Morzhueva and Labnongsang opened the shop in December and offer bicycles including Bianchi, AllCity, Surly, Eastern BMX and Cinelli brands, plus parts and accessories. Cool Cat Cycles also hosts community rides for beginners every Saturday, and bike maintenance classes.
Morzhueva grew up in Novosibirsk, Russia, and said she had always been athletic. But when she had her son her exercise routines changed.
“I did not enjoy running while pushing the stroller, and I felt like my joints weren’t as strong anymore,” she said. “I realized, maybe it’s not as good for me anymore, so I started biking, and I would pull [my son] in a trailer.”
Due to Labnongsang’s job in the oil and gas industry, the family has lived in several countries where biking is big. When Labnongsang and Morzhueva moved to the Katy area, Morzhueva said she realized how much bicycle infrastructure was there.
“Biking is a great alternative to walking,” she said. “You don’t have to be an aggressive cyclist to do that. You can have any sort of bike.”
Morzhueva and bicycle technician Mike Wilson run the shop during the day as Labnongsang still works in the oil and gas industry. Cool Cat Cycles sells mostly single-speed machines with simple controls for amateur cyclists and commuters.
Morzhueva said the perception of cyclists is one of Lycra-clad fearlessness in the face of sharing the road with cars, but the Katy area has several bike-friendly routes, which Cool Cat posts online. Biking maps are also available at the store.
“You can be any age, any ability [level],” she said. “You can have any sort of bike.”
She commutes solely by bicycle and said it helps her notice sights that would be missed in a car.
Cool Cat Cycles and the nonprofit biking advocacy group Bike Houston are working to promote more cycling infrastructure in the area. Morzhueva said she hopes trails can connect Cinco Ranch to downtown Katy, and to the upcoming Katy Boardwalk District in the near future.
As business builds, Morzhueva said she wants the shop to double as a biking-oriented community center.
“I see this whole community being more outdoors,” Morzhueva said. “I know there will be some really good infrastructural changes in terms of bike trails.”
Cool Cat Cycles
22756 Westheimer Parkway, Ste. 140, Katy
832-437-6324
www.coolcatcycles.com
Hours: Tue.-Thu. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Mon.
