Why I Built My Business in Southern Idaho
At age 3, Chris Cawthra learned to ride a bike. He started racing at 4, and by first grade, he knew he wanted to own a bike shop when he grew up. Cawthra began working in bike shops in high school and continued the job while studying jazz saxophone at various colleges around the country.
In 2018, Cawthra’s childhood dream became a reality when he launched Bull Moose Bicycles in Twin Falls with his buddy, Nate Rioux.
To say Cawthra knows a lot about cycling, running a small business and biking around Southern Idaho is an understatement, and he’s happy to share what he’s learned over the years.
What gave you the confidence to launch your own business?
All those years in shops taught me the industry and made it easy to start this store with Nate. I graduated from Twin Falls High School and lived here off and on in my early 20s. I landed here for good when I was 26. Prior to Bull Moose Bicycles, I was managing a shop in Twin Falls, and Nate was a social worker for the school district. He was actually helping out in the summers where I was working. One night in 2017, we got together and decided we should start our own shop.
How has your shop grown?
Nate and I started very, very small. There weren’t many things for sale when Bull Moose first opened. Since then, it’s turned into a full-blown bike shop with new bike inventory, parts and accessories and everything you need to fix anything. We do a lot of repairs.
What’s it like having a shop in downtown Twin Falls?
The Main Street vibe is slowly expanding. Currently, we have about five blocks with a lot of cool stuff going on — lots of restaurants, breweries, ice cream and coffee. The whole area is definitely a fun spot to hang out all year long.
What makes you excited about going to work?
I enjoy hearing about where people have been riding and talking to them about bikes and future rides. Aside from that, it is still very much work. The bike shop is a unique twist of retail and turning wrenches. We talk to people all day, and when we’re not, we’re wrenching on something.
How does Bull Moose Bicycles contribute to the local cycling community?
Bike culture is important to keep the sport interesting. We stock items in the shop for everybody, from BMX riders to mountain bikers and everyone in between. We do classes in the fall for bike maintenance and safety. We do group mountain bike rides on Saturday mornings, and we’ve got a bikepacking trip we’re planning right now. We try to do stuff because it keeps it fun for us and the community.
What are the latest trends in biking and how do you keep current?
Staying ahead of the curve is tough! The biggest trend is electric bikes. We’ve got a selection of them to choose from — entry level to high-end mountain bikes. But as long as you stay open to new ideas, you can kind of move with the trends and don’t need to really stay ahead of it.
What’s your advice for following your dream and starting a small business?
My biggest advice would be to do it your way and not the way other people are doing it. Start small and grow rather than trying to be big out of the gate. In the early days, I lost three grand on a bike that we shipped because I didn’t buy the insurance. Don’t do that.
What’s the biking like where you live?
Southern Idaho has some cool stuff that often goes overlooked. We have awesome trails right in the Snake River Canyon. We have so many miles of gravel roads to ride and the desert has all sorts of cool secrets just waiting to be found!
Where the Locals Go
Looking to do some cycling of your own? We asked the expert! Here are Chris Cawthra’s go-to cycling spots:
- Auger Falls, located in the Snake River Canyon, is the perfect place to ride in the fall and spring. Cawthra says it’s not too overgrown or hot. Pro tip: Don’t let a little rain ruin your ride! The soil here acts like a sponge, so the trails are usually fine even after a shower.
- Indian Springs Trail is an 8-mile loop near Twin Falls. It offers pleasant mountain biking opportunities in the spring, summer and fall. But in the summer, get up early to beat the heat.
- Rim View Trail is world-class, further up in the South Hills near Magic Mountain Ski Area. While the lift is not operating, many mountain bikers enjoy the trails and the views.
- Cawthra also recommends a greenbelt that runs through Rock Creek Canyon, along the Snake River Canyon and down to the Shoshone Falls. To cool off, go for a swim in Dierkes Lake.
Get to Know Southern Idaho
Want to learn more about living and working in Twin Falls and Southern Idaho? Check out the latest edition of Livability Southern Idaho.