The REALITY of Opening a Bike Shop in 2023

[@aaronedgeart]

Golden Saddle was my spot for my two years living in LA, I felt welcome and the vibe was chill. I learned to laugh more, respect all forms of ride style and was knocked down a few pegs in the best of ways. Stoked to see what comes from the new shop and the neighborhood too.

[@ifoundbrian]

As someone in a similar place in life (kids, family responsibilities, etc), I LOVE the idea of having a LBS with hours that accommodate that schedule. Long weekend hours? Yes! Open early and close early? Yes! I hope it works for y’all.

[@davidmassey9589]

Russ-you"re always super good at these journalistic-style interview videos. a real pro, and probably underrated in that particular skill set.

[@TimFitzwater]

Stopped in King Kog last Fall. Shawn was behind the counter and such a nice dude. He was interested in what we were up to, where we were from, and gave us great recommendations on places to stop - including some of the best pizza we've ever had. LA is still on my bucket list - never been. Need to get out there and escape a week of Ohio's winter next year.

[@Alex_564]

Kyle usually has a good pIzza recommendations. He mentioned off hand many years ago pizza tasting is like his food passion.

[@Conversationpace87]

LA is super fun you should definitely go.

[@StanEby1]

Inspirational. Some great man said, "There is nothing more vital to a flourishing community and the future of civilization than a thriving bike shop. Don't forget some of the most profound, life-changing ideas were birthed in the Wright Brother's bike shop, a focal point where heart and mind could prosper."

[@miarobv]

Sounds like a great addition to our ( LA) area.

[@jackiegammon2065]

I'm always excited to hear about more "small" shops opening, thank you for sharing this info! I hope as time goes on, that you will continue to keep in contact with them. I have been in the bike industry for a long time now, but always feel that there is a lot more that I can learn both in owning a business, but also in sales and the repair end of things as well. I'll look forward to hearing more about this shop!!

[@Angiebanagie]

cool video!!! I worked at LAFD FS 55 in the mid 90s about a mile from the Allez LA will be located. Back then, the area was still a little rough. Looks like it’s became gentrified. We’re going to stop by next we go to LA from Oceanside

[@Ray.J]

Good luck! Glad to see folks who aren't afraid to try. Time will tell, but I wouldn't bet against them.

[@sagehiker]

Looks like a great collaboration. And LA may be the place they can find their niche.

[@rajmadhure]

excited! was bummed that golden saddle closed before I could go there. but I'm near highland park, so even better!

[@josephmaneiro1646]

Shawn is one of the best boses I have ever had. No doubt this place will be amazing.

[@andrestorres-dr5cy]

NIce! Good for Shawn (Sean)! Been going to king kog since 2017. I live in Queens but make my way to Brooklyn when I have a big bike project- to be handled. Best of luck!

[@felixjackson2670]

Great. Hope the project goes from strength to strength. Creating and supporting the community. All the best.

[@rev106]

Atomic Cycles approves of this new endeavor!

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

Haven't heard of these folks or the shops mentioned but they seem like cool dudes so I'm hopeful their shop is an overwhelming success!

[@old_surfer]

Sound like a couple of capable and super positive guys. Hope they do well.

[@miket95]

Shawn is the man. I was very fortunate to live a few blocks from King Kog for many years, it was the best bike shop experience in NYC.

[@nthonyholden]

Serving the community is an ethos that should go over well. It's also huge that both owners are family men, and are open to family e-biking and other forms of biking that are inclusive and not just trying to be cool. One of my favorite things about riding around on a bike is the democratizing effect. Every kind of biking is great! I hope they find success!!

[@WhoseShipIsThis]

Hell yeah! Great folks doing great things!

[@C345OFR]

"Service, service, service!" Yes! I'm just getting into this side of bicycles and (although I'd heard of King Kog thanks to Terry B) I've not encountered Shawn before but I know 100% he has his head screwed on correctly just from his emphasis on that statement alone!

[@Kohinootoko]

King kog is the best. JP (i think thats his name) taught me how to change my tire after i failed twice and popped two tubes outside the shop. Im sure he felt bad that i was trying so hard and failed, but none the less i can change my flats so fast now

[@bikesloth]

GSC was a great spot, and I loved going to King Kog in Oakland. Excited to check this new spot out!

[@DanielTorres-cv4lc]

Shawn is such an amazing part of the cycling community! I deff got off a plane in NYC and went straight to King Kog and he set me up proper during my 2 week long visit. Plus an og in the fgfs community and was so stoked to meet him. Very excited for this new venture xKKxGSCx!

[@elliots4370]

Love the idea of short weekday long weekend hours. I'm scared of the day where I have a catastrophic problem on my eCargo Bike with the kiddos while on a weekend adventure.

[@johnsunkim29]

So pumped for Kyle and the crew!

