What are Chicago's woman-owned bike shops?

Folks,

 

As a reference for the Chicago city guide I'm working on, and for future articles, which bike shops in the city of Chicago are owned or co-owned by women? If it's a husband-and-wife team, the wife should have an active role in running the shop.

 

Here's what I came up with:

Uptown Bikes

Blue City Cycles

Rapid Transit Cycle Shop

Roscoe Village Bikes

 

Am I missing any? For example, is there actually a Carmen at Carmen's?

 

I'd also be interested to hear about any woman-owned shops in the 'burbs. I believe the Zion Schwinn Cyclery is run by a husband-and-wife team.

 

Thanks!

 

John Greenfield

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Finch on July 3, 2011 at 5:22am
Gary's Cycle Shop (Edgewater) - Gary's wife works on the bikes.
Permalink Reply by Bailey Gene Newbrey on July 3, 2011 at 1:48pm
Zion Cyclery is run by Don and Mary Daisy. Mary has a very active roll in the shops operations. When I worked there, 8 years ago, she was there EVERY day.
Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on July 3, 2011 at 2:59pm

 

Interesting article/bio, thanks for sharing.  Did Jan start these shops or invest in them?  It says in one of the questions  'Then, when I finished grad school, I bought two bikes shops in Elgin, Illinois with three other people.'


clp said:

Surprisingly many NW suburban bike shops were started by a woman.  Jan Guenther, a well-known local triathlete, opened Crystal Lake Bike and Ski with Jim Heil in 1983, and went on to operate several other bike stores in the NW suburbs. 

 

Jan eventually became more interested in XC skiing, moved to Minnesota, and opened GearWest, which she operates today.  But I remember her when she lived in the Brewster Building at Diversey and Pine Grove, and ran the LFP every morning before school.

Permalink Reply by Gina Kenny on July 4, 2011 at 12:02pm
I think Cycles N Sports in Worth is now owned by the original owner's daughter.
Permalink Reply by Bikefreeek on July 5, 2011 at 2:21am
Ciclo Urbano is run by a woman, manager Mia Moore. Ciclo is a project of West Town Bikes, which is a 501c3 not for profit that is overseen by a Board of Directors, so it really doesn't have an owner. Half of the Board of Directors are women though, and all of WTB senior management are women!
Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on July 5, 2011 at 2:25am
Ah, good point Alex. Thanks!
Permalink Reply by Joanne McSweeney on February 2, 2014 at 8:29am

Yeah, Joanne at On the Route, has been for like 20 years....

Permalink Reply by Joanne McSweeney on February 2, 2014 at 8:30am

Yup!

h' 1.0 said:

OTR/Trek Store: JoAnne McSweeney

 

Also-- missed the suburbs comment (added later?)--


Lombard Cycle and Ski: Lorna Pecora.

 

H3N3 said:

On the Route/Trek Store?

 

Permalink Reply by John Greenfield on February 2, 2014 at 8:40am

Thanks, that was off my radar.

Joanne McSweeney said:

Yup!

Permalink Reply by Ben S on February 2, 2014 at 2:25pm

Mox Multisport at Randolph and Halsted is owned by a very lively woman named Amy.

Permalink Reply by Joanne McSweeney on February 3, 2014 at 6:53am

Hi  this is Joanne McSweeney

I am the majority owner of On The Route Bicycles. My partner is Denis Smith. We own and operate 3 stores in Chicago, South Loop/Downtown, Lakeview and Lincoln Square.Just to let you know I lead weekly womens only rides on Wednesday at 6:15pm from our 1118 S Michigan Avenue location from May thru October. ( road and hybrid rentals available) I also offer any female interested in a one on one ride for any reason (ie. scared to ride in streets, wants to be paced,a beginner, wants to ride and chat, bike the lakefront) to contact me at kuhla@aol.com or thru fb or our website www.ontheroute.com. I personal coach, participate and/or  the sponsor the Team Dreams Sisters Tri team, Chicagos Iquanas kids Tri team, Chicago Tri Club and help/liason build safe routes to school. We offer tons of women specific bikes and accessories. We have beautiful spacious dressing rooms with great mirrors. If our trademark wasnt "pump pedals not gas" it would be "girls rule boys drool."  (Thats a joke BTW. Our cycling male customers are fly.)

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on February 3, 2014 at 6:58am

BFF Bikes, opening in March, is owned by two women. 

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