Pandemic Leads to Local Biking Boom
Life’s just like riding a bike, right? And no one knows that better than Bob McCowen. Mc-Cowen, 72-years-old, has been in the bicycle business for the past 38 years and has seen firsthand how the coronavirus has impacted the bicycle business, in a surprisingly positive way.
His Fayetteville location, 104 S. Church St., has been open for two years and within those two years, this time has been the busiest it has ever been. McCowen said, “I now do five to six repairs a week compared to in March when I only did one or two.” McCowen added, “As small as Fayetteville is, I now see so many new clients.”
McCowen mainly does bicycle repairs in Fayetteville and he has learned over the years that the artistry of bicycle repairing has changed. “Bicycles are more complicated now since nothing is universal anymore,” said Mc-Cowen. Besides repairs, he also sells helmets, padding and any type of bicycle accessory or part one might need. McCowen has also thought of possibly being able to one day rent out bicycles in Fayetteville.
McCowen’s business also goes hand in hand perfectly with Fayetteville’s annual Good Old Summertime Classic, an MS-150 sanctioned training ride that is open to all levels and ages of cyclists. All proceeds from the ride benefit the Fayetteville Independent School District. McCowen and his wife Yvonne have been a part of it since 1998. “What bicycling and riding comes down to is the cause and that’s what the Good Old Summertime Classic is all about,” McCowen said. Sadly because of COVID-19, they had to move the event to November 15 this year when it is otherwise held during the summertime. You can check out more detailed information about Fayetteville’s annual Good Old Summertime Classic at www.fayettevillecycling.com or on page A2.
Accompanying his Fayetteville location, McCowen also has two Houston locations, Southwest Cyclery Bicycle Repair Shop and NW Northwest Cycles Bicycle Shop which have also been keeping him busy. His son James McCowen, who is also in the bicycle business, helps him manage those two stores. McCowen’s bicycle businesses have been able to stay open during COVID-19 because his businesses are for transportation. “When the gyms and bars closed people still wanted to get out and about so they started to ride their bikes more around town,” McCowen said.
When asked why he thinks the bicycle business has seen a rise? McCowen replied, “This is the first outing of family togetherness seen in a long time and families are falling back in love with biking.” Along with families riding bikes, Fayetteville also has various clubs or groups that ride more frequently together along certain paths and trails. McCowen said, “People are also falling in love with the outside world again and it is a pretty great thing.” McCowen concluded, “Bicycling always just makes people happy.” So, continue to ride on or just stop by one of McCowen’s businesses to find the bike for your next great ride.