Here at NYCeWheels, the steady approach of summer means many things: sunny days, happy bikers, more customers and, of course, much more work!
Selling Fold-up bikes in NYC is hard work!
When I first started working here, the shop cultivated healthy levels of efficiency—everyone was busy, VERY busy, but there was still time to stop and take a breath. On a typical day, I would walk into the shop, past the folding bikes on the wall, and receive a happy greeting from Roberto at the front desk, a warm smile from Peter at his computer, and wry comment from Art in the back.
Now Roberto gives me a friendly nod but in the midst of a flurry of emails and phone calls, Peter gives a warm smile but while simultaneously talking into a head set, fixing a Tern link D8 with his right hand, and eating a banana with his left.
I ride the storm out on the seas of social media, answering 20 posts where last week there would have been 10, posting pictures and links as fast as my hands can type.
Folding bikes and good vibes!
Being this busy is at the same time exhilarating and intimidating. It’s fun and exciting because business is booming and we know we’re helping a lot of people find the perfect folding bike or the Kick Scooter of their dreams. It’s intimidating because we have to work hard to keep pace with the increasing demands of our customer base—to keep shipments flying out and orders coming in, and bikes fixed, and questions answered.
Even in the face of this flurry of activity, the NYCeWheels crew always rises to the task. Peter has become a master organizer, planning out his daily tasks months in advance. Art races around the back of the shop, lifting heavy boxes like a super hero, and I’m pretty sure Roberto has learned a few new languages this week. Is “folding bike” considered a dialect? Meanwhile Bert oversees us all, the Wizard of NYCeWheels, making sure the machine is well oiled and all the wheels turn smoothly.
Folding bikes make it all worth it!
At the end of the day, everyone has the look of someone who’s given it their all, who’s averted every obstacle and surmounted every difficulty— the look of a man who’s fought the good fight. We are also all pretty exhausted. But it’s also satisfying to work so hard and know that we’re helping people make their lives better. Every time we see a folding bike in nyc, or an electric bike coming up the street, we know we’re making a difference in people’s lives, and that feels really good.
So come into the shop and say hello! Take a test ride on a sweet fold up bike and see what it’s all about!
Jack
