Roll. It is official.... We are officially part of Gallery Stroll here in Salt Lake City. Come see bike related art in our store Starting Friday May 15th. This is going to be cool. Click here

Bike Bonanza. Bike Bonanza is one of the events in association with Utah's Bike Month. We are sponsors and are looking forward to hosting the tricycle racing and provide bikes and clothing as part of the fashion show. We had a photo shoot here at the store for this. Luckily they brought their own models. utah bike month

Gavin's Underground this is a local blog that is associated with a local television station. I wish I were more photogenic but it is a great look at the store and he asked great questions. Many thanks to Gavin. the blog

Go By Bike Sale.
For commerce reasons the most important part of this month is the Go By Bike Sale. in conjunction with Trek Bicycle we are part of this sale. Check our website soon for more details.

Keep checking with us. We will have a story in SLUG Magazine as well as more mentions with Gallery Stroll as the month goes on.

District

2009-04-30T07:28:00.001-07:00

The much anticipated and highly sought District has arrived.
Belt drive, cool styling, one speed, what's not to love?

The Studio Audience

2009-03-14T10:11:00.001-07:00

I was asked by someone at Trek Bicycle to help out Toni Jorganson with a segment about womens bikes on Good Things Utah. A casual, news-information-lifestyle program on ABC 4 Utah. I am always amazed when you see television shows made how relaxed everyone who works there every day is. I had panicked for days about how the bikes would look, how I would fit them into the rental car that I got (thats another story) and where the studio was. The segment was quick and to the point. As a bike person I wanted to scream from the studio audience all the answers to the questions. The information presented was good but very basic. I wanted to run out there and say. "women's specific designed products are....." if you want the more advanced information you are just going to have to come into the store. Thanks to Toni, George, Roxie, and Nicea for doing a great job. Now I need to get to a TV everyday at 10AM see Video here,

Ladies Night Out

2009-02-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

Salt Lake City Bicycle hosted the first annual ladies night out on Thursday, February 5th. What a great time. 50+ guests. Good information from our good friend Tori. Good food.
Trek has made such an effort to improve the cycling experience for women. It is great to be part of it.

It's Going To Be A Cold One

2008-12-15T21:26:00.000-08:00

As long as it's not snowing and the roads are plowed there will be a contingent heading out towards the airport at Noon.

Be able to say you are one of few, the proud, the frozen, the slightly warped.

Calling All Roadies

2008-12-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

Today will be the first lunch ride from SLC Bicycle that will be done entirely on pavement. If you have been waiting for a chance to do the lunch ride with us but haven't wanted to do it in the dirt then today is your day.

Leaving the shop at Noon for an hour loop around Downtown and occasionally wandering through neighborhoods. Bring your cold weather gear and a buck or two for something warm from Bevalo afterwards.

Giving a Little

2008-11-29T12:17:00.000-08:00

I was asked to donate to a community health fair that raises money for the hospital in the town that I come from. I like the idea of this girl getting her new Mirraco BMX bike and somehow change her life. I know that when I was about her age I got my first non DI bike and my life has been on the same trajectory since then. It's a fun thought.

Unofficially Official

2008-11-24T21:41:00.000-08:00

Tuesdays are the unofficially official lunch ride.

Plan on Noon every Tuesday for the time being. What can I say, I am a little non-committal.

Tomorrow bring a mountain bike because you just can't get enough dirt in your diet this time of year.

If road rides are more your thing, be patient, I promise that we will start doing some road rides very soon.

Weekly Shop Lunch Ride

2008-11-20T07:07:00.000-08:00

While it's not the official weekly shop lunch ride, the official weekly shop lunch ride is every Tuesday or maybe it's every Wednesday I'm not sure yet, there will be a shop lunch ride on Friday the 21st of November.

Bring your mountain bike and plan on just over an hour. We will be leaving the shop at Noon sharp and heading up City Creek to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and then over and down the Bobsled and back to the shop.

Yes, there is a bit of climbing but the reward is so worth the effort.

I'll be giving away a pair of cool SLC Bike socks to whoever can ride the drop at the bottom of the Bobsled. So, bring your huevos.

Visitor

2008-11-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

It was reccomended that we get someone famous to come by our store. It is good for business.

Take 'er out

2008-09-08T07:48:00.000-07:00

The old vacant bank directly north of the store has been being torn down for the last couple of days. This place has been a little creepy and I am not going to miss it.
The process of demolition has been interesting. The leveling of the building took less than 8 hours of work for the guy driving the Volvo with the "jaws of death". the clean up seems to be about a week.
It has been great fun here. Our store shakes several times a day with the destruction. It is especially creepy if you are in the basement. Low grumbling, earth shaking. Makes you wonder if we are going to end up in a heap with a new entrance on the north side of the building.

