Danny's Cycles Expands to Stamford

A new, full-service bicycle shop is gliding into Stamford this weekend. Danny’s Cycles is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday on 850 East Main Street and is the cycle shop’s fourth store to open in the New York metro area. Danny’s also has shops in New York City, Scarsdale and Mohegan Lake.

A “Grand Opening Ride” is planned for Saturday to inaugurate the store and will be led by 95.9 the Fox deejay Matt Zako. That day, the store will also host a storewide sale and a raffle to win a Trek Dream Bike.

Owner Steve Kahn told Patch that he's enthused about the store’s latest location. “The demographic for all our stores is similar,” he said. “Our consumer tends to be more health conscious and enjoys an active lifestyle. Also, Connecticut is progressive when it comes to cycling. All the buses here have bike racks, for example, and there are many bike lanes in Stamford plus more in the works.”

The State of Connecticut has allocated money for bike lanes, including one that is planned for the front of Kahn’s new store.

Kahn is a passionate cycling advocate in addition to being the owner of his shops. He plans, to that end, to eventually run group rides out of this new location on a regular basis and will post them on the store’s website.

“Some will be geared to the casual rider and others to those who are more experienced,” he said.

Kahn worked his way up from the age of 13, doing odd jobs at the original Danny’s Cycles store in Scarsdale. Six years later, he was managing the store and not long after that became a partner. He eventually became owner of all the stores, which cater to everyone from children to casual bike riders to serious cyclists.

“We carry [everything from] tricycles to race bikes,” he said. “We want to see people on bikes no matter who they are. We have experienced cyclists on our staff. Some people are new and some have worked for me before.”

The store’s number one seller is the Trek bike. “It fits perfectly with what we do,” he said. “The brand makes [both] tricycles and professional bikes.”

Danny’s Cycles also offers in-store bike repairs, as well as clothing and accessories. The store has a women and men’s section, and sells numerous items ranging from helmets to jerseys.

Kahn’s passion for cycling doesn’t stop with his stores. He is a tireless advocate for the sport and does all he can to spread its message. He gives talks at bike summits and works with local organizations that center on cycling advocacy.

“The cycling market is growing,” he said. “It’s being fueled by different things – for one thing, the cost of commuting has gotten high, so cycling has made it more viable. It’s amazing what Manhattan has accomplished. If New York City can be cycling-friendly, it inspires everyone.”

He added, “Cycling is also catching on from a health perspective. It helps kids, and adults, get out and be active.”

Kahn said he takes special delight in speaking to young people not only about cycling, but also about his unique success story.

“I have three young boys myself, and I have a soft spot for kids,” he said. “I enjoy speaking to them and telling them that if they work hard and love what they do, they can succeed.”

He added, “I love cycling, so work is fun for me here because I have a passion for it.”