Favata’s Table Rock Tours Building a Culture of Cycling
1.1.14
Favata’s Table Rock Tours & Bike Shop, or TRT as they are commonly known, is celebrating their first year in their new location on Route 32 in Rosendale.
TRT is owned by Christina Favata and his father Alfonso Favata. They purchased the bike shop, formerly on Main Street in Rosendale, from Tom LaFera in 2008.
“Father is my angel investor. He does a little of this and a little of that around the shop,” Christian said.
Christian worked as a bike mechanic for LaFera before buying the business. Table Rock, which the shop is named after, is a rock formation on the southern tip of the Mohonk Preserve. When the Favatas bought the shop they added their name to the existing name. Now it is pretty much just known as TRT.
They moved to the site of the old Bank of America on Route 32 a year ago this month.
“We needed more space. On Main Street parking was an issue. Here things are much busier, its better. I’ve had commuters from 32 come in who didn’t know about the shop. We get much more exposure here,” Christian explained about the move. “It’s only 500 square feet bigger but it’s a much better fit for us”.
The shop has continued to do well in spite of the economic down turn.
“Industry Reps and other sales people are saying what I’ve noticed – that bicycles do well in recession while other things suffer,” Christian said.
What he’s seen in the past few years is people buy bikes for the family and don’t go away on vacation. They have staycations, a vacation spent at home or near-by. They buy bikes because it’s something they can do together. People are looking for things to do that aren’t so expensive.
The whole Favata family are cyclists. Christian, his brother Jonathan, their uncle, and father Alfonso all ride.
Christian started mountain bike riding in high school and rode professionally. He rode cross-country mountain bikes from 2004 till 2008.
Mountain biking grew really big in the early to late 90s. It grew so fast it had to fall off. Now it’s coming back a little according to Christian.
He now rides professional Cyclo-cross. Cyclo-cross is a fall and winter sport. It involves many short laps through a course with varied terrain like pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles. This requires riders to quickly dismount, carry the bike, navigate the obstruction, and remount.
While Christian is training his father runs the shop.
“I just try to support him in anyway but the shop is his,” Alfonso said.
Corey Carthew, of New Paltz, rides for the TRT team in Mountain Bike racing. For him the whole Favata family is an inspiration.
“There is great energy there,” Carthew said. “I ride with Alfonso. I am especially grateful for the really strong espresso Alfonso makes after our Sunday rides”.
“Having Christian at the shop is a great asset for me,” Mark Miller, of High Falls, fellow cyclo-cross rider said. “In terms of knowledge, mechanically, and training wise”.
The shop is not just for the competitive rider.
“He can help set up anyone, of any ability,” Miller said about TRT.
There is a wide range of bikes available from beginner to high end.
“Christian is pretty good at getting people on the right bike,” Miller said. “It can be a little involved, from getting the seat height right to handle bar length so that it’s comfortable, but Christian’s great at it”.
There is plenty of apparel available too from shoes, to helmets, gloves, shorts, and the TRT water bottles that can be seen all over the valley.
TRT is involved in the cycling community and in promoting cycling in the area.
“I have worked with Williams Lake building mountain bike trails. I hold a mountain bike race there every year,” Christian said.
Favata has been promoting the Williams Lake Classic since 2008. He does it because it is unique.
"I race myself," Favata said. "I think it’s cool that the event is on private land. It gives people who are not normally able to have the experience. You get to ride through an old mine".
The race has been going on since the early nineties and has always been at Williams Lake. Tim Quilty was the original promoter. In the late nineties it was voted one of the best races in the country, according to Favata.
This year's race took place on Sunday, May 26th. The Classic, a five mile course, is described as technical and difficult by the riders. There are men’s and women’s divisions in categories from first timer, beginner, sport, expert, and pro.
“Williams Lake Classic is hands down the best race in the NYSMTB series,” Carthew said. “It’s the best everything, best course, best food vendors, best music. It’s a gnarly course”.
There has been talk about partnering with the Village of Rosendale on bike rentals for the rail trail. The conversation is in the pre planning stages.
TRT sends cyclists to the 1805 House for accommodations and they send tourists to TRT to rent bicycles. Tourism is good for everyone.
“All aspects of cycling are growing,” Christian said.
There are group rides leaving from the shop a couple of times a week open to riders of differing abilities.
The International Mountain Bike Association, IMBA, is doing a lot of work in the area on mountain bike trail access. And there is the growth of the Rail Trail throughout Ulster County.
“We are trying to build a stronger culture of cycling. We feel it happening,” Christian said.
