"It sounds like Golden Saddle Cyclery is closing down."
I heard that talk a little while ago. Apparently, the building's owner changed and decided to move forward with redevelopment, and after discussions, they made the decision to close the shop.
Golden Saddle Cyclery (hereinafter GSC) is a bike shop based in Los Angeles that represents not just America, but the entire world. There is no doubt that they have had a profound influence on many bike shops, including us here at Circles. While the news of such a shop closing started as mere hearsay, it became increasingly real with each passing day, until the date for the closing party was finally set.
To clarify from the start, GSC is still open for business as of now, with plans to close completely around December. With the wish from shop manager Kyle that "I want people to experience GSC to the fullest while we still have as much stock as possible," the closing party was held well before the final closure.
Three days packed with events including rides, parties, and a SimWorks USA & OuterShell pop-up.
I hadn't visited the U.S. in the last two years due to the pandemic, but prompted by an invitation from Riebo at SimWorks USA, I decided to make a sudden trip to America to bear witness to their final moments. Of course, I didn't tell any of them that I would be attending the party.
After meeting up with Riebo, I headed straight to the #TGSCIFride the next morning. This is their regular Friday ride that they never miss. I've participated a few times in the past, and everyone is welcome to join the varied rides they plan every week. You can see that diversity by looking at the #TGSCIFride hashtag. This time, it was a special ride held in conjunction with the closing party. As I excitedly headed to GSC, I found far more people gathered than I could have imagined—from all over California and even the East Coast—to witness their final chapter. There must have been 150 people there. It really shows just how much GSC was loved.
We shared the joy of a surprise visit and reunions after such a long time. The last time I visited GSC was in 2019. It’s been three years, and while there were the usual familiar faces, I also felt a fresh energy with newcomers who had joined during those three years. Personally, running into rock climber Ashima Shiraishi-chan, whom I had been following, was an even bigger surprise than my surprise visit to GSC itself.
With 150 people on a ride, it felt like a Critical Mass until we got through downtown. Once out of the city, we hit singletrack and dirt roads, enjoying a route unique to Los Angeles—a mix of urban and dirt. This sense of variety is exactly what riding in this city is all about.
The day after the ride was the closing party. Everyone was having a blast from daytime, and by night, it was something else. Please forgive me for not taking any photos of that—I was too caught up in it. Jimmy, GSC's number one party animal (@hi_mito_rosas), was apparently dancing until morning, and when I went to GSC the next day, he was sleeping in a sleeping bag on the shop floor (lol).
And the final day was our joint pop-up with SimWorks USA and OuterShell. Actually, both Riebo from SimWorks USA and Kyle from OuterShell had originally planned trips to the East Coast, but they changed their schedules to hold this pop-up for the GSC closing party. OuterShell Kyle was still feeling the effects of the party the night before, but as expected of a popular guy, he was busy from the moment we opened as customers came looking for his bags.
Jeff, who came from Minneapolis for this event—formerly of ALL CITY and now at WILDE BIKES—bought a 26-inch Homage tire. Apparently, he's going to install it on an old Bridgestone ATB. Since his time at ALL CITY, he has been a guy who truly values supporting local bike shops.
SimWorks USA has held pop-ups at GSC many times, and I strongly feel that so many people there agree with our commitment to making things in Japan, and they really enjoy using our products until they're worn out. At the same time, it reminds me that we should be more proud of the fact that we are able to manufacture things in Japan.
The three days flew by, and finally, it was time to say goodbye to everyone at GSC.
I’ve always seen what they put out through the internet—the bikes born from GSC are all cool, and the staff each have their own style, providing me with so much inspiration. But in the end, I think what makes this shop so incredible is "the strength of their community."
I talked about this with Kyle, and every time I visit GSC, I'm reminded that here, everyone shares the joy of cycling, regardless of age, gender, or race. There's a powerful sense of security in knowing that if you come here, there will always be friends waiting to welcome you warmly. Creating this kind of community is our mission as bike shops, and they truly understood the importance of that and worked hard to build it every step of the way.
It’s a shame that a wonderful shop like GSC will be gone, but the community surrounding it will absolutely not disappear—if anything, I believe it will continue to find new ways to expand.