Its been a wild ride to stay alive in the city of Seattle. In the attempt to becoming and creating something different in the cycling community. In developing, integrating, and actually doing the idea of being the all-encompassing community bike shop with recycled, restored, and energized bikes. Sales of bikes and parts, with tune-ups, repairs, and bins of parts from expensive to cheap. We harvest and restore all kinds of bikes from BMX to Road bikes, kids bikes, and hipster whips, available to the cycling masses. With the ability to buy your unwanted bikes, take donations, and trade parts and bikes complete, it opens the ideas and imagination in creating your masterpiece. Lets not forget we rent bikes of all styles for as long as you need it for.
As if that was enough to make a case for the bicycling center of Seattle. we have Pedicabs, fun vintage cruisers, and fabricated pimp bikes to make sure that no one gets left out. We are a all inclusive bike shop, and we never take ourselves or cycling so serious that they forget why we do it. Its challenging, healthy, expressive, motivational, inspirational, unique, original, confidence boosting, and real FUN! Bringing it altogether with a no brainer consept of the fusionary mix of sport, community, environmental and socail nessesity, health, music and art. It was official, we were on a fast track to success and quickly began to apply our imprint on the Seattle bicycle scene.
We could not be ignored.
Postumiously it wasn’t, plenty of good people came in and took advantage of this unique style of bike shop. As well, people in the bike industry and others that had intention to get in the bike business were watching and making plans. The unfortunate part of this scenario was, and is that the people who lacked in confidence, or blinded by social status, and of course those who wore monetary blinders. Those are the ones that hold the power in business, in the community, and in most others in power’s mind. These were the ones that premeditated the future of BPA and it wasnt what the masses wanted. It has been a struggle to stay alive in downtown in the bike community. It always struck me funny that we didn’t receive a single write-up or a single shout out from a cycling magazine, as well when we were run out of our last space and shut down. We received a wisp of a mention by one of the many bicycle papers that claim there in the know when it comes to Seattle’s cycling community. It is empty feeling you get in your stomach when you’re on the outside looking in.
lt was a broken ego and tired confidence that first swept myself up in the beginning. I knew one thing when the dust settled, the bill men were still knocking and didn’t care of about my sad story . Having to relocate my home life and shop into an extended stay hotel due to the demolishing of my existent’s, at that point. I was forced to build bikes in my hotel room to save myself from being extinct. So, with two dogs, parts, a frame, wheels, and a bikes stand it began. From my knees I built and sold 3 bikes, when we moved into our storage space which will be our bike shop some day. Surviving by being able to build, and sell a number of bikes to regain my confidence, recognize my shortcomings, and to send a message. To those who had ideas of the shops demise, and/or disappearance, that it’s not time for me to go.
We do things that no other shop can or will do, we stylized bikes, we funk it up, for you. We understand more than ever what our customers mean to our success. Bikes have trumped all the negativity towards us, it’s opened up there lack of character and arrogant monetary agenda. The shop simply told the truth of our tale of survival.
BPA is on the outside, and we like it here because the inside is confused, uncreative, and spoiled on an illusion of who they are. As well, what they mean to the community, they don’t consider their selfish decisions. We know what we are, we are a bike style company, focused on recycled bikes, and providing a true resource in the community in a tangible way.
Construction is starting on our new space, so they say???? Until then feel free to get in touch with us, and get your unique bike that screams ME, SEATTLE, FUNKY, BIKES, BPA, and DAM THE MAN!
