The Bike Depot & Cape Cod Rail Trail

The Bike Depot is aptly named- it's located on Depot Street and housed in the historic Ocean Spray House, which resembles a train depot with its sliding doors and spacious interior. It also has the hustle and bustle of a train station with bikers coming off the Cape Cod Rail Trail on one side and bikers parking their cars to hit the trail on the other.

"In May 2000, I left the corporate world behind to take over this not-yet-opened business" owner Don Roberts smiles. "The original owner, who had the idea of a bike shop on the trail at this site, became ill and put it on the market." Roberts took the opportunity without knowing much about bicycles at the time. "But I do now! I'm a sponge. I listened and I learned, and now I love this business!" His love for the business is obvious in the collection of artfully displayed antique bikes, and how The Bike Depot has evolved to be more than a starting point or a pit stop along the trail. Along with refreshments, repair service and free air for hungry, thirsty, and weary bikers, Roberts offers all the accessories a beginner or experienced biker may nee, And lots and lots of bicycles!

"We sell both used and new bicycles. Brand new FUJI, K2 and a particularly classy model called VanDessel are always available here. Rentals are always for sale, too." Roberts used to wait to the end of the season to sell them off but not any more. "We buy a new fleet every season so all the bikes are 2003 models. You are welcome to try out any bike on the ease and comfort of the trail before you buy it." It would be fun to just sit on Roberts' custom built Absolute Cape Codder. "I like red so I used a Fuji Altair aluminum frame and added custom designed features to create a premiere bicycle for Cape Cod." The bike offers everything from a computer to gauge speed, mileage, heart rate and more; side view mirrors, a saddle bag and extremely high tech brakes, handle bars, and pedals just to name a few.

Twenty percent of the business is rentals. The Bike Depot's rates are affordable and include "a helmet, map and a sport bottle of water." They have baby seats, kiddie trailers and tandem bikes, too. The Bike Depot is a cheerful hub of commotion with bikers asking for a screw here, air in a tire there and bottles of energy drinks bought everywhere. Departures and arrivals add to the whirl of activity. Next time you consider biking the trail, plan on making The Bike Depot your starting point or at least stop along the way.