NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS

Seasons of change. Slower moods and days bring a bit more time to put towards newsletters and a lot of one on one time spent with customers(like yourself) that come in!
We like this time of year.

Well...we like all times of the year.

Keep scrolling to check out:
⚡Updated shop hours starting Sunday, November 14th!
⚡A new Gladys Cap pre-order
⚡& a small clip of how gorgeous a basic commute can be in the fall.

The most impactful news

is that we are changing to a winter-esc schedule.
We will be open
Wed-Fri 11 - 7pm
Sat & Sunday 10-5pm
Starting November 14th

Why the change? We want to see all your faces for a longer weekend stretch(& it works out with our staffs schedules)

Pre-order the final 2021 Gladys cap

enjoy this short commute video!

These fall colors have been inspiring to say the least.

ps. don’t mind the date in the top left corner, we are learning…

We have had quite a year and thought you might like to know how it is going and how next year might go!

But mainly, we just wanted to say hello! 

This past year and a half has been a whirlwind for all of us! For us at Gladys, shop operations have changed, inventory has wavered, interactions have changed, how we social media has changed, and our mental health has changed (soo many times)!!

Throughout all this change we have been lucky to be Gladys. Lucky to have you all as our shop community, and we will strive to continue to be what you need us to be.

Keep scrolling to read snippets on:

⚡Services
⚡Bikes we are stoked on this year
⚡Our most recent cycling caps
⚡FUTURE CLASSES
⚡Words from our staff
⚡WhY IS THErE A BIKE SHORTAGE?

We have loved seeing all of the different bikes that folks have let us work on, whether that be that highly efficient road bikes or that old Peugeot that somebody pulled out of their uncles shed.

Since bike supply & inventory is so scarce there was a lot more room in our schedules to work on bikes and our service department has doubled in efficiency because of it! Thank you all for supporting us in this way and for the tips of sparkling water, beer, and/or $$.

As soon as more service parts become available (chains, gaskets, etc.) we will be adding suspension service to our service menu!!!

We will still be doing our Winter Overhaul Special, so stay tuned for that in November!!

We did a final run of these Magical caps, so click the cap above to see what sizes we have available and use the code LOCALPICKUP to come and scoop it up at the shop at your convenience.

As an untrained, under-educated, and short attention spanned person I had to break this down into three main categories and one huge subcategory. 

1. Mega-high demand in 2020-21

2. Raw materials shortage

3. intense shipping delays

   1. OTHER COUNTRIES ARE HANDLING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE USA

That got dark...moving on!!!

What does this all mean?????

We don't really know.. What we do know is that there are no dumb questions and we are trying our best to have patience and understanding for all human beings involved.
Supposedly there is light at the end of the tunnel, but that is scheduled for 2023 or 2024??
Again, I am no scholar in manufacturing or economics and l love to learn, so if you have any further bits of wisdom you can email me at

With love and gratitude,

Your Gladys Team

It has been an entire year since I hit the Gladys scene as the new owner. 

This past year has smashed my concept of time and history.

Here’s some:

120-ish years ago women who rode bikes were told that they would be susceptible to tuberculosis(from intense shaking), they would have wrongful sexual awakenings(oh yeah, from intense shaking), and they might even force body deformities unto themselves that would ruin their femmine bodies. 

Some reasons why?
It was profitable to the population in power (white men) to keep women at home, unshaken, and more dependent on their men. Women had their place that worked best for men. Who else is going to pump out those sons and daughters to sell off? 

About 100 years ago women were allowed to vote, black women would still have to wait about 4-5 decades before they could actually practice this right in mass. We saw in the 2020 elections what voter turnout could actually look like and still only 66% of folks voted(rough statistics). 

Why? Omg so much... but a piece is that suffragists groups disbanded since white-women-led groups were kinda satisfied(lots were eugenicists fyi), and it was more profitable for the leading population(white men) to have somebody working as “houseworkers” and field laborers, can’t let everybody have a voice...who would be left to do jobs for nothing? 

In between these two time periods massacres of Indigenous folks were actively taking place in what is now called Arizona and parts of Mexico. 

Why? It is profitable to take land and resources based on our current systems. 

Today:

-masses are still being killed for profit in prisons across the world 

-children are being caged while their parents are kidnapped and sent to who knows where

-there is a team in today's American Football game called the Chiefs and they have a stadium chant called tomahawk(or some-thing offense like that). 

