Joy, Dan Boone and their seven kids started out refurbishing used bikes
from their home to supplement their income. The store evolved into what it is now
because neither Joy nor Dan had enough business sense to know that high-end bicycles
and equipment are a limited market. Other dealers in town did know and
didn't stock these items. Then, as now, they referred cyclists to Boone's with the phrase
"if Boone's doesn't have it, no one will."
As one would say,
in the right place at the right time would apply to the shop as the boom of the seventies
propelled the business forward. Thanks to Houston's oil field personnel the shop
is known internationally. Out-of-town cyclists make it a point to visit.
The mentoring and ideas of fellow dealers
and loyal customers have helped point the way in the evolution of the shop.
This evolution will continue as Joy has been dreaming of enlarging the shop and establishing
a bicycle museum on land that she owns. The financing of the dreams is another learning curve.
The backyard is still where the shop is located. It's unique and has been voted one
of the top 100 bike shops nationwide and the
Houston Press
"Best Bike Shop."
The original Daniel Boone Cycles "Flying Wheel" graphic was
conceived and drawn by Greg Siple, founder of Bikecentennial (later to become
Adventure Cycling Association) and with his
father founded the Tour of the Sciotto River Valley
(TOSRV).
The ironwork sulpture featured at the entrance to the shop (have image) was
built by renowned Houston artist
Lee Benner,
a former bike-shop owner.
The annual Houston Moonlight Bicycle
Ramble was first ridden in 1973 after Joy observed the St. Louis, Missouri
ramble, an event ten-thousand riders strong. Joy, J. Mc Spadden, Tex Allen
and the executive director of Citizens for Hike & Bike worked together and six
weeks later, 368 people left from the then new city hall annex on essentially
the same route as today.
Riding that night was John Howard,
a local racer who was later inducted into the
Bicycling Hall of Fame,
winner of the 1981 Ironman and holder of the 1985 world land
bicycle speed record, and June & Greg Siple, who were in the middle of the
Alaska to Argentina Hemistour and many others that adopted bicycling
as a way of life.
Joy was last to finish that night to a cheering crowd. :-)
It was an event that all organizers and volunteers rode.
Today the annual 2am ride features thousands of riders from all over the world.
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