Grandson plans to rebuild family’s bike shop legacy

MORAINE — In its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, Whitman’s Bike Shop operated five locations and sponsored BMX and other bicycle-related events throughout the Dayton area. Over time, the Whitman’s name became nearly synonymous with bicycling in the region.

That ended in 2000 with the closing of the last Whitman’s bike shop, but now, the 29-year-old grandson of the company’s founder is poised to resurrect his family’s legacy. Mike Whitman of Washington Twp. will open a new business called Whitman’s Ride Shop this spring at 5410 Springboro Pike (Ohio 741).

The shop’s initial focus will be on bike and skateboard repairs. Whitman said he’s hoping to renew relationships with customers who bought their bikes from his grandfather, Donald Whitman, and later from his father Don and five aunts and uncles, when family members operated the Whitman’s bike shops between 1971 and 2000. Plans call for branching out into sales of bikes, skateboards and tricycles over the coming months, Whitman said.

Whitman worked for DK Bicycles, a national brand of BMX bikes, from 2004 to 2011.

“Bicycles have been an important part of my life,” Whitman said. “I reached a decision that it’s time for me to do my own thing, to get back to working hard while helping people to have fun.”

Whitman said he hopes to open in April. The Whitman’s Ride Shop owner said he signed a one-year lease for 1,500 square feet in Seven Valley Center on Ohio 741 near Cobblegate Drive. At the beginning, he’ll be the sole employee — in contrast to the Whitman’s chain of his parents’ generation, which employed 50.

For more information, call (937) 530-0825.

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