This is a work in progress…
Belleville is a worker co-op. That means that we, the workers, own the store. We have no bosses, managers, or supervisors…and we like it that way.
We’re not sales people, and we’ll never try to be. We’re bike mechanics, because it’s what we love to do, and we’re lucky enough to get paid for it. We’re not trying to get you to buy into the latest fad. We think that most of the latest fads are stupid anyways. We just want to help you make your bike run smoothly.
We like fixed gears. We like how they are easier to maintain than 10 speed cassettes and disc brakes. And how much more control you have when your feet are connected to your wheel at all times. And how much lighter a fixie is compared to a road or mountain bike. And how a super nice fixed gear can cost the same amount as a mediocre road bike. And, and, and… So we’re biased. But we realize that fixies aren’t for everyone, so we still love working on geared bikes too. We’re enthusiasts, but not jocks.
Our bikes are so much more than good looking. If your looking for a status symbol that some magazine or blog tells you will make you look cool, maybe we’re not the shop for you. Don’t get us wrong, we love pretty rides. Fancy NJS parts and anodized alloys cover most of our personal bikes too, but our bikes are our lives, not just some fashion accessory. We’re a bike shop, not a fashion outlet.
Our bikes have to work, and most of the bikes that we work on belong to messengers. That means that our mechanic service has to be quick and flawless, and our parts have to be affordable, but by no means crappy.
Go, ride your bike. When it breaks, come talk to us.