Learning as We Go
The doors are open, and people are starting to find us. Some have seen us on Facebook, some have heard about us from someone else, and some have almost stumbled across the shop by accident. Every person who walks through the door is another reminder that we're making progress.
We have been doing our best to get the Trinity Endurance name out there. One thing I learned pretty quickly is that as soon as you open a business, there are plenty of other businesses ready to help you advertise. I didn't exactly have a big advertising budget when we opened, so I've had to learn where to put our money and where we can get the most out of every dollar.
When we opened, the store wasn't really built out yet. We had a mechanic area in the back, some shelving, and a few bikes I'd acquired over the years that I could put out for sale. It wasn't much, but it gave us somewhere to start.
Originally, I thought Trinity Endurance would become more of a triathlon store. I started reaching out to running shoe companies, bike manufacturers, wholesalers, and other endurance brands. That process has probably been one of the more frustrating parts of opening the business. You fill out applications, send emails, make phone calls, and then wait. Most of the companies I contacted still haven't gotten back to me.
Eventually, we got approved for our first wholesale account, which meant we could finally start ordering bike parts and building some inventory.
Then came the next problem: figuring out what parts to stock.
If you don't work on bikes every day, you probably don't realize how many different standards and parts there are. Different manufacturers use different designs, sizes, drivetrains, bottom brackets, brakes, bearings, and components. You buy something thinking you'll definitely need it, and the next bike that comes through the door needs something completely different.
We're learning what to keep in stock based on the bikes our customers actually bring us. Every repair teaches us something, and every customer helps us understand a little more about what the Yukon and Mustang cycling community needs.
While we were waiting to get approved by bike manufacturers, I was also doing everything I could to get bikes into the store.
Facebook Marketplace became one of my best resources. I was constantly reaching out to people selling bikes, not only looking for potential inventory but also letting them know there was now a bike shop in Yukon.
We started bringing in used bikes and eventually consignment bikes. Sometimes there wasn't much money to be made on the bike itself, and that was okay. At that point, I wanted people to walk into the store and see bikes. If selling a bike brought someone into Trinity Endurance and introduced them to the shop, I considered that a win.
We've now sold several used and consignment bikes, and the community has been incredibly supportive.
One of the biggest challenges through all of this has had nothing to do with bikes.
It's been balancing work, the shop, and my family.
I still work out of town Monday through Thursday to help finance Trinity Endurance while we get it off the ground. Opening a business doesn't mean you immediately start making money. It takes time, investment, and a lot of work.
For a while, that meant working out of town all week, coming home, and then spending most of the weekend at the store. It doesn't leave a lot of time to be a husband and a dad.
I'm extremely fortunate to have a supportive wife and girls. They've come to the shop to help paint, organize, move things around, and sometimes just hang out with me while I'm working.
Their support means everything, but I'm also learning that I can't let building the business cause me to miss the people I'm building it for.
There's always something that needs to be done at the shop. Another email, another repair, another order, another event, or another idea. I'm learning that sometimes I have to leave those things unfinished and be present with my family.
We've also been fortunate to start finding some help at the store. My niece needed a job, so we've been training her to handle Saturdays. That has finally allowed me to step away a little more on the weekends.
We're still looking for more people and trying to find the right fit. As Trinity Endurance grows, I want to find people who don't just want a job. I want people who believe in serving customers, learning, and helping us build something positive in the community.
On the vendor side, we're finally starting to make some progress too. We've been able to work with brands such as Marin, LOOK, and Fuji, which is a huge blessing after spending so much time trying to get companies to respond.
Of course, getting approved to sell bikes creates another challenge. Now you actually have to buy them.
Placing a large bike order when you're still growing a new business is another one of those moments where you have to have some faith, make the best decision you can, and move forward.
We're learning the same lessons with our community events.
We've tried several rides with limited success, but that's part of figuring out what people want. We're learning what days work, what times work, what distances people want to ride, and what type of cycling events make sense for this area.
I'll admit that road rides aren't necessarily my favorite. I'm more comfortable on a gravel bike, out in the country cruising down an Oklahoma gravel road. But Trinity Endurance isn't supposed to be built around only what I enjoy doing. It's supposed to serve the community.
We'll keep trying coffee rides, gravel rides, runs, and different events until we find the things that bring people together.
There are days when hardly anyone comes into the store. Those days can feel really long. You start wondering what you should be doing differently or whether people even know you're there.
Then someone comes in needing help with a bike. We get them taken care of, they leave happy, and sometimes a five-star review pops up later.
Those reviews probably mean more to us than the person writing them realizes.
When someone says we treated them well, helped solve their problem, or got them back out riding, it reminds me why we're doing this.
We're still learning. We're still building inventory. We're still figuring out what the community wants. We're still improving the shop. And we definitely don't have everything figured out.
But we're making progress.
What's Next
We're finally getting new bike brands into Trinity Endurance, so one of our next big milestones is simple: sell our first brand-new bike.
We're also beginning conversations with the cities of Yukon and Mustang about developing a kids endurance series, which could become an exciting new way to introduce young people and families to running, cycling, and healthy activities.
We'll continue growing our inventory and service department, working on our community rides and events, and listening to customers about what they want to see from their local bike shop.
There is still plenty of chaos behind the scenes, but I think that's part of the story.
You don't build something overnight.
You work on it a little bit every day.
Made for More Reflection
One of the biggest things I'm learning through this process is that you don't have to know everything before you start.
Sometimes we convince ourselves that we need more experience, more money, more knowledge, or a better plan before we're ready to do something.
There will always be something else you could learn before taking the first step.
At some point, you have to be willing to say, "I don't know how to do this yet, but I'll figure it out."
Make mistakes. Ask questions. Find people who know more than you. Learn from what doesn't work. Be thankful for the small wins and keep moving forward.
"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." — Zechariah 4:10
This week's challenge: Think about something you've been putting off because you don't feel ready. Take one step toward it this week. It doesn't have to be perfect. You just have to start.
And while you're working toward the next goal, don't forget to stop every once in a while and recognize how far you've already come.
Community Question
What are you trying to figure out right now?
And what's one small win you've had recently that you probably haven't given yourself enough credit for?
Keep learning. Keep moving forward.
You were Made for More.