Trek Whirled

2008-08-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

Trek Bicycle held its annual dealer show in Madison, WI last week. This was my first year attending as a dealer. It seemed about the same except for the fact that I had my wife with me. There are plenty of great bikes coming for the new year. I had a couple of favorites. thanks to J mc D for the photos.

Other than the bikes and the obvious here were some other highlights.

Jim's trails. Trek has some really great trails.
Edgewater Hotel. Fabulous view of Lake Mendota
Riding lime bikes with 1000 people. all is good, less Ryan O's clavicle
Saturday Farmers Market. Cheese. Honey. Vegetables. A whole lot of goodness.
Seeing old friends. What a great bunch of people there are at trek and their dealers.
Being with my wife.

the goodness of others.

2008-07-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

A nice guy came into the store on Saturday and took a couple of pictures and asked a few questions. He told me that he was adding it to his website. Check it out. SLC Pomp

Now Open

2008-07-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Finally.

We officially opened on Friday (slurpee day).
The last couple of days before opening things really started to come together. It was nerve racking because on monday we had a final inspection from the city only to be told (wrongly I found out later) that we needed to do a quick removal of a door and a small wall to a closet. I did my best to not stir the water because I realized that my opening of the store would be quickly affected by the whims of the inspectors. Tuesday I got the business license and thought that I would try to open immediately. Well then it was brought to my attention that we should probably finish as many of the small details on the building as possible and open because we should and not just be cause we can. Wednesday and Thursday were the days where everyone worked like crazy to put together last minute details. Thanks to Troy, Brad, Cameron, Xander, Valene, Oliver (otis) Simon, Milly.
This was a major milestone and I am glad that the store is open. The next step is to refine and improve the operation. If nothing else the mantra that I got from Lester of U Cycles in Colorado "be nice to everyone" is what we will operate on.

2008-06-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

This week has been one to remember. Plenty of things were accomplished here is a quick list.

Phone lines are into the business
Internet is hooked up
Computer system is installed
Recieved final inspection on building
First employees have started
Job applications coming out of my ears
Security system is installed
Received initial order of bikes.
Changed the locks on all the doors
Thorough cleaning of space

The last item was the most impressive. My lovely wife hustled together 23 of our family and friends and we all set to work to make the space inhabitable. I was very pleased and happy that I could get so many people to help and it made a huge difference. Special thanks to all that helped.

hang on to your hats

2008-06-16T19:46:00.000-07:00

It is a wonderful thing to see some ideas come together. In the past week the store has gone from seeming like a construction site to taking shape as a bike shop. I have had a lot of fun meeting the people that are helping me along the process. Yesterday I got a call from some mumbling man with a heavy east-european accent telling me that he has a delivery for me. I met the man this morning and I was so pleased that the truck driver was the actual strong man from the circus. The guy you imediately thought of is a large european man with a shaved head. a neck about the same circumference as his head. Narrow eyes and heavy brow. Huge shoulders are with plenty of hair and a t-shirt that has its sleeves cut off. I was relieved that he wasn't wearing that leotard of leopard print with only one strap over the shoulder. Ok so he doesn't work for the circus now and he has let himself go a bit. Maybe a bit too much vodka and borscht. I am sue that when he did work for the circus he was much more trim.
Well that guy brought me retail fixtures from Chicago. I think that his name was Marcus.

Construction update.

2008-05-31T20:20:00.001-07:00

Things have really picked up for the last couple of weeks. After waiting for what seemed so long now there is not enough time. Waiting so long just allowed us to prepare. Now we just put everything in motion.

This week electricians finished rough out. Painting is started but a bit delayed by sheet rock. I am learning that if a subcontractor says they will be there tuesday morning that could actually be thursday afternoon and somehow that is fine. That means the painter will be delayed the equivalent amount.
I am learning why the term sweat equity is so apt. I spent most of the long weekend assembling cabinets. This week I spent a lot of time painting the basement. I underestimated the amount of time that would take. Next week a bit more painting. then install cabinets and by the end of the week I am going to learn how to install flooring.

The question I am often asked is: when will you be open? For the first time ever I am comfortable saying the end of June. I hope to have store operating by June 25 and then I am planning a grand opening celebration for July 12.

This is going to be real good.

Action Packed

2008-05-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

For months it has been frustrating to be able to see so little happen to the building that will become the bike store. It has been about 10 days since the city so kindly gave me permits and things have been moving ever since. Framing is mostly finished. Electrical is mostly roughed in. Plumbing is well underway and heating has been sitting still for 2 weeks. I should get first round of inspections later this week. It is so nice to see change. Right now if you were to make me guess I would say that store will be open about the end of June. I feel stronger about that than I ever have about any other date.

