Concept and Location

I had been hearing it with increasing frequency and force from all of my regular customers.  "When are you going to open the shop?", they would all say.  I can say that constantly having to shrug the question off was making me a bit uncomfortable.  Not because it was at all an invasive question but rather, because it was getting harder to justify not opening one.  With a Solid base of customers and growing knowledge by others of my existence. I can't help but admit that I was outgrowing the comfortable trappings of "the much loved garage"  Indeed some of my customers have not yet warmed up to the idea of a new location.  My apologies to all for which this has been the case.

Why starting a starting a  "micro bike shop is better for everyone"

I grew up as many of you know in Portland, Oregon.  In this fair city, I was able to be the patron of many very small and unique bike stores around the city.  My favorite of these was an interesting establishment in the lower half (half basement) of an old house in northeast Portland.  I can not recall the name of the shop nor do I know what became of it, but I like to think that this incredibly small, dark and personable shop is still in business.  I can remember going into the shop, which looked rather more like an old ale house in turn of the century London than any conjugation of bicycle store settings.  It was great; serious, no frilly clown like marketing, no fake sales people pushing products that they likely would not desire themselves.  It was honest, and there was no sales pitch.  There were very few products in stock but the owner (the only employee)  would get you anything you wanted at a fair price.  This shop mostly focused on service but you could get an informed opinion on anything for your bike, argue the merits of a particular geometry, or talk politics with the owner all while feeling that if you spent money here it was very well spent. 

Where have all the bike shops with character gone?

Small owner operated shops are the only ones capable of providing this environment to any degree, and should be desired for it. I really missed these types of businesses.  Whether in the bike industry or not.  They have so much character and provide such comfort.  I enjoyed the feeling of community that I got from knowing the owners, their families, and being able to interact with them on more than a commercial level.  What we have now as a choice for nearly all retail is completely depersonalized, and more adversarial in nature.  When you go into most shops you are often dealing with people that you would likely avoid or at least not commonly associate with in other circumstances. (think used car salesmen).  The level of information competency regarding the wares that they are selling is generally lacking and often they seem to care less about getting you the right bike or accessory then capturing a larger commission.   This is to say nothing little the dodgy service experiences that are waiting for you in the average bike shop.  I have had customers that have had life threatening issues inflicted on their bikes after being serviced at some of larger the shops. 

In favor of higher profits and personal ego bolstering, many modern shop owners in larger shops, have sold them selves out favoring the lower quality higher profit mass consumer model There is no skill in there service and no personality in their products.   They simply conform to low standards in favor of generating more sales volume.  I don't like this model for bicycle retail.  It leads to an unaccountable shop, with substandard products, lower quality service, and customers being sold inappropriate poorly fitting bikes.

I think that the Ikon store will restore a sense Personal service, and a close relationship with he customer that is missing from most from the more common shops.  I know many people desire this.   I have not met a person above the age of twenty that does not reminisce about local stores in the neighborhoods that they grew up in.  Or the relationships that they developed with the shop owners.  My goal is to make  sure customers at the Ikon store leave knowing that,  they made a good choice in coming, to the store.   The fit process, which is included with every bike purchase, is fat superior to that of any shop that I know of in the area.   The goal is to make you leave certain that they bike you are getting is going to fit you as well as anybike can. In short then, IkonCycles store brings accountability and an unparalleled amount of expertise into the bike buying experience.  With a lack of arrogance so common in other shops, the goal is to reignite as much of the feeling of nostalgia that everyone has for the way stores used to be as possible.  I enjoy having customers that feel that the IkonCycles store is also theirs.  Everyone should have a personal experience.  With an exclusive stock of products and very high quality of service.  I believe that this new tiny bike store, provides this perfectly.

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