Wondering why there are no bike shops between Ohio City and Cleveland Heights, despite the rise in bike commuting in and around University Circle? Well, soon there will be. Blazing Saddle Cycle, the edgy bike shop that opened a few years ago in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, has inked a deal to open a second location in Little Italy. This newest outpost will be at the intersection of Murray Hill and Edgehill roads, across from the new Rising Star coffee. Both of these hotspots are set to open later this year.

Co-owner Travis Peebles, who founded the bike shop with fellow bike guru James Rychak, says the seed was planted in his head when Greenhouse Tavern chef Jonathon Sawyer stopped by the west side shop and complained about the lack of bike shops in University Circle. The next day, Peebles took a ride over there and discovered a "For Rent" sign during his first pass through the neighborhood. He knew instantly that the location was a winner.

"We knew two years ago that this neighborhood needed a bike shop, but at that time, we were just getting settled into the west side," says Peebles. "People would bring it up to us, and we'd often fantasize about it. Then, when Sawyer planted the seed, we said, 'Let’s go see what we can find.'"

"There’s so much potential over here, I'm almost a little bit nervous," he says, adding that the duo has taken on a third partner to keep up with their double-digit growth. "I'm not sure I can wrap my head around how busy we could possibly be when however many thousands of students come back in August. The corner of Edgehill and Murray Hill is the busiest bike intersection in the city."

Despite his trepidations about being able to handle the business that might walk through the door when Blazing Saddle opens on August 1, Peebles is psyched about the space. It's 700 square feet and has "as much character" as the west side shop, he says, which in its former life was a 100-year-old hardware store with beat-up wood floors and a vintage facade. The owners are doing the build-out themselves, using many finishes and furnishings salvaged from the former Theresa's restaurant across the street, which is where Rising Star will open.

"The neighborhood is great," Peebles says. "People are so, so positive about us moving into the area. We can't work for 15 minutes without someone coming by."

The new location (2190 Murray Hill Rd.) will carry the same types of bikes as the original, but the owners might add some new lines as well. They'll continue to do "custom restorations of quality used bikes," bringing sturdy classics from the ‘70s back to life. And repairs will remain a staple, too. "We want to make sure we cater to everybody."

Recently, the neighborhood has seen investment in bike infrastructure, including new bike lanes on Edgehill Road. Peebles and Rychak are banking on the growth of the cycling community in University Circle, Cleveland Heights and points beyond.

Although Peebles acknowledges the need for outside help to manage his company's growth, the partners have built their entire business pretty much on their own with no bank loans. "The fewer institutions we can involve, the better," he quips.