Trailside Bikes: Personalized service for your biking needs

Being active outdoors is becoming more attractive as temperatures ramp up, and Trailside Bikes can assist in getting you out on the trails, even if you don't have a bike of your own. Trailside Bikes offers bike repairs and rental options, with mountain, gravel and electric mountain bikes in its fleet, as well as some accessories, like sunscreen, water bottles and pedals, for sale. Dave Parker, who owns the shop along with his sons Andrew and Steven, offer the Granite Bay community a niche service as many shops, if they did offer rentals, no longer do. "We're passionate about mountain biking and I wanted to, at this stage in my career, have a business that integrates with the community," Dave said. Andrew initially planned to open a bike repair business but the idea blossomed into more when the location at 7120 Douglas Boulevard became vacant. According to Dave, the location's parking lot was already a popular bike staging area where a lot of people start their rides due to its proximity to trails in the nearby recreation area. That proximity launched another idea. "Bike rentals used to be a more popular thing with bike shops many, many years ago but all the local bike shops seemed to have stopped doing it anymore and so we thought this will be a great chance to bring that back; combine a repair shop that we wanted to do with rental," Dave said. Andrew and Steven serve as the shop's mechanics. Dave said they work on all kinds of bikes from a simple flat-tire repair to more technical work on brakes and suspension. "It's very satisfying to be able to fix something that allows them to continue on their ride," Dave stated. Additionally, Dave said they enjoy keeping repairs on kids' bikes affordable to keep their bikes running. The shop even has a pay-it-forward donation program that allows them to provide free inspections and safety checks on children's bikes. In addition to offering repairs and rentals, Dave shares trail recommendations with customers based on their experience level, as well as direct riders to trail connections if they have a Folsom or Auburn trail in mind for their ride. The shop's website has the rental inventory and maps of nearby trails, which also provides GPS directions on your phone if you have your phone with you during your ride. "We pride ourselves in good communication, personalized service and trying to keep biking safe and affordable for the community," Dave said. Trailside Bikes is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. More information on rental and repair options and pricing can be found at trailsidebikesgb.com.