Throughout his four decades in the biking industry, Frank Pinto shared his biking knowledge with the next generation, hosting clinics and other events geared toward getting kids on two wheels.
Pinto, who opened Work Horse Bicycles in Old Monterey in July 2017, is retiring and closing the shop at 486 Washington St. Its final day is Dec. 31, with an ongoing sale to help clear inventory.
“It’s been a little overwhelming,” Pinto says. “But I’m ready to close this chapter.”
Known as “Fast Frank,” which he earned as a child riding BMX bicycles and stealing “a lot of bases” in baseball, Pinto will carry that nickname into retirement, even if it’s a time meant to slow down.
“I’ll be here in the area,” he says. “I will spend more time with my wife, my kids, my grandkids. I’m going to ride my bike a shit ton more.”
Pinto owned Joselyn’s Bicycles in Monterey for 18 years before closing it in 2012. Work Horse Bicycles opened in 2017, a nearly 6,000-square-foot repair shop with bike and equipment sales.
Pinto has had the business for sale for a time, reaching out to cycling enthusiasts to gauge their interest—“I don’t think you can do well in this business unless you’re a cyclist,” he says.
But the size of the store and the amount of inventory made it difficult for prospective business owners to secure a loan, according to Pinto, leading to Work Horse Bicycles’ closure without a new owner.
The business runs with a staff of nine, who can always be seen working on a bike in the repair area at Work Horse’s entrance. At the height of the pandemic-induced bicycle boom, where people turned to the outdoors as a way to escape the Covid lockdown, Workhorse had 16 people on staff, according to Pinto.
With the boom over, Pinto says the biking industry is still on a downturn, part of the normal ebbs and flows of the industry.
The closing of Work Horse Bicycles leaves a void in the cycling community, but Pinto notes there are still many great bike shops in the area.
“Cyclists are almost a fraternity,” he says. “They are going to look for a place to bounce back and get their needs met.”
Expect to see Pinto out on the local trails more often—in complete Work Horse Bicycles gear.
“I feel truly blessed to have a great client base,” he says. “Now it’s time for me to go out and ride my bike.”