Oakland’s The Towne Cycles is keeping locals pumped

Last Updated On May. 05, 2022

BART Station:

MacArthur (Oakland)

The Towne Cycles gives new life to old bike parts. Photo courtesy of The Town Cycles.

“Bikes have always been a point of access, transformation, and empowerment for people,” says David Boone, owner of The Towne Cycles, a boutique bike shop in Oakland.

With cycling often seen as a hobby or sport for the white and affluent, Boone stresses that it’s a necessary means of transport for many others. “It’s very important to me that if you need a bike to live your life, that it aids in your functionality to get to your job or pick up your kids or get home safely every night rather than having to walk.”

The Towne Cycles is a one-man operation building custom bikes and providing tune-ups and other services. It all started out of Boone’s home garage in North Oakland’s Santa Fe neighborhood in 2014. Cut to 2022, and that homegrown design-build operation has moved into a larger brick-and-mortar spot.

Last month, The Towne Cycles opened its new location on the corner of 3137 Adeline Street in Oakland, an 8-minute bike ride from MacArthur BART Station.

“We’re excited to put down roots in West Oakland, expand, and take care of the bikes in this area because a lot are neglected and underserviced, like all of West Oakland is—not just the bikes. It’s an underserved community.”

This is not the place where shiny, mass-produced toys get pulled out of some distant manufacturer’s box. The Towne Cycles transforms used bike frames and parts into custom work tailored to each rider’s needs. Last year, Boone got notice when he built a custom bike for Golden State Warriors NBA player Juan Toscano-Anderson.

Looking to spruce up the ride you’ve already got? The new shop also has bike accessories for sale: lights, locks, helmets, and more. You can find fun things like wheel lights, speakers, baskets, and other items meant to help people “live their best bike life.”

Owner David Boone in The Towne Cycles West Oakland shop. Photo courtesy of The Town Cycles.

Building bikes - and trust

Though he’ll have mechanics fill in for him here and there, the 40-year-old has been going at it alone for eight years, gaining a following with his commitment to customer service and an understanding that “whether angling a seat or adding a rack—small adjustments can make a big difference.”

Being a Black entrepreneur in a predominantly white industry has certainly informed a business model that puts earning trust first. Boone says that being more mission-driven versus economics-driven has made all the difference.

“I’m a Black man in America, and I’m choosing to do this job and serve the community in this way,” he reflects. “I know I have to be unreasonably kind and selfless to be able to build the business that I want to build and not have people’s fears be validated—not just because I’m a Black man, but also because people have bad experiences with mechanics in general.”

Don’t have money to fix a flat tire? Don’t worry. Boone has a policy that he won’t let any flat tire go unrepaired. It’s one of the many ways he backs up his intention to make biking accessible to all. From helping foster kids to incarcerated people just released from jail who need a bike to get back on their feet, the business owner has been known to donate his skills.

bike One of many custom builds by The Town Cycles. Photo courtesy of The Town Cycles.

If you build it, they will strum

Another way Boone has created community is through the monthly Tiny Garage Concert Series he started in 2017. He turned his garage into a stage for local musicians to perform against a backdrop of mounted bikes and mechanic wrenches, creating an intimate music venue that reflected the same DIY feel as his business.

People parked their bikes and pulled out blankets to listen. What began with 20 to 40 in the audience soon drew crowds of more than a hundred spilling out onto the street. While he put the concerts on hold due to the pandemic, he hopes to resume hosting shows again soon.

Bike dreams come true

For now, though, it’s solely bike appointments on The Towne Cycles calendar. So whether you’ve got something wild in mind (black-and-white zebra road bike to rainbow-painted frame—he’s done it) or something low-key but high-functioning, you can schedule time for a custom-build consultation or tune-up here.

And no matter your style or riding category, Boone’s biggest advice for every biker is to check your air pressure before you pedal. “The one single thing people can do to improve your ride experience is to keep your tires pumped,” he advises.

What else does he want the Bay Area to know? “That maybe it’s not you; maybe it’s your bike. I can help you be joyful in your riding experience.” He pauses.

“Making bike dreams come true? Yeah, I’m down for it.”

How to donate bike parts to The Townes Cycles

The Towne Cycles accepts clean used parts, frames, and bikes. Want to donate a full bike with frames and wheels? Email [email protected] with a picture of the bike for Boone to assess what can be repurposed. Then, donations can be dropped off at the shop.

6 tips for BART riders with bikes

David Boone shares his advice to BART riders who want to bring their two-wheeler aboard:

Plan your trip and your timing to avoid rush-hour traffic.
Get on the last car of the BART train because there are usually fewer people and more space for bikes.
Consider a folding bike that saves space and can be fun and simple.
Use the bike lockers at BART stations, which are affordable and worthwhile.
When locking up your bike at a BART station, lock your front and rear wheels.
Using a simple chain to lock your seat to your bike will save you from getting your seat stolen (The Towne Cycles can assist with this for free!).

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by Linda Koffman

Linda Koffman is a San Francisco-based writer and editor who enjoys a life of extremes balancing plenty of silence with rocking out in a band. When not writing, she keeps busy with guitar strings, garden soil, and going around the Bay Area. She loves puns to a fault and can be heard laughing at her own jokes.