Why? money money money money 

⚡️As a shop (which is a for-profit business) we have to “turn a profit” to exist and it’s a weird place to be in when so much pain has come from people seeking money.
⚡️This past year so many folks have been so damn sweet to us.

⚡️This past year I have fallen so in love with this job and I’m so grateful for everybody’s support financially and emotionally.
⚡️I swear to use this platform, as a small business owner, to my very best ability. 

⚡️I know I’m not perfect and I never will be but I promise to keep learning from the past and never admitting that I know everything. 

🌈History has so much pain and pleasure and this past year has been a little of both! 💕

We have landed ourselves in complex times.

Here at the shop we have been experiencing all of the heartache along with you.
Motivated by this we didn’t want to just send out a classic holiday shopping list, or tips on escaping.

In honesty we just miss our friends, neighbors, and even conversations with complete strangers on the trails. We miss our community.
We miss you!

So what are we doing this winter season?

We plan on supporting humxns of all riding levels, labels, fluidity, and strangeness in some of the only ways we can think of!
And keeping COVID-19 precautions and safe practice for the foreseeable future!

here are our seasonal days off

We will be closed
Thursday November 26th and Friday November 27th
& Thursday December 24th and Friday December 25th
Friday January 1st 2021!
We will be open to outside sales and interactions the following Saturdays to resume our typical shop hours.

Call or email with any questions or clarification

[email protected]
971-373-8388

• December 22nd, Tuesday

  We will be live streaming a Basic Maintenance Course featuring Cassandra, her partner Sydney, and housemate/BF Mateo. In which we plan on overloading viewers and participant with compliments and helpful tips!
  Since those three are a germ pod they will be able to go over basic bike upkeep and concepts, masks off, and answer any questions that folks have at home.
  
  We will discuss topics like:

  • Chain cleaning

  • Flat fixes

  • Lubrication

  • Minor brake adjustments

  • And preferred winter wardrobe, freakin’ burr

Email [email protected], subject “Basic Maintenance”, to inform us of topics you might want to cover in this course or the next.
We will update our website and instagram with the link, time, and agenda.

• Let’s be real, gifts are fun to give!

  So we did want to provide people with some gift ideas for the bike lover in your life, or ideas of things to skillfully hint at to those that are able to give gifts this year.

  It was also a super clever way to get friends to send selfies to us and dream of the day when we can unmask around each other and see all the beauty that is their smiles!

• New caps! here is a sneak peak at the next fabric selection

saulo what do you think would be great gifts?

Alright, here's my list.

My personal favorites for any rider of any level. These are all things they can really enjoy and appreciate while riding during the colder season :)

leah what you thinking folks might like??

All I want for Christmas are some fancy four fingered mittens from 45Nrth so that I can ride Versace!!
The most gaudy and magical bike in all the land, all winter long without worrying about my poor little Raynaud's-afflicated fingers falling off mid-descent.

gloves are a damn good idea leah! Thanks!

Jeremy, bud! What ya thinkin’ folks will be stoked on this year/forever?

Bike packing gear ! Stuff like handlebar bags or frame bags, that would be something I would be really really stoked on if i got it in a gift!!

H! You are always joyful end pleasant! is there anything that would bring you some joy?

Being new in this game, I don't know much about bikes but so far with my schedule all I've been able to do is night riding and with the weather changing, here are some ideas:

Cassandra! What could somebody like you feel stoke about that owns a bike shop?

I LOVE bikes and gear, so I would never turn down a good quality knife! It is probably the most handy thing that I try and always have on my person!

Alysa! You, like Cassandra, are from Arizona; which is a super different cycling scene. So what would you be into getting?

Some bike related items that I would love to be gifted are new flat pedals w/o the metal bits, a cute set of fenders, and waterproof/resistant pants (must be cute!) and perhaps a new rear wheel, I think there’s damage in the free hub body. (Yikes)

Brooke! You have a super style that can’t be beat, what do you think would be rad gifts for folks?
brooke had a lot of great ideas by the way. But I will just put a few.

