Former BMX Champ Buys Trailhouse Bike Shop
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
A nationally recognized BMX bicyclist since age 13, McManus recently bought Trailhouse Village Outdoor Store and reopened it as Trailhouse Village Bicycles. The shop at 1001 E. Canal St., Winona Lake, will continue to offer service, sales and rentals, with an expanded selection reflecting McManus’ own background.
The shop was previously owned by Rob and Nancy Gast, who started in Warsaw with Tarkio Road bicycles in 1975. McManus, who won his first title at 16 and had six national awards by age 22, came to know the Gasts during his BMX career.
“We’ll build on what they did and see if we can’t make it a whole lot better,” McManus said Monday in one corner of the two-floor showroom. “I think the cycling community in this town is big enough to support a shop this size and make it grow.”
He managed Summit City Bicycles, Fort Wayne, for eight years after retiring from BMX in 2002, but said Trailhouse was a better option for full ownership.
“It’s always been a dream of mine, I always wanted to own my own shop,” he said. “It was the perfect fit and the right time to put it together.”
He closed the deal Nov. 3 and opened under the new name the next day. An open house Nov. 15 drew a standing-room-only crowd of 300 people.
In addition to doing all repairs in-house, which will mean hiring a couple more mechanics next year, McManus plans to build on the Gasts’ shop by expanding into high-end mountain, road and BMX bicycles. He also plans to get more involved in the Fat and Skinny Tire Fest every spring in Winona Lake.
“It’s a good thing for me to be involved with and it’s a good thing for the community,” he said.
For more information on the shop, visit www.facebook.com/Trailhouse[[In-content Ad]]
A nationally recognized BMX bicyclist since age 13, McManus recently bought Trailhouse Village Outdoor Store and reopened it as Trailhouse Village Bicycles. The shop at 1001 E. Canal St., Winona Lake, will continue to offer service, sales and rentals, with an expanded selection reflecting McManus’ own background.
The shop was previously owned by Rob and Nancy Gast, who started in Warsaw with Tarkio Road bicycles in 1975. McManus, who won his first title at 16 and had six national awards by age 22, came to know the Gasts during his BMX career.
“We’ll build on what they did and see if we can’t make it a whole lot better,” McManus said Monday in one corner of the two-floor showroom. “I think the cycling community in this town is big enough to support a shop this size and make it grow.”
He managed Summit City Bicycles, Fort Wayne, for eight years after retiring from BMX in 2002, but said Trailhouse was a better option for full ownership.
“It’s always been a dream of mine, I always wanted to own my own shop,” he said. “It was the perfect fit and the right time to put it together.”
He closed the deal Nov. 3 and opened under the new name the next day. An open house Nov. 15 drew a standing-room-only crowd of 300 people.
In addition to doing all repairs in-house, which will mean hiring a couple more mechanics next year, McManus plans to build on the Gasts’ shop by expanding into high-end mountain, road and BMX bicycles. He also plans to get more involved in the Fat and Skinny Tire Fest every spring in Winona Lake.
“It’s a good thing for me to be involved with and it’s a good thing for the community,” he said.
For more information on the shop, visit www.facebook.com/Trailhouse[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092