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SHOPTALK By Kandace Power Graves

01 04 05

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Riding High

The S-Works by Specialized is among the offerings at Bayou Bicycles.

Over the past 16 years, bicycle enthusiasts have found a mecca at Bayou Bicycles Inc. (3534 Toulouse St., 488-1946; www.bayoubicycles.com), helping the Mid-City store to expand into a family place that welcomes dogs and kids, has a wealth of accessories and an up-to-the-minute Web site that keeps riders informed of events, new products and more.

"We're really the largest single store dealer of [Specialized, Giant and Bianchi] brands in Louisiana," says owner Charlie Doerr, who opened the shop in September of 1988 and runs the business with his store manager, Mark Manson. In fact, Bayou Bicycles is the only dealer in the state that sells Specialized's S-Works bicycles, a favorite among avid riders.

Although Doerr says the shop focuses on higher-end adult bikes, it does carry some better bikes for youngsters and has about 140 bikes on display at all times. "We started off with mountain bikes ... but now we sell the road bikes and hybrids and are sort of a family store." In addition to selling bikes, the shop repairs them and sells accessories, clothing (with an emphasis on shoes and women's fashions), eyewear, lights, and a large array of record albums.

The store's location, Doerr says, is in a perfect spot for prospective buyers to take bikes on safe test rides around the Jefferson Davis Parkway bike path. Experienced employees make sure the bike fits properly and the shop offers six months or a year of free service. The store's Web site gives information about biking events, tips on buying bikes, and even how to fix a flat.

Whiter and Brighter

The most important thing in Dr. W. Ken Morgan's (3100 Kingman St., Suite 100, Metairie, 780-7006; 234 W. Harrison Ave., 486-0677) dental practice is helping his patients maintain healthy teeth. But he also believes that having white teeth can change the way a person feels about himself and offers free traditional teeth bleaching to all his new patients.

That procedure involves making a custom tray using an impression of the patient's teeth and using a bleaching agent in the tray for a week or two to achieve optimum results.

Although it's not free, Morgan also offers Zoom Bleaching, in which the teeth are whitened in the dentist's office in one hour using a higher concentration of bleach, which is activated by light. That procedure is done in three back-to-back 20-minute sessions. In addition to teeth whitening, Morgan offers a full range of dentistry services, including cleanings, fillings, surgery and cosmetic dentistry.