My gift ideas list:

Portland Design Works City Rover 700 USB Headlight //crankbrothers Gem portable bike pump //crankbrothers F15 multi-tool //Giro Women's Manta R Shoe Charcoal/Turquoise //Makeshifter Coffee Outside Kit //Specialized Women's Element 1.5 Tights //Giro Xnetic Road Women's Glove //Fox Racing WOMENS RANGER GEL GLOVE //crankbrothers Candy 3 pedals

Damn now that is a thorough list! Thanks Brooke. Oh wait there is more!

Something I already have but if I didn't I would def want is a stem bag. I got a DirtBags grub bag and Saulo got a Re.Load hoagie hauler (black-owned brand.)

Sydney!!!! You describe yourself as a just-for-funsies/somewhat fair weather rider. what’s lookin’ appropriate this season? Hot tips!

My rides are typically shortish and most often accompanied by my dog. 

For bike riders like me, some nice gifts might be : A seat cover, Another water bottle and holder, Gift certificate for a tune up, Rechargeable lights

Hey there! My name is Cassie Hidalgo ( aka soon-to-be new owner of the good ship Gladys). I have put a lot of thought into what I want you folks to know about me and I can’t help but start from my beginning. 

I grew up living a life that looked incredibly different than the one I am living now. My dad is an immigrant from the beautiful Costa Rica and my mom is a self-identified “Foxy” Mexican from Arizona. I grew up with zero bike communities around me in insanely hot Phoenix, Arizona. I don’t know why bicycles started creeping into my dreams, they just did. Maybe it was the active disapproval from my family when I wanted to ride my thrift shop-purchased bike to high school, or maybe it was just because I found out I could easily help other little desert rats get around with their friends at an incredibly underfunded bicycle co-op in downtown, which was two bus transfers and a very unsafe bike ride away. 

Either way I was in. Not in the adrenaline kind of way, or freshest bike on the block kind of way, I was just liberated. Bikes gave me a taste of identity in confusing environments where I was told I shouldn’t be proud of being Lantinx, queer, or even a carpenter and mechanic. 

I truly want Gladys to exist forever! Places like Gladys are exactly why I felt welcome to form some type of identity for myself in Portland (one that I will forever be working on).  

I’m excited to take Gladys into this new phase and I really hope you all are too, because we are truly in this together! As Leah puts it, “You fit in here. We promise.” 

If you want to know more about my work history, bike life, or want some reassurance that the saddle library will definitely exist please hit me up or come to the party on the 28th and ask away!

See you all so soon! 

About seven years ago, over drinks with pals one night, I got this wild idea: To open up a bike shop that was focused on women. A week later, when I -- someone with no business or bike shop experience -- decided to actually try to turn this idea into a reality, some people thought I was crazy. Sometimes I was one of those people. But still, I decided to go through with it, and I’m so proud to share that seven years later this shop is doing pretty dang well, with no quitting anywhere in sight. Turns out my wild idea wasn’t quite that crazy after all!

That said, my ultimate dream has always been to build the shop up into a successful and sustainable business, and to then take a step back and let it grow beyond me -- by passing it along to someone new, someone with a different perspective, someone that could help the shop and its community continue to evolve and thrive. And so I’m excited to share some news with you all: I’m handing over the reins to a new owner this Spring!

It is with great excitement that I share that I am selling Gladys Bikes to the best person that I can possibly imagine: Cassie Hidalgo. Cassie is currently the Lead Mechanic at the PSU Bike Hub, a team member of the Gladyators, a carpenter by trade, an excellent dancer, a superb storyteller and an all-around amazing person. If you know Cassie, you know how exciting this is. If you don’t yet know Cassie, we’re going to make sure you get to know her well over the next couple of months. (Please note: I’m really holding back from placing an exclamation point after every! single! sentence!, but they are heavily implied.)

I'm going to keep this relatively short for now and save all of my thank you’s and sappy sentiments for later, but don’t worry, folks, those are coming. Over the course of the next several weeks, Cassie and I will be creating blog posts with much more information about ourselves, the process, our feelings about the process, our feelings about our feelings...(oversharing is my love language) and so you’ll hopefully know everything you ever wanted to know very soon. But for now, here’s what to know: (1) You’re the best. (2) You’re not getting rid of me for another couple of months. (3) Mark your calendars now for a big party on Feb 28 to celebrate the passing of the torch. (4) This is going to be fun. (5) See below for more info.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and be a part of it all alongside me, friends. Here's to chances taken, big steps and new adventures!

- Leah

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why are you selling the shop?