Favata’s Table Rock Tours & Bike Shop, or TRT as they are commonly known, is celebrating their first year in their new location on Route 32 in Rosendale.
TRT is owned by Christina Favata and his father Alfonso Favata. They purchased the bike shop, formerly on Main Street in Rosendale, from Tom LaFera in 2008.
“Father is my angel investor. He does a little of this and a little of that around the shop,” Christian said.
Christian worked as a bike mechanic for LaFera before buying the business. Table Rock, which the shop is named after, is a rock formation on the southern tip of the Mohonk Preserve. When the Favatas bought the shop they added their name to the existing name. Now it is pretty much just known as TRT.
They moved to the site of the old Bank of America on Route 32 a year ago this month.
“We needed more space. On Main Street parking was an issue. Here things are much busier, its better. I’ve had commuters from 32 come in who didn’t know about the shop. We get much more exposure here,” Christian explained about the move. “It’s only 500 square feet bigger but it’s a much better fit for us”.
The shop has continued to do well in spite of the economic down turn.
“Industry Reps and other sales people are saying what I’ve noticed – that bicycles do well in recession while other things suffer,” Christian said.
What he’s seen in the past few years is people buy bikes for the family and don’t go away on vacation. They have staycations, a vacation spent at home or near-by. They buy bikes because it’s something they can do together. People are looking for things to do that aren’t so expensive.
The whole Favata family are cyclists. Christian, his brother Jonathan, their uncle, and father Alfonso all ride.
Christian started mountain bike riding in high school and rode professionally. He rode cross-country mountain bikes from 2004 till 2008.
Mountain biking grew really big in the early to late 90s. It grew so fast it had to fall off. Now it’s coming back a little according to Christian.
He now rides professional Cyclo-cross. Cyclo-cross is a fall and winter sport. It involves many short laps through a course with varied terrain like pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles. This requires riders to quickly dismount, carry the bike, navigate the obstruction, and remount.
While Christian is training his father runs the shop.
“I just try to support him in anyway but the shop is his,” Alfonso said.
Corey Carthew, of New Paltz, rides for the TRT team in Mountain Bike racing. For him the whole Favata family is an inspiration.
“There is great energy there,” Carthew said. “I ride with Alfonso. I am especially grateful for the really strong espresso Alfonso makes after our Sunday rides”.
“Having Christian at the shop is a great asset for me,” Mark Miller, of High Falls, fellow cyclo-cross rider said. “In terms of knowledge, mechanically, and training wise”.
The shop is not just for the competitive rider.
“He can help set up anyone, of any ability,” Miller said about TRT.
There is a wide range of bikes available from beginner to high end.
“Christian is pretty good at getting people on the right bike,” Miller said. “It can be a little involved, from getting the seat height right to handle bar length so that it’s comfortable, but Christian’s great at it”.
There is plenty of apparel available too from shoes, to helmets, gloves, shorts, and the TRT water bottles that can be seen all over the valley.
TRT is involved in the cycling community and in promoting cycling in the area.
“I have worked with Williams Lake building mountain bike trails. I hold a mountain bike race there every year,” Christian said.
Favata has been promoting the Williams Lake Classic since 2008. He does it because it is unique.
"I race myself," Favata said. "I think it’s cool that the event is on private land. It gives people who are not normally able to have the experience. You get to ride through an old mine".
The race has been going on since the early nineties and has always been at Williams Lake. Tim Quilty was the original promoter. In the late nineties it was voted one of the best races in the country, according to Favata.
This year's race took place on Sunday, May 26th. The Classic, a five mile course, is described as technical and difficult by the riders. There are men’s and women’s divisions in categories from first timer, beginner, sport, expert, and pro.
“Williams Lake Classic is hands down the best race in the NYSMTB series,” Carthew said. “It’s the best everything, best course, best food vendors, best music. It’s a gnarly course”.
There has been talk about partnering with the Village of Rosendale on bike rentals for the rail trail. The conversation is in the pre planning stages.
TRT sends cyclists to the 1805 House for accommodations and they send tourists to TRT to rent bicycles. Tourism is good for everyone.
“All aspects of cycling are growing,” Christian said.
There are group rides leaving from the shop a couple of times a week open to riders of differing abilities.
The International Mountain Bike Association, IMBA, is doing a lot of work in the area on mountain bike trail access. And there is the growth of the Rail Trail throughout Ulster County.
“We are trying to build a stronger culture of cycling. We feel it happening,” Christian said.
