After a year off the mic, Bike Shop Society is back.

In this episode, we talk about why we hit pause—and why it was necessary. The last 12 months weren’t quiet… they were focused. We took a step back to reimagine the shop, remodel the space, tighten up our service program, and get clear on who we are and where we’re headed. Sometimes you’ve got to stop pedaling to build a better bike.

We also introduce two new voices in the shop:

🔧 Ari – our lead mechanic, wheel builder, detail-obsessed craftsman. Decades deep in bike culture and not afraid to call it how it is.

🛠️ Will – our apprentice, diving into vintage overhauls and learning the fundamentals the right way. Smart, curious, Iowa roots, and already fitting right into the rhythm of the bench.

Midway through the episode, things get very “bike shop.” An unexpected visitor, Alex, rolls in to pick up his wife’s beautiful vintage Peugeot mixte. We keep the mics hot and let you listen in as Will handles the interaction—real time, real shop energy. Then Alex throws on the headphones, grabs a mic, and suddenly we’ve got a three-man conversation about bikes, community, and why places like this still matter.

No scripts. No polish. Just shop noise, stories, and a reminder that bike shops are more than retail—they’re culture.

We close out with what’s ahead: more episodes, more consistency, more conversations about bicycle repair, and the business of running an independent bike shop.

We’re back.
One year later.
Let’s ride. 🚲🎙️

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The new year is here, and so is a new episode of Bike Shop Society! Joe Torres kicks things off with a story about a domestic disaster. But don’t worry—Bike Shop Society is here to save the day as a friend of the shop steps in to lend a hand.

Joe and Joe are joined by young Victor Aletich, a bike shop alum who’s stopping by on his way to Spain. Discover his motivation for making the move and what he plans to do while he’s there.

And finally, hear the tale of how a massage therapist at the mall needed a volunteer for a group class—leading to an unsuspecting friend ending up shirtless in front of a crowd of strangers.

Top off your sealant, check your air pressure one more time, and let’s ride!

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Bike shop employee Isa makes an appearance on today's show. Joe Torres is surprised to discover that she does more than just sit behind a computer and ring people up. Joe also shares his thoughts on trouble brewing in the world of professional bike racing—find out why he thinks the racing has become robotic and the racers lack personality. And finally, Joe took a road trip to Ohio to pick up a bike he’s been dreaming about for years. Find out what makes this bike so special that he drove over 300 miles to get it.

So, check your thru axles, make sure they’re tight, and let’s roll!

All this and much, much more. So lean back on your recumbent, and let’s go for a roll!

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This stage of Bike Shop Society features a Polish man who wants to see—and smell—what’s cooking in the bike shop. Joe Torres is back with us and completely smitten by a mountain bike he encounters in the shop. Cold, rainy days seem to bring out the chatty Cathys around here, find out what they want and what they have to say.

And finally, our Joe has zero sympathy for the situation some bike companies find themselves in—and he doesn’t hold back when explaining why he thinks they deserve the pain they’re going through.

All this and much, much more. So lean back on your recumbent, and let’s go for a roll!

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Things are slowing down at the bike shop, which means there's more time to sit around and talk about bikes! It's a double dose of Joes as Joe Torres joins our own Joe for another scintillating stage of Bike Shop Society.

Listen in as a customer shows up while the boys are recording. But this is no ordinary customer—find out how his love for cycling led his offspring to lead a team at SRAM Corporation.

An unexpected caller interrupts the show—discover what the call is all about and whether anyone in the show is in hot water.

Earlier in the day, a teenage boy and his grandfather visited the shop. Find out what they needed and why Joe asked them to stop what they were doing at once.

And lastly, we break the news to Joe Torres that Cleary Bikes is out of business. Joe, a big fan of Cleary Bikes, shares some heartfelt stories about his daughter learning to ride her first bike—a Cleary.

So jump on the trainer, put in that earpiece, and let's go!

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It’s been a while, but Bike Shop Society is back on the saddle. In this episode, Joe is joined at the bike shop by a friend of the shop and podcast fan, Joe Torres. It’s been a busy year, and the two Joes haven’t had much time to catch up during the season. Listen as they reminisce about the early days of the bike shop and some of the young people who have come and gone over the years. Later in the podcast, we learn that Joe Torres has a side hustle as a basement mechanic—find out how he got started and what he thinks of vintage Schwinn bicycles. Finally, the pandemic introduced a whole new group of people to the sport of cycling. What does this mean for the future of the bike shop, and why is it such an interesting time to be in the business? So settle in and let us pour you a cup of Joe!

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Joe and Danny are back after a month of travel and tune-ups. Danny shares some stories from his recent cyclocross training camp in Massachusetts. Find out if he made any new friends and which old friends he caught up with. Joe thinks e-bikes will play a part in the future of the bike shop; find out why he's becoming a believer and why he thinks you're missing the boat if you don't prepare for the E-Invasion. Finally, Rapha rides are happening all around the country, including Chicago. Danny joined the latest ride and gives us the scoop on his gnarly all-roading adventure. So lather yourself up with a fistful of chamois cream and vamonos!

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On this episode of Bike Shop Society, Danny hears some background noise that Joe's mic is picking up. Find out what it is and which two cycling legends make an appearance on this week's show. Joe lost another employee at the shop—not to death, but to a better-paying job. Hear why Joe is so chipper and encouraging when employees leave for greener pastures, and what his strategy is for getting them back. Finally, Danny is headed to a cyclocross training camp with the folks at Cycle-Smart. It's going to be intense, but Danny is up for the challenge. So hop to it and get on board—this ride is leaving the lot!

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