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Established in 1967 on New York's Upper West Side, Toga was taken over by Nyack resident Dave Nazaroff and his business partner 16 years ago after opening Gotham Bikes in Tribeca. In 2006, they opened Toga Nyack.
While cyclists in Rockland County may know the store for its onging events and wide array of merchandise, Nazaroff said what may surprise folks to know is how much of the store caters to women.
"We're definitely seeing more women coming into the shop," said Nazaroff who said Toga has a separate women's department with knowledgeable salespeople who know how to cater to that demographic.
"There are female specific bicycles and we offer those, along with lots of clothing and accessories so a female customer can be outfitted from head to toe," said Nazaroff.
He said Toga has always been dedicated to female customers but that recently he's seen more and more women, middle agers in particular, come into the store.
"The biggest demographic for riding is the mid 30s to 60s," he said. "The great thing about cycling is that you can do at it at any age. It's a great low impact sport -- and it's fun."
And what brings folks to his shop -- from all over Rockland, New York City and Bergen in particular -- is 9W. "It's just a great ride with a wide shoulder and good roads," he said.
What will make it nicer, he said, is when the new Tappan Zee opens with its dedicated bike lane.
And though for some, the colder weather marks the end of the cyling season, Nazaroff said Toga remains relatively busy year-round with its host of die-hard riders.
The challenges of his business are not so much the slow months, he said, but the Internet. "For whatever reason, people think prices on the web are always less expensive and they're not. Our prices are the same, plus we offer excellent customer service," he said.
"It really becomes a question of, 'Do you want to support your local bike shop and keep your local business in business?'"
The shop is located at 530 N Highland Ave., (845) 358-3455, www.togabikes.com/ and offers discounts for local organizations and clubs, as well as those in the military, EMS workers, firefighters and police.
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