At Terra Rhythm Bicycles in Ocean Beach, owner Ryan Floth and employee Jeff Reynolds have their hands full with bikes in disrepair. Naturally, Terra Rhythm caters to the typical cyclist. The inviting brick storefront is lined with a bike-filled rack and an open door that leads right into the small workshop. Comparable to an OB cycling community’s version of “Cheers,” cyclists — and their dogs — are often greeted by name as soon as they walk in the door. Then, Floth delves into his favorite subject: bikes. Floth’s expertise dates back to his first job at the age of 15 at a family friend’s bike shop in Lake Tahoe, where he learned the ropes of bike repair, maintenance and customization. He has since extended his expertise around the world as a mobile mechanic for professional teams like Merrell/Zanfel Adventure and Team Subaru. In 2004, Floth was brought to San Diego to work with Ellsworth, a renowned handcrafted bicycle manufacturer. In 2008, he traveled to the Adventure Racing World Championship in Brazil and Primal Quest in Montana, where he provided mechanical support for professional racing teams and athletes. He uses his extensive knowledge and experience from the cycling world to cater to any genre of bicycle imaginable: from rusty, old beach cruisers to high-end racing bikes and custom road bikes. Services extend to more than simply tuning up road bikes or revitalizing aging beach cruisers. Floth and Reynolds provide tips and explanations to ensure that cyclists understand how to best care for their bikes before leaving the shop. Floth said he hopes to hold a weekly question-and-answer session for customers in the future. It is through this type of care and enthusiasm that Terra Rhythm was able to grow from a somewhat empty workshop in March 2009 to one that is filled to the brim with many more brands, equipment and satisfied customers. “We let things take their course,” Floth said, adding that the “OB attitude” has allowed his business to thrive. “It’s an old-fashioned beach community where we’re not competing with big corporate bike stores,” he said. “We want to be real and grounded.” By providing the best service, Terra Rhythm Bicycle gets business almost entirely by word-of-mouth. The bike shop’s community-oriented nature and proliferation of satisfied customers eliminates the need for much investment in advertising. “The goal of our business plan isn’t to sell a certain number of bikes to meet our budget,” Floth said, emphasizing quality of service over sales. One investment Floth has made is in charitable bike donations to local students. Terra Rhythm has donated bikes to Ocean Beach Elementary School and Dana Middle School. Terra Rhythm brings the community-oriented nature of his business full circle. By providing quality customizations, passionate repair work and genuine customer service that extends beyond the bike, Floth said he is able to use the community as a vehicle for his advertising. In turn, Terra Rhythm gives back to the community as a way to recycle his appreciation. Terra Rhythm Bicycles is located at 4222 Voltaire St. The store’s hours of operation are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays.
