Meet Joseph Allen | Owner of BE Cycles Mobile Repair

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I guess I’ve always had a dream of doing some thing with bicycles. I had originally planned to set up a nonprofit but that seemed a little bit out of reach. I was in the middle of my 15th year at a company that had stopped being exciting. So during the pandemic while working from home, I had time to analyze life and allowed my priorities to shift. I started BE Cycles Repair in May of 2020 because of this.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I don’t have a specific art per se, I’d call it an innate hunger to solve problems. I’ve never known what I wanted to do when I grew up, and frankly still don’t, even though I’m almost 50. I like doing so many things. Writing, making movies, graphic design, illustration, photography, building things, wood working, fixing things, the list goes on and on. repairing bicycles naturally falls into that vein easily like a puzzle piece. I guess I have a knack for looking at a situation from and angle that no one else can see. I mostly live outside the box or there isn’t a box for me.

This is one of the first times I have pushed myself professionally. In the past I sort of just followed the easy path, whatever felt comfortable, but the pandemic has made all of us see things differently I hope. It did for me.

I am my worst obstacle, I have gotten in my own way more times that I can count. Maybe it’s a midlife something, I just couldn’t continue doing whatever I was doing. You just have to go out and do it.

My brand is being friendly, helpful, doing what is needed. There are a lot of awful people in the world, so I hope to bring some happiness to someone somewhere someday. Even if it’s just helping some random person on the side of the road who has a flat.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, we’d spend most of time outdoors. From hiking Stone Mountain to riding the beltline. The botanical gardens are always pleasant – no matter how many times you’ve been. As a kid, when visiting the city, I loved going to the Marriott Marquis downtown and walking the covered bridges between buildings and going up to the Polaris room at the Hyatt. I’m from NC and BBQ is king. So we are definitely making a stop at Community Q in Decatur for the best barbecue in the city. Little 5 and the Vortex are always on my list as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I quit my full-time career September 2020 to run my new company full-time. So my wife Staci deserves some credit because she was onboard with that decision. She has been nothing but supportive through good times and “I don’t know times.” I also want to give credit to Rosalyn Merrick. Years ago when I must have mentioned to her that I was thinking about the bike thing, she took it upon herself to research the idea and put together an information packet for me. It was a really kind and surprising thing to do for me. It light a fire inside that didn’t grow right away, but eventually it did and was the impetus to move me in the right direction.

Website: becyclesrepair.com

Instagram: @becyclesrepair

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/becyclesrepair