[@hardmtnbiker]

I live in Pasadena CA but never have been to Golden Saddle but know about it’s great rep from the Radavist and other media. Personally I do most of my own wrenching on my bikes and have been riding and buying bikes and parts for most of my life. I’m hoping that more bike shops will be able to order frames and do fittings for small builders. I’m not really ever going to buy a mass production bike or frame from any of the big manufacturers, its just that I don’t want to. I prefer to buy something custom or semi-custom from a smaller company or frame builder.

[@altabajacalifornia]

Nice! Super excited to visit and shop here! Definitely go with Giant guys trust me 😃

[@basiccycleco]

Love getting to see this sneak peak!

[@esidarapmot]

Love the track bike stuff, the Squid helmet on the coat rack, the Turnstile shirt. Place is going to rule!

[@ChesterApricot]

sean is the coolest. king kog is great

[@karlavelo2482]

Great ! And congratulations ! But beware the oncoming Specialized mean legal action for trademark rights ...

[@pavanatanaya]

I hope you make it. The Death Star is destroying bicycle retail IBD

[@anthonykoleszar1779]

Nothing better than a good bike shop where you feel everyone belongs. Conversely like everything else, one bad apple gets too much publicity. So it’s good to reaffirm our faith with good examples! 👍✌️

[@ianauger4364]

Shawn is an incredible guy, stoked to visit

[@kyootbikes]

Shawn is a G 🎉

[@kurnaikent]

@gplama should you warn them about chevrons 7:00

[@lenkomsa1399]

Great news!

[@balazsdusek]

bike shop is pretty high up on my list of jobs, I might work in one part time parralel with college if I have time.

[@bikeski970]

don't. trust me.

[@themoodyteam]

‘Allez’? Spesh may have something to say about that! 😭😭😭

[@1969Rake]

Possibly, but its simply the French word for "Go!"

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

They have attacked companies for using common words like “epic” 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@1969Rake]

@@PathLessPedaledTV i guess thats whst you can do when you're that big! Insane.

[@Robert-ns2pd]

Allez means "let's go" in French. "Spesh" doesn't own that word.

[@mechanicaldavid4827]

Upgrade your workstands before working on ebikes... 🦾

[@klarkolofsson]

Godspeed!

[@bryanflo4500]

Dude what is Kyle's hat?? I neeeed that, yessir

[@bxmundo]

Pretty sure I bought my first fixed gear (GT GTB) from Shawn.

[@HansensUniverseT-A]

Not crazy at all, i have my little shop, i could easily do this for a living, and it's not just bikes, if you are mechanically and technically capable you are in a strong position, there is going to be a really high demand for folks like us because the younger generation isn't getting into these fields of work, (blue collar) so there will be a shortage, take it as an opportunity, i can certainly say that i have more than enough work cut out for me, it gives me a sense of security knowing that regardless of what happens in the world, my skills will be needed.

[@SurpriseMeJT]

Sorry, I don't quite understand - you are a shop owner but you currently do not do it for a living? What is your current career?

[@HansensUniverseT-A]

@@SurpriseMeJT I have my own repair shop for my own personal projects, i work in the oil and gas industry primarily seismic data.

[@HansensUniverseT-A]

@@SurpriseMeJT I do accept repair jobs now and then, but i am time restricted.

[@daniellarson3068]

These guys are "cutters." Sounds like a future success story.

[@bryanflo4500]

what is a 'cutter' in this context?

[@daniellarson3068]

@@bryanflo4500 I take it you never saw the 1979 movie, "Breaking Away." It is a bicycling movie set in Indiana. Within the movie there were rich well to do college students. Those locals in the town who were not so fortunate to go to the University were called "Cutters." They were considered a sort of an underclass. Some of the "Cutters" were the heroes of the movie.

[@Alistair_Spence]

@@bryanflo4500 In the late 70's movie Breaking Away "Cutters" was the term used to refer to working class locals who quarried limestone (stone cutters) in the college town of Bloomington Indiana. I think they made the name up for the movie iirc. The actual name that was used by locals in real life was something different.

[@skipperk9champ215]

Jack of all bikes ❤

[@johnsunkim29]

Woohoo!

[@Ade2bee]

I wish more bike shops would have longer weekends and shorter weekdays

[@ecopennylife]

I wish them good luck, hope they do well 🚴

[@dlux626]

Nice to see some Hoosiers “breaking away”.

[@dougcohenmiller]

Well done Indiana boys!

[@edfungus]

Specialized lawsuit incoming! Kidding, glad to see new bike shops come up :)

[@skelitalmisfit12]

Hoosiers unite!

[@primordialsouppodcast7317]

Kyle I love you but Hlp is not flat.

[@peterweikel7123]

with so many big bike companies and small builders doing their sales direct to the customers, bike shops are feeling the pinch. you have to makenyour own environment with in demand products in your sales area. these huys may actually pull it off while sobmany others are struggling

[@bivibikebaggins]

The cycling community is much healthier in the US than the UK.. find in the UK we have lots of too pro to say hello riders on 7k plus carbon road in team race kit... cycling is pretty divided here :( lots of clicky cycle riders...

[@Gordie_Howe_Hat_Trick]

Sort of sad to see the Waterford bike in the background with the company closing their doors.