POSITIVO ESPRESSO: Cyclyng Bike and Cafe

Part, only part, of the Cyclyng Bike & Cafe shop.

MOB's shop is located at Silbermannstrasse 2, in the Uberseestadt, which is a newly developed area on what was once a major industrial site within the port are of Bremen, Northwest of the Center City. The River Weser runs on one side, while an inlet for mooring ships is on the other, separating this manmade isthmus from the rest of the city. Many new, upscale apartment blocks are built or under construction in this area, with the population going from zero to tens of thousands in the past few years, and office and retail space mixed in. There are nice walkways (bikeways?) along the river, and a manmade beach. Importantly, this location allowed MOB to get plenty of space for the shop in a nice, new building, decent parking for customers who pick up/drop off bikes by car, reasonable rent, and it is not too far from the city center.

Cyclyng signage

Another interesting feature of the location is the proximity of Stadler, a HUUUGE warehouse store for bicycles. This building is, literally, the largest bike shop I have ever seen, and it is just at the entrance to the Uberseestadt. We are talking Home Depot or Costco size! I guess if someone wants to shop for a bicycle in Bremen, ... they are likely to come to this area, and if they do, they will check out both shops. More often than not, someone who appreciates a personal touch, and excellent mechanics, with competitive pricing, will end up buying from MOB.

MOB's shop is the red pin drop. City Center is at the lower right.

Like most bicycle shops, MOB's business will make some money selling bicycles, but eventually he hopes to build a large customer base who rely on his shop for maintenance, upgrades and consumables. He has an excellent full-time mechanic already and will add another, with a nice space for maintenance ("to-die-for," as they say). He did an incredible job in getting my Ti Travel bike ready for Paris-Brest-Paris.

The Wilier mats kept me from drooling on the floor as I looked at the racing bikes.

When I think of MOB's philosophy of this shop, it reminds me of Tsutaya's T-Site in Daikanyama. Apparently the founder of Tsutaya/Culture Convenience Club decided to make his own "dream store". He did not worry about whether it would make money, about how much revenue each section would generate. He made a store he loved ... and as it turns out, everyone loves it. It is always full. And the sales, well, they take care of themselves.

So MOB's store is designed the way he loves it. Others will also. And the business is off to an excellent start and on a good track.

MOB's 2008 JCRC Champion Jersey

Plenty of supplies - consumables, gels, bars, etc.

Helmets, saddles, shoes, bottles, tools, some kit, etc., etc. All you need.

Does that say America?

Color coordinated cable-end covers!

Very Nice Trackstand

The store seems very much a family operation, and Kazuko is in charge of the cafe side of the operation. The cafe is spacious, the food delicious, coffee tasty, and there was plenty of cycling literature to browse ... enough to keep a customer coming back over and over. I've just sent several years of Bicycle Quarterly issues to add even more to the collection.