Brentwood Press - Index

Brentwood Press - DiscoveryBayPress_05.16.08 - Index

6B | THEPRESS.NET BUSINESS MAY 16, 2008
New cycle shop shifts into high gear
by Ruth Roberts
Staff Writer
There’s a new bicycle shop in town
called the Brentwood Bike Company,
fi lled with splashy, colorful cycles in myriad
models and state-of-the-art designs. A
quick look around the stylish store confi
rms the obvious: this is defi nitely not
your mother’s bike store.
Unless, of course, you’re shopping
for a retro-type model, one of those cute
cruisers with cushy seats and single gears.
But for the most part, agree owners Chris
and Bobbi Michalski, biking is an oldfashioned
sport with a decidedly high-tech
edge. How edgy and how high-tech is up
to the rider.
“The great thing about biking is that
you don’t have to be a hard-core hammerhead
to enjoy it,” said Chris. “Bikes have
changed a lot, but there really is a bike to
fi t every style and pocketbook. Our motto
is ‘changing lives one bike at a time,’ and I
think it’s true.”
Open since April 1, the Michalskis
have taken their personal passion for twowheelers
and brought it to the public.
Chris is a diehard enthusiast, competing
in century races and endurance competitions.
Bobbi considers herself more of a
leisure, recreational rider. But their goal
is the same: promoting a healthy lifestyle
through biking.
They’re also promoting something
Photo by Ruth Roberts
Bobbi and Chris Michalski are the owners and operators of the new
Brentwood Bike Company.
that customers won’t fi nd at the big box
conglomerate stores – personal attention.
“Well, service is the main thing, of
course,” said Chris. “We’re not just going
to sell you a bike and send you out the
door. We fi t each customer to their bike,
we offer a free follow-up tuneup, and we
stand behind each bike we sell. That’s not
something you’re going to get with the department-store
bikes.”
From comfort bikes to road cycles
and cruisers, aluminum-based frames to
lightweight carbon-fi ber bikes, whatever
kind of cycle you’re looking for, the number-one
consideration, says Bobbi, should
be fi t.
“I would have to say that (fi t) and comfort
are the biggest things,” said Bobbi. “For
a long time I was riding a bike that was too
big for me, and it was causing me some back
pain and other pain. And as a result, I was
fi nding excuses not to ride. Once I got on a
bike that fi t, it was a whole different ride.”
Finding that perfect fi t needn’t cost an
arm and a leg, said Chris. A good, solid, entry-level
bike can be had for around $300.
From there, the sky’s the limit.
“You can pay thousands of dollars
for a bike, but it depends upon what your
needs are,” said Chris. “And of course, there
are the accessories such as helmets, gloves
and clothing. The good thing about biking,
though, is that once you make that initial
investment, it’s paid for. That’s not true for
a lot of other sports.”
And given the price of gasoline these
days, biking for many is an effective way to
avoid the pain at the pump.
“We’ve had a lot of people come in
and say they are going to ride their bikes to
work,” said Bobbi. “If you can make that
switch, it’s a great way to get some exercise
and save money, too.”
But whatever the motivation for getting
on a bike, there’s no arguing that riding
a bike is just plain fun.
“Everyone loves to ride; who doesn’t?”
said Bobbi. “It’s an easy way to get a good
workout, and it just makes people happy.
What’s not to love?”
The Brentwood Bike Company, 7750
Brentwood Blvd., Suite C in Brentwood, is
open Tuesday through Sunday. For store
hours and additional information, call 925-
634-5000 or visit www.brentwoodbikeco.
com.
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