Bike Shops
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As many bricks-and-mortar bicycle retailers struggle to survive, a new social media-driven DIY bike shop model emerges
When the pandemic-induced bicycle boom went bust a couple of years ago, a number of long-established Chicago bike shops became casualties of the slowing market. From perennial institutions like Cycle Smithy and On the Route, to newer entrants like Earth Rider Cyclery, our city witnessed an unprecedented contraction in independent bike shops in the last few years.
March 26, 2025
A brief history of an outside-the-box cycle shop: Urban, Uptown, and now Broadway Bikes
There was a changing of the guard today in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. The bicycle store launched as Urban Bikes, then transformed into Uptown Bikes, rebooted once again as Broadway Bikes, with longtime wrenches Leah Plummer and Nina Hazelton now the owners.
February 4, 2025
Earth Rider Cycling closing in October after five years on Milwaukee Avenue
The closure of yet another local Chicago bike shop reflects a shifting and challenging market for small business owners.
September 27, 2023
Pour one out for Cycle Smithy, which helped create new Chicago bike commuters
When a beloved local bike shop closes, it’s not just the loss of another small business — it leaves a hole in the heart and soul of a regional bicycling community.
October 4, 2022
Despite safety challenges during the pandemic, Chicago bike shops keep rolling
Bike stores are limiting customer access, doing work by appointment, and taking time-consuming steps to sanitize cycles.
March 30, 2020
More Thoughts on Race, Gender, and Bike Shops
Why bike stores can sometimes be intimidating places for women and people of color, and why nonprofit community bike shops sometimes often offer a more welcoming environment.
December 26, 2018
A Guide to Chicago’s Woman- and POC-owned Bike Shops
Interested in supporting a diverse bike shop community? Here's a list and map of Chicago's bike stores owned or co-owned by women and/or people of color.
December 26, 2018
