Local Business Spotlight - Roscoe Village Bikes
Meet Lesley Tweedie, co-owner of Roscoe Village Bikes. They offer bikes, bike parts and accessories for commuters, recreational riders and competitive cyclists. Their team of experienced mechanics repair and assemble all makes and models from cruisers to e-bikes, and their number one goal is to help you enjoy your ride as much as possible. Read on to learn more about how Lesley and Alex opened their bike shop and some of her favorite moments of running her business!
Give us a small backstory of how your business started.
We were living near Hamlin Park in 2006 and were dreaming of opening a bike shop. We saw the “For Rent” sign at 2016 W. Roscoe and thought it would be a perfect location. The building was built in 1890 and housed a tailer shop for many years. We repurposed the cabinetry for display cases and counters. We wanted it to feel warm and welcoming.
What are some of your favorite moments of running your business?
We really enjoy solving problems for our customers so they can get out there and enjoy their bikes as much as possible. We especially like to see parents ride off with their kid in a baby seat for the first time. We also enjoy seeing our customers grow up. One of our employees got her first bike from us.
What is one thing that many people may not know about you or your business?
Appointments can be made online for tune-ups or bike assembly services. They are not required though. We don’t take appointments for minor repairs like a brake adjustment or flat tire repair. Those are done first-come-first serve. We try to be as quick as possible but turn-around times do vary based on the problem and what else is in the queue.
Do you have any hobbies that you do outside of running your business?
Most of the time we’re not working on the business we can be found outside with our kids and our dog. Our kids go to Audubon and we love going to the parks, shops and restaurants in the neighborhood.
What are some businesses you love in Lakeview or Roscoe Village?
Lakeview and Roscoe Village small businesses are amazing. We love Building Blocks Toy Store and Kitch’n. I would name more but I don’t want to leave any out. We’re lucky to live in an area with so many destination shops and restaurants.
What are the best ways people can support your business right now?
Wait times can be a bit long in April, May and June so if your bike could use a tune-up please book one online. If you need a minor repair like a flat-tire fix or brake adjustment to ride in the meantime, we'll take care of that. We also have an air hose to inflate tires and we can spray some lube on your chain if needed. We don't want people to miss out on spring and summer riding but if the bike is rideable, please plan to hold off for a full-tune up until the rush dies down. We really appreciate your patience!
