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| 90 South 100 East, St. George, Utah |
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| Owner Mark McLaughlin, Bicycles Unlimited |
Having just
completed an associate’s degree and series of business courses at Dixie State
University (then College), McLaughlin found the idea of opening his own store
both exciting and appealing. At age 12, he took his first job working in
retail, and says he discovered early on that he enjoyed working with people in
a one-on-one setting. Also, he enjoyed riding his bike to and from work, and
would save money from his paychecks to upgrade his bike parts.
“For me, cycling
has always been a lot of fun and something I want to do,” McLaughlin says. “As
a kid I remember most days riding my bike from right after school until dinner
time or later.”
Putting himself
through college, McLaughlin worked as a mechanic at Larry’s Spoke & Pedal,
the local bicycle shop established in 1973. When it came time to make a career
decision, he says it made sense to him to open a bike shop. However, in 1984,
McLaughlin was given the opportunity to purchase Larry’s Spoke & Pedal
where he had been employed for the past four years. With young entrepreneurial
aspirations, McLaughlin decided this was the path he would take.
With McLaughlin
taking over in early spring 1984, the old Larry’s Spoke & Pedal bike shop
received a springtime facelift and a name change to the current Bicycles
Unlimited. Although the store has been through a few upgrades and remodels
since then, the name, owner and location have remained the same for the past 30
years. And so has the owner’s love for cycling.
“It’s just really
fun to be part of an industry that contributes to people’s happiness and
well-being,” McLaughlin says. “Over the years the technologies have improved,
building and maintaining riding trails have become a priority in our community,
and the number of cyclists just keeps growing,” he says. “It’s a business where
customers are happy, and I really like that.”
McLaughlin
recalls making his first top-of-the-line bike purchase in 1972 of a Schwinn
Continental Road bike with European parts. The bike was a sought after model in
the day and weighed in at 39 pounds. Today, his bike of choice is a Cervelo
Road bike that weighs in at 13 pounds, 26 pounds less than his state-of-the-art
bike purchased 42 years ago.
“A lot has
changed over the years in terms of materials and streamlining for speed and
safety,” he says. “But working with great customers in a great community is
still the same, and we enjoy being here every day.”
This March,
Bicycles Unlimited will begin celebrating their 30-year anniversary with
customer appreciation activities, discounts and a series of celebration events.
From February 27
through March 1, bike manufacturers Cannondale and GT will bring their brand
trailers filled with demo bikes to St. George to allow customer fittings and
trial riding. Demo
rides will take place at the Bearclaw Poppy Trail parking lot (historic Green
Valley Trail). From 11 a.m. to dusk, southern Utah bike hobbyists and
enthusiasts are invited to try out top-of-the-line, full-suspension bikes
riding the trails and testing the latest in bike technology and performance.
“This is a really
neat opportunity for anyone interested in bikes to experience the newest models
and the latest in technology,” McLaughlin says. “We are excited to be providing
this kind of experience for our community.”
On April 11 and
12, Trek Bicycles will bring its demo bike trailer to the downtown Bicycles
Unlimited store at 90 S., 100 E., St. George. Again, customers will have the
opportunity to ride the latest and greatest road and mountain bike models
offered by the Trek brand.
McLaughlin says
that today Bicycles Unlimited has earned a reputation for its friendly customer
service; huge variety of inventory, our skilled mechanics, our bike rental
program, and that we have same-day repair service available by appointment. “We
even offer pick up and deliver for repairs at a reasonable fee, and our
customers have come to know and appreciate us for that,” he says. “As a store
owner, reliability and friendly service are a lot to be proud of.”
McLaughlin said
he finds joy in serving customers from their first bike all the way through
their hobby, sport and various levels of interest. Over the years, he has sold
bikes to first-, second- and now third-generation customers. “It’s really
pleasing to see a customer walk in with their kids and grandkids ready to share
the experience of buying and owning their first bike,” he says. “There really
is something that is both meaningful and magical about the experience.”
To find out more
about Bicycles Unlimited sales, service or their bicycle rental program go to
bicyclesunlimited.com or call 435-673-4492.
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