Shops / Shop of the Week
Shop of the Week: Bool’s Bicycles, Fishponds
Tucked away at the top of Staple Hill, behind an unsuspecting store front, is a group of people brought together by a shared love of cycling and a commitment to serving the local area.
Dan Bool opened Bool’s Bicycles in 2007 with £1800 and a desire to work at something he really enjoyed.
In the 18 years since, the shop has grown into an establishment commuters and cyclists in the neighbourhood rely on.
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Stop by, and you’ll find an immediately welcoming space run by a team of staff who radiate passion for cycling and their community.
Bool’s is a team of six from a surprising range of backgrounds. “There’s something specifically about cycling that attracts people. There’s lots of reasons to be into it”, said Dan.
Bool’s Bicycles focus primarily on repairs for local commuters
One employee, Tim, has a degree in Russian and a master’s in sustainability.
The workshop’s youngest team member, Jacob, started his career working on BMX.
There’s also a model railway maker and a social worker. It’s an eclectic mix.
But for the first 18 months it was just Dan and the tools he inherited from his grandfather, another keen cyclist.
Dan grew up in the local area but moved away for a long time and worked in graphic design. Returning to Bristol in his early 30s, he decided to pursue a new career around cycling.
He started off working with Bristol based charity Lifecycle, a “brilliant organisation”, and out of his parent’s garage.
With the shop, Dan saw an opportunity in a location “so close to the railway path” and on the doorstep of his community.
Jacob (left) and Dan (right) work together at Bool’s Bicycles
There are a lot of commuters in the local area who rely heavily on cycling.
While the shop sells bicycles, it’s primarily a workshop offering repairs and advice to help customers keep their bikes going for longer.
Chatting with the staff at Bools, it’s clear community is at the heart of their work.
Dan said:”We feel really well supported by the local community, I think they value us as a shop
“It’s a struggle for small businesses because of things like the internet and that’s why we focus more on the repair side.”
Jacob added: “In a culture that seems to be more and more about buying new, it’s nice to be in an industry where people want to keep their bicycles running.
“We try and provide some level of care in that as well. We give advice. We’re all invested in the community around here, this side of Bristol especially. So we want to try and support as much as we can.”
The team have also found ways to evolve with the times and make use of modern technology to improve the service they offer customers.
Their workshop now has an electric stand which allows them to work on heavier electric and cargo bicycles.
Dan’s first bike tools were given to him by his grandfather
Bool’s also use cloud-based software to increase transparency for customers, uploading photos and videos throughout the repair process so they can explain exactly what they’re repairing and why.
Underpinning this is a wealth of knowledge from a team who’ve all taken different routes into the industry.
“I’m very much into the modern technology, e-bikes are the bread and butter for me, but Dan has a different skill set. I still enjoy working on classical bikes, but if a hub gear bike comes in I might be a bit confused by it”, Jacob said with a laugh.
He continued: “Collectively, there must be something like 80 years of experience between everybody.”
It’s unsurprising that Bool’s Bicycles has become a beloved feature of the Fishponds community.
Bool’s Bicycles has expanded into two shop fronts
5 Staple Hill Rd, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 5AA
All photos: Kate Onley-Gregson
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