I don’t know exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the way, bikes became everything to me. Not just a way to get around, not just a hobby—they became my lens for seeing the world. They taught me how to slow down, how to pay attention, how to find joy in the little things. A good ride can clear your head better than any therapy session. A bad ride? Still better than sitting still.

  Bikes have carried me through some of the best moments of my life. Long dusty trails, sunrise starts, late-night repairs with friends who feel more like family. They’ve introduced me to people I never would’ve met otherwise. They’ve given me purpose when I didn’t know what I was looking for.

  Grizzly Cycles is my way of giving that back. It’s not just a shop—it’s a place where stories get swapped over workstands, where beginners find their footing, and where the love of bikes turns strangers into community. Every sticker, every ambassador, every group ride—it’s all part of something bigger. Something that matters.

 I really believe bikes can make Bakersfield better. I’ve seen it. A bike makes you notice things—a mural you’ve passed a hundred times, a neighbor you wave to for the first time, a shortcut that turns into a memory. It connects you to the city in a way a car never could. It makes space for joy, for movement, for being present. I want more people to feel that. I want this city to feel that.

  But none of this would exist without the people who believe in what we’re doing. The ones who choose to support a small shop instead of clicking “buy now.” The ones who stop in just to say hey, who bring their bikes in for a tune-up, who tell their friends about us. You’re the reason we get to keep doing this. You’re the reason Grizzly Cycles is more than just a business—it’s a community.

  So yeah—this is a love letter. To the bike. To the people who ride. To the roads and trails and busted spokes and campfire stories. And to every single person who’s believed in us, supported us, and helped us build something real.

Thank you for being part of the ride.

Always,
Kevin