State of Retail: Welcome, 2025 State of Retail Panelists! Please introduce yourselves and tell us about your shop

A version of this feature ran in the January issue of BRAIN.

BOULDER, Colo. (BRAIN) — For our January magazine edition, we introduce our 2025 State of Retail panel members.

MONTCLAIR, N.J.: Dave Adornato, owner Montclair Bikery

My passion for cycling began as a teen, back in the 1980s when I saw my father compete in a triathlon. I started racing with my father in '86 and continued through college. Upon graduating from college with a journalism degree, cycling took a back seat to pursuing a career as a photojournalist. I took up the sport again in 2001, riding and racing with the Montclair Cyclists at the Montclair Bikery. Little did I know that 10 years later, I would own the shop, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

The Montclair Bikery was founded in 1973. The name is derived from the Montclair Bakery that had occupied the storefront the bike shop would occupy. To save money, the original owner kept the sign, and replaced the "a" in bakery with and "i" using a chainring to dot the "i". I purchased the shop in 2011 from the fifth owner. The Montclair Bikery has a long history as a road enthusiasts’ shop, having sponsored a racing team since the early '90s. There are four full-time employees, and I work full time as well. Seasonally, we add one or two part-time employees.

HARDWICK, Vt.: Jason Bahner, co-owner Riverside Cycles

I started riding bikes just like many others: as an energetic and eager kid. In 2002, I started Wheels around Waterbury (Vermont), where I introduced mountain biking to youth during the summer and fall months. This was a passion that lasted 20 years and encouraged 5,600 young riders on their journeys. I’m a behavior specialist in middle/high school levels with a psychology degree, so I bring bikes and outdoors into the schools as much as possible. I have always been drawn to the joy bikes and the outdoors bring to people.

My business partner Levi Bourne and I opened Riverside Cycles about four months ago in August of 2024. Our focus is simple: bring folks in and have them be repeat customers. Our intimate space, nine part-time staff members, and the vibe of our shop are a testament to our goal of being in Hardwick for the long haul. Our overhead is minimal; yet, we are still able to provide our customers with what they need. Our slogan is "Every bike has a story," and our staff is eager to hear what bike and rider have accomplished and the journeys they have shared. 

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo.: Enric Die-Girbau, operations manager Rhythm Cycles

After working as a project manager for a boutique software company, I left the software industry and moved to Colorado in 2017 to be closer to the mountains and the outdoor lifestyle. I immediately started working as a supervisor at the Q-Colorado Warehouse and became the operations manager of the Q-Broomfield location until I quit in October 2023. I am now the operations manager at Rhythm Cycles, which has been in business since 2020 with one location in Wheat Ridge. Shawnee McGovern, the owner, has owned and operated several bike shops in Boulder and Denver. We currently have nine employees and operate a seasonal pop-up repair and retail shop in Trestle Bike Park (Winter Park, CO). During peak season, we double our staff to keep repairs rolling for our customers. Our shop is gravity-focused, but we pride ourselves on repairing all kinds of bikes and helping our community. We are partnered with Little Bellas, a mountain biking nonprofit that mentors girls ages 7-18, and Girls, Gears and Beers, a women’s mountain biking group. Both are important organizations in our community.

COSTA MESA, Calif.: Lisa Fleischaker, owner The Unlikely Cyclist

I was an avid cyclist who worked in the film industry for 17 years. After a surprise layoff, I was eager to strike out on my own and work for myself. I had always believed that women were generally overlooked in bike shops and wanted to create a space that had a community I wanted to ride in as well as a shop that I would want to shop in. I was laid off in August 2012 and opened The Unlikely Cyclist, a women-focused bike shop in October. We just celebrated our 12th anniversary. Our focus is in the road, gravel, and casual cycling spaces — and specifically getting women on bikes and keeping them there, with a heavy focus on beginners and enthusiasts. We have one location and three employees.

