About 718
Fall 2025: Things are "In-Progress" here. We are in the middle of migrating our website, as well as phasing out the "718c.com" url (which made sense when we were "718 Cyclery", not so much once we became "718 Outdoors"). Anticipated completion date is Dec 1, 2025
My history on a bike is one shared by many of us; childhood freedom, exploration, then fitness and transportation.
I was a bike messenger in the late 80's/early 90's in NYC (for Primetime, and later Meteor), until I got hit by a car on Broadway and 23rd Street. As much as I rode, I shudder to think how little I knew about my bike back then. I got “into” bikes after mine got stolen in 2008.
With great encouragement from friends, I decided to build a bike to commute to my job as an Architect in Manhattan.
3 things happened:
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While building in my back yard, my neighbor asked “do you sell those?”
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I found that getting hurt and filthy was a great counter-balance to my double-monitor desk job
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My wife told me that if I built any more bikes, I would have to get rid of some
The first 2 years in my backyard were a blur. I bought a 10 x 10 metal shed (which BikeSnob christened the "Bike Meth Lab")
718 Cyclery 2008-2010 ("Meth Lab Era")
Work commenced day and night, through rain and snow. There was an endless parade of people who felt the same way I did about working with one's hands.
718 Cyclery 2010-2011 ("First Shop")
In late 2010, a storefront opened up a mere 1/2 blocks form my house. I decided that if we were ever going to make this backyard idea into a shop, this would be the chance to do it. The day we moved it, I realized it was too small for the amount of work coming in. I also realized I had no idea what I was doing.
718 Cyclery 2011-2019 ("The Big Shop Era")
In late 2011 we found a great space in Gowanus. In 2013 I left my day job as an architect to run the shop full time. Thius shop contained some of the best bike mechanics in NYC. In 2014 we started leading Bike Camping trips, and I haven't been the same since. During this time, I also taught at Pratt and founded a non-profit that teaches lacrosse to city kids (www.brooklynlacrosse.org).
718 Cyclery 2020-2024 ("Return to 7th Ave")
In 2020, we moved back to 7th Ave to focus on Adventure Cycling and building custom bikes.
I do what I do without arrogance or attitude, and run my shop the way that I would want my family to be treated.
718 Outdoors 2025-Present ("Into the Great Wide Open")
In early 2024, 718 Cyclery's name was officially changed to 718 Outdoors. At the end of 2024 I decided I no longer wanted to be in Bike Industry Retail, and wanted to create a work life that was based on experiences and being outside with people.
