EnSelle ‘The Road Bike Shop’ to close after 16 years in business

Stoked for you to get more time to ride Jack. Best of luck and we will see you around!

Thanks to Jack I know how to glue Tubulars, when I was a youngster he not only insisted I do it myself… he made me. Thanks Jack! Enjoy the riding.

Jack, one of the many cycling “treasures” Portland has been gifted over the years. Best of luck Jack and thanks for the many times you “saved” me…from my own wrench!

This is a really tough niche to succeed in. I have talked to high-end bike shop owners and they are all trying to find ways to make a living in the new age of Internet commerce. Some have started selling on-line; some have opened up discount stores right next to their original stores. Talk to them about paying close to the same price wholesale for what bikes are going for out-the-door on-line and you will see what a challenge it is.

Steve Scarich
This is a really tough niche to succeed in. I have talked to high-end bike shop owners and they are all trying to find ways to make a living in the new age of Internet commerce. Some have started selling on-line; some have opened up discount stores right next to their original stores. Talk to them about paying close to the same price wholesale for what bikes are going for out-the-door on-line and you will see what a challenge it is.
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Jack succeeded very well. His decision was based on quality of life and enjoying future years of riding his bike and spending time with his wife. He didn’t dabble in commodity bikes or bike parts like the larger “mainstream” shops in town, he had a great niche, serviced it extremely well and reaped the benefits for a lot of years. Other bigger, brighter, better located and over-inventoried bike shops came and went over the years, meanwhile Jack/En Selle was doing his thing in a small shop, in an out of the way location. Jack was a wonderful “throw-back” to the age of impeccable customer service, an amazing knowledge base and a non-used car salesman sales floor attitude. There are lots of shops like his around the US that survive and prosper just fine without losing sleep worried about discount shops, on-line business or stocking their floors with the “flavor of the season” bikes/brands and components. Jack never deviated from what he set out to do or be nor did he chase the ever changing fads of the cycling industry, hence the reason he sold custom bikes/frame as opposed to the mega-popular/usual brands.