Alex Wilson, founder and director of West Town Bikes

Alex Wilson, aka Bikefreeek

1) How/when did you get into cycling as a profession?
I got into cycling as a profession really through my involvement in grassroots cycling efforts such as Critical Mass, Bike Winter, Cycling Sisters, Break the Gridlock and others. My activism had me noticed by a number of people who worked in professional bike advocacy. This lead to a position at the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (now known as the Active Transportation Alliance) managing a Student Marketing program for the Chicago Department of Transportation's Bike Program. I worked on that program from 2001 to the end of 2004. During the transition from that program I helped develop and piloted a summer youth earn-a-bike program called BickerBikes, named after it's sponsor Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation. BickerBikes was a model program that became the template for many other youth bicycle programs and which built the foundation of the not for profit organization that I founded, West Town Bikes.

2) How does your organization directly benefit cyclists?
The overreaching goals of West Town Bikes are to promote bicycling in the city of Chicago, to educate youth with a focus on under-served populations, and to foster and serve Chicago's growing bicycling community. While maintaining headquarters and a workspace in Chicago's West Town neighborhood, WTB has become a city-wide provider for youth programs serving over a thousand youth a year in the city of Chicago. WTB also offers a full range of adult classes nights and weekends. Classes range from a one night Bike Basics class to multi week classes such as Build-A-Bike and Do It Yourself Tune-Up. We also offer drop in workshops such as Open Shop and Women's Night. You can find a complete schedule of our adult classes at westtownbikes.org.

3) Do you specialize in a certain type of cycling?
West Town Bikes specializes in bicycle education. We have a sales shop, Ciclo Urbano, that supports our not for profit mission. Ciclo Urbano offers new and used bicycles, parts and accessories as well as full service repairs. We specialize in bikes for transportation as well as serving the Humboldt Park community. Ciclo Urbano stocks a wide variety of parts and accessories and is able to order nearly anything for special wants and needs. Drop in and check us out at 2459 W. Division St. or on the web at ciclourbanochicago.com.

4) What are your "must-have" items for cycling (this could be a tool, an accessory, a food, etc.)
For a commuter must haves are;
Helmet
U-Lock
Lights
Rack
Fenders
Bolt on parts (to replace quick release)
Pump
Spare tube
Patch kit
Tire levers
Multi-Tool
Rain gear
Determination, a little knowledge and a can-do attitude!

5) What do you see as the biggest area of opportunity in your niche market?
Expanding youth programs to include comprehensive in-school bike education that precedes Drivers Ed.

6) How do you think the cycling community has changed in the last year or two? There are more cyclists on the streets of Chicago than ever before. I'm not sure if many of those who are riding for transportation consider themselves as "cyclists" or part of a cycling community. This is a fine thing. When I've been to the Netherlands everyone there rides bikes to get around and I don't think that they consider themselves as "cyclists" or part of a cycling community. It's the norm and everyone does it similar to walking on the sidewalk or taking transit. Chicago is a long way from being Amsterdam but more and more I believe that people are riding as a normal way of getting around. I see more and more groups of cyclists going to places and events together. This use to be somewhat uncommon but now I see it pretty regularly. AND FINALLY......

7) If you could go on a bike ride with anyone (living or dead), who would it be?
Right now (being the middle of the Summer and extremely busy time in the bike world) it would be on a ride with my partner, Lauren, who I don't seem to get to spend nearly enough time with.