Hingham Native Continues Family Legacy of Operating Bike Shops

Hingham native Jim Quinn, 60, has seen a lot of changes in the bicycling industry from the 10-speed bike boom of the 1970s, the road racing phenomenon in the 1980s and the mountain bike phase of the 1990s up until present day where there is a bicycle for any kind of rider.

Quinn and a partner opened The Bicycle Link at 230 Washington Street, Weymouth, in 1987. He and the partner split five years later, but the shop remains, having celebrated 25 years in 2012.

The Marshfield resident's connection to bicycles goes back to when he was growing up in Hingham. His grandfather and eventually his dad ran shops in his hometown.

"My grandfather had some gas pumps on the sidewalk and some Raleigh Bicycles in the window," said Quinn, recalling that was one of the country's first Raleigh dealerships.

In the early 1950s, Quinn's father and two uncles opened a bicycle shop and service station in Hingham Harbor. The store, known both as Quinn's Bike Shop and William F. Quinn Gulf Service, was open from the 1950s until the early 1990s.

When Quinn started working at his dad's store in the early 1980s, he become a devoted rider and bicycle racer.

"I figured if I'm going to work there, I'm going to get into it, which I did from day one," said Quinn, who raced weekly with the Mass. Bay Road Club from 1981 until about 2000.

Quinn said the Mass. Bay Road Club continues to host races each Tuesday at Hingham's Wompatuck State Park.

Quinn still rides, competing in cycle cross, mountain biking and commuting to Weymouth from Marshfield on a 19-mile, tree-lined route through Hingham and the Wompatuck State Park.

The Bicycle Link started out supporting the racing community with the skinny-tired racing bikes. As racing dropped off slightly in popularity, the store began catering to a new clientele. 

"We're now basically devoted to the charity bike ride people," said Quinn, referencing the PanMass Challenge and other charity rides.

He's carried brands like Trek and Cannondale through the years and kept up with the trends in the two-story shop that also offers full bike tune ups.

While different trends have reigned at different points, the industry is as fragmented as ever. The activities available are as diverse as the riders.

"There's so many permutations of bikes now there's no reason for someone to say, 'I can't find a bike that I want,'" said Quinn.

Learn more about The Bicycle Link at thebicyclelink.com or visit the Washington Street store seven days a week.