Adam Van Abel (left) and Nate Glore are moving a bike shop operation into Olde Town Arvada. Photos by George Demopoulos.
Two bike mechanic pals are gearing up to launch their first shop.
Nate Glore and Adam Van Abel want to bring their bike shop, Cycle Dynamics, to Olde Town Arvada and pick up a service a previous shop provided before it hit the breaks in 2014.
“We want to be that hometown shop – somewhere that you feel safe sending your kids to when they need to fix a flat,” Glore said. “There’s an increase in the increasing prevalence of Internet shopping, but there are definitely aspects of the bike shop that the Internet can’t provide, and that’s what we’ll focus on.”
Glore and Van Abel signed a three-year lease on the 4,000-square-foot storefront at 5545 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. in November, they said, and hope to have the shop open in March.
It’s the perfect region for a bike shop, Glore said, because the town’s former store, Arvada Bicycle Co., closed in September of 2014.
And Denver RTD plans to open a light rail line and 600-space parking structure in Arvada next year, which made the location appealing, Glore said.
The new shops sits across Olde Wadsworth Boulevard from a Landmark movie theater.
It’ll take about $120,000 in initial funding to open the shop, Glore said. That includes about $15,000 in demolition and construction, $20,000 in tools and equipment and an additional $85,000 in inventory, according to Glore.
The duo is financing the project themselves with some help from friends and family, they said. They’re also stocking Cannondale Bicycles, with the bikes lent on credit for the sales floor.
The duo chose to open in March because that’s when biking season shifts into high gear, Glore said.
“March is when people go, ‘oh yeah, bikes’ and put down the skis,” he said. “Then they find out their tire has a tear or wasn’t straight back in September and they need to get it fixed.”
Van Abel said he and Glore will be Cycle Dynamics’ only two employees come opening day, but they plan to quickly hire on staffers once the shop is up and running.
“We want to run a lean crew, where anyone can do everything, someone who can fix a complex suspension one minute and turn around and sell a kid’s bike the next,” he said.
Service will be a significant portion of Cycle Dynamics’ business, Glore said. To capitalize on that, he and Van Abel will run a mobile bike repair service out of the shop. The service, likely based out of a van or trailer, will run pick-ups and drop-offs for customers, as well as on-site repairs to any customer in a 5-mile radius. That area will expand as the business grows, Glore said.
Glore, 32, and Van Abel, 28, have worked in Denver’s bike industry since 2002 and 2004, respectively. The two met nine years ago while they worked as mechanics at the same shop.
Bikes are a family business for Van Abel, whose father works for the International Mountain Biking Association. Van Abel followed in his footsteps and has worked as a mechanic and salesman since graduating from high school.
Glore hails from Massachusetts and came to Denver 13 years ago, he said. Bikes are something of a family business for him, as well.
It’s the first time Glore or Van Abel have opened their own business.
“Starting the business is the hard part for us,” Van Abel said. “Once we get some tools and bikes in here, then we’ll be good.”
Adam Van Abel (left) and Nate Glore are moving a bike shop operation into Olde Town Arvada. Photos by George Demopoulos.
Two bike mechanic pals are gearing up to launch their first shop.
Nate Glore and Adam Van Abel want to bring their bike shop, Cycle Dynamics, to Olde Town Arvada and pick up a service a previous shop provided before it hit the breaks in 2014.
“We want to be that hometown shop – somewhere that you feel safe sending your kids to when they need to fix a flat,” Glore said. “There’s an increase in the increasing prevalence of Internet shopping, but there are definitely aspects of the bike shop that the Internet can’t provide, and that’s what we’ll focus on.”
Glore and Van Abel signed a three-year lease on the 4,000-square-foot storefront at 5545 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. in November, they said, and hope to have the shop open in March.
It’s the perfect region for a bike shop, Glore said, because the town’s former store, Arvada Bicycle Co., closed in September of 2014.
And Denver RTD plans to open a light rail line and 600-space parking structure in Arvada next year, which made the location appealing, Glore said.
The new shops sits across Olde Wadsworth Boulevard from a Landmark movie theater.
It’ll take about $120,000 in initial funding to open the shop, Glore said. That includes about $15,000 in demolition and construction, $20,000 in tools and equipment and an additional $85,000 in inventory, according to Glore.
The duo is financing the project themselves with some help from friends and family, they said. They’re also stocking Cannondale Bicycles, with the bikes lent on credit for the sales floor.
The duo chose to open in March because that’s when biking season shifts into high gear, Glore said.
“March is when people go, ‘oh yeah, bikes’ and put down the skis,” he said. “Then they find out their tire has a tear or wasn’t straight back in September and they need to get it fixed.”
Van Abel said he and Glore will be Cycle Dynamics’ only two employees come opening day, but they plan to quickly hire on staffers once the shop is up and running.
“We want to run a lean crew, where anyone can do everything, someone who can fix a complex suspension one minute and turn around and sell a kid’s bike the next,” he said.
Service will be a significant portion of Cycle Dynamics’ business, Glore said. To capitalize on that, he and Van Abel will run a mobile bike repair service out of the shop. The service, likely based out of a van or trailer, will run pick-ups and drop-offs for customers, as well as on-site repairs to any customer in a 5-mile radius. That area will expand as the business grows, Glore said.
Glore, 32, and Van Abel, 28, have worked in Denver’s bike industry since 2002 and 2004, respectively. The two met nine years ago while they worked as mechanics at the same shop.
Bikes are a family business for Van Abel, whose father works for the International Mountain Biking Association. Van Abel followed in his footsteps and has worked as a mechanic and salesman since graduating from high school.
Glore hails from Massachusetts and came to Denver 13 years ago, he said. Bikes are something of a family business for him, as well.
It’s the first time Glore or Van Abel have opened their own business.
“Starting the business is the hard part for us,” Van Abel said. “Once we get some tools and bikes in here, then we’ll be good.”
This is awesome!! Lot’s of partnership opportunities to make it easier to bike and use the commuter rail from Olde Town!
I knew them both at their previous workplace. Both are very friendly, provide excellent customer service, and are extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommend them once they’re up and running!
I am a picky individual and I would trust these guys with my my bike. They are ninjas on the bike and in the shop! Well done gentlemen.