I am saddened to see so many people miss the point of G.E.M and giving this shop a bad review. There is NO place in the city that allows you to come in, use their tools and pay by donation what you can to fix your bike. Your only other option is to go to an actual bike business (over this non-profit shop) and have their mechanics fix it for you at a much higher price point. As a female, I love going to G.E.M and working with Kayla. She is so helpful, patient and encouraging of women and trans to work on their bicycles in a safe environment. In fact, I try to go to the shop ONLY on Wednesday for this reason. I feel way more comfortable for multiple reasons that I (or any woman) do not need to explain or defend.This isnt about discriminating against men, its to provide a safe place for women to work on their bicycles on *one* day out of 5 days (ie. 20% of week they are open). I encourage everybody who left a bad review for a bike shop, that is literally there to serve the community, to consider the fact that this safe space for women carved out for just one day and is appreciated by many. You have the other 80% of the week to visit the shop. The complaining that you dont have 100% of the week is exactly the point of G.E.M and why we need it. Educate yourself and try to strip away your privilege before judging and getting irate. All 1 star reviews are mostly from a place of privilege and not a good representation of what this shop is for the cycling community of Calgary. I do agree that perhaps better signage, weekly social media awareness and banners on the website will help to decrease the number of people who turn up without knowing. Perhaps some printed literature at the shop would help further understanding for those who unknowingly come down on Wednesday.
Well they have been trying to remove negative reviews, which is terrible. Again I will say this is a great place for men. Especially country guys and other back roads folk. They have a special on Wednesdays just for men, just ask about GEM (Guy Empowerment Machines) at the bike shop.
One of the best public resources and bike store in the city that empowers a great deal of individuals.The selection of parts and bikes is eclectic and provides items that are getting harder and harder to find.It is the only place in town (that I can think of) that allows you to come in and work on your bike. The staff is always helpful. An extremely useful resource to people who dont have the space or money for a stand and a set of tools.
This bike shop is an integral part of Calgary and society needs this shop more than anything. There is no other place to fix your bike and buy used parts for so cheap. Simply put the owners are not making anything, just trying to maintain the shop. Really they are doing their best to reach out and give back to society in such a positive way. Anyone who gives this place a one star rating has less brains than a bag full of hammers.
Good Life provides an inclusive space, especially for lower class folks and the lgbtq+ bicycle community. It is a non-hierarchical organization focused on selling bikes at an accessible price point and providing shop space/resources to help people fix and learn how to maintain their own bikes. All of this is done through a lens that encourages environmental responsibility, feminism, and anti-capitalism. In regards to some misconceptions about GEM:- Good Life is a non-profit, not a privately owned business/store.- Good Life is CLOSED on Wednesdays, GEM is a special closed workshop that is run for a specific group of people.- GEM signage is blatantly posted outside of the shop and on social media as well as their website.- Most of the negative reviews posted regarding GEM are from people who are not the intended demographic for GEM.Educate yourself on gender, race, and class issues within cycling/bicycle shop culture (especially in Calgary!), and check out Good Life's mandate and mission before making assumptions about them.
The Good Life Community Bicycle Shop is a Canadian Bicycle Store based in Calgary, Alberta. The Good Life Community Bicycle Shop is located at 6016 3 St SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0H9, Canada.
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