BOULDER, Colo.: Diana Freeman, owner/founder Cassiopeia

I came into cycling in 2021 as the culmination of a 100-plus pound weight loss journey. I was living in Bentonville, Arkansas, where it was pretty hard to not want to ride bikes. After nearly two decades in the corporate world, I decided to center my life around where I wanted to live and how I wanted to live versus continuing to climb the corporate ladder. After 10 years at Coca-Cola, I left Bentonville and headed to Boulder to surround myself with some of the most beautiful cycling in the country. I didn't have a set plan when I moved here, but then the idea for Cassiopeia and creating a home base for female cyclists started to form.

Cassiopeia is a female-forward cycling apparel boutique, cafe, and velo spa. We are here for all, but ladies first. Our mission is to inspire a community of stylish, strong, confident women to get out and ride. Our vision is a world where everyone, including women, are stoked to ride bikes. After nearly two years in the making, we have been open since September 2024. Boulder is our first and flagship location but our ambition is to create a community that enables us to expand to other amazing cycling destinations.

GREENWICH, Conn.: Rob Koshar, owner Greenwich Bicycles & Sport

Growing up with a father who was a cycling enthusiast had a profound influence on me.  My dad opened his bicycle store in 1972 when I was 15-years-old, and I worked there through high school and college. After college, I began working for him full time and eventually went off on my own to open Greenwich Bicycles in 1985.  By then, I had ridden from the length of North America by bike, from New York to Canada on one trip and from New York to the Mexican Yucatan on another. These days I am still enjoying road and gravel riding locally. 

I opened Greenwich Bicycles in March 1985, so we are coming up on our 40-year anniversary. We cater to enthusiasts as well as to family and casual cyclists. We carry Specialized, Trek (Electra), Cannondale, Pinarello, and Ibis, as well as e-bikes, in an 1,800-square-foot store. We have a strong repair and aftermarket business. We carry three mechanics year round and add a fourth from April-September. We have three sales people year round, and four or five in-season. We are located 45 minutes north of New York City.

BELLINGHAM, Wash.: Staci May, co-owner Earl’s Bike Shop

My partner and I started the shop 15 years ago in May of 2010. He has been in bike shops his whole life and wanted to stay in Bellingham. I came from print advertising sales. I enjoy outdoor sports and bikes are a big part of my life. It was a natural fit. Earl’s Bike Shop is a small, single location neighborhood shop with between three and five employees depending on the season. We are a full-service repair facility, working on everything from full-suspension downhill and cross-country bikes to cyclecross, commuter, cruiser, electric, kids, strollers and even the odd golf cart. In addition to our repair services, we also sell new and consignment bikes. 

MIAMISBURG, Ohio: Sandy Whitman Talley, owner Whitman’s Way Bike Shop

In 1971, my parents started the family bicycle business in the basement of their Dayton home while working full-time jobs and raising six children. All six children worked in the business, which led to opening five storefronts over a 29-year span from 1971-2000. I began working on bikes at the ripe old age of 11. In 2020, when the opportunity arose, I made the decision to carry on the family legacy, purchasing an existing bike store that had been owned by a past employee of our family business. The store is located in the heart of Miamisburg, a revitalized, adorable, historic town, with a major bike path located just 100 yards behind the store. The Whitman's name was added back to the storefront in January 2021, and we are headed into our fifth year of business for a second time around. Our main focus is on "good old-fashioned customer service.” We have 10 employees and a 3,500-square-foot storefront. We offer e-bikes and acoustic bikes for all ages, along with a full-service department.

SAN FRANCISCO: Brett Thurber & Karen Wiener, owners The New Wheel

We started The New Wheel 15 years ago straight out of college. We heard about electric bikes and realized that no one was selling them as the revolutionary vehicle that they are. We love bikes, but what we really love is what bikes do for individuals, our cities and society. We are on an evangelizing mission to get people out of cars and onto bikes. The New Wheel is an experiential retailer here to inspire and support people to ride e-bikes. We started humbly without a shop in 2010 and delivered bikes to customers' doors before opening our brick-and-mortar shop in San Francisco in 2012. Fourteen years later, we have four locations — three retail and one warehouse and service center — and 25 full-time employees.