A long anticipated stamp of approval.

2008-05-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

Well the great city of Salt Lake has approved my plans. This is really good news. This allows me to see some light at the end of the tunnel. I can start to coordinate everything that I have been lining up for this moment. We are now entering the time of doing and not just the time of planning. It is very exciting.

The last couple of days have been interesting. I have received overnight packages every day this week with updated information from the architect. I would then compile the information in them and run them to the city building for approval, then they would make requests (see above, in red pen) and I would email the requests back to the architects. repeat as needed. Now it is done

Some of the final changes that were mandated by various codes were interesting. I will invite you all to enjoy the following, when you visit the store.

1. Correctly shaped and angled handrails on stairs and ramp. (see above)
2. Dual side by side water fountains. Please enjoy these with a friend. Preferably someone of different height or flexibility because one is at exactly 36 inches off the floor and the other is 42 inches.
3. On your way out, rest assured that our doors will be unlocked during business hours. There is a sign above the door that states that.
4 Lastly. Enjoy that the doors will have been reversed so that they open away from the building and your exiting will be facilitated.

Now we move ahead.

Anticipation

2008-04-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

I am still waiting on the City to look at the plans for the remodel that we have planned. 5 weeks ago I was told it would be 3 weeks. It reminds me of when I was a kid and I couldn't wait until Christmas. Except Christmas always came on Dec 25 not several weeks later.
The good news is that my logo is finished.

History 2

2008-03-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

This polaroid was me with my first road bike. I appreciate how it looks a bit like a mug shot but this was the victory podium for the first time that I raced a bike. It was for a community event called a bike-a-thon. I think it was 1979 and I had just purchased that bike with paper route monies.

It was about a 7 mile race. We had to pick up a dry pinto bean out of a can at the turn around point of the course to prove that we had been the full distance. I won. This bike took me on many adventures for the next several years. I didn't replace it until I was a sophomore in college and working at a bike shop.

History

2008-03-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

I had mentioned that the building where we will be locating the store has recently been updated.
This would be the before photo. I think this was taken about summer 2006

Company Values

2008-03-01T19:40:00.001-08:00

i have been thinking about putting together a list of company values of the new business and I was looking for inspiration from companies that I admire. Patagonia had a paragraph that captures part of the passion that I have for cycling.

Patagonia grew out of a small company that made tools for climbers. Alpinism remains at the heart of a worldwide business that still makes clothes for climbing – as well as for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and trail running. These are all silent sports. None requires a motor; none delivers the cheers of a crowd. In each sport, reward comes in the form of hard-won grace and moments of connection between us and nature.

I would love to hear any suggestions that you may have of values that you think should drive a business.

Segundo y Segundo

2008-02-26T19:46:00.000-08:00

This will be the new home of Salt Lake City Bicycle. This is in the heart of Salt Lake City. 200 E. 200 S. This building is about 100 years old and has been various businesses: everything from a old car dealership to an Indian restaurant. About 2 years ago it caught on fire and was condemned. A developer who loves old architecture and bringing old buildings back from the edge of demise rebuilt this. I will occupy most of the main floor and about half of a basement. The upper two floors are low income housing. Today there were people inside finishing stairs and sheetrock. My portion of the build-out should start in a couple of weeks. I hope to be open for business by May. However there are so many obstacles that could delay that opening. I hate to get too excited.

It's Not a Living it's a Life

2008-02-17T18:03:00.002-08:00

I have always admired the spirit of Sun Summit Ski and Cycle in Ketchum Idaho. Everyday of the ski season they close their business from 10:00 to 2:30 to go ski. Their store's slogan is "it's not a living its a life".

I have been in the bicycle industry for just over 20 years and I am content. I have worked for others the entire time and have worked for some of the best people and companies that I could have ever hoped for. Over the years the fine line between my work and my life has blurred. This spring or early summer I will be opening a bicycle store: Salt Lake City Bicycles. I couldn't be more excited or scared.

I am prepared for the huge workload that this could become. I am trying to brace myself for some of the difficulties that are likely to arise. Mostly I am excited to take this passion that I have had for bicycles and bicycle business and put my own twist on it. I have opted to work with Trek Bicycle on this because they have a retail program that is leading the bicycle retail world. I like the idea of " you might as well do it right the first time".

This Blog is a tool to share some of the insights that I have from time to time about the process and eventually the life that will be SLCB.

It's not a living it's a life.