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Matt Los of Gravity sports fixes up a bike at the shop (Derek Brade/ CHATNewsToday)

Bike shops expecting busy season

Mar 8, 2022 | 5:25 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – With gas prices soaring, a local bike shop is anticipating more people to be picking up cycling instead of their car keys.

At Gravity Sports downtown, they’ve already had a busy winter and they expect it to be busier once the weather warms up.

Lately because of COVID-19, bike shops have been experiencing a shortage in parts and bikes altogether. Matt Loss with Gravity Sports recommends that people come in early because supply remains uncertain, like last season.

If you are wanting to make the switch from driving to pedaling to save some cash, Loss recommends buying a helmet to stay safe and talking to staff at a bike shop to find that bike that is perfect for you. He recommends spending anywhere between $600 to $1,000
to get a quality bike to start that will last.

In recent years E-bikes have surged in popularity due to the extra power they provide to help cyclists get up those gruelling hills. Los said E-bikes in particular can be a great option.

“A lot of people who have mobility issues, or just like rediscovering the love of whether it is just biking or mountain biking, You know a lot of people who have just hung up the bike the last 20 years. I think those people who say I think I would like to try biking again I think an E-bike is a perfect way to get into that,” he said.

Once you get your bike and are ready to ride, Loss recommends getting a quality bike lock to prevent it from getting stolen.