Wheel Simple Bicycle Repair Launch

To bypass the updates -

For any donation of $100 or more you are entitled to a black t-shirt or long sleeve shirt with the shop logo on the front.

A $200 donation gets you THREE DELUXE TUNE UPS (very in depth $98 tune ups, you just pay for the parts when the time comes) at Wheel Simple which can be redeemed at any point within the first year of my lease.

A $500 donation will get you UNLIMITED REPAIR SERVICE (labor costs) for the entirety of my 3 year lease!

[email redacted] 

To gain experience running a business myself, I took over full time operation at Cyclus Bike Shop in Richmond, Va. in March 2018. I've generally proven to myself and others that I not only love this work, but am good at it left to my own devices.  So, in early February I purchased the inventory, tools, furniture, etc. from my employer with  money given to me for that purpose from my grandmother Iris and agreed to finish out the current lease under the existing brand and entity apparatus, and when it is over, I'd need to move everything somewhere else and start my own shop. I want to thank Brett Eastman for this opportunity, and his trust. I've decided to stay in Church Hill because I've gotten to know my customers, and the nature of doing business in the East End, and I think it's worth sticking with it. 

     This is a big step for me! After leaving college in order to be much closer to Iris and my brother who are planted firmly in Richmond, I had to fall back on a passion of mine (bikes). It was a hard and painful decision with years of fallout, but here I am now; much better poised to fulfill my personal goals without abandoning my family.

Details about the business model, moving schedule, and costs funds are being raised for.

I'VE SIGNED A 3 YEAR LEASE!!!! I'll be moving in Jan. 2020 to 707 Mosby St. and adopting a repair and wheel building focused business model. Stocking many used or new bikes will no longer be feasible due to space constraints, though I may find somewhere to consign out some of my nicer refurbs. Given this model I will continue to have good relations with other shops so that I may still divert as many unnecessary dollars from going to Wal-Mart bicycles as possible.

Final day of business at Cyclus will be Dec. 21. Opening Wheel Simple by January 7, 2020 is the goal. 

General operations

I will keep one loaner bike for those who drop their bikes off for repair and who do not have alternative transportation. Commuters and career cyclists (couriers and messengers and such) will enjoy priority over longer projects and refurbs, though I will continue to build wheels for people by hand like I always have, and I will continue to special order bikes and frames for custom builds from all the brands I currently deal with at Cyclus. Tune up prices will still start at $40/60/90 respectively, but 3-9 speed chain bikes will move up $2 from where they currently stand, and 10 & 11 speed chain bikes will get raised by $2 as well. Piece meal repair prices will largely remain at the levels they're currently at with a $5 increase on wheel building. The cold setting, milling, and seized material work I do will also cost a little more to cover the cost of the blades, files, and chemicals required to do said work. 

Hours will be 

11-6  Tue. -Fri.
11-5  Sat.
CLOSED Sunday and Monday

Here's specifically what I'm raising money for (please note that some people donate via check or cash and it doesn't show up here).

$700 security deposit                                                                                                                    PAID & lease signed
$700 First month's rent.                                                                                                               PAID!
$450 building materials and costs (this will include painting, anchoring hardware, signage materials, and other workshop build out)
                                                                                                                                                                      Need funds
$300  Certificate of Occupancy Application fee and SCC filing fees               PAID & BUSINESS LICENSES issued 
$150  website                                                                                                                                      Need funds

Please remember that this is not a bike shop simply moving locations. This is one bike shop closing, and the manager finding a location for his own separate bike shop based on what seems affordable given 10 months or so of looking at spaces in the East End. There will be plenty of closing costs come Dec. which will be paid for through normal course of business. I will also be paying for my own personal food and shelter through the normal course of business and whatever savings I'll have then. The above things are strictly start up costs for a separate, new bike shop.

     With all of the ultra justified and needed initiatives out there, be they the fight for social, climate, and economic justice, or furthering the discussion on a universal right to health care, I'm sure one more straight white cis-gender man's small business is just about the last thing you want to devote personal bandwidth to, and that doesn't hurt my feelings. I'm good with facts.

     Additionally, I know that the majority of the pool of people who know my situation, and who are most likely to want to see me achieve this goal, are also about as stretched financially as anyone else out there, so that's why I've set a very low goal, and started this with almost a year to work with.

I'll leave this here, and remind you it's running every once in a while and when and if there's space in your budget, maybe send money my way! Ultimately I'll try to be a kind and competent shop owner, and run an inclusive space.

 

Sincerely,
Robbie and J.J. cat.