VIDEO: Grown Locally: Trailhead Bike Shop supports and grows biking community.

VIDEO: Grown Locally: Trailhead Bike Shop supports and grows biking community.

Grown Locally is presented by House of Flavors Restaurant of Ludington and features locally owned businesses and locally produced products.

By Katie Provenzano, MCP Correspondent

LUDINGTON — Lynnette and Kyle Nichols are going into their second season as the owners of the Trailhead Bike Shop in downtown Ludington. Originally, Lynnette and Kyle are from the Baldwin area, but they have spent the last several years in Grand Haven working and raising their three daughters. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyle lost his engineering job to downsizing, which provided an opportunity to do something different. Jeff Betz, the previous owner of the Trailhead Bike Shop, was looking for a summer bike mechanic. Kyle, an avid mountain biker, saw the mechanic position as a chance to test out working in the bike world.

“Shortly after starting work for [Betz], we entered into discussions on purchasing the shop,” Kyle said. “Ludington wasn’t our first or last choice. We came here for the business and to be closer to family. The combination of the Manistee National Forest, the lakeshore, The Ludington State Park, and a thriving downtown area cemented that this was the right choice for us.”

Over the last year, the Nicholses have worked to be a part of the local biking community. Trailhead Bike Shop was a sponsor for the Shoreline Force’s Bike Rodeo (facebook.com/groups/shorelineforce), a safety event for children, and provided bike checks and give-a-ways. On Wednesdays, Trailhead sponsors a weekly bike ride in collaboration with the Shore Line Cycling Club (shorelinecyclingclub.org). Everyone is welcome to join! Individuals can request to be added to the email list or can follow Trailhead Bike Shop on Facebook (facebook.com/trailheadbikeshop).

The Nicholses added new sports equipment to their inventory including Koma mountain bikes, Magnum electric bikes, stand-up paddle boards, longboards, recumbent bikes, phone holders, lights, Burley trailers, and bike hitch racks. City, mountain, and fat-tire bike rental options are also available for a couple of hours or even up to a full week. Trailhead is a full-service bike shop helping to fix and maintain equipment for safe and fun rides.

“We have a great mountain bike network around here. As far as riding in the city, it is not the best setup. We don’t have a lot of bike lanes on the road. We don’t have a lot of wide shoulders. It’s a great way to get around, we just need it to be a little safer,” said Kyle Nichols. He encourages residents to contact the city about increasing bike lanes.

“I’m personally a huge mountain biker, so most of my riding is done in the woods on the trails. The Big M-Trail system up by Manistee is one of my favorites. I do really like the local trail system. The Ludington School Forest, Cartier Park, and Memorial Tree Park are all great trails that are not above anyone’s skill level. I like to tell people that it’s the type of trail that the faster, more aggressive you ride, the harder it is. For a beginner to jump on those trails and ride slow, it’s not a problem. There are no hills that intimidate anybody and everyone is welcome to ride them,” said Kyle. For biking on the road, Kyle recommends taking Lakeshore Drive to the Ludington State Park as the safest local ride option.

If you have any questions about local trails, riding, or problems with your bike, the Nichols encourage you to stop in or call 231-845-0545.

Trailhead Bike Shop is located at 216 West Ludington Avenue and is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more about Trailhead Bike Shop at its website: www.trailheadbikeshop.com.

Grown Locally is presented by House of Flavors Restaurant, 402 W. Ludington Ave., owned locally by the Neal family for over 70 years; 231.845.5785; Facebook.  

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