Check Out Our New Bike Shop: Lit Fuse Cyclery
Recently I received an email from a reader praising a new bike shop in the neighborhood. The shop, Lit Fuse Cyclery, opened this past winter but I somehow managed to miss it. The person who wrote me was so passionate about this business that he emailed Clinton Hill Blog and Bed-Stuy Banana about it as well. I figured if he liked the business that much it had to be a winner, so I emailed him back and told him that I would definitely check this place out.
Lit Fuse Cyclery is located on the corner of Willoughby and Walworth, just across the street from the Home Depot. I finally made it over there last week. I say “made it over” as if it were far from where I live–this place is a stone’s throw from my place so I’m shocked that I didn’t notice it as soon as it opened. I’ve been consumed most of the summer with writing two journal articles, so I’ve been wandering around the neighborhood in a fog most of the time.
Just some of the selection at Lit Fuse.
I loved this place the minute I walked in. It’s in a large warehouse space and it has a nice selection of bikes to choose from. I’m all about used bikes! They sell bikes and accessories, and they rent and repair bikes too.
Damian, the owner of Lit Fuse Cyclery
It seems that Damian and co. have decided to do the opposite of the Home Depot across the street and actually provide friendly service to their customers. As soon as I waked in, a guy named David greeted me and asked if I needed any help. I was looking for a basket for my bike. I used to ride an old 1960′s Raleigh–a beautiful English bike with a wicker basket. I had to give that bike up when I moved to Bed-Stuy (couldn’t get it up and down the stairs, it was just too heavy), so I removed the basket and put it on the curb with a sign that said “FREE” and it disappeared in 15 minutes. I was heartbroken over that bike! I soon got a new bike from Spokes and Springs on Havermeyer in Williamsburg (I would’ve gotten a used one if there had been a shop nearby), but my old basket didn’t fit this new bike. I needed a simple wire thing, a basket that would make it easier to carry around the junk that I buy at thrift shops.
Their excellent service will give them a leg up on the competition!
David showed me a nice removable basket with a handle. It was the only one that they had, but I was afraid to purchase it because I wasn’t sure if the basket would fit. They had other baskets, but only one that was made to be removed and replaced so easily. I couldn’t make up my mind, so David introduced me to the owner, Damian, and they said that they’d put the basket aside for me and I could come back the next day and purchase it if I wanted it. I thanked them and left.
My new basket.
I ended up coming back the next day to buy the basket. Damian was working in the shop and his father was there with him. They were both so nice! Gotta love this place. They even have a blog!
They have t-shirts, too!
I encourage those of you who have bikes (or are looking to buy one) to stop by Lit Fuse. The prices are low and Damian and all of the people working there are extremely helpful.
I’ll be going back for a new bike helmet soon. Has anyone else been here?
Lit Fuse Cyclery
409 Willoughby Avenue (Corner of Walworth)
Phone: 347.442.1672
Open Daily 11 am – 8 pm
Lit Fuse Cyclery Website
Lit Fuse Cyclery Blog
01 September 2009, 12:21 pm
We got our bike from there. Great shop, great people.
01 September 2009, 4:14 pm
I got my sweet bike from them and they even wrote a blog about my refurb!
01 September 2009, 5:39 pm
Oh, you’re Super Jenn! What a great post and a cool bike!
01 September 2009, 5:58 pm
I got my bike here too! They’re the best! I love my lotus.
01 September 2009, 11:31 pm
nice job the changeling! i’m sold. i like their layout and the vibe they created.
02 September 2009, 10:01 am
Also a new bike shop coming on marcus garvey btw Putnam and Madsion. It has a grey sign looks like after a long haul without but the one bike shop on Fulton we now have them coming left and right.Its a good thing
02 September 2009, 11:18 am
That’s nice to hear! We could use a bike shop over there as well. Any idea when the Marcus Garvey shop will be opening?
02 September 2009, 11:19 am
good news/bad news for the Lit Fuse Cyclery on Willoughby
Fears that the place might shut down because of a lack of business have abated in the past few weeks as all the blog based publicity has generated a lot of interest. However, bad news for people (like me!) waiting for their bikes to be repaired. I got a phone cal at about 8pm on Sunday evening from a stressed out cyclery worker who said that, due to a flood of business and a lack of organisation the place is now swamped with orders and faces a long backlog. I was asked to tell him when I had dropped my bike off ( a week ago!) and told that once they had contacted all customers with a bike in the shop they would work through the back log in chronological order. He could not predict when they would get to my bike but said he would call me back “in a few days” once “the nightmare” had been sorted out.
02 September 2009, 11:47 am
Oh goodness! I hope that they will be able to juggle all of the new business. I’m glad that they are getting new customers, but I hope your bike is fixed soon!
This reminds me of business owners who, after being reviewed by Oprah, received a deluge of business and they were struggling to keep up. It’s nice to know that the area blogs can work together to make a difference.
03 September 2009, 8:33 am
I’ve driven past there but always kinda thought the cute retro sign was the last remnant of a movie shoot or something … they sound great!
03 September 2009, 6:22 pm
Ha! One time when I was living in Manhattan I thought they were opening a new bar around the corner from my apt. I saw the new sign and I started looking forward to the opening. A few days later I saw the movie crew doing the shoot and that’s when I realized I’d been tricked!
08 September 2009, 4:07 pm
Got my flat fixed there today…new tube and labor – $15.00…the owner’s dad “Frankie The Flat Fixer” did the repair…great people, really laid back, friendly vibe, courteous competent service…a huge boon to the area…awesome…
24 September 2009, 11:34 pm
I started passing by here on the school trek, and I was excited to see this place. The shop looks great. And the reviews makes it sound even better. Thanks for the review.