Editor’s note: We thought our readers would be interested in this update about the future of Silverton’s own bike, skate and snow sports shop – Fall Line – posted by Lisa Sinclair.
Here is what’s happening with Fall Line. Exciting news!
In 2002 when Jaiven Franz was only two years old, Jason Franz opened Fall Line. He used to tell me stories of her napping under the counter in her little bed. Jaiven would always greet the customers with a big smile and play with her yellow toy dump truck. Jaiven also assisted her dad in building Shellburg Falls and Wayside Park. She has assisted her dad with tune ups and small repairs since
she was two.
Soon after the BMX track at Wayside Park was built, Jason started volunteering for the YMCA and taught BMX camp. Kids from four on up would take this class. In 2007 Justin Bengurel took his first BMX class.
He wanted to race Jason. The rules were simple Justin could pedal and Jason had to pump (use body weight and technique to pump over the course), into the second berm (corner with a raised wall) they were neck and neck and Jason went below Justin to pass him in the corner and Jason slid out and landed on his left shoulder breaking his collar bone.
Since then, Justin was hooked and became a really good BMX/park bike rider and became a member of Fall Line’s BMX team at the age of 13.
Justin then started coming to the shop and working on bikes, Jason taught him all that he could and when Justin turned 18 he went to UBI (United Bicycle Institute) of Portland. He then took his knowledge and worked a few summers at Fall Line and then was a offered full time position at Santiam Bikes. Justin also spent six months in Australia working at a bike shop Down Under – you should see him pedal backwards.
I, Lisa Sinclair, moved here in 2010 to be with Jason and immediately started to help work on bikes, balance bills, do orders etc. I helped with the shop until 2016.
Fast forward to Oct. 6, 2019… Jason Franz passes away unexpectedly of a heart attack while mountain biking.
Naturally, the shop is passed onto his daughter, Jaiven Franz, barely 18. Although she has a lot of experience, she has a lot to learn in a short period of time.
Knowing that you need an experienced, trustworthy, kind, passionate bike tech to keep Jason’s legacy alive and Fall Line going, it was a unanimous decision to join forces with Justin.
Justin is an avid bike rider in BMX, Touring, mountain biking, bike packing, cyclecross, road riding, etc.
I am happy to announce that Jaiven Franz and Justin Bengurel are forming a business partnership with the goal for Justin to buy it from her in the future.
Starting Dec. 1, Justin will be the full time bike tech/manager. The hours will be Wednesday thru Saturday
9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
It has been quite a rough 6 weeks for Jaiven and I trying to get everything transferred into her name, meeting the new landlords, bank accounts, knowing which vendors sell what and relying on our bike repairs to be completed only when Justin was available.
Thank you all for your kindness, your business, and your patience.
I could not be more excited for the future of Fall Line.
Jason has teased Justin about Justin buying the shop from him since Justin was 13. I know that Jason would be pretty stoked for this business partnership.Here’s to the future of Fall Line.
Thank you,
Lisa Sinclair
