“Everyone in their life has his own particular way of expressing life’s purpose – the lawyer his eloquence, the painter his palette and the man of letters his pen from which the quick
words of his story flow. I have my bicycle.“ ~ Gino Bartali
Spring is upon us. The outdoor activities at our fingertips are abundant. Cycling is a profoundly important element to the recreational fabric of the Winston-Salem scene. There are profoundly passionate members of our community telling the exhilarating story of cycling and all it encompasses.
Jake Easter is just such an eloquent proponent of the cycling world locally and answers our questions for this month’s edition.
Tell us where you grew up and about how your childhood or young adulthood informs what you do now.
I was born and raised in Winston-Salem. My family moved to Pfafftown when I was nine, so most of my memories are there. They live on 28 acres, where all of the neighbors have large plots and everything is really spread out. We had tons of bike trails and built more every chance we got. As a kid, my bicycle was my way to get around, to go see my friends. At 13 years old, I started racing BMX; not long after that I started riding freestyle and dirt jumps. Around 16, I started racing mountain bikes and, while I have stopped racing, I haven’t stopped riding mountain bikes ever since.
What makes biking such a great endeavor for people of all ages?
Bikes are so adaptable. They can just as easily bring your groceries home from the store as they can take you on challenging trails to places most can only dream of going. They can be designed for kids just as easily as adults. They can be electric-assist and adaptive for special needs.
But, I think the main reason I love them is because they can unleash adventure without a huge investment.
What would be your own personal mission statement?
My mission is to use my creativity to tackle challenges and create things that bring joy and add value to people’s lives.
What should our readership know particularly about the bicycle “scene” locally?
The bicycle scene is changing at an accelerating pace. I remember a time when cycling in Winston-Salem was largely unapproachable by average people. It was loaded down with spandex and Pelotons. It produced some national and international talent on the race scene but didn’t offer much in the way of social rides or events. Cycling in Winston-Salem is more accessible now than it has ever been and continues to evolve as Winston-Salem grows.
Tell us about your rickshaw business.
I worked for a rickshaw company in Raleigh while I lived there, so when I stumbled on one for sale locally, I bought it. I used to use it to make extra money when there were big events and took it to events like Carolina Panthers games.
After selling one of my businesses in 2022 and things opening back up post COVID, the rickshaw was calling my name. It was pretty rundown from sitting for two years, so I refurbished everything and started giving rides and tours in January 2023. It went so well that I decided to buy two more. I now have two rickshaws running and a third in the works. We’re out every Friday and Saturday night to taxi people around and do tours during the week by appointment. The business is called Sparky’s Rickshaw Company.
What exactly should everyone know about BeersNGears?
BeersNGears was built to serve the cycling community. We have been able to foster an amazing culture around cycling and camaraderie.
Our method is hosting fun, non-competitive events that are usually free or very little cost. We encourage all types of riders to come have fun with us.
They range from our weekly no-drop Monday night ride from Fiddlin’ Fish Brewery open to people of all skill levels to more rambunctious multi-day bikepacking trips that include carrying your camping gear and roughing it for 80+ miles of gravel and off-road trails through the mountains.
We also host a monthly “Open Bike Night” where people can learn how to work on their bikes with our shop tools and equipment. We also incorporate things like a chili cook-off and trick-or-treating into our rides.
And, if that’s not enough, we organize the annual “Wiener Ride” with three to five stops at different hot dog spots. If hot dogs aren’t your thing, you can ride with us on the Latin-flavored version called “Tour de Taco.” We also do a Holiday Lights Ride for Christmas and an annual Halloween-themed bike festival.
What can we expect from you and the cycling community in the future?
A lot of focus is being directed towards mountain biking trails at the moment.
The trail building agreement between the city and Forsyth Off Road Bicycle Association has made major headway in the last couple of years and seems to be expanding exponentially.
In the span of two years, we’ve gone from only being allowed to use basic hand tools to using excavators and skid steers, and running projects like a construction company. We went from only being allowed to maintain the current trails to planning about three miles of new trail with city approval. In 2024, we completed about half a mile of new trail (the first sanctioned trail build in more than 20 years) and made progress on another two miles.
How can people get involved in any of your pursuits?
We have websites for everything (beersngears.com, sparkysrickshaw.com, forbaws.com), but to stay up-to-date, use our social media (@officialbeersngears, @sparkysrickshaw, @forba_mtb).
