American Faces No. 115: A goodbye to summer.
Well, summer has officially come to an end. But before we bid it a complete farewell, I wanted to share my 115th American Faces story featuring Todd of Northern Cycle. Nestled wonderfully close to the heart of Minnesota lake country, Northern Cycle serves riders near the Heartland State Trail in Park Rapids as well at its other store in Bemidji, MN with Todd as business owner at both locations.
The Park Rapids shop, in particular, offers a warm, inviting, and beautifully decorated Northwoods atmosphere. This story was photographed in Park Rapids—a place near and dear to my heart, where I grew up hunting, fishing, and taking in the great outdoors. I’ve logged many miles pedaling the Paul Bunyan Trail myself, riding all the way from Walker to Park Rapids, often with a welcomed stop at a local ice cream shop in Dorset or a quaint coffee spot in Nevis. Along the trail, I’ve crossed paths with countless folks enjoying the ride: families out for an afternoon, cyclists training for a speedy group ride, and folks comfortably cruising the area on e-bikes.
At the very heart of bicycling is the relationship you build with your local shop. Whether you need wheels trued or the intricate mechanical operations of your trusty two-wheeled ride tuned, stepping into a local bike shop truly makes a difference in the community. You’re supporting a local shop owner, a skilled mechanic, and a hometown economy that counts on you. It might be fixing a broken chain, patching a flat tire, picking out a new bike, or investing in an e-bike—which now accounts for over 40% of the market share. The shop owner here is Todd. He brings decades of experience to running a business in an area defined by bustling lake country tourism in the summer and quiet, snowy winters. He spoke candidly about the stresses of owning a bike store, but his face lit up as he shared how much it means to see the genuine smiles on people’s faces after they pedal away on a bike they’ve bought, rented, or had repaired. That joy is what keeps him in the game. I watched his exceptional customer service shine as folks came through the door. Every single person was treated like an old friend—never looked down upon, even if all they needed was a quick pump of air for their tires. Todd was consistently courteous, welcoming, and genuinely caring. Todd is also incredibly thankful for and grateful to his dedicated, skilled staff. As he put it—"We wouldn't be able to be successful without them."
In fact, as I wrapped up my time with him, I asked what advice he would offer to the next person aspiring to own a bike shop. He put it simply: “Be honest, be friendly, and be courteous. Don’t talk down to others. Talk with them.”
So, how best to wrap this up? Perhaps by encouraging all of us, just as Todd suggested, to be honest, friendly, and courteous to one another. Oh, and go ride, buy, or fix up a bike—it just might put that classic, child-like grin back on your face!
Check out Northern Cycle's website: Northern Cycle
Photos and story by: Nielsen Studios
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