Biz Buzz: Elliott Bay Bicycles and Speedy Reedy
End of an Era — Beginning of a New One
Elliott Bay Bicycles — Davidson Handbuilt Frames
By Carolyn Price
Photo at right: Bill Davidson, left, and Bob Freeman, far right, share a laugh with author Geoff Drake at Elliott Bay Bicycles a few years back. The store closed its doors last fall. Photo by Carolyn Price
Located at the north end of Pike Place Market, Elliott Bay Bicycles was a fixture for 31 years for Seattle bike enthusiasts, commuters and tourists, and those seeking service or repairs. Visitors would marvel at vintage bikes hanging gracefully from the ceiling. They could also peek into the shop where Davidson Handbuilt Frames were crafted.
A cyclists’ gathering place in the hub of downtown Seattle, the old-school bike shop closed last Sept. 30.
Owned by Bob Freeman and iconic framemaker Bill Davidson, it was an end of an era for a well-known and trusted bike shop.
“All good things must come to an end,” said the partners. “Bob will start enjoying retirement and riding his vintage bikes. Bill will start a new fabrication shop to do what he loves the most, building a custom bicycle.”
Davidson, who has fabricated Davidson Handbuilt Frames since 1973, continues on in his new digs in the Fremont/Wallingford area of Seattle with a new name and new business partner.
Davidson’s new partner, Maxell Kullaway, has honed his welding skills on steel and titanium bikes for the past 20 years for such companies as Merlin and Seven Cycles. He has also welded Davidson frames for nearly a decade and served as the frame-builder for the Hampsten bike brand. He started his fabrication shop, 333fab, in 2008.
“Bill is a legend,” says Kullaway. “There is so much I can learn from him. It’s a huge honor (to work with Bill).”
Rounding out the new team is longtime Elliott Bay Bicycle mechanic Mark Villegas.
The shop, Davidson-Kullaway Custom Bicycles (DKCB), is located at 3425 Stone Way N. in Seattle next to the new location of Recycled Cycles and just a couple blocks from the Burke-Gilman Trail. The shop is open to the public and will serve a custom-only clientele. Call: (206) 441-9998. www.davidsonbicyclies.com
Speedy Reedy moves to new location
Speedy Reedy, the triathlon-specific store serving the community since 2000, has recently moved from its Burke-Gilman Trail curbside location in Fremont to a bigger space in Kenmore near Logboom Park.
What hasn’t changed is the store’s location to the Burke-Gilman Trail where it relocated just across the street from the popular trail near the north side of Lake Washington.
Owners Reed and Brooke Sillers say the store is housed in a temporary space while the build-out for the new store is underway. The big move to the permanent space is projected to be at the end of April.
In addition to everything triathlon, Speedy Reedy will expand its running and cycling departments as well as offer a new training studio.
“And,” says Brooke, “hopefully a café as well.”
The new store’s address is 6620 NE 181st St., Kenmore, Wash.
Contact the store at: (206) 632-9879; www.speedyreedy.com
Comments? Submissions? Please email Carolyn here.
