Do you bike ride? Do you want to start riding? If so, there is only one place to go: Roys Sheepshead Cycles in Brooklyn. Yes, the black, the white, and the greenRoys Cycles store colors.
Located at 2679 Coney Island Avenue (between Avenue X and Avenue Y), Roys was established in 1931; which makes it one of Brooklyns oldest bike shops and one of the oldest bike shops in the US (that has been operating in the same area since it opened).
For over 80 years, Roys has been supporting a growing cycling community and is considered one of the top 100 bikes shops in America.
The store caters to all types of customers, from professionals and dedicated cycling enthusiasts to those who are just starting out, including children and families. Indeed, families are Roys main customers. They sell all types of bicycles including adult trikes, professional road bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes, triathlon bikes, beach cruisers, comfort bikes, track bikes, off-road hybrids, trail-a-bikes, child carriers and kids bikes.
Their extensive bicycle selection is second to none. Moreover, Roys sells budget bikes all the way up to top-of-the-line road and mountain bikes. Roys has a bike for everyone plus all kinds of accessories, components, supplements, and apparel to make riding more comfortable, efficient, safer, better, and more enjoyable.
Some of the extensive brands that Sheepshead Cycles carries are: Cannondale, Specialized, Trek, Giant, Felt, Raleigh, Dahon, Breezer, Brompton, Lynskey, Santa Cruz, Diamondback, Fuji, Eastern, Haro, We The People, and many more.
In addition to the main store, Roys is so special that Cannondale (one of the worlds elite bicycle brands) chose it to be the first Cannondale Concept Store in the United States, with approximately 1,400 square feet of showroom space. Its only Cannondales second Concept Store on Earth, the other being in Singapore.
Roys is also home to a fully equipped and staffed bicycle service center. In most cases, repairs can be done the same day you bring your bicycle in and often on the spot. The staff has a combined total of more than 125 years of experience. So, whether you have a bike from 1908 or a 2013 pre-production bike, chances are they can fix it.
Theyre so confident in all their bikes, they offer a free year of service from the time of purchase which includes adjusting all brakes, gears, the cones on all wheels, the headset, the bottom bracket; lubing the drivetrain, air in all tires, and slight truing of all wheelswhich most bike stores dont offer.
Roys provides a standard water-bottle cage, a Roys water-bottle, and a Greenfield kickstand with every bike purchase. Most bike shops charge a combined price of $17 to $33 for these accessories.
Roys is often called a mom and pop shop. It is a family run business, run by Allen (the ownerwho has owned Roys for the last 36 years); Keith (Allens son, who manages the shop); Angie (Allens wife, who mainly manages the service center); Faith (Allens daughter, who helps out everywhere she can); and Aunt Lilly (Angies twin sister, who helps run the main stores front desk). Everyone calls her Aunt Lilly. Then theres Uncle Frank (Aunt Lillys husband, who is a salesperson, specializing in kids bikes). Of course, everyone refers to him as Uncle Frank. Thanks to all these wonderful people, the atmosphere in the store is always fun and invitingfor customersand Roys employees.
Roy, the founder of Roys Sheepshead Cycles, is no longer with us, but many customers call Allen Roy, which is fine with him. Allen can fit anybody with the perfect bicycle, from a 2 year-old to a professional cyclist, to an 80 year-old great-grandmother. He is an expert in the field of running a bike store. Hes so devoted to Roys that you can find him there seven days a week during peak season. One day, Roys will be Keiths store. Keith has spent most of his life in the bicycle industry.
Many people come to Sheepshead Cycles for their great prices. Others come because Allens claim to fame is bike fitting. In most cases, he can tell just by looking at you what size bike you should buy and adjust a bicycle to its new owner within a few minutes
No bicycle fits someone perfectly out of the box. Different fitters use different devices to help fit someone to their new bicycle. Allen uses his great knowledge and experience, which make him a very skillful fitter. The fitting process is very important for seasoned bike enthusiasts and professionals, it connects the bike and the rider in perfect harmony. It improves power, comfort, and efficiency while reducing the chance of injury. The bike fit addresses all aspects of the athletes positioning and all factors that affect the riders comfort and performance. The correct positioning is a very important factor, as is the right ergonomics, which makes riding comfortable.
Technology is also important and always evolving. Carbon monocoque frames, electronic gears, cycling computers with GPS, and intelligent dampers are some of the latest technological developments in the bicycle industry.
Equally important, and some would say even more important, is aerodynamics, which is how air resistance and drag affect an object. Aerodynamics help a rider to be faster and more efficient.
If youre interested in technology, you should visit Roys Cannondale Concept Store and Roys Professional Cycling Room.
Finally, unlike most bike shops, Roys delivers to the entire tri-state area including New York City, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Manhattan and Deal, New Jersey, as well as the surrounding areas.
So, when youre ready to buy a bicycle or you need bike accessories, remember Roys Sheepshead Cyclesthe only place to go to meet your cycling needs. Roys will not only meet your needs, theyll exceed them! Roys is Brooklyns most complete bicycle store!
Come in, browse the store, new items are added often. If theres something you would like to seefeel free to ask about it. Visit Allen and Ketih, Aunt Lily and Uncle Frank. Theyre looking forward to seeing you soon!
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Curtis C. Clarke is a certified fitter and a salesperson at Roys Sheepshead Cycles Brooklyn. He has been a salesperson in the bicycle industry for 12 years and has also worked in the apparel industry.
