![]() Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here. Address: Somervelo 361b Somerville ave Somerville MA 02143Īllstonvelo (opening this fall) 442 Cambridge Street, Allston MA 02134.It’s important to do what you love and what you are good at. SCUL is housed by Somerville hackerspace Artisans Asylum where it maintains a bicycle repair and modification facility, and members offer classes in welding. I was sick and tired of answering to someone else, so I made the steps to open my own business. I would define success as what makes you happy. What is “success” or “successful” for you? We have also been able to get our repairs out the door within 24 to 48 hours, which not a lot of shops can do. Whether it be a major repair or just why they got their flat tire. We try our best to inform our customers on what exactly is going on with their bike. One of the things I am most proud of is that we try to have a very inviting atmosphere. We want our customers to know that what parts we put on their bike is the same parts we would put on our own. We do fix everything, from department store bikes to high end custom frame manufactures. We specialize in repairs, custom bike builds, custom wheels builds and provisions for cycling. Somervelo and Allstonvelo are full service bicycle repair shops. Somervelo and Allstonvelo – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition? Of course there was defiantly a learning curve but I say I didn’t let any of it hold me back. ![]() I took all of my experience and tried to hone all of those skills that I had learned into these shops. I have been a bike messenger, mechanic, salesman, manager and co-owner of various shops around the Boston area. All of us have at over 10 years’ experience in the bike industry so we knew what to expect as far as repairs on bikes and what product to carry. We knew what we were getting into when we opened. Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? I met with Emma from Allston main streets and she put me in touch with a broker and now I am in the process of the build out at Allstonvelo. After that we saw the need for a bike shop in the Allston area. About a year later we had an opportunity to expand to the store front next door. It took me about a month to build out the first phase of the shop with some help for some really talented friends. I quit my job at a local bike shop and about two months later I found a spot and started the build out of Somervelo. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.įour or so years ago after working out of my garage, Tom my business partner, our friend Pete who is also our first employee and I were sitting on my porch having a couple of beers and we decided it was time that we open a brick and mortar location. Thanks for sharing your story with us J.T. "It brings me joy to bring them to school in the morning."īoston, Cambridge, and Somerville all have bike lane projects in the works to expand and improve current lanes.Today we’d like to introduce you to J.T. ![]() She believes more protected lanes would mean more families swapping the school bus for a family bike. ![]() "That is often a barrier for other people who would like to get into riding a bicycle for themselves or with their children, but they are not willing to take that risk," Katherine said. until 5:30 p.m.) Head to downtown Somerville for a full day of bicycle racing, activities, and entertainment. By 1986, the Belmont store expanded to eight storefronts and in 1988, the North Cambridge location moved to its current location in Somerville. Monday, September 6: Tour of Somerville (races from 9:30 a.m. national road champion John Allis joined the shop as an owner and headed up a new bike-fit program. When WBZ-TV watched her ride, she had to navigate around an Amazon truck parked in a bike lane on Mass. That same year, three-time Olympian and U.S. She tries to stick to bike paths whenever possible but does have to ride in unprotected bike lanes on the street which can be full of obstacles. "It's a concern," Katherine said admitting that there are some areas where she is not comfortable taking the kids. This brings us to safety, as mistakes could put precious cargo in danger. With three kids in the front, it's a different feel than a regular bike and can be tricky to steer. Steering a cargo bike does take some getting used to.
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