Third Wheel Bike Sales & Service occupies a quiet site at the Salem end of Cabot Street in Beverly, Massachusetts. Trey and his wife operate the business—unfortunately, it seems, not for too much longer. From here it looks like they’re being done over by an acquisitive landlord. Small business is difficult enough without unwelcome intervention.
I met Trey and his wife in July 2025 while visiting my son, who is a willing customer at Third Wheel. Originally from Texas, they settled in the North-East and started the business in Beverly—a burgeoning town on Boston’s North Shore.
We talked plenty about most things. I was interested in the business. Trey was more taken with cricket and Australian Rules Football. His wife was in advertising and social media—check out their IG account. She was, and I’m sure still is, lovely. In summer they organised community rides. Serious riders through to blow-ins like me. Beverly to Marblehead was a popular route.
We shared a want to read. Trey looked at some of my dribble and was kind in his appraisal. He asked if I’d read John Updike. I said I had two books but had only started one—Of the Farm. The Witches of Eastwick was for later. Trey urged me to find a copy of Couples—a sprawling novel about adultery and social mores in a fictional Massachusetts town.
Then he explained that they live in a property on the estate that John Updike once owned. A Captain’s Mansion, synonymous with the area. Rent free, in exchange for maintaining the grounds, tennis court, and main residence. Trey talked glowingly of lingering in the main house—particularly the three rooms where Updike did the bulk of his writing. The German couple who owned the estate spent most of their time on the West Coast and in Europe. Sounded like a great deal.
But what I liked most about Third Wheel and their owners was this: they adamantly closed on Sundays and Mondays. Punctures and broken chains can wait—these days were for maintenance, reading, and the odd tall. In the land of the free, this behaviour is not the norm.
Wheels off.
I apologise for bringing Trey here—but I might need to heed something similar and close for a couple of days. Last night was difficult. This post was going to be just that, but then I got thinking about the North Shore, Beverly, the people, the Anchor—and it brought me to Third Wheel and this yarn.
Tomorrow I’ll open momentarily and close. We’ll see if I need Friday too. Hopefully not.
All the best Trey, in what comes next.
Nick
