Bike Shop Society

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 intr...

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 wh...

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...

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 compan...

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 SRA...

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 t...

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 p...

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 get...

The boys are back with some unfortunate news regarding the death of beloved bike mechanic and friend, Earl Russell. Joe confesses that he didn't realize how much he would miss his old friend, and Danny shares some memories of Earl, the mystery man. Danny is back from a recent trip to Ireland, where the roads are narrow and the Guinness was flowing. Find out why he's rethinking his cross-...

Joe and Danny are back, and they are joined by their good friend and frequent contributor, A.J. LaTrace . Danny has returned from Spain and dove straight into the Midwest racing circuit. Hear about his exciting adventure climbing up to Sa Calobra in Mallorca one week, and then jumping into a criterium on the south side of Chicago the next. A.J. is always on the hunt for cool bikes on Marketplace,...

How many weekends do we have left? How many bike rides are still ahead of us? Prompted by a recent birthday, the boys find themselves pondering these questions and drawing inspiration from the renowned Irish author, Samuel Beckett. Danny has an interesting poster displayed in his home. Does it serve as a source of motivation, or is it just a sad reminder that the end of our cycling journey might b...

Joe and Danny begin their 2024 campaign with a relaxed recap of the year thus far. Danny kicks off the show with a short overview of one of his favorite books, "The Rider" by Tim Krabbé . Meanwhile, Joe finds himself dealing with a major mess at the bike shop, prompting customers to check in on his well-being. And finally, Danny shares his experience of undergoing a recent bike fitting d...

It's been a comeback season for the boys, including a return to racing for Danny. Listen to how his season progressed, his pre-race meals, and his infamous start-line make-out sessions. Joe had a visitor from the UK at the bike shop; he reminded Danny of a famous Irish television character, and Joe thought he might be the ever-elusive Banksy. Find out why the boys were so taken by this foreig...

Joe and Danny are back. Discover how they ended up in matching outfits. It serves as a reminder that Joe misses the days of Grand Bike Shows and rubbing elbows with the stars. Joe recounts an encounter with an angry Eddy Merckx and a sad Johan Museeuw at Interbike . Meanwhile, Danny has found a new joy in life, and he doesn't think he’ll ever go back to life without it. Find out what has him...

It's only been a week, but the boys are back again, joined by BSS contributor and friend of the show A.J. LaTrace . Danny and A.J. went on a field trip in late fall to explore the wonders of the Heritage Corridor , a promo run by Metra, the commuter rail system serving Chicagoland. The ride was so good A.J. wrote about it for Streetsblog Chicago ! Meanwhile, biz at the bike shop is dying down...

The Boys “R” Back from an impromptu hiatus — and they have lots to chat about. It's been a pretty busy end to the summer for Joe at the bike shop, while Danny’s been getting intimately acquainted with his new bikes. He even tried his hand at his first-ever gravel race, as Joe decided he’d had enough of the grind and jetted off to Spain. The lads also catch up with the goings-on in the pro pel...

On this episode of Bike Shop Society, Joe gets an unexpected visitor at the bike shop – none other than Hunter. A true wanderer, Hunter embodies the spirit of adventure as he crisscrosses the nation, nestled beneath the thundering rush of freight trains, armed with a tarp and jacket as his shields against the elements. With captivating tales from the road, Hunter paints a vivid picture of his jour...

Bike Shop Society is roaring back with full throttle power! Joe and Danny have reclaimed the helm and, guess what, they're not alone! The dynamic trio is complete with the addition of their good friend and biking enthusiast, AJ LaTrace. It's a jubilant moment as they mark their momentous Episode 50, and oh boy, do they have an electrifying show in store for you! They're taking the p...

After a busy month at the bike shop, Joe is flying solo while Danny is on assignment. But not to worry, Joe brought along a couple of friends, Charlie and Ed , to recap the recent World Naked Bike Ride . Charlie and Ed are also former employees at Joe's bike shop. Listen as they discuss how they first met, their experiences of working at the bike shop, and what they're up to these days....

On this episode of Bike Shop Society, Joe and Danny are joined by Tony Policiccio , a bicycle tourist and aspiring world traveler. Tony is about to embark on an incredible journey—a bicycle trip around the world. Starting in Edinburgh, Scotland, his adventure will take him through various countries, culminating in Africa, all within a span of approximately four years. Tune in to discover what insp...

Joe and Danny are back in action, ready to conquer the podcasting world once more! Danny, the dedicated host that he is, willingly sacrifices the thrilling Denver Nuggets NBA finals game just to ensure that their podcast recording goes smoothly. Talk about commitment! Meanwhile, Joe finds himself caught in a whirlwind of activity at the bike shop. It's like a cycling frenzy in there! People c...

Danny and Joe dive into their latest escapade - a night of overindulgence in food and wine. Despite it being a great time, they paid the price with a rough week ahead and a much-needed break from the booze. This leads the duo into discussing the ever-growing non-alcoholic beverage movement. Are you on board with the N/A trend? The Giro has Danny revved up and ready to roll, while the Vuelta Femeni...

Joe and Danny are back with a fast and furious edition of Bike Shop Society. Danny recently slipped away for a little Michigan getaway, in which he found himself doing his first FTP test in a few years. Find out if he’s WorldTour-ready or if he'll be hanging at the back with the Freds. Joe’s been busy at the shop, where the repairs are piling up and the new staffers seem to be finding their f...

The Spring classics season is underway and the boys are discussing all things bike racing. The episode begins with a review of the recent E3 Saxo Bank Classic held in Belgium. During this discussion, Joe reminisces about a lovely family from Belgium who visited his bike shop and shares the story of their visit. In addition, Danny talks about the controversy surrounding Wout Van Aert's decisio...

Danny starts the show with a near-death experience (fortunately it turns out to be a false alarm). Someone on the show has acquired the services of a cycling coach. Can you guess who? Hint: He's the one who rides a bike. Meanwhile, Joe is involved in a BIG Bicycle Project — find out where it stands, and why it's taking so long. And finally, the Amish are loving e-bikes. Where will all th...