After 20 years at 181 Brook Street, Legend Bicycle, will be closing its doors at the end of the December. What began as a vision of a classic bike shop meant to bridge the gap between sport cycling, and transportation, has evolved into a neighborhood outpost with a mission of competent, kind service.  It has been a priviledge to be your bike shop.

Many thank yous to the staff and customers that have built a community here that is at once entertaining, inspiring and humbling. James Sawyer has been holding it down over the past 5 years and he has done a great job maintaining what we set out to do when we started here back in 2004 as the Hub and in 2009 as Legend. Big thank you to James and to all of the great individuals that have spent time at Legend turning a wrench or helping customers with the pump or selling folks the right u-lock. I have learned so much from you.

From the beginning, Legend was inspired by the Lay o’the Land, a story-telling project that eventually became a printed map. In the 1990’s I was spending a lot of time in the saddle feeling inspired by this City and its many hidden treasures. I wanted to somehow share that feeling and to help others experience the sense of freedom and connection to place that only a bicycle can provide.  Ultimately, the Lay o’the Land was designed to be “a wayfinding guide for cyclists and urban explorers”.

Since 2009, I have enjoyed being able to hand the map to new customers and to use the map to help folks find their way. Together, the map and Legend have provided me with a unique opportunity to contribute in ways I never imagined at the start of the journey. While Legend will be gone and 181 Brook will become something else, Lay o’the Land will continue making meaningful connections. Keep an eye out for a new edition some time in 2024.

To all of you in the Legend community thank you for letting me find my way to share what I love with you.

Tailwinds to you,

Jack Madden

11/15/2023