PORTLAND, OR (January 7, 2014)–
In October 2013 Gladys Bikes, Portland’s first women-focused bike shop, opened its doors to the public. The shop is located in the Hub Building on North Williams Ave near other women owned A&O companies such as Sugar Wheel Works and Queen Bee Creations. Gladys Bikes is a bike shop and fit studio specializing in semi-custom bicycle builds, top-notch repair, bicycle fit and the friendliest service around.
Owner Leah Benson opened with the intention of starting a bike repair and fit studio specifically catering to women and women-identified individuals. She knew she wanted to offer an alternative to the intimidating and exclusive vibe of many bike shops, so she left her job at a local nonprofit a year ago and dedicated herself full-time to setting up the business.
The name comes from famous women’s suffragist Frances Willard, author of A Wheel Within A Wheel (1895), who learned to ride a bike at the age of 53 and called her beloved bicycle “Gladys.”
Visit Gladys Bikes:
3808 N Williams Ave, Suite 132
Portland, OR 97227
Contact information:
Leah Benson, Owner
leah@gladysbikes.com
971.373.8388
www.gladysbikes.com
