5 Questions with Stratton Delany of Starlight Bicycles and Starlight Custom Cycling Apparel

Stratton Delany is the owner of Starlight Bicycles and Starlight Custom Cycling Apparel based in Grandin Village. Stratton spent his youth in Texas dreaming of great things. He has seen more than his share of highs, lows, and in-betweens.

Starlight Bicycles has been active in the cycling world in Roanoke since 2009. Whether you are a new cyclist or a seasoned rider, the team can help find you the perfect bike or keep your current one feeling like new. The shop is located at 1502 Grandin Road SW.

Why did you decide to open in the Roanoke Region?

My wife took a job with Dental Associates of Salem. We moved here in 2008 after she finished dental school in Richmond and I was ready to start a brick and mortar bike shop after selling my own brand of bikes and parts online only. We were attracted to Roanoke mainly because of the access to outdoors. At that point, road cycling was my main thing and having the Blue Ridge Parkway right outside of town was an exciting prospect and has not disappointed.

What’s something people may not know about your business?

Most people recognize Starlight Bikes as a local independent bike shop, but attached to that is our Starlight Custom Apparel. We work with teams, events, and bike shops all over the country and even beyond. This year is our second to have a professional road cycling team in our clothes.

What’s your top-selling product?

Last fall, we developed a pair of affordable cycling bibs shorts called The Black Bibs. They sell on a specific website called theblackbibs.com and have quickly developed a huge following. We (and a lot of our customers) believe they are the best cycling bibs shorts in the world and are also the most affordable.

What’s your favorite thing about the outdoor community in the region?

I think the best thing is the synergy between the outdoor and business communities. Forward-thinking businesses want to protect and promote our outdoor scene because they use it to attract quality employees.

What’s your favorite ride?

There are so many great ones, but I think my favorite stretch of road is the Blue Ridge Parkway between 460 and Peaks of Otter. The views are unreal. My go-to lunch ride is off-road at Mill Mountain. It’s a great place to get away for an hour without having to drive.