Clemmons Bicycle Your First Stop Before the Rubber Meets the Road

There are few activities that are as peaceful and physically beneficial as cycling. Whether you prefer riding a trail in Tanglewood or riding on the open road, proper equipment and instruction are a must. Since 1971, Clemmons Bicycle has been outfitting casual cyclists, those who like to ride with their family in a neighborhood, to mountain bikers, to road cyclists with every item needed to have the best experience possible on a bicycle. A small initial investment will get a cyclist a good bicycle, helmet, and riding clothes. Hydration items, energy gels and supplements are also available at Clemmons Bicycle. For co-owners Travis Beane and Josh Tucker, their love of cycling began in their teens and eventually brought them to owning Clemmons Bicycle. “We both began working at the store when we were about 16. Jim and Nancy Livengood owned the store and we started by building bikes and doing small mechanical work. When the Livengoods decided to retire, Josh and I bought the business in October 2006,” said Beane. For Beane and Tucker, the love of the sport of cycling fueled their passion of working in the industry.

The Evolution of Biking “There’s no doubt the attention that Lance Armstrong got during his Tour de France wins brought a surge in the interest in cycling. In the 1990’s, mountain bikes were popular, but in the last few years, road bikes have really come onto the scene. People find that trail riding is harder on the body and also requires loading the bike and taking it to a destination like a trail, but road cycling begins out your back door,” stated Beane. When not at their store, Beane and Tucker can be found on a bike of some sort. “We have a group that meets every Wednesday here at the store for a ride in Clemmons. Our Wednesday evening riders are of all skill levels and it is a slow, casual spin with low traffic. By the summer, we usually have about 40-50 cyclists with us,” said Beane. But that’s just on Wednesdays. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays another group, consisting of mostly members of the Piedmont Flyers, a local cycling club, meet in Lewisville at Shallowford Square and ride the roads through the countryside. As if these community rides didn’t keep Beane and Tucker busy enough, Clemmons Bicycle sponsors a competitive cycling team and also help support many charity rides that take place throughout the year in the Triad. “Being a part of the community through charity rides is very important to us. A few rides that we are involved in are the Lewisville Yadkin River Metric Century Ride coming up on May 10, Bush Country Metric, Mocksville Criterium, Angels Triathlon and Tour to Tanglewood. These events are open to everyone, at any skill level to enjoy. We set up the rides so beginning cyclists to seasoned cyclists have a good ride,” said Beane.

Sharing the Roads Beane and Tucker stress the importance of obeying the rules of the road. “Cyclists and motorists share the same road and we all have to obey the same rules. Cyclists must ride with the traffic, single or double filed is preferred and follow all the laws that a motorist follows. We also encourage cyclists to carry some sort of identification, either on themselves or on the bike, just in case of an accident,” stated Beane. Another fact that Beane stresses is that there is safety in numbers, due to being more visible to motorists. If the open road or the back trail is calling your name, stop by Clemmons Bicycle where Travis Beane and Josh Tucker can help you find the right bike for your needs, so you can make the most of the beautiful long summer days. Clemmons Bicycle is located at 2703 Lewisville-Clemmons Rd. in Clemmons. For more information on the store, local trails and upcoming events visit www.clemmonsbicycle.com or call 766-5564. For information on the local cycle club, visit www.piedmontflyers.com.

The Lewisville Yadkin River Metric Century charity ride benefits the Piedmont Flyers Cycle Club and the Lewisville Civic Club, and the charities that each group supports.