Editor’s Note: Business in Focus articles are provided to the Bedford Tribune by the Bedford Downtown Alliance. This article was written by Marilyn Berry.
Bedford is a biker town — bicycles that is! Thanks to Mike and Laura Hulett, the owners of The Broadway Cyclery, Bedford is fast becoming a biker’s paradise.
Providing mountain, touring, cargo, and commuter bikes since 2010, The Broadway Cyclery is a full-service shop perfectly positioned to meet the needs of cyclists, whether they are riding on the Bedford Reservation’s mountain bike trails, or touring the growing network of urban trails in Cleveland and Akron.
Mike is an attorney, but after years of working with people in the midst of conflict, he turned to one of his earliest joys — cycling, and now he is combining his passion with his livelihood. The Cyclery’s original start was on the other side of the Broadway Avenue, but when the opportunity to buy the historic former drugstore at 665 Broadway presented itself, the bike shop found its permanent home.
With apartments located on floors above the store, and a Latin dance studio next door, this cozy shop is an active hub of bike enthusiasts, biking beginners and neighborhood visitors — some coming in just to visit Zooey, the Hulett’s spunky cattle dog.
Rounding out the family is Mike’s “biker chick” wife, Laura. She and Mike were introduced years prior by Laura’s sister in California, but time passed before they found themselves both back East. Fast forward to October 2011 when the Broadway Cyclery turned wedding chapel for Mike and Laura after their planned outdoor wedding was thwarted by rain storms.
Mike is committed to sharing his passion with the community. The Cyclery was the first corporate member of Bike Cleveland and Mike is working with Cleveland Metroparks hoping to create a bikeable connector between the Bedford Reservation and Viaduct Park. In addition, they are members of CAMBA, the Cleveland Area Mountain Bike Association.
Of course Mike’s favorite thing is to just ride. He conducts a 10-20 mile group ride every Wednesday at 6:15 pm starting at Egbert Road, occasionally stopping for refreshments at Tinkers Creek Tavern. All riders are welcome.
When not servicing or selling bikes, Mike and Laura are busy refurbishing their other Bedford home, a former Russian Orthodox Church. They hope that their business’ unique spirit will be a spark for other creative endeavors in town like a brew pub or wine bar. Meanwhile, the Hulett’s are enjoying coasting around town and encouraging others to re-experience the joy of the view over the handlebars.
