From touring bikes to mountain bikes, folding bikes to custom bikes, there's a new home in West Philadelphia for everyone's bicycling needs.
Trophy Bikes, owned by University City native Michael McGettigan, opened last week on the bottom floor of the Left Bank, at 3131 Walnut St.
Implementing a concept that McGettigan describes as tailored to fit the customer's needs, the store carries a wide variety of bikes for use in every situation.
"We understand and like mountain bikes, but we concentrate on bikes that are more versatile," McGettigan said.
McGettigan is also no stranger to bikes or to the bike-selling business. For the past 10 years, he has owned and operated a Trophy Bikes location in Old City, only recently closing that store to open the new one.
And that experience may soon pay off, though the winter months have been tough. According to McGettigan, business started off slowly, but despite the blustery weather, he has seen signs of improvement.
"There's been a lot of interest, but at 20 degrees, people are still gathering data," McGettigan said. "We sold a bike in our first hour, and I saw that as an omen."
The University is also excited about the new store and hopes it will serve as a business anchor on the east side of campus.
"We think it's great, that it will bring more traffic to this part of campus," said Lisa Prasad, director of retail operations. "This is yet another example of a Center City business discovering University City."
Students also have proven to be enthusiastic about the new store's opening.
"This is a great location. It's easy for me to come check out bikes," Engineering junior Kent Gordon said. "I think it will spur my interests."
Engineering junior Chaloth Vashirakovit echoed that sentiment.
"It's convenient and gives students a lot more choices," Vashirakovit said.
Besides selling bikes, the store offers rentals and will even design custom bikes. The latter are usually for the most experienced riders, or those who are simply too tall or too short for prefabricated bikes.
But if you're not the most experienced cyclist, don't worry.
"We want to make it easy to bicycle and put you on the right bike, not necessarily the lightest, cheapest, the most expensive or complicated," McGettigan said.
Additionally, McGettigan is making an effort to reach out to women -- a segment of the population that has traditionally been ignored by bike manufacturers.
"The bike industry is only now figuring out how to make bikes for women," McGettigan said.
And even if you already have a bike, there may be something for you at the new store, as McGettigan is planning a series of bike classes.
"We will offer classes on bike repair, safety and security, probably in the spring," he said.
