Bloomington bicycle shop leading a 'Revolution'

The Bloomington cycling market got a new look recently with the opening of Revolution Bike & Bean. Formerly Bloomington Cyclery, Revolution Bike & Bean is the home of Bloomington's first bicycle/coffee shop, a format that is relatively popular throughout much of the western United States. The shop will also offer wireless Internet access.\nOwner Brad Titzer ran Bloomington Cyclery and decided that he needed to not only reinvent the bicycle shop's design but its location as well. Titzer speaks of the previous location fondly, which was popularly known as the "Old Schwinn Shop," but he said he is certain the plans he has put into action are best for the company.\n"Our business and core really outgrew the (old) place," Titzer said.\nTitzer and his team of employees shut down the shop at the corner of 10th Street and the 45/46 Bypass and began settling into the new home of Revolution at the corner of 10th and Grant streets in mid-January.\n"I really like it. Foot traffic is really nice," employee Kyle Davidson said. "There are more people browsing and not just coming for specific reasons."\nFormerly the location of a small record shop, All Ears, the building was used for student housing for a year and a half. The new location is much more accessible than the old one.\nA number of renovations were performed to fit the many needs of the new shop, like clearing an area devoted to bicycle repair and another for the espresso bar. \n"We moved in three days," Titzer said. "We ripped out an office in the back and did a lot of work on the store ourselves."\nIn the short time Revolution Bike & Bean has occupied the building, the company has created an atmosphere that welcomes bikers of all skill levels and interests. Titzer said he believes the trick to the cycling industry is knowing that almost everybody owns a bike of some kind and a bike shop doesn't have to be a service for only serious riders. Revolution sells racing bikes, mountain bikes and BMX racing bikes. It also carries more lines of bicycles than any other store in Bloomington.\n"We're about promoting the passion of cycling," Titzer said.\nThe company also places a great deal of emphasis on product knowledge. Titzer and his employees ride all the bikes themselves and make a strong effort to receive as much customer feedback as possible. Revolution also makes it a point to excel in bicycle repair, and hopes its new facilities can help improve even further in this area.\n"Good products are one thing, but good service is invaluable," Titzer said.\nThe town of Bloomington already has a fairly saturated cycling market, making the store's pre-existing customer base valuable. Unseasonably warm weather during the month of January brought many Bloomington Cyclery devotees out to support their friends in the new store.\n"It's a better location, not so far out there," said Bloomington Cyclery customer and Team Cinzano rider Aaron Zelin. "It's nicer inside. The old place was a lot drearier."\nA series of changes this significant is a major risk, especially for a cycling shop in Bloomington competing with Bikesmiths, Bicycle Garage and Bicycle Doctor. Bloomington Cyclery did nearly half a million dollars of business in 2005, and the success Revolution has had in the short time it has been open has made Titzer very optimistic about the future.\n"I've been so pleased with January," he said. "We've already done about $8,000 better than last year."\nA major aspect to the new shop is the addition of an espresso bar. Titzer continues to see Revolution Bike & Bean as a cycling shop that also happens to sell coffee, but he said he believes the espresso bar will help attract new customers and solidify the shop as an integral member of the neighborhood and community at large.\nIt's not all about business for Titzer, though. Since arriving in Bloomington, he's made an effort to involve himself and his business with the community as a whole. Revolution is a chief sponsor of the Team Bloomington/Morris Trucking riders, and it also supports cross country and BMX racers.\nWhile some might view bicycles as an outdated mode of transportation, Titzer said he believes bicycles are the future of the community because they promote a healthy lifestyle and reduce the amount of fossil fuels in the air.\n"If you are about the community," Titzer said, "the community will help you grow"