Inside the Trail Sport Bicycle Shop on the Pinellas Trail
Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
One of the things I’ve really needed to help me explore the islands and beaches is a good bicycle. Sanibel Island, Boca Grande, and Palm Island, to name a few, are great places to explore by bike. And of course, Daytona Beach is a great place to take a long bike ride right out on the sand. So I finally decided to buy a good bike.
A few months ago I purchased a Walmart “La Jolla Cruiser” used from a seller on Craig’s List for $80. We went for a ride on the Pinellas trail and the pedal crank bolt loosened and stripped and I had to walk the bike back to the car (4 or 5 miles). At that point I decided that I’d have to invest in a dependable (and more comfortable) ride.
We had rented bikes in Grayton Beach to explore the area while vacationing there and I was really impressed with the Jamis bikes we rode. Trail Sport was the closest Jamis dealer, so we paid them a visit. I was specifically interested in their “Boss Cruiser” model.
As we entered the store, Ron, the owner, greeted us and I explained what I was looking for. He spent the next two hours with us, helping me try out different bicycles and explaining the differences in various brands and models. Trail Sports is located right next to the Pinellas Trail, so I was able to take each bike for a ride on the paved trail to get a good feel for it.
After trying the Jamis bikes and the Marin bikes I ended up purchasing a Marin “Stinson” bike and am totally pleased with it. No doubt we’ll have fun exploring lots of new places now with the confidence that I won’t likely have to “walk” the bike back to the car. I bought a basket for the handlebars to hold my cameras, and a rear rack to hold other gear, and I upgraded to a wider softer seat. Ron and his crew of bike technicians helped me get the bike adjusted just perfectly to fit my body dimensions, leg length and personal preferences.
I was really impressed with how much attention Ron gave us and how he explained what to take into consideration when purchasing various peripheral gear like bike racks, baskets, and a helmet. Sue is talking about taking her bike to Trail Sport for some service and upgrades.
So if you are in the Pinellas County area and are looking for a great bike shop, I can personally vouch for Trail Sport as being top notch and conveniently located. If you are riding by on the Pinellas Trail, stop in and say hello.
They also have excellent prices on bike rentals. Here’s an idea: if you’d like to go for a bike ride to see what the Pinellas Trail is all about but you don’t have a decent bike, stop in at Trail Sport and rent a bike. You are just 100 feet from the trail so you wouldn’t even have to transport the bikes to the trail in your car.
Trail Sports – The Bicycle shop on the Pinellas Trail
