Popular SW Florida Bike Shop Expands
The Bike Bistro, a locally owned cycle shop near the Sanibel Causeway, has remodeled its café and partnered with Chocolattes Coffee and Roasting to offer specialty single-origin coffees.
While they’re sipping coffee, riders can ogle the latest Specialized brand of bikes. Founded in 1974 in California, Specialized was the first company to create production mountain bikes. It now offers a full range of bikes, including road bikes, cruisers and electric bikes.
Specialized’s Turbo Como electric bikes are especially popular because they are considered Sanibel legal. Riders can lawfully ride them on the island bike paths because they have no throttle and the pedaling is assisted.
“The Como’s super-smooth, easy ride is boosted by a quiet but powerful motor that will have you zipping around the island with little effort,” says Troy Carr, who recently joined the Bike Bistro as master of merchandise. Formerly from Grand Rapids, Mich., Carr has raced mountain bikes and was the former president of the West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance, one of the nation’s largest trail biking associations.
The Bike Bistro is a popular destination for cycling enthusiasts who enjoy relaxing with a cup of coffee and healthy snacks before or after they ride. Riders can lounge in comfortable chairs, socialize with other cyclists and log onto the internet using the shop’s free WiFi.
“You can come spend a few hours here to meet friends, sip great coffee, catch up on the news or chat with our team of cycling experts about the latest gear,” says Steve Martin, owner of The Bike Bistro, who opened the Fort Myers shop in 2012.
For example, Mechanic Mike Volk can get your bike in shape for Southwest Florida’s harsh summer conditions in half the time it takes other bike stores. He is tech certified by Shimano and Specialized and is happy to chat with clients about maintenance and repairs.
Chocolattes is a Fort Myers-based specialty roaster that offers seasonal coffees from Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Kenya. “As a locally owned business, we’re thrilled to partner with another successful family owned company in Fort Myers,” says Martin.
The Bike Bistro’s open floor lets riders watch a professional fit a client on a new bike in the see-through glass enclosure. Customers can browse the large selection of parts and accessories, including a new section of headgear that displays the latest aerodynamic helmets and Oakley eyewear.
“Selecting and customizing the right bike and with well-fitting gear is the key to enjoying the year-round cycling weather in Southwest Florida,” says Martin. “Cycling specialists at The Bike Bistro provide the kind of one-on-one assistance you can’t find at a big-box retailer.”
The Bike Bistro is actively engaged in events that benefit the community. For example, a shop-sponsored racing team recently raised $12,680 for Operation Home Front, a nonprofit organization that provides financial help to military families in need.
The Bike Bistro is located at 20351 Summerlin Road, #114, in Fort Myers at the Publix shopping center near the Sanibel Causeway. The store is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information visit thebikebistro.com or call 239-479-1999.
