We had the good fortune of connecting with Dan Malley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In 2019, following a 25-year career in banking, I wanted to explore the possibility of turning my passion for cycling into a business. We (myself and my then 15 year old daughter) used a broker to analyze several opportunities to acquire existing businesses, and ultimately decided our business plan was better starting our own. Since I also love the beach, it was a natural fit to concentrate our efforts on Delaware’s beach towns where we loved spending time. What we sought to do was somewhat risky – combine a beach bike business (sales and rentals of beach cruisers) with a high end custom performance business focused on cycling and triathlon athletes. Having executed a lease in February 2020…we also didn’t anticipate the arrival of the pandemic !

What should our readers know about your business?
We have built our brand and identity on being welcoming, and on removing the intimidation factor that can be so off-putting to buyers and athletes just getting started in cycling. We have been deliberate about growing our custom performance business slowly as we enter our fifth year, for which we custom build race bikes for road cyclists and triathletes. We are most grateful and proud when athletes develop relationships and training partnerships having met each other through our store. We regularly have clients who as us to train with them which we love !

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is easy – our shop exists along Delaware’s “culinary coast” at the best beaches on the mid-Atlantic coast. We love our little beach town of Dewey Beach. It’s a mile long and bracketed on either side by the Atlantic in front of us, and Rehoboth Bay behind us. The businesses in our town are incredibly supportive of each other, often collaborating on events at the beach. We would enjoy the beautiful weather by taking a training ride along the coast and through the towns of Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, and Dewey Beach, finishing with a crush (look it up !) at the world famous Starboard right next to us in Dewey, eating the best crab cakes at Woody’s, and enjoying a night out with a band at the Bottle & Cork. We’d relax the next morning with breakfast at The Dewey Post All within a mile of each other.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My daughter and my brother (a fellow entrepreneur) were both instrumental in helping me think through the opportunity, build and refine our business plan, and adjust like crazy once Covid occurred right at the time we launched in the spring of 2020. In addition, my mother bought me the book Built not Born by Toim Golisano, a fellow Western New Yorker who founded Paychex.

Website: breakawaybikesdewey.com

Instagram: @breakwaybikesdewey

Image Credits
Becca Neufeld

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