Bike mechanics share backcountry enthusiasm

A7 Cycles is named for Alpine Trail No. 7, a rugged 50-mile route across the ridgeline of the Swan Mountains. The new bike repair shop embodies the backcountry character of its founder’s favorite trail. Travis Coleman and his partner Lynn Foster work on bikes in a wood-sided garage tucked in the trees south of Whitefish.

“People like that we’re not super shiny and fancy,” said Coleman. “We’re here to serve the community.”

The authentic backcountry spirit that pervades the bike shop was also what drew Coleman to the Flathead in the first place. He’s been working on bikes since 1988, starting in high school in New Mexico. He moved to the valley in 2017 and opened A7 Cycles about two years later.

“A lot of what attracted me to the area was the backcountry riding,” Coleman recalled. With A7 Cycles, he wanted to make sure other cyclists get those opportunities, too, instead of sitting around all summer long, waiting for their bikes to be ready to ride.

“There’s a lack of service bandwidth in the valley,” Coleman said. He started his bike repair business when he recognized the need for more bike mechanics in the area. A year ago, he moved into his current space on Meadows Road, and Lynn Foster joined the operation last spring.

“There are not enough people to do the work,” Coleman said. “We were looking to fill in that gap some.”

Since A7 Cycles has started small, Coleman and Foster have been able to offer quick, high-quality bike service without a long wait. Coleman purposefully focused A7 Cycles strictly on repair, not retail, for that reason.

“We pride ourselves on doing good work pretty quick,” he said.

A7 CYCLES offers the standard suite of bike tune-ups and maintenance for both private individuals and outfitter bike fleets. Coleman and Foster also can help with fat tire bikes, electric bikes and ski waxing during the winter.

Coleman believes his background as an engineer gives him helpful experience working on e-bikes, an up-and-coming trend that’s unfamiliar to a lot of traditional bike technicians.

Foster, meanwhile, has lived in the Flathead for about 25 years, but she only recently hopped on a mountain bike. While Coleman brings almost a lifetime of experience into the shop, Foster offers more of a fresh perspective. She’s currently attending mechanic school in Oregon to learn the latest tricks and techniques to deploy at A7 Cycles.

“She has a very different background from me,” said Coleman, who met his business partner while they were both coaching youth mountain biking.

Despite coming to A7 Cycles on different paths, Coleman and Foster both share a passion that drives their profession. As the business grows, they want to make sure that ethos stays consistent. Coleman said it’s possible A7 Cycles might eventually expand and break into the retail side of the business, but making bike repair accessible to local riders is the top priority.

“We want to enhance people’s quality of life,” said Coleman. “We want to help people do the things they want to do.”

A7 Cycles is located at 120 Meadows Road near Whitefish. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.