Contributed by Dave Buckley of Valley Bike and Ski Werks.
Valley Bike and Ski Werks, nestled in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts among colleges such as Smith College, Mount Holyoke, UMass Amherst, and Hampshire College, is a full-service bike and ski shop. For over twelve years, VBSW has gained the reputation that “We ride and ski what we sell”. The goal is to provide our customers with first-hand knowledge of the gear and equipment we carry.
VBSW has a long-standing partnership with Terry, providing our female customer base with a solid product that performs and looks great. Meghan Keefe, a loyal VBSW customer and avid cyclist, first sought out the Terry gear line for the comfortable bike liners. She adds that “The fresh designs with a feminine touch are an added bonus to the comfort.”
VBSW prides itself on approaching all customers with the intention to better understand their specific needs and cycling goals. The growth of the shop has allowed us to meet the objectives of our wide customer base, from the competitive rider to the family on the bike path.
VBSW offers weekly “no drop” group rides for men and women of all ability levels. As well as being an active member of the Northampton Cycling Club (NCC). VBSW also sponsors notable bike events in the region, such as the D2R2 gravel race supporting the Franklin Land Trust.
For more information on upcoming events, shop services, products and gear visit the Valley Bike and Ski Werks website at valleybikeandskiwerks.com, or in person at 173 Russell St., Hadley MA 01035.
Gear West Brings Women Cyclists to the Forefront in the Midwest.
Aerial view of the Gear West campus.
From modest beginnings, Gear West has grown into the country’s largest ski retailer, located in the western suburbs of Minneapolis, MN. With roots in triathlon as well as nordic competition, the store’s offerings for cyclists and runners keep pace through the warmer seasons of the year.
GW has a long history with Terry, and it’s a partnership that brings some great benefits to the store’s female cycling customers.
Shopping the racks of Terry cycling gear at Gear West.
As a source of clothing, equipment, events and advice, Gear West is an important resource for cycling women in the region. Since the company was co-founded and grew under the stewardship of a woman, it makes sense that female cyclists have become an important focus for the store. In addition, many women work at the store and ride out of Gear West.
Owner, Jan Guenther, explains the store’s approach to serving female customers:
Jan Guenther, Owner, Gear West
“GW attempts to address the varying needs of every woman who calls or enters the bike store. This is not a new idea. Respect and knowledge regarding women’s specific needs is built into the DNA of Gear West. We inquire about their cycling goals, what excites them about the sport, how and where they envision themselves cycling, and then we offer suggestions for best choices in clothing, equipment and bike fit.”
Jan points out that women desire a line of clothing and accessories that meets their fit and design needs. “Terry has been in the industry for a long time and continues to offers a feminine touch to their ever up-dated line up of functional clothing and saddles. Terry makes sure their clothing offering fits all the sizes and shapes of women who love to cycle, and offers the cheerful and functional clothing to add to women’s sense of style and adventure.”
Gear West and the Minneapolis area offer all cyclists abundant opportunities to bike. Triathlons, local touring bike clubs, park trails, mountain bike adventures, gravel explorations – all are available to interested cyclists.
If you ride in the Minneapolis area make sure to check out Gear West’s extensive array of equipment, clothing and gear, also available on their comprehensive website. You will find a friendly welcome, great advice and top notch service at the store.
Visit Gear West at 1786 W Wayzata Blvd, Long Lake, MN 55356
Alaska Cycle Chic co-owners, Krystal Offord, left, and Nancy Richmond, in their store
An interesting new name popped up on the list of independent dealers and bike shops selling Terry clothing across the USA last year. When we reached out to learn the story behind “Alaska Cycle Chic,” we were delighted to meet Krystal and Nancy, two keen cyclists and new entrepreneurs bringing great creative energy to their local cycling community.
The store’s beautiful website explains their story: In the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, Krystal and Nancy agreed that it was too hard to find cool women’s cycling clothes in Anchorage, and turned their socially distanced garage happy hour conversations about the problem into action.
