Shop Talk: Surviving Covid and the Boom

In this episode, I'll share conversations I had this week with two Portland bike shop owners. The first is Brad Parker from Metropolis Cycles on North Williams Avenue and the second is Cassie Hidalgo, the owner of Gladys Bikes on NE Alberta.

As we move further away from the peak of the pandemic, I wanted to circle back with shop owners who've been at the front lines of a tumultuous 20 months. First Covid hit and they had no idea what the future would hold. Then before they coucatch their breath, people were knocking down their doors as a bike boom took hold. They they ran out of parts and bikes as they set up an entirely new business model and scrambled to meet demand, while keeping staff and customers safe.

I waited to do these interviews, because it feels like bike shop life is finally getting back to normal and these owners are starting to breathe easier again.

Stay tuned for future episodes as I expand this series to a wider variety of shop owners across Portland.

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Our theme music is by Kevin Hartnell.