Ashley and Tommy Merriott moved from Sonoma County to Clovis with just a dream and a desire.<\/p>\n
No jobs, a mortgage payment awaiting, and just enough savings to make their move manageable.<\/p>\n
Their desire was to live closer to family \u2014 sold further on the idea after learning about the housing affordability of the central San Joaquin Valley compared to Northern California, as well as the positive reviews of Clovis Unified School District.<\/p>\n
\u201cWild times, moving without a job,\u201d Ashley said.<\/p>\n
Fully making their dream come true included opening and operating their own bicycle store \u2014 just as they\u2019d done in Sonoma County.<\/p>\n
That dream took a few months but finally became a reality in December when the Merriotts opened Awesome Bike Company in Old Town Clovis.<\/p>\n
The mom-and-pop shop occupies 2,500 square feet near 5th Street and Pollasky Avenue, selling a variety of bicycles, from road to mountain to electric, and brands that include Fuji, Tuesday Cruisers and GMX.<\/p>\n
Tommy Merriott has been in the bicycle sales industry for 30 years, as well as a longtime cyclist and former BMX and downhill mountain bike racer.<\/p>\n
Ashley Merriott is a longtime bicycle enthusiast, too, and even took first place at a Northstar series race in 2018.<\/p>\n
Together, they operated the first Awesome Bike Company in Sonoma County for four years before closing to relocate to Clovis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all about family, fun and rad-ness,\u201d Tommy said.<\/p>\n
New family-owned Awesome Bike Company in Old Town Clovis offers bikes, repairs and cycling education, run by longtime cyclists Ashley and Tommy Merriott. 3-year-old daughter Penelope (left) also helps around the shop. Bryant-Jon Anteola The Fresno Bee <\/p>\n
The Merriotts strive to connect with customers, enthusiastically educating anyone who walks through their doors about different model bicycles, and simply helping people grow a love and passion for cycling.<\/p>\n
The bicycle, after all, is the foundation of the Merriotts\u2019 love.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband and I are best friends,\u201d Ashley said. \u201cWe eat, sleep and breathe bicycles.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe met in a bike shop. We got engaged in a bike shop. And now we run a bike shop together and are raising our family in one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prominently displayed in the store\u2019s front window is a pink bicycle that Tommy reconditioned and presented for his proposal to Ashley with \u201cWill you Marry Me?\u201d on the down tube .<\/p>\n
The couple, who recently celebrated their seventh-year anniversary, even has their 3-year-old daughter, Penelope, working the showroom floor.<\/p>\n
Penelope greets would-be customers stopping in, riding her pedal-free bicycle around the store, and handing out Awesome Bike Company rubber bracelets and business cards.<\/p>\n
Little brother Van, who is less 4 months old, also hangs around the store, either in the playpen area safely nestled behind the counter area or maybe in his mom\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to start this family-owned business so we could be together,\u201d Ashley said. \u201cI can see (our kids) working here one day after school. Maybe they\u2019ll want to run the bike shop when they\u2019re older.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur hope is that we can become a well-established business here in Old Town like some of these other shops that established roots here for many years. Just be an anchor for the Clovis community.\u201d<\/p>\n
New family-owned Awesome Bike Company in Old Town Clovis offers bikes, repairs and cycling education, run by longtime cyclists Ashley and Tommy Merriott. 3-year-old daughter Penelope (right) also helps around the shop. Bryant-Jon Anteola The Fresno Bee <\/p>\n
This story was originally published February 15, 2026 at 5:30 AM.<\/p>\n
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