NBDA Member Call Out: Silver Birch Cycles
The year was 1994. I was riding a clapped-out Murray, listening to The Smashing Pumpkins on repeat, and navigating my first real relationship. Life was good—and then it got even better. My friend Derek, a mail carrier by day and bike wizard by night (thanks to those 5 a.m. shifts), introduced me to what he called “real mountain bikes.”
He sold me a Ted Wojcik frame, and over the next couple of months, I built it up into a lightweight race bike. I had just gotten my driver’s license, and that summer turned out to be one of the best of my life.
Fast forward about 30 years. After finishing a double shift and feeling stuck in the grind, I had one of those “What am I doing with my life?” moments. I asked myself: What can I do to feel that same joy I had back in the ’90s? I considered rollerblades. Checked if Korn and Limp Bizkit were still touring (they weren’t). But then it hit me—start a bike shop.
Three years later, here I am.
My name is Justin, and I’m the owner of Silver Birch Cycles in Saranac Lake, New York. I opened the shop to rekindle my own love for cycling and share that passion with others. It’s been just over a year since I opened the doors, and I’ve loved every minute of it. From getting riders out on local trails to building community, it’s been a rewarding journey.
Now I’m preparing to host my first Outdoor Gear Expo—complete with food, live music, and of course, lots of bikes. It’s happening May 31st in partnership with The Station in Onchiota, NY.
This is just the beginning. I’m grateful to be part of the biking world, and I can’t wait to connect with more of you as we continue to roll forward.
Ride on,
Justin Oliver
Owner, Silver Birch Cycles
Saranac Lake, NY
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