Since the very beginning planning stages for the shop, it's always been a goal to pass it along to someone else and now just feels like the right time for that. I feel proud that I built something that can now stand on its own two feet (or would it be wheels in this case?) and am so excited to see how it continues to grow and change and become further cemented in the community. 

What’s the timeline for the sale?

• For the rest of January it’ll be me, Jim, Miranda and Mollie at the shop.

• Come February, Cassie will join in with the crew, and the two of us will overlap for a month.

• As of March, Cassie will be the new owner of Gladys Bikes andI’ll be taking my exit, but staying very active in the community, sticking as an advisor and forever being the shop’s biggest fan.

Will the staff be remaining the same?

Yep! Jim, Miranda and Mollie will all be staying on.

Will there be a party?

YES. Save the date for February 28th and there will be more details to come. 

Will I still be able to use my gift certificates/bring my bike in for repair/use the saddle library/follow up about any warranty concerns with my bike/buy silly hats/etc,etc?

Yep! The goal is for everything to remain consistent from the customer side of things. 

That said, I’ve never sold a business before and Cassie has never purchased one, so there are likely going to be a couple of learning moments along the way as we realize we forgot to think about x,y, or z. Hopefully none of this will affect you, but we just want to be transparent about the potential of a hiccup or two. 

Leah, what are you going to do next?

I most definitely do not plan on disappearing from the community I've met through Gladys. I can’t imagine not having y’all in my life! I hope to continue to be an integral part of the shop community, though I will likely step away for a while to give the new owner time to define the space as her own.

 As far as what I’m doing next, well, I feel like I’m supposed to have some sort of polished answer to offer, but I don’t actually know for certain. I’m fortunate to have gained a lot of far flung skills through my work at Gladys and could probably go in a lot of different directions. Broadly, I’m interested in going into work (both paid and volunteer) that involves storytelling and community outreach -- whether that be PR, copywriting, media production, etc etc -- but, my goal is to remain truly open to all of the possibilities; I always learn the most about myself when I listen to what other people think I’m capable of. Got an opportunity that you think I’d be a good fit for? Have an idea for a collaboration? Just want to hang out? Great! Hit me up and let’s chat. I’d love to hear from you. 

I’m curious to know more about…..
Over the next 6 weeks Cassie and I will be posting weekly blog posts to tell you more about the process, introduce you to Cassie more and hopefully answer any lingering questions you have. Any specific questions? Feel free to hit us up at or over Instagram.

It’s that super special time that you’ve all been waiting for, when we put the last reaches of our previous year models and demo bikes on sale to make room for all the shiny new bikes and colors that are on their way!

See below for a list of what we have in which sizes. Note that quantities are very limited — there are only 1-2 of each model listed — so if you’re interested in a specific one, get in touch ASAP. (List will be updated as bikes sell out.)

And, without further ado, here are the 2019 and demo sale bikes:

Sury Straggler 2x10 - $1299 (regularly $1650)

• Size 42cm

Liv Avail Disc SL 2 - $1075 (regularly $1250)

• Size Medium

(DEMO) Liv Embolden 1 - $1700 (regularly $2400)

• Size XS and Small

(DEMO) Liv Brava SLR - $1650 (regularly $2050)

• Sizes XS, S, M

Ready for an adventure?

Thanks for all your interested in this event! Registration is now full. Stay tuned for future events…..

Gladys Bikes and Veni Vidi Velo (V3) are teaming up to invite women, non-binary and trans folks of all genders on an overnight trip through the Coast Range and Tillamook State Forest. This gravel-laden route will be a fun challenge, done with supportive community of folks who like to ride bikes and eat snacks!

This will be a no-drop community ride, meaning no one gets left behind. The ride to and from our campsite is approximately 50 miles and the route features approx. 4000ft of climbing and 60% gravel. Upon registration, you'll receive all sorts of information, including: a packing list, menus, route info and more.

Your registration fee of $20* includes:

• Guided rides to/from basecamp

• Goodie bag from Gladys Bikes

• 1 nights of camping

• Saturday night dinner

• Sunday morning breakfast

• Packing lists, group riding info, bikepacking tips and tricks and much more

*Owing to a generous donor, we have full and partial scholarships available. QTBIPOC are encouraged to apply. Please get in touch via if you’d be interested in learning more about these.

