Bikes Mean Business for local entrepreneurs

For a guy who describes himself as a “casual bike person,” Tom Demagall has a whole lot of bikes.

About 200, in fact.

The 37-year-old Aspinwall man, a guitarist and former salesman, is the co-owner of Golden Triangle Bike Rental, along with his wife, Britt Keefer.

The bike rental’s Downtown location opened for the season Sunday, marking the sixth year that Mr. Demagall and his wife have run the shop.

The small, one-story building that houses Golden Triangle Bike Rental is nestled between the First Avenue T-Station and the PNC Firstside Center. A yellow “Bike Here” sign posted on the Wabash Bridge makes it easy to see the building from the Parkway East, but it’s difficult to see from First Avenue.

It’s an oft-overlooked part of Downtown, but Mr. Demagall happened to be in the neighborhood with his band one night a few years ago.

He saw the building’s “for sale” sign and thought it could make a good practice space for his music. But when he called the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, he said he was told they wanted someone to run the building as a bike rental shop, as it had been in the past.

Mr. Demagall, who had been working in sales for FedEx, decided he would be that person.
Read the rest of this article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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