By Sumner Brown
Ever since March 15, I have noticed fewer cars and more bicycles on Belmont’s roads. I also heard that bicycle stores have had unusual business activity. I called Peter Mooney, an owner of Wheelworks, the bicycle store in Waverley Square.
Peter, how is business?
Busy. That is Busy with a capital B. We are very busy. We are designated an essential business, for transportation. We have not missed a day.
To maintain physical separation, we do not allow customers into our store. For service, customers call to make an appointment. Currently there is a ten-day wait for the next available service appointment. Before the appointment day, the customer brings the bicycle to our shop and we collect the bicycle and get the customer’s wishes. Then, while the customer waits outside, we take the bicycle to the service area to take a closer look. Then it is back and forth to the customer on the sidewalk and service station until agreement is reached.
Peter Mooney (left) and Wheelworks customers. Photo by Mary Bradley.
For sales, we have modified our web site so almost all our sales are done on line. A customer can see our real-time inventory, and there are links to the manufacturers’ web sites so the customer can see features and specifications. Our web site has sizing help. We avoid bringing bicycles to the sidewalk since there are so many bicycles available. This on-line sales route accounts for at least 95% of our sales.
The most popular bicycles are hybrid bicycles in the $500 to $700 range. We cannot get enough of these. Most of our products come from Asia, and Asian manufacturers have had disruptions from the pandemic.
This boom in bicycle sales is national. Bike shops everywhere can not get enough product.
Bicycle usage is up. People see an opportunity to bicycle, something they have not done for years. We always have serviced old bicycles that have been collecting dust, rust, and spider webs. Now the percentage of the old bicycles in for service is way up.
With fewer cars this is a perfect time to ride. Many people are using the bike path, but it can be crowded. It is a great time to explore the country roads to the west. If you get to Concord, Weston, Lincoln, it seems like there are more bicycles than cars.
This is a perfect time to ride.
Sumner Brown is a director of the Belmont Citizens Forum.
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