Please Bob do not let me grow up to be a curmudgeon...
Have you ever noticed that nearly every bike shop owner is a angry old man (even if they are young)? One of my main reasons for starting a shop is to offer a fresh alternative. Have you also noticed that 90% of bike shop employees are male? That's why I'm planning this place with my lady love Chuck (perhaps in the future I'll explain her knic-kname). I know plenty of good female riders but few shops cater to them. As a matter of fact at least 90% of the attendees at Interbike 2006 were men. That was good for Chuck because she was able to score an inordinate amount of swag.

The Tip Top Bike Shop will welcome all riders!

That said we will not be catering to the low end. If someone wants a cheap two wheeled toy, Wally-World is just down the road from nearly everywhere. I've been doing this long enough to know that a good bike is a thing of joy... and that department store bikes are crap. It's my pulpit and I'll stand on it. If anyone wants a bike to ride every day, get a good one. Your local bike shop will be happy to help you find the best bike for your money, even if you have to deal with the curmudgeon running the place.
So I'll end this rant with...

Bikes-good, good bikes-better!

Rivendell is a good place to learn about bikes, from a certain perspective.

Cast of Characters

Tis I Itchie, geezer but not crumudgeon, well fed but not fat, shaken not stirred

Assisted in all things by Chuck, love of my life, limey, listless little thing.

Special guest stars: Don Juan-monster love cat sans spine and Lou Bob-not so big, not so loving, not so stupid.

We all live in a large city near a large body of water, near a larger body of water, near the largest body of water.

And we want everyone to ride bicycles. We are 'car-free' but not anti-car. We truely believe that everyone could and should ride their bikes a bit more.
There is really no need but I'll repeat the benefits: healthier people, cleaner air, less traffic, more rose smelling, more giving direction, more chatting with neighbors, less energy usage in manufacturing and usage, better resource utilization... happier humans.

So dust of the old Schwinn, air up the tires and take a ride to the park, I'll see you there.

Tip Top Opening Shot October 21, 2006

Very old Hercules, now lives in Boulder with Doug-E-fresh and Karen

Like it says on the box, this blog will be about opening a bicycle shop, when it's open it'll be about running a bike shop. So, welcome to:
Tip Top Bike Shop

Why open a bike shop? After 40 years and two months (I like to be prepared) I decided that it was time to expend 100% of my energy doing what's right for me. After riding bikes nearly every day, thinking about bikes every night, surfing for bikes, scope-ing bikes, fixing bikes, and helping people find bikes it was time to get serious (see a repeating theme here?).

So you may ask what type of bikes do I like?

I like all bikes,
but I prefer bikes that get ridden, oh yeah we are talking about human powered vehicles here (but I like motocycles too, two wheels good).

Check it out and watch the saga unfold...