— The Full Details —

When: Saturday June 8 - Sunday June 9

Hosts: Gladys Bikes and Veni Vidi Velo (V3), a Portland group that puts on community-based and volunteer led bike camping adventure weekends for women, non-binary and trans folks of all genders.

Participants: This ride is reserved for women, non-binary and trans folks of all genders.

We’ll be going at a comfortable pace and no one will be left behind, but you’ll enjoy this ride the most if you have some experience with bike camping/packing/touring and also some experience riding on gravel.

The Route: This is a beautiful off-road route towards the coast that winds along the Trask River, that is 60% on gravel and with 4000ft of climbing. It’s not the easiest ride of all time, but it’s fun, the scenes are great, the climbs are rewarding and the company couldn’t be better.  

For more info on the route, along with some commentary from folks who have done it, check out these write-ups from our pal Madi Carlson and from the fine folks at Oregon Bikepacking.

Note: We’ll be starting in Hillsboro, where folks can easily get to the starting location via the Max. We will be wild camping along the way; there will not be a campsite with services (bathroom, water, electricity, structures of any kind).

Gear: Please plan to ride a bike that you feel comfortable using with whatever bag/rack set-up you have for carrying overnight supplies. We’d recommend tires that are at least 38mm wide for comfort and traction on the gravel sections.

About the Trip Leaders:

Nicole Villegas (she/her) is the lead organizer of V3 and an avid bikepacker who is passionate about getting folks out and exploring on their bikes. She is an occupational therapist, coach and resilient soul, with exceptional skills in snacking and sleeping.

Mollie Futterman (she/her; they/them) is a bike builder and fitter at Gladys Bikes who loves all things bike, but her favorite ways to ride include carrying lots of heavy things, finding forgotten paths, and making it to the top of every hill.

To Register: Follow this link. Once you register the ride leaders will be in touch with more information!

Want to give bikepacking a try with a supportive community?

Update: This event is sold out. Thanks for your interest! Stay tuned for future events….

Gladys Bikes and The Venture Out Project are excited to invite trans and gender non-conforming folks on a fun and supportive beginner bikepacking trip to Olallie Lake. This is a relatively easy route and great opportunity for folks who are looking to go on their first overnight bike trip, and also for those who have been bike touring before, but are looking for new friends to ride with.

This will be a no-drop community ride, meaning no one gets left behind. The ride to and from our campsite is approximately 25 miles and the route features approx. 1000ft of climbing. Upon registration, you'll receive all sorts of information, including: a packing list, menus, route info and more.

Your registration fee of $20* includes:

• Guided rides to/from basecamp

• Goodie bag from Gladys Bikes

• 1 night of camping

• Saturday night dinner

• Sunday morning breakfast

• Packing lists, group riding info, bikepacking tips and tricks and much more

*Owing to a generous donor, we have some full and partial scholarships available. QTBIPOC are encouraged to apply. Please get in touch via if you’d be interested in learning more about these.

— The Full Details —

When: Saturday, June 29 - Sunday, June 30

Hosts: Gladys Bikes and the Venture Out Project, a non-profit that is committed to facilitating backpacking and wilderness trips for the queer and trans community in a safe and inclusive environment.

Participants: This trip is led by and reserved for trans and gender non-conforming riders.

The trip is ideal for folks who are confident bike commuters that are curious about bike touring, and also for those with more experience bike touring who are looking to broaden their community of people to ride with. No one will be left behind and we’ll ride at a comfortable pace together.

Route: The out-and-back ride is about 25 miles each way with 1000 ft elevation gain. It’s a beautiful route that will take us from Clackamas Lake to Olallie Lake with a mix of pavement and some gravel along the way, ending with camping at Olallie Lake Campsite, where there is swimming and some services -- including beer and ice cream. We will carpool out to the starting point.

Gear: Please plan to ride bike that will allow you to carry any equipment and supplies for camping overnight. Unsure if your bike is appropriate? Call or stop into the shop and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have. Don’t have the right gear (such as panniers, or other types of bike bags)? Let us know. We have people who are willing to share/lend gear.

Ride Leaders:

Travis Clough (he/him; they/them) is the Director of Trip Operations and Logistics for the Venture Out Project. Travis is originally from Down East Maine and currently resides in Portland, Oregon where he explores the high peaks of the Pacific Northwest. He loves mountains, snow, pine trees, and views that go on forever.  Just getting into bikepacking and loving it so far. He is certified in Wilderness First Responder & AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) - Level 1.

