Bicycling Biz Booms For Local Shops

With high gas prices and the onset of spring, residents of Fort Smith have been hitting the streets on two wheels. But the cycling trend has been rolling forward for a few years now.

Johnny Blunt, store manager for Champion Cycling in Fort Smith, said sales grew 20 percent from 2004 to 2005.

“Business is really good,” Blunt said. “I think it has gotten better since the gas prices have skyrocketed.”

Blunt said about half of his customers are recreational bikers and the other half are with bike clubs.

Scott Chapman, owner of Scott’s Bike Shop in Fort Smith, said he sold more than 300 bicycles last year. That’s twice as many as he expected to sell in the shop he opened in March 2005.

After a successful first year, Chapman said he’s decided to hire another person to help run his one-man shop, and may look for a bigger place if business keeps growing. He does bicycle sales, service and repairs to all brands of bikes. Chapman has 34 bicycles in his 1,500-SF store for repair on any given day, he said. His prices range from $200 to $2,500 for elite racing bikes.