Clearwater Bicycle Shop Follows a Different Path

The Path Bicycle and Ride Shop in Clearwater offers a unique shopping experience. There are no big-name bicycle brands on display; instead owner Gary Keener carefully selects small companies with a backstory.

“The bike market is saturated with all the same brands, Giant [Manufacturing], Specialized, Trek, or Cannondale. You won’t find that here,” said Keener. 

Quality control is important to Keener, who believes that bikes made by small generational companies are superior to mass-produced bikes. Unique company history also helps in a sale.

“I always hear, ‘I don’t recognize any of these brands,’ even though they’ve been around for generations. Once I tell them about the brands, then they want to buy them,” he said.

Many of these companies play environmental and humanitarian roles. One of Keener’s more popular brands, Kona, donates proceeds to the AfricaBike program, an initiative that provides health care workers, teachers and other officials means of transportation in places where motorized vehicles are outlawed.

Linus is another popular brand at The Path. To even house or sell Linus bikes, shops must be active recyclers. For the vegetarian and health-conscious Keener, it was not a problem.

“I feel it’s a good cause. With a baby on the way, I want to do what I can to leave our planet so [my son] has something to grow up with and enjoy the outdoors. It’s a no brainer,” he said.

Similar to the family-owned bicycle companies he offers in his shop, Keener hopes to keep his business all in the family and pass it on to his children.

The shop itself was constructed with childlike fantasy in mind. Lights strung from the ceiling and walls made from pieces of wood and recycled materials create a clubhouse atmosphere inspired by Keener's “fondest childhood memories.”

Distinct brands not found in “regular” bike shops, coupled with Keener’s free tune-ups for life with the purchase of a bike, are The Path’s biggest selling points.

Keener hopes the name of his shop reflects his desire to bring uniqueness to a largely corporate controlled industry.  

“It’s a path to happiness, a path to your health and fitness. It’s a path to whatever you choose, just do it with a bike” he said. 

If You Go:

647 Cleveland St., Clearwater

(727) 216- 6726

Store Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Closed Sunday

Events: Fridays at 6:30 p.m., in-house mechanic and BMX team manager Adam hosts a BMX ride around Clearwater. Saturdays at 4 p.m. is a fixed-gear ride through Dunedin and Tarpon Springs.

Promotions: For the month of June, The Path offers 5-25 percent off in the store and also has a Groupon promotion.