Your Inner Kid Beckons at The Bike Depot
By Bob Boyle
To these ideals which were instilled in me when I was a youth, I attribute in a large degree the success that was mine on the bicycle tracks of the world.
– Marshall W. “Major” Taylor, champion cyclist
For all we know about the benefits of bicycling, one basic truth trumps them all: Bikes are FUN. After all, who doesn’t, on some level, re-discover their fun-seeking inner kid each time they get on a bike and ride?
The opportunities and options to access and explore our streets and trails via bicycle are limited only by the imagination of the rider. There is a virtually unlimited range of safe and reliable options beckoning all riders.
Just ask anyone among a growing number of Park Hill bicycling enthusiasts who have participated in any of the world-class cycling activities that take place on a regular basis right here in the neighborhood: the Park Hill Peloton, Viva Streets, Park Hill Family Bike Rides, Bike To School Day, Bike Depot Bicycle Rodeos, and the list goes on.
The place to gear up and prepare for your next ride is, of course, Park Hill’s very own Bike Depot. As one of the leading advocates, enablers and catalysts for all things bicycling in metro Denver, the Bike Depot’s mission is to develop bicyclists through programs, education and access.
Step into the Bike Depot shop and you get the immediate sense that cool things are happening in real time. There is a buzz. There is motion. There is grit. It’s that rare and exceptional retail experience, where you go in expecting first-rate customer service, and end up wanting to roll up your sleeves and get to work while you’re there.
Many a Bike Depot customer ends up grabbing a wrench and a bench, and starts to fix, repair, imagine, build. That’s exactly what Bike Depot Mechanic Bill Davis did while a member of the Bike Depot’s popular “earn-a-bike” program. Bill is now an experienced mechanic on the Bike Depot’s dedicated shop staff. When asked to describe what he appreciates most about working in the shop, his motivation is clear.
“We get all kinds of people showing up here. You’d be amazed,” said Bill. “And we find a way to help every one of them out, no matter what.”
Bike Depot Shop Manager Ryne Emory takes a special interest in kids and bike safety. She leads a variety of innovative youth programs for the Bike Depot.
“I’m interested in showing kids, in particular, that biking is much more than an alternate means of transportation,” Ryne said. “But we like to emphasize the fact that bikes are an ideal way to get around to meet and ride with friends and neighbors.”
The Time is Now. Check It Out.
To underscore Ryne’s point on accessibility, there is no such thing as the “exclusive” or “average” or even “typical” Bike Depot customer. Shop customers and visitors run the gamut, from a homeless rider making his way across town and looking to fix a flat, to die-hard bicycling enthusiasts, to local professionals preparing for a commute to the office.
Take, for example, Park Hill resident and Bike Depot customer Mark Kuhl who rides his “pedelec” (hybrid pedal/electric bike) to work in Broomfield a few times each month. When asked to describe his experience as a Bike Depot customer, Mark cites his family’s passion for bikes as his primary reason for counting on the local shop for most of his cycling needs.
“We’re a biking family and we appreciate the convenience and friendly, helpful staff right up the street from our home,” Mark explains.
Ask Bike Depot Director Laurie Hanselmann to describe her vision for the Bike Depot and she is quick to reply with a simple yet powerful notion that centers on community.
“We are a small group of passionate bicycling advocates who seek daily to create a place where neighbors and friends can come together and get to know one another better through bikes,” said Laurie. “And hopefully some of our customers will even pick up a wrench and discover their childhood passion for bikes and a cool way to give back to the community while discovering – or re-discovering – the magic of bicycling,” she added.
Bike Depot Operations Manager James Pullen is a seasoned bike veteran who is ready to troubleshoot any range of cycling solutions. A lifelong bicycling enthusiast, James is planning a 300-mile biking and camping trip as a vacation getaway with his wife (and dog!).
James cites the immediate gratification of getting on a well-tuned bike and using manual power to move through the city or mountain trail as one of his most obvious reasons for tuning in to all things bicycling. Yet he is quick with a reminder for all would-be cyclists.
“It’s like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it. You have to take care of your bike and it’ll take care of you. We’re here to help folks with that whole idea,” said James.
Need a fix, part or bike? Head over to the Bike Depot at 2825 Fairfax. Now is as good a time as any to take a cue from James, Laurie, Ryne, Bill and the rest of the Bike Depot staff. With the winter months right around the corner – when the shop slows down and the time is right to get great deals and consider volunteer options – stop by this week and get to know your local bike shop.
Bob Boyle is a Park Hill resident and lifelong bicycling enthusiast who once built a BMX track in his Mom’s home garden. Contact him to share bicycling stories, adventures and opportunities via email at reboyle7@gmail.com.
The Bike Depot is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community bike shop that develops bicyclists through programs, education and access. The shop offers a wide range of service, new & used bikes, parts, accessories and classes.
For more information, visit thebikedepot.org.