Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Jangchue (George) Dorjee; Owner of Parkdale Bicycle Shop. Photos by Tammy Thorne.
Cyclists of Parkdale Village get ready to be tuned up!
Story by Evan Morrison
Parkdale Bicycle Shop is now open and ready to meet the needs of west-end cyclists.
George Dorjee opened the doors to Parkdale Bicycle Shop early February 2015 to combine his love of cycling with his desire to be his own boss.
"I've always wanted to open up a store." George says the final push was the threat of yet another wintertime round of lay-offs, so he thought he'd give it a go and employ himself full-time.
Parkdale Bicycle Shop is located at 10 Macdonell Ave., just north of Queen Street West and just a bit west of Lansdowne. The store itself is a small: What you see is what you get, but is still ready to cater to every cyclist's needs. From tune-ups, to new bike parts to full bike builds and new bikes, Parkdale Bike Shop can do it. George says he thinks his shop "is probably the smallest bike shop I've ever been to in Toronto." George himself has been professionally fixing bikes for about six years, but says he's been doing tune-ups and repairs on his own bike for the last 15 years. He is also one of many Torontonians who believes that bicycling infrastructure is in need of some vast improvement in this town.
"It's like beating a dead horse," he said. "A lot of the bike lanes in Toronto are disjointed especially downtown."
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
George says he thinks there should be bike lanes along Queen Street as well as more parking spots for cyclists. Parkdale Bike Shop is the latest installment in a line of a few new bike shop and rental locations in the Parkdale area that are contributing to a growing cycling community in the 'dale. (Bike Pirates recently moved to Parkdale and MOJO on Queen West West reopened when the previous owner's son decided to keep his father's legacy going.)
Parkdalians now have the bike shops, they've certainly got the cyclists, now all they need are the bike lanes.
Parkdale Bicycle Shop at 10 Macdonell Ave. is open weekdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and is closed Tuesdays.
Contact: 416 537 - 1359
Related on the dandyBLOG:
The Making of the Mennonite Mechanic Story
Art Spin Bicycle Art Tour July 23