Women with a mission, going all-in to share their love of cycling
They saw opportunity in that difficulty, and have worked hard to create a haven for cycling women of all abilities and disciplines. The common thread is fostering a happy and healthy lifestyle while enjoying Alaska’s outdoors on two wheels.
As they put it, their mission is to promote the stoke by supporting all women and equipping them for a comfortable and confident ride on any trail they choose.
Creativity and bike love together – the checkout counter at Alaska Cycle Chic
It’s clear they are well on their way. They have organized an ongoing series of events to introduce new riders to the basics of maintenance, and help riders master cycling techniques. Nothing about the events or the store is vanilla – many are led by the fearsome-sounding Viper McGnarly (aka Nancy), so the tone is set for fun as well as learning.
Here’s how Nancy describes the store:
“Alaska Cycle Chic is a new retail boutique in Anchorage, Alaska, dedicated to biker babes of all sizes and shapes, and featuring cycling gear for all types of biking. We love bike clothing that’s fun and stylish, but it should be functional and comfortable as well.
“Riding isn’t as much fun if you’re not properly outfitted. Being comfortable is key to feeling good on your bike, so we help our customers – especially those new to biking – find clothing that fits, and teach them how to layer properly – super important in a cold climate!
“Shopping in Anchorage can be challenging, with little to choose from compared to the Lower 48, especially women’s cycling clothing. Being able to try on before buying is key for our customers.
“Carrying Terry was a no-brainer when we opened. Women love color, and Terry keeps coming up with beautiful prints and comfortable styles. The Terry Fixie Short is by far the most popular item in the shop because of the comfortable stretchy waist and flattering fit for all size bodies. Please bring back the purple color!!
“The local biking community has been very supportive of our venture, and we give back by supporting athletes at many of the races and events. We also host a variety of free clinics, helping women learn how to work on their bikes so they feel more confident on the trail.”
If you ride in the Anchorage area, make sure to check out Alaska Cycle Chic’s upcoming events. The boutique looks like a wonderful place to hang out and visit for a while – be sure to shop Krystal and Nancy’s unique array of fun, bike themed merchandise, along with women’s cycling gear and clothing selected especially to suit Alaskan conditions.
Located in the historic Mission District of San Francisco, Mission Bicycle Company is a great resource for everything from the most elegant custom bikes to rentals and city tours. They even sponsor bike dinners (there’s one coming up on June 10th). For those who can’t get enough to accessorize their bike life, this little company has the coolest collection of bike tidbits for anyone’s habit or gift needs. The distressed leather wallet and the cards below are made by local artists (and can be ordered online).
Brick Wheels is the largest bike store in Northern Michigan which allows them to carry an extensive selection of bikes, accessories and cycling apparel. Owner, Tim Brick, opened this store 42 years ago and has always been a pioneer in carrying many products 2-3 years before they become some of the hottest trends. He has a talent for forward thinking in this industry and is not afraid to take the risk of introducing new product, which is why Brick Wheels is so unique and is always a delightful shopping experience.
Why do you think women choose to shop at your store?
We offer a huge selection and variety of everything bike. The longevity of our staff and willingness to go above and beyond for customer service makes us recognized in the community as well as in our shop. We are very proud to show you what we have and what we know.
We have 5 women on staff with a combined 65 years’ experience here at Brick Wheels that have been active in cycling and have various interests so we are able to relate to our women customers in order to make them comfortable shopping here and find the right products for them.
When you enter our store you are welcomed with a pleasing display of all of our women’s cycling clothing along with other active wear. We choose active wear that can be mixed with our cycling lifestyle wear in order to blend with our new demand for bike to work population and also for our more casual riders.
Why do you sell Terry?
We sell Terry because the products are high quality. Also, our customers are huge fans and love to come in and see their favorite Terry gear on the shelf.
When a new-to-cycling female customer comes in, what’s the first thing you tell her about cycling?
Start out nice and easy, enjoy yourself, and progress gradually.
