Jay is finally taking a well-deserved rest after almost 40 years at the Bike Gallery. Jay’s father, Bob Graves, started the Bike Gallery in 1974 and Jay’s been working in the business since he was 15 years old. Jay has put his heart and soul into the Bike Gallery and the Portland cycling community. That’s why when it came to retiring and selling Bike Gallery he was ready to wait until he found the right people. Over the years he’s had several offers to buy the business, but none he felt would continue his family’s legacy of customer service and dedication to the Portland community.

Mike Olson and Kelly Aicher

The partnership of Kelly Aicher, a 16-year Bike Gallery employee, and Mike Olson, a successful San Diego bicycle shop owner he’s known for years, represented just the type of relationship that would ensure such a legacy. So on December 1st, Kelly Aicher and Mike Olson officially purchased the Bike Gallery from retiring Jay Graves. If you want to know more about the sale, you can read the Portland Business Journal’s recent article.

Mike runs a very successful business in San Diego and the Bike Gallery will no doubt benefit from his vast retail knowledge. But while this transition has been big news in the Portland cycling community, you should still feel right at home. Bike Gallery will keep its name and run independently from Mike’s stores in Southern California (Trek Bicycle Superstore). We still have the same smiling faces to greet you at our stores and we will continue our commitment to the highest customer service and to the Portland community (including Cycle Oregon).

Jay’s sale to Kelly and Mike also ensured Bike Gallery’s ongoing relationship with Trek Bicycles. Bike Gallery has partnered with Trek since 1976 and we’ve been proud to support the only US-based, family-owned bicycle brand. Mike’s retail operation is also built around the Trek brand and even has a licensing agreement with Trek to use its name (as in the Trek Bicycle Superstore of San Diego).

For many of us who have gotten to know Jay personally over the years, it’s like losing a friend. But we are also happy for him; he now has the opportunity to focus on what his heart truly loves: bicycle advocacy. It’s no doubt that Jay has left big shoes to fill, but we will strive to create a legacy that Jay would be proud of.

Fun on two wheels!

Kids bikes are a uniquely memorable Christmas gift. And when it comes time to choose a bike, we’re here to help make it easy as well as help you choose the correct size.

If you want the bike to be a surprise for your child, we can help you find the right size depending on their height and age. And, if it doesn’t fit, or they don’t like the color or model, we have a 30 day return policy, so that they can exchange it for the one they really want. We also offer free layaway, free storage until Christmas Eve, and bows to help decorate their new bike for Christmas morning.

Why buy a bike from us?

Occasionally people ask us why they should buy a kids bike from us, when they can buy a bike at Target or Walmart for less money. There are a couple reasons for this, but the most tangible is the quality of our bikes and the expertise we have in assembling and maintaining the bikes that we sell.

For instance, every bike that we sell is assembled by one of our professional mechanics. In comparison, a bike you buy at a department store is hastily put together by someone in the warehouse. We take the safety of our customers very seriously, and make sure that every bike we sell is properly assembled and tuned. It takes our mechanics an hour or more (depending on model) to assemble a bike, as opposed to the 15-25 minutes at a department store.

We also offer a 30-day guarantee to ensure that the bike you buy from us fits and is the one your child really wants. After a few weeks of riding, the bike may need a minor tune-up as parts wear in. If this happens, we welcome you to bring the bike back within 6 months and we’ll give it a safety check to make sure everything is running right.

Brands that we sell

We sell a variety of bikes for kids from Trek, Kona, Raleigh, MirraCo, Electra, and Early Rider. We have bikes to fit all budgets and kids of all sizes. Now until December 24th, all 2013 kids bikes are on $20 off.

Accessories

It is a legal requirement in Oregon that children under 16 wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. We carry a number of models that fit children of all ages, and most of them come in fun colors and patterns. We also sell great add-ons like bells, streamers, bags, and waterbottles to help them personalize their new bicycle.

Check out our selection of 2013 bikes on sale for the holidays, and stop by soon. We look forward to helping you find the perfect bike for you child this Christmas!

The Division store has been open since 2004. We’ll be moving to a new location this December.

That’s right folks, our Division store move is entering the final weeks of preparation. We’ve been working furiously to remodel our new digs to open as soon as possible. It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s coming together nicely!

Our official open date will be December 8th. We look forward to showing off our new store!

It’s in the Johnson Creek Shopping Center next to Trader Joe’s.

The address is:

9347 SE 82nd Ave
Happy Valley, OR 97086

Mud like peanut butter

Whoo boy! That’s it! The season is over; stick a fork in us, we’re done!

It’s been an amazing season for sure, and we at the Bike Gallery had a great time. Every race was a little different, but the overall experience was the same: good times, good friends, great racing.

The season started off very dry, but the last two races were straight-up mud fests. Sunday’s race at PIR was absolutely disgusting, but in a fabulous kind of way. The early and consistent rain made the course a nightmare for riding, and many racers shouldered their bikes for very long stretches. As the different fields took their turns, lines came and went. Every racer was on their own, and many had a hard time staying upright, including yours truly.

Slippery mud makes pushing your bike that much harder

The course designers did a great job building a difficult and fun race course that was fun to ride and entertaining to watch. The combination of mud, grass, gravel, puddles, and smoke from campfires was a blast to navigate; there were smiles everywhere. Even those who broke derailleurs during their races were smiling, evidence that cross is fun no matter what happens.

At the end of the day, we were happy to pack up the van and head home, but sad that the season was over. Cross is a great way to keep the cycling fun going as the wet weather settles back in for the season. The mud and grime can be a bit daunting for beginners, but once you start, it’s hard to stop.

Shannon Skerritt leads Barry Wicks

20% off anything in the store that’s 20% or more black (regular priced items. Does not include items on sale. Limit one discount per customer.)

This Friday through Sunday, take 20% off anything in the store that is 20% or more black (regular price. Sale does not include items already on sale. Limit one discount per customer.) This deal includes bikes, tires, gloves, shoes, accessories, and more. You name it, if it’s more than 20% black, you get 20% off!

All of our stores will be closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving, but will be open regular hours on Friday the 23rd. Have a safe and happy holiday, and we’ll see you on Friday!