Grey Diation (they/them) is an artist and gentle soul who has been riding a bicycle since 2004 and has a lot of bikepacking knowledge and experience under their belt. From August 2017 until March 2018, Grey bikepacked across Europe from Sweden to Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Ireland, Spain and Portugal on their first long-term solo bike tour and have been pedaling to places near and far ever since.

To Register: Follow this link. Once you register the trip leaders will be in touch with more even more information!

Join us on Sunday, December 16 for some good cheer and a special one day sale:

* 10-25% off clothing, accessories and gift-worthy goodies
* Super surprise discounts on ALL in-stock new bikes
* Free Gladys coffee mug with the purchase of gift certificate
* Hot cocoa, tea, cookies, good vibes, and just the right amount of Mariah Carey holiday music

Don't need to buy anything? Cool! We'd still love to see your lovely faces. So, come on by just to chill out, give us a high five and share a warm drink with your bike shop fam.

Hope to see you soon, friends!

-----

p.s. For the entire month of December, you can come in to snag great deals on our gently used demo bikes and 2018 model year bicycles, including:

* Liv Brava CX Bikes (gently used by Cross Curious racers, but ready for rides and races for years to come!) - 30% off
* All 2018 Models from Kona and Surly - 10-25% off

You know that feeling when your bike finally fits you perfectly, and you suddenly want ALL the bikes in your life to feel that right? Allow us to introduce the Transfer Fit.

If you've had a Basic or Complete fit with us, we can transfer what we know about your best fit to another bike so that it also feels awesome.

The details:

• $50 for a 45min- 1 hour appointment

• suitable only for transferring between similar handlebar styles. (e.g., a road bike and a 'cross bike, but not a road bike and a mtb)

• available to anyone who has had a Basic or Complete fit at Gladys

• the transfer fit does not include free follow-up fits, but has option to upgrade to another Basic or Complete fit if needed

Join us for a bike-focused yoga class with our pal Tara Chowdhury! Tara teaches alignment-based yoga, a practice of training your muscles to support your bones and joints. In her classes, you will learn how to avoid unhealthy patterns that lead to pain.

Attendance will be capped at 8 people, so please RSVP to [email protected] to reserve a spot for yourself!

ALL THE DETAILS

Where: Here, at the shop!

When: 8:30am on Sunday, November 18th

Who: Welcoming for people of all abilities.

How Much: Suggested donation of $10, but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

What about mats? We’ll have a couple of extras just in case, but request that you please plan to bring your own.

A bit more about Tara: We got to know Tara through our Saddle Library program, as she tried saddle after saddle…after saddle. After finding that all of them were uncomfortable in similar places and ways for her, Tara decided to apply what she’d learned through her yoga practice to be more intentional about her posture on the bike to better align her body and, voila!, suddenly she started to feel more comfortable in the saddle and on her bike in general. She suggested maybe yoga-based alignment for bike comfort might be something that other riders might be interested in learning about too and we were like “HECK YES.”

When she's not riding her bike or doing yoga, Tara is a neuroscientist at OHSU studying why males and females are vulnerable to different mental health issues.

Gladys Bikes is turning five years old!

Join us for a party at the shop to celebrate, high five one another, scheme about plans for the future and hang out with new and old friends.

Other than our *delightful* company, here's what you can expect:

- A keg! La Croix! Snacks!

- Special 5 year anniversary caps for sale, available for this one night only

- Music curated by Miranda, who undoubtedly has the best taste in music in the shop

- An extra special super surprise cake made by customer, friend, and SUPER BAKER Jeniffer Tunay (if you saw the gingerbread cyclocross course she made a couple of years ago then you know this is going to be good)

- Maybe one of us will give a touching, rousing and life changing speech, but probably not

- We’ll have some sort of photo booth set up, because we want to see all of your lovely faces for years to come

- Other things we'll probably figure out the day before the event! (Just being honest...)

Hope to see you there!

Join us for a FREE Women's MTB clinic introducing the fundamentals of mountain biking with Liv Event Specialist and PMBIA Certified Coach, Casey Wytaske!

Learn how to make your ride smooth and safe while gaining knowledge of ways to continuously improve your riding. We'll work on skills and then hit the trails! This free skills clinic is open to femme, trans, women, and non-binary folx, all fitness levels, all ages (must be accompanied by a parent if under 18 - mother/daughter date? We think YES!).

What to bring: 
Your Bike**
Helmet
Gloves (If you got'em)
Water/Hydration Pack
Closed Toe Shoes

**It's best to learn on your own bike, however, if you need a bike for this clinic, Liv Cycling has you covered! 

Bikes available for RESERVATION include 2019 models; HAIL ADVANCED 1 (Sizes Available: S, M), INTRIGUE ADVANCED 1 (Sizes Available: XS, S, S, L), PIQUE ADVANCED 1 (Sizes Available: XS, S, L), EMBOLDEN 1 (Sizes Available: XS, S). 

If you would like to use a bike for this clinic, you must bring an ID, Credit Card and reserve a bike by completing this form:  https://goo.gl/forms/GQNeBmVddFJ8nPPH3

NOTE: Please arrive 20-30 minutes before the clinic if you have reserved a bike. 

We will meet at the Sacajawea Dog Park along NE Alberta Street, where coffee and donuts will be served (of course) as we set up bikes and get to know each other. After introducing some basic ride skills we will take a group ride over to Gateway Green to apply our new skills on the trail! 

Questions? Email us at [email protected]!

p.s. Want to support Gateway Green for making it possible for us to have this clinic in the city? We’re suggesing $10 donation to the trails. Visit http://www.gatewaygreenpdx.org/fundraising/donate to make your donation. (Not expected but truly appreciated!)

Dear women, trans and non-binary pals- 

You like riding bikes? How about eating pizza? What about having fun?

Cool! We like all those things too. And fortunately our friends at Surly Bikes do too. And so we're excited to team up with those fine folks at The Official Intergalactic Surly Regional HQ for an evening dedicated to riding bikes, eating pizza, having fun and celebrating y'all -- women, trans and non-binary folks who ride bikes, that is.

Here's the plan: 

Meet at Gladys Bikes at 6pm on Tuesday, June 19. We'll head out from there on a leisurely ride, ending up on Mt Tabor, where there will be pizza waiting for us. 

BONUS: All bikes are welcome, but folks who ride their Surly bikes will have the chance to win some extra sweet Surly prizes. So, get that lovable steel monster of yours ready to roll! 

Sound good? Good. See you there.

Join us for a special edition of Saddle Speed Dating*, dedicated entirely to celebrating Ergon's new women's road and mountain saddles!

http://www.ergon-bike.com/en/article-neuheiten-2018.html

Come to try out the saddles, learn the basics saddle fit, eat some snacks and hang with some new pals. One lucky attendee will even get to go home with a FREE Ergon SM or SR saddle!

WHEN: Tuesday, April 24, 7pm

WHERE: Gladys Bikes at 2905 NE Alberta

HOW: Space is limited to the first 20 people, so be sure to RSVP to [email protected]!
 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*The Basics of Saddle Speed Dating:

Get one-on-one time with many saddles in one night so you can QUICKLY see which one you have an interest in investing in for the long haul. Talk 1:1 with our Saddle Librarians about what you're looking for in a saddle and we'll help you pick out up to saddles to try for some quick rides. 

And then -- because no saddle, will feel perfect if it's not set up properly -- if you find your saddle love match we'll help you get the saddle set up at the right height and position to support your body.

It's easy to become friendly with folks who come into the shop. We're friendly, you're friendly, this is a friendly city, and we all want to get along and have fun together! But, it takes time to become real friends; you know, to get beyond any of the power dynamics that can come into play in any type of service setting, to create shared memories and experiences, and to know and appreciate each other as whole people with big, complicated lives that extend beyond bikes.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have built a lot of great friendships with customers over the past handful of years -- many of whom are some of the closest confidants in my life these days. (You know who you are.) And while there's no perfect calculus behind the messy process of building relationships (if there was, life would sure be a whole lot easier), here is my attempt at synthesizing how that sometimes smooth and sometimes laughably awkward transition from customer to friend happens:

Step 1: They come into the shop for some bike-related need.

Step 2: They come back in for some other bike-y need. You tell a (likely unfunny) joke. They politely laugh. 

Step 3: You recognize each other in the grocery store aisle, but both pretend not to see the other and instead intently study the label of the bag of Juanitas you're grabbing, because, what would you say? You don't actually know each other. 

Step 4: They come into the shop again. In addition to the usual business, you engage in some friendly banter and you laugh at each other's (un)funny jokes.

Step 5: You recognize each other in the grocery store and acknowledge each other's existence with an enthusiastic wave as you continue pushing your carts past one another. 

Step 6: They come into the shop on their commute home from work, or on their way back from a ride...just to say hi and chat. 

Step 7: You claim each other as 'friends' on various social media sites and 'like' each other's photos.

Step 8: They come in again and suggest that maybe you should hang out outside of work. You talk about this potentially happening for the next few weeks or months. 

Step 9: You finally find a time to hang out. You go on a bike ride together and spill your guts to one another. (There's something about a good, long ride that really opens you up and allows you to go deep. Know what I mean?) Or maybe you grab a drink. Or maybe you go out for pizza with your partners in tow. 

Step 10: They continue to come in the shop and continue to be a customer, but also something far beyond that. You see them at the shop, and equally outside of it. When people ask you how you met, you both reply "bike stuff".

Come to think of it, this isn't too dissimilar from making friends as an adult in general. 

-Leah

p.s. Yeah, I run into a lot (a lot, a lot) of customers at the grocery store. 

Around this same time every year, I try to set aside space for myself to step away from the shop to reflect on the past year of business and make plans for the next. I hole in up coffee shops, cabins, and at my kitchen table and surround myself with highlighters, spreadsheets, financial statements, scratch paper, books and an endless array of cups of coffee and tea. 

During these retreats, my first order of business is always looking at the dollars and cents of it all, combing through our financial statements to see where we did well, to look for places we struggled, and then to come up with strategies for how we could be more profitable. This is, after all, a business. And while responsible financial management and realistic budgeting may not be the flashiest topics to talk about, they are what keep our doors open, keep us serving our customers, and keep our staff well-paid. 

Let's be real, though: This isn't the part of retreats that I get excited about.

Though healthy financials are necessary and nice, I started this business with a mission in mind before profit, with goal of disrupting the norm by examining what was already out there, appreciating and learning from the good, reflecting on the not-so-great and ultimately attempting to do things differently in an effort to better serve women through this one local bike shop, as well as trying to play a small part in pushing the conversation about gender inclusivity in the bike industry as a whole. And so it's the second part of my retreats that really gets my engines flaring, 'cause this is the part when I get to look back on the past year and try to decipher how well we've done at working towards our broader mission as a shop. 

And as I looked back upon everything we did this year, I had the realization that what I was studying was the story of a whole bunch of ideas. It turns out that trying to re-imagine a business model and do things differently means coming up with a whole slew of new ideas - SO MANY IDEAS - in search of a good one.

To me, a good idea is one that:

(a) Addresses a need, whether or not people knew the need existed before,

(b) Is fun, both for our customers and for those of us who work here,

(c) Is inclusive of our community of women, trans, femme, gender non-conforming and allied folks,

(d) Makes our community feel more excited about riding bikes in some way, and

(e) Introduces more folks to who we are and what we're about here

With that definition in mind, I'm proud to say that we've had a lot of great ideas over the years -- from the Saddle Library, to the 'Cross Curious Club, and even cycling caps slathered in donuts in space. But, I also can't deny that for every good idea we've had there have been at least three times as many that have fallen flat. (Remember when we decided to have fresh baked goods at the shop every day? I hope not; that was a really bad idea.)  

Which brings me to this past year.

2017 has been filled with some really great new ideas -- the BikeAble bike touring series we collaborated on with Makeshifter, a new structure for our basic maintenance classes, some new bike brands in the shop --, but, well...this was also a year of more than a few flops, things that we thought would lead somewhere, that never really panned out.  And I'm okay with that. 

Though it's rarely fun in the moment, the sense of dejection that can come along with a bad idea is ultimately worth it: It means that we're still trying to to things differently, sometimes failing miserably, sometimes hitting one out of the park, but always trying. 

And so, coming out of this year's retreat, instead of dwelling on the ideas that didn't work out and committing to playing things safe(r), the overarching goal I have for the shop in the coming year is to embrace bad ideas and keep 'em coming. Because it's in that parade of mediocre, so-so and not-quite-right ideas that magic also appears. 

Here's to more bad ideas!

-Leah