By Meghan Loder
MIDDLETOWN – Two River residents can now get their mountain bikes, racing bikes and all repair needs taken care of at the new Trek Bicycle Store.
Jeff Bisbee, the head salesman of the store, said company officials decided to locate the store at 500 Route 35 in Union Square, because “there was a need for this store. Trek has a super strong product brand with name recognition. Customers no longer have to travel far for the brand.”
With the multiple stores in the area, including one in Brielle, Trek is able to better help its customers with their bicycle needs. While Brielle has a larger inventory, anything that is missing from the Middletown store can be easily obtained for customers.
Trek advertises as a concept store, which has a unique definition for the brand. Essentially it means that it is a higher end type of shop. “We don’t carry multiple brands, only products manufactured by Trek bicycles,” Bisbee said.
The store’s staff members prides themselves on their customer service and their knowledge about the bicycles they sell. All of the employees are avid mountain bike riders with some of the staff commuting to work on bikes, often traveling more than 40 miles a day to get to work.
Trek is not just for the avid and experienced rider. The company offers a wide selection of products from children’s bikes to those for the very experienced. The employees are there to help those interested in becoming a more experienced rider.
The store offers a professional fitting service for those who may have gotten their bike elsewhere and need to make their ride more comfortable.
The Trek brand of bicycles offers up to six sizes per bike so customers have a better chance of finding the bike that fits them perfectly. To ensure the best fit possible, demo bikes are available for patrons to rent. For those whose bikes may not be the best make or latest model, the store has a full service repair shop and also gives out helpful bike-care tips on its Facebook page.
Trek also tries to encourage its customers to ride on their new bicycles. They offer trail rides for those who are looking to build their experience and become better riders. The road rides are run by store team members for people who are riding at a “B-plus level.” The rides are offered for two to eight people with most riders averaging an 18-mile an hour pace for two and a half hours. Participants can call to sign up or look on the website (briellecyclery.com) for more information.
The Trek store in Middletown has been open since November and the customers have been flocking in.
“ I am excited about its progress,” said Bisbee, who describes the space as more of a gallery then a bike shop. “There is an openness to the store that gives an experience that customers can’t find in in a regular bike store.”
While the store is usually busier in the summer months, staff members said the best time for new riders is in the fall, because summer traffic dies down and weather is better. The shop does stock bike equipment and clothing to handle the snow so the riding season never has to stop.
