Reggie Dean’s bicycle career has taken him all over the country. Now, with the opening of Lucky 13 Bikes at 5020 SE Division, he hopes to finally settle down.
The 38-year old bike industry veteran has worked as a bike shop mechanic in the biking hot-spots of San Francisco and Asheville, North Carolina. Then he worked for Cane Creek Cycling Components where he helped develop their wheel-building program and was the team wrench for their professional women’s mountain bike team. From Cane Creek, Reggie moved to Mt. Kisco, New York, where he managed on of the “Top 100” bike shops in the country.
In addition to his work as a mechanic and shop manager, Reggie was fine-tuning his welding skills. He has made custom bikes under the Lucky 13 brand for over three years (see his work here).
On Friday, nestled next to a cafe on a commercial strip just east of the bustling intersection of SE Division and 50th, Reggie officially opened Lucky Thirteen Bicycle Company (a.k.a. Lucky 13 Bikes). The shop will be a combination of retail bikes, parts, and accessories, and an outlet for his custom bike business.
It’s a combination Reggie hopes will help him find a niche in a City where it seems there’s a bike shop on every block.
frame builder.
All you have to do is look across the street from Reggie’s shop to see Bike Exchange, a shop that just opened back in November. Travel west down Division a few miles and you’ll come to A Better Cycle, which opened its doors in December of 2007.
[By my count, there are 44 bike shops in the City of Portland. 20 of those are in Southeast.]
When asked what he hopes Lucky 13 will become known for, Reggie said he’d like to “tap into the Mt. Tabor crowd.” That was a reference to the popular road racing events at the nearby park. “I’d like to be the shop where guys who have a nice road bike want to come. A place where they’d feel comfortable bringing their high-end bike in for service,” he said.
With nearby shops focuses on used bikes and commuters, Reggie plans to stock high-end components and accessories and offer bike fits alongside everyday items like tubes, quality pumps, and essentials for commuters.
As I chatted with Reggie, it seemed like the well-reputed Veloce Bicycles on Hawthorne is the type of shop he was aspiring to become.
But unlike Veloce — where road bikes are the sole focus — Reggie wants Lucky 13 to also reflect his off-road roots. He’s a former expert downhill racer, says he’s “super into” dirt-jump bikes, and adds that, “I really want to get into the mountain bike crowd too.”
Reggie moved to Portland last summer with his wife and daughter (who is one-year old as of this month). When I asked whether he was worried about opening a bike shop in this down economy, he just smiled. “All the shops around here seem to be up. I’m totally optimistic. I expect things to be a little slow at first, but I’m very thorough and I do quality work so I hope word-of-mouth spreads.”
Next time in you’re in the neighborhood, drop into Lucky 13 and take a look.
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Lucky 13 Bikes (5020 SE Division)
Open Tues. – Fri. 11-7 and 10-5 on Sat.
Lucky13Bikes.com
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Really tried to like Veloce, but the owner has consistently been rude and provided poor service.
Wish the very best to Reggie.
Finally a new story! I thought I’d have to go crash into someone on the Hawthorne Bridge before I’d see an update on bikeportland. [just kidding, Jonathan]
Looks like a great shop. I’ll pay it a visit on my next descent from Tabor.
Right on, Reggie! I’ll stop by and check it out the next time I’m down there.
Nice! We who live out here in “the Sicks” need all the cycling support we can get! The kid and I will have to swing over there and welcome him to the neighborhood. Thanks for the story
Welcome Lucky 13!
(And just for balance, I’d like to say that I have nothing but excellent service from the folks at Veloce.)
A new shop on my commute home. Cool. I will have to check this out! Would love to have a reliable mechanic in my hood.
good luck. your price point on the custom single speed/fixie frameset won’t go unnoticed, i am sure.
The owner at Veloce is all smiles if you’re looking at buying a bike or if you’re a young woman. Otherwise, he can’t be bothered. Having purchased a bike there (paid retail too!), I now wish I had supported another LBS.
Is this article about Veloce? If you had an experience there that was not satisfactory, then my guess is you could have the same disappointment at any bike shop. Bike store employees aren’t strippers (mostly). You’re going to them for knowledgeable service and selection, not to be told how awesome you are. I have found that you always get out of a bike shop interaction exactly the vibe you bring into it. I’ve had good and bad experiences in most of the shops I’ve been into in Portland. They are people with good and bad days just like you. Support whichever LBS you want, but to come pooping on Veloce on a thread about another shop is petty.
Super good luck to er… Lucky 13. Reggie looks to have a really broad and deep skill set and love of bikes!
Also had multiple bad experiences at Veloce. I would even say the owner is sexist, and haven’t been back. Definitely not women friendly or knowledgeable on women specific needs. Sounds like the well-reputed reputation is just the opposite. Glad to hear he has new competition.
Dropped into Lucky 13 three times yesterday for mechanical advice (free!) while working over a yard sale bike. Reggie was incredibly friendly and helpful, suggesting multiple work alternatives (many which would hardly earn him a buck). I will surely be back as a customer, I owe him.
50th and Division is quickly becoming my favorite intersection in town… Local businesses galore: Blue Pig Cafe (killer pastrami), Logik (independent, husband/wife owned hair place), North ($1 PBR Tuesday), Oscar Albert (garden shop/bistro), Bike Exchange (refurbished bikes), Los Gorditos (Mexican food cart), and Bete Lukas (Ethiopian).
This Reggie is awesome. Very helpful and knowledgeable. Bikes are his life.
Good luck.
Reggie–Your cousin (and family) in AZ here…We are so proud of your accomplishments–and we all hope that your new shop is a huge success! (By the looks of these threads) – You are displaying the same business practices we have held in our own 14 years in business–passion for what you do along with a “customers first attitude” and the success will quickly follow. We hope to see you soon–we will be sure to tote the bikes with us!
Great location and wish you much success!
Have to say that as a woman who has bought several bikes from Veloce, I have had nothing but stellar service from Demetri and the employees at the shop. I have referred alot of friends…both women and men who have all had the same great experience.
Great location and wish you much success!
Have to say that as a woman who has purchased several bikes from Veloce, I have had outstanding service from Demetri and the employees in the shop. I have also referred alot of friends…both women and men who have had the same great experience.
Thank you for the nice words,I try to be friendly to all people and I am woman friendly and understand the needs of women cyclists.
But I think veloce does a great job, and I have been in the store and was treated very well. Beter than in some other stores. I say give veloce another chance they are passionate about this sport and incredibly knowledgeable.
Best of luck to Reggie – yeah, lucky 13.
Mentioning positive or negative opinions about other shops isn’t petty at all.
Reputation is KING in business, and if you do a great job, people will know about it in this highly supportive community in Portland.
Of course , the opposite is true …
Suffice to say I don’t go to Veloce anymore either. Hard to believe they stay in business; what with the rent they must pay on Hawthorne.
Here’s to hoping Reggie doesn’t depend on his eponymous luck to keep afloat in Portland. As previously mentioned, reputation and experience go all the way in maintaining a viable shop here. I, too, have had less than stellar experiences at Veloce, but it was still better than Reggie’s intersection neighbor, The Bike Exchange. As long as Reggie treats his customers with more respect and integrity than the tall guy across the street (I think his name is Tim, or Tom or something), then he should be fine.