One for the road

By Ruby F

Given our many forms of transportation—let it be cars, buses, or bikes—they're all useful with still getting us where we need to go. As for San Jose, being the 3rd best biking city in the U.S., has a very wide biking community (from website sanjoseca.gov).

You may pass Tully Road many times before noticing, or many might already know: San Jose Bicycles, a welcoming bike shop with some friendly help. 

Today, I'm talking with the owner of shop, Aaron, just to get a little insight on how the shop here started and is progressing. 

In regards to its opening, he gives a well interesting story.

Living in San Jose since 1991, he explains how Just knowing the area is great enough.

Aaron: “I've lived on every side of town, I worked on every side of town, but just knowing San Jose.” 

But before it could get better, luck made a small stop on what was to happen before. 

Aaron: “I lost the lease on my house. So I had to move.”  

Making it so he could focus more on what he anticipated the most to do.  With reaching the ground, all there is to do is look back up. And that was the case for Aaron.

 Now asking where he started beforehand, he says:

Aaron: “I sold a few bikes for my friend on craigslist. It actually went really well and I enjoyed it.” 

He then goes on how he had a skate shop on Capitol Road for a few years, and then got into selling on Ebay, then into selling used bikes on Craigslist. 

Moving towards when the pandemic hit, in his words:

Aaron: “It doubled. Lines out the door and down the street.” 

With the spray painted lines still remaining. Quarantine gave people a lot of free time, which just brought the business up. 

His reaction to just seeing his many customers brings a smile. As I ask how he feels about what he does here, Aaron explains:

Aaron: “It feels great. I love fixing stuff and I love seeing people ride and getting where they need to go.“ 

This is Ruby Franco from Yerba Buena.