Friday, February 7, 2014

BICYCLES UNLIMITED CELEBRATES 30 YEARS IN DOWNTOWN ST. GEORGE

90 South 100 East, St. George, Utah

Owner Mark McLaughlin, Bicycles Unlimited
When Mark McLaughlin established Bicycles Unlimited in 1984, his reasons were twofold. First, he loved cycling. And second, he loved business.

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.


- END -

No comments: