The Wheels on the Bike

Local bike shop owners offer pro tips and favorite spots to ride

By Brighid Driscoll | April 8, 2023

As temperatures begin to rise, so does the number of cyclists we see about town and beyond. Biking is a great way to commute, recreate, and spend leisure time behind two wheels instead of four, and it’s one of our favorite ways to take in all the beauty of northern Michigan. With bike season on the brain, Northern Express talked with some local bike shop owners about getting out on the road and trails this spring.

Ethan Przekaza of Coastline Cycles in Frankfort

Ethan Przekaza has been passionate about bikes most of his life.

“I have been working professionally as a bicycle mechanic since 2012,” he says. “I have worked in several shops over two states, and before that, I was what you would call a ‘garage mechanic.’ I have always had a deep interest in bicycles and how they work, so owning my shop has been a dream. My wife, Meg Doby, has a retail management and banking background, so with our combined experience, a bicycle shop in Frankfort made too much sense to ignore.”

Coastline Cycles opened in spring of 2022. Located at 1100 Main St. in Frankfort, the storefront is on the Betsie Valley Trail, right by M-22. When they opened, they were flooded with repair requests, and the couple was pleasantly surprised that they could hit the ground running.

“Business has been great for the first season. Having a dedicated bike shop in Frankfort has generated a lot of excitement within the community,” Przekaza says. “There is still a significant interest in getting out on two wheels for many people, and we are in the perfect location. Supply chain issues continue to be a problem but are slowly improving.”

Where to Ride: “For casual riding, the Betsie Valley Trail is fun, easy, and mostly paved,” Przekaza says. “It touches three small towns in Benzie County, and there are several options for start-and-stop points, including bars, breweries, and restaurants. For more aggressive riding, like mountain biking, the Arcadia Dunes trails are great and can be enjoyable for all levels of riders. M-22 is smooth and safe for road bikers, with lots of scenic turn-offs and hills to keep it interesting.”

Pro Tip: “Don’t forget a mirror!”

For more information, visit coastline-cycles.com.

David Hagan and Trevor Schmitz of Einstein Cycles in Traverse City

The new owners of Einstein Cycles in Traverse City, David Hagan and Trevor Schmitz, took over the bike business last year.

Before becoming a co-owner of Einstein, Hagan had been working at his own mobile bike business. “I was in the food and beverage industry forever and wanted out. I worked at a bike shop part-time every spring. Eight years ago, I decided to do that full-time. After COVID hit, I gutted a BATA bus and started running a mobile bike shop. I stopped in [Einstein’s] for parts one time, and later that night got a text from Jason, the owner, that says, ‘Do you want to buy Einstein?’”

Along with Schmitz, Hagan purchased the shop. It's been just over a year of ownership, and business has been steady. “We’ve got Timber Ridge and the state campground right over here. You wouldn’t believe how many bikes we repair because they weren’t stored properly or something happened on the way up here. We help people carry on with their vacations.”

The duo tell us Einstein’s has bikes for every season and every rider. Road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes, fat tire bikes, and more are all for sale, and Hagan can help you find a perfect fit. He advocates for people to avoid big box store bikes when possible, explaining that a bike purchased from a dedicated bike shop uses higher quality materials, is built with attention to detail, and is all-around safer with more longevity.

Kids’ bikes bought at Einstein are eligible for a trade-in program that allows customers to trade in the value of the old bike for a new one, helping ease the sting of investing in gear your kiddo will likely outgrow next season. For those who can’t afford a bike from the shop, Hagan still performs safety checks on big box bikes for $25. For him, it’s important for everyone to enjoy getting on a bike.

“You don’t want a kid who hates being on a bike because it doesn’t feel safe or it’s uncomfortable to ride,” he says.

Where to Ride: Hagan suggests that new bike owners ride around town and on the TART Trail to get used to their bike—and have easy access to places to stop and explore around TC.

Pro Tip: Steel yourself against what Hagen calls New Bike Buzz. “You’ll get people who are so excited that they ride to Suttons Bay and back, and their hands hurt, their neck, and their butt hurts. Start at 10, 12, 15 miles before jumping into 40 miles.”

For more information, visit einsteincycles.com.

Lee Milns of Ride Leelanau in Suttons Bay

E-bikes have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years and show no signs of slowing down. They’re a great alternative for people who want to go the distance without feeling (too much of) the burn, allowing you to explore more of northern Michigan on two wheels.

There are three different classes of e-bikes; Class 1 and 2 can get to 20 mph, with Class 1 being pedal-assisted speed and Class 2 having throttle-assisted speed. Class 3 e-bikes are pedal-assist and can reach a maximum of 28 mph. There are regulations about which bikes can be used on motorized versus non-motorized trails; Class 3 bikes are meant only for roads.

If you’re interested in an extra boost for your bike, Ride Leelanau of Suttons Bay is an e-bike rental service to try before you buy.

“E-bikes are a game changer for recreation,” says Lee Milns, owner of Ride Leelanau and Bayside Gallery. “[For] folks who haven’t been on a bike in 10 years and need to build up their endurance, an e-bike is a less intimidating way to do that.”

Milns carved out a place at Bayside Gallery—the iconic aqua blue building smack in the middle of downtown—to house Ride Leelanau. After getting bit by the e-bike bug, he wanted to share the fun with the community.

“Having an e-bike of our own was really the inspiration for Ride Leelanau. My family and I just enjoy it so much,” he says.

The company’s first bike rental season kicked off last summer, and Milns is also expanding the rental service into an e-bike repair shop, anticipating that repairs will increase as the bikes get more in demand. Check them out when they re-open for the first weekend of May.

Where to Ride: Milns feels that with the business right next door to the Leelanau Trail, Ride Leelanau is uniquely situated to get e-bike users on the go. “We’ve got beautiful views, trails, and vineyards here in Leelanau, and this is a way for more people to enjoy that.”

Pro Tip: E-bikes offer a lot more accessibility, according to Milns. “People who have had hip or knee replacements can comfortably ride a bike again,” he says.

For more information, visit rideleelanau.com.