Riverfront Cycle in
Downtown Lansing has become one of the most popular bike shops in the Capital region.
But there's more to the business than the wide variety of bicycles that allow cyclists to delight in recreational fun and vigorous physical activity. Owner David Hanson also manufactures a line of innovative training rollers, offers hard to find parts and accessories in the newly renovated shop, and encourages biking as transportation.
Riverfront Cycle was the shop of choice for Lansing native Andrew Marsh, who made a conscious decision not to buy a new car and instead commute solely using a bicycle throughout the city.
“I’ve gone to Riverfront several times to pick up parts for my bike,” says Marsh. “The shop has everything I need and I’ve been able to use a bike as my primary mode of transportation. It really has everything.”
Spinning into ManufacturingHanson reopened the local bike shop in 1988 with a new name and a single row of used bikes purchased from an auction. The shop's space was only half the size it is today.
Since its rebirth, Hanson’s shop has grown each year introducing more bikes and products. Riverfront Cycle now boasts rows of various high quality bikes from road to mountain and from commuter to hybrid. In addition to the variety of bicycles, Riverfront Cycle carries high performance clothing, bike parts and more.
But beyond traditional bike shop products and services, the shop also carries and manufactures training roller systems under the name McClain Training Rollers, a company Hanson acquired in 1999.
McClain Training Rollers are designed to increase and improve endurance and cardiovascular fitness of riders. Cyclists from all over the country use the rollers to train indoors, and are particularly helpful for local cyclists as they work to maintain their active lifestyle during Michigan’s harsh winter months.
McClain Rollers are the only rollers of their kind, and are manufactured right here in the Capital region of Michigan. The design and assembly takes place at Hanson’s machine shop in his hometown of Mason, where each component is handcrafted. The rollers are distributed throughout the nation, with hundreds sold annually.
Hanson also manufactures a version of the McClain Rollers designed specifically for wheelchairs, which offers the same endurance training and cardiovascular fitness as the original training roller.
Prior to acquiring McClain Rollers, Hanson sold the rollers at his shop. When he heard that Greg McClain, the creator of the rollers, was selling them, Hanson jumped at the opportunity to invest in a great product.
“We wanted to diversify the shop. A lot of stores in the bike business sold exercise equipment and we weren’t able to draw in many customers,” says Hanson. “We needed an item to keep us busy in the winter and subsidize the shop when it became slow.”
The manufacturing capacity also allowed Hanson to diversify into other areas. Unlike most other bike shops, Riverfront Cycle also creates custom bicycle parts. Hanson began using welding and other machinery once he began manufacturing McClain Rollers. Combined with Hanson’s more than 30 years of knowledge in the bike business, he has the ability to help customers who come in and request help in repair or customization.
“No one can do that but us,” adds Hanson.
Despite the economy, last year proved to be the most profitable in the business’ 20 year history. Hanson suggests the increase in cyclists over the past few years hasn’t had much to do with the economy. People are just becoming more health conscious and the Capital region is the perfect place to ride.
Capital Cycle CultureHanson understands the benefits and attraction of cycling in the Capital region from personal experience. Six months out of the year, he bike commutes the 35 mile round trip to the shop from his home in Mason.
“The cool thing about Lansing is the amount of countryside,” says Hanson. “There are paths such as the Riverfront Trail that make the area ideal for cyclists.” He’s also involved with one of the state's largest cycling groups, the Capital region's
Tri County Bicycle Association.
Despite what some may think, there are plenty of year-round bike commuters in Michigan and in the Capital region. “Every year, there are more and more year-round commuters,” says Hanson. “Winter time is tough, and sometimes it's bitter cold. [It's] below zero, and people are still commuting!”
The shop sells items such as bike lights and warm clothing and accessories to help these year- round commuters stick it out.
Riverfront Cycle also works to help build the cycling culture in the area. The shop hosts several workshops and classes covering topics such as bike repair and triathlon training, attracting participants of all ages and backgrounds.
The repair classes are very popular, according to Hanson, and he sometimes has to add more sessions to accommodate the number of people who sign up for the classes. The shop hosts six-week long classes throughout the fall and winter.
Moving ForwardHanson has more plans for the shop's future. He's in the process of purchasing the building he has been leasing for the past 21 years and purchasing another building on Larch Street. His plan is that Riverfront Cycle will move its storage, repair, shipping and some roller production into the new building, leaving more space for the showroom at the current shop. Renovations at Riverfront Cycle will continue into the winter.
While the store is still amid renovation and exciting changes, it remains open and offers something for everyone from the novice, recreational rider to the experienced racer.
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Andrea Kerbuski, 23, is a contributing writer to
Capital Gains. After graduating from
Michigan State University last spring, she landed a job locally and has been taking advantage of the benefits of residing in the Capital region. One benefit yet to reap is the bike trails. If you’d like to help her learn how to ride a bike again, please
email her.
Dave Trumpie is the managing photographer for Capital Gains. He is a freelance photographer and owner of Trumpie Photography.
Photos:
David Hanson, McClain Training Rollers, and the Riverfront Cycle showroom
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie