By Sherrill St. Germain

This blurb from the Roseville Cyclery website perfectly conveys its mission. Co-owners Yi and Oliver Bell and Tim Guter are the heart of this soon-to-be four-year-old business, a full-service shop located in historic downtown Roseville. With a crackerjack staff mostly comprised of area natives, Roseville Cyclery has its roots firmly planted in the community.

“The bike has been the vehicle that has connected us,” commented Yi. “We aim to make cycling accessible to everyone. We don’t want to sell a bike that will just end up in a garage gathering dust.

With decades of experience in the cycling industry, these guys understand what it takes to get newbies up and rolling, keep recreational riders happy, and propel elites to new heights. This commitment – combined with their down-to-earth attitude and joy for the sport – has spawned a community whose loyalty and enthusiasm matches their own. It’s a community we at Bike Like A Girl are proud to have been associated with since our inception.

Teaming Up

The partnership between the two organizations kicked into high gear in early 2016 with Bike Like A Girl’s first women’s road bike ride from Roseville Cyclery. Its “no-drop” nature (with leaders adjusting the pace to leave no rider behind) appealed to a wide range of riders and engendered a unique camaraderie. The ride’s popularity grew, prompting a shift to a monthly Second Sundays format. These days, it often draws 30+ riders from as far as Sacramento, Marysville, Reno, and beyond.

Roseville Cyclery has been instrumental in this growth, publicizing the ride, hosting après-ride meet-and-greets, offering discounted merchandise, and dispensing the wisdom and support needed to keep riders going strong. Shop co-owner Yi Bell often helps lead rides, as well as acting as semi-official ride photographer.

The Second Sundays rides are by no means Roseville Cyclery’s only show of support for Bike Like A Girl’s mission to get more girls and women on bikes. Our combined sponsorship of the Woodcreek High School Cycling team helps local teens obtain the equipment, skills, and information they need to become proficient cyclists. Roseville Cyclery also acts as the team’s “go-to” shop, supporting the teens with meeting space, bike services, and internships.

Most recently, Bike Like A Girl and Roseville Cyclery teamed up with foster services provider Lilliput Families of Citrus Heights, CA, to address the needs of an even younger contingent. Our most ambitious collaboration to date, this one-day camp taught bike safety and technique to preteen foster girls. The program was made possible through the support of several generous sponsors, including Roseville Cyclery which hosted a kickoff party at which campers were given bicycles and equipment to keep.

In a heart-warming show of pay-it-forward, Woodcreek teens, Second Sundays riders, and others pitched in to coach their younger cohorts. A thank you letter from one camper captures just what the experience meant to her – not to mention all of us! The spirit exemplified by all 3 organizations shone during the camp, bringing into focus the power of cycling to bring a community together.

Come Wish ‘Em Happy Birthday

So if you’re looking for good rides and good times with good people, you’ve come to the right place. But don’t take our word for it! Come on down to Roseville Cyclery and see for yourself.

Join us the weekend of August 12 – 13, when the shop will be celebrating its 4th birthday. There will be a storewide sale, food, festivities, and rides for all abilities (see event listings), including Bike Like A Girl’s monthly Second Sundays ride. Hope to see you there!

Sherrill St. Germain, Bike Like a Girl Director and Blog Editor, is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance. A former fee-only planner, she brings a decade of financial planning experience to content she develops for financial professionals, organizations, publications, and her blog TheFISide.com.