There is something about spring that stirs things inside of us. As the temperature begins to increase, so does our restlessness. We begin to visit with friends more, host backyard barbecues, declutter our homes in the arduous “spring cleaning” ritual. And when the tasks and events either lessen in frequency or become mundane we turn to the adoption of new hobbies to satiate our newfound energy. 

One pastime in particular that grows in popularity each year is cycling in its many forms. Some are hoping to get a healthy dose of adrenaline by flying down a mountainside at break-neck speeds, while others have been eyeballing the newly completed Depot Skate Park all winter dreaming of the day the weather is nice enough drop in on a BMX bike.

Others might have simpler desires of finding a healthy and affordable way to work — or to relive the days spent riding their bikes just a little bit farther than they should when they were a kid. Regardless of the reason that a person might have for wanting to purchase a new bike, the most convenient option is probably just to pick one up while grocery shopping at the nearest big box retailer, but owner of Cycle ER Kevin Wilkinson said that by doing so you would be depriving yourself of the many benefits that come with supporting a locally owned bike shop.

Wilkinson first became involved in the biking community six years ago when his oldest son, Ian, was invited to participate in a group ride at age 14. Ian was immediately enthralled with the activity, and his enthusiasm soon spread to his younger sister, Emory, who currently travels across the country to compete in races.

Wilkinson — who has always gotten enjoyment out of working with his hands — began to perform all the necessary maintenance to correct any issues that his children’s bikes may have gained during a competition. This practice would lead to him opening the City of Cullman’s only bike shop last spring.

“That’s a lot of the backstory. We just fell in love with it, just as family. We fell in love with biking and cycling and all that so it just kind of made sense because I was working on bikes all the time anyway,” Wilkinson said.

But what are the benefits of smaller locally owned shop over their larger competitors? For one, Wilkinson said for those who are new to the hobby, having a community of more experienced riders can help people more quickly become educated about some bad practices that might be making their daily rides less enjoyable.

“So, one of the things that I experienced when I first started riding was I would wear like running shorts or athletic shorts. Well, that’s all fine and good, but your butt starts hurting. So finally somebody I was complaining about it to was like, ‘Man, you gotta get you some bike shorts,’ Wilkinson said.

At first he said he was apprehensive about the suggestion, but when he eventually gave in to the suggestion he realized just how valuable experience can be — although he admits to covering the colorful spandex shorts with a inconspicuous pair of cargo pants.

“Finally I got fed up with hurting and went out and found a pair and was like ‘Holy smokes, this really helps,” he said.

It’s not just bad habits that can be corrected by visiting a shop such as Cycle ER. Wilkinson said that the $100 to $200 bikes that people usually will purchase are prone to break after just a year of regular usage. While he is more than capable and willing to repair these bikes, he says that after the cost of repairs a customer could have purchased a much higher quality bike that they will be able to enjoy for years to come. 

“My advice is to spend what you can afford on a bicycle. If you can afford a $1,000 bike, then get a $1,000 bike because you are going to enjoy the ride more,” Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson is even able to set up the bikes that customers purchase from his shop. Advising them on how a bike should “fit” each individual and make adjustments that will ensure a much more comfortable and enjoyable ride. All of this ends up allowing a person to spend more time on their bike and creates a better value for their investment.

“Local bike shops are key to the biking community in the way that they know how to keep a bike rolling. They have the expertise to work on them, and to make sure that you are comfortable on the bike. Walmart does not, or Target or wherever. When you buy from a local bike shop you are going to enjoy your bike more, plus you are supporting a small business,” Wilkinson said.