When Grant Lestock-Kay purchased Cowichan Cycles from its previous owner in 2016, he had a plan: to grow the mountain biking community in Cowichan by bringing people together. With the recent move to the new location on James Street in Duncan, it was time to put the plan into action.
Cowichan is home to world-class mountain biking trails, most notably those on Mount Prevost, Maple Mountain and Mount Tzouhalem. To create a place for people to gather before and after a ride, Lestock-Kay has launched Wheelbase Café in the recently relocated Cowichan Cycles retail space. Now housing everything from coffee, pizza and beer to mountain biking gear and maintenance services, Cowichan Cycles and Wheelbase Café are creating more interconnections within the mountain bike community.
“If you look at successful riding areas, like Cumberland and Squamish, you go straight from a ride into town and enjoy the local businesses,” said Lestock-Kay. “It was always part of the long-term plan to create a destination that connects bikers to the community in Duncan. I just didn’t think it would happen this fast!”
The move to the James Street location has given Lestock-Kay the opportunity to really lean into his mountain biking passion, and create an engaging new retail space. The larger location offers a selection of unique gear for all skill levels and an expanded service set up surrounded by creative displays. Lestock-Kay recalls, “As a kid, I would seek out cool bike shops when I travelled around to races, and pick up little bits of inspiration here and there.” The café sources its menu items from local suppliers wherever possible, including Black & White Coffee Roasters in Duncan, Riot Brewing in Chemainus, Bicycle Pizza in Brentwood Bay, and more! The shop and café is now the go-to haunt for the mountain biking community.
Visit cowichancycles.com and connect with the team on social media about upcoming events and opportunities to get involved.
