Adirondack Sports June 2024

BICYCLING
Buy Where You Ride
Support Your Local Bike Shop
JUNE 2024 21
By Skip Holmes
◀ IN HARRIETSTOWN,
DOUG HANEY OF BIKE
ADK, SAYS “SHARING
TRAILS WITH NEW
FRIENDS IS SUPER FUN.”
BIKE ADIRONDACKS
It is June and the weather in the great Northeast is perfect
for another great cycling season. If you like hot
and humid, wet, and muddy, windy or just a perfect
warm day with no bugs, we have it all.
All we need is a bicycle or two to fit the conditions
and the roads or trails we love to ride on. The backroads
are perfect for a road bike, the dirt and gravel roads and
trails beckon us to ride on a gravel, MTB or even a hybrid
bike. Or even the latest e-bikes that come in so many
configurations.
Selecting a new bike can be a challenge these days
with so many possible types. Visiting a local bike shop
should be your first step in narrowing down your selection.
The local shops have experienced employees who
will listen to your questions, show you the selections available,
help find the appropriate size, guide you through the
type of equipment groups each model has, let you demo
a model and if it is not in their current inventory get it in
a week or less in most cases.
Purchasing a bike from a local bike shop will provide
you with a no pressure environment, service for the bike
after the break in period, and with available inventory you
may even get a discount. Local bike shops offer competitive
pricing, with a value added addition of full service
and providing the right bike for the right person. Having
an experienced employee help you with the correct size
and proper fit can really make cycling an enjoyable experience.
The locally owned businesses are here for us, and
shopping locally is something we all should support.
There are numerous local bikes shops in the region to
choose from and what follows are highlights from those
that advertise with us – supporting your local Adirondack
Sports magazine! These bike shops can provide you with
a wide variety of styles at price points for all budgets,
regardless of whether you’re looking for your first new
bike in years or for that N + 1 in your garage.
Tomhannock Bicycles, just east of Troy, is owned by
Ted and Molly Madigan, and run by Ted and their longtime
staff. They purchased the shop last year from founder
and father-in-law/father Tim Bonnier, who’s enjoying
more free time for riding and pickleball, and “winter” riding
in Florida! They are a local independent shop with the
experience to assist you and have an inventory of MTB,
gravel, road and hybrid, and each can be selected with a
possible e-bike option. Each style is available in multiple
sizes and if not in stock and be delivered in short order.
Their bikes can be tested near the shop, and they offer
local shop-led rides weekly. They service what they sell
and work on all brands. With manufacturers’ inventory
at record levels there are discounts on many makes and
models.
High Peaks Cyclery in Lake Placid, owned by Brian
and Karen Delaney and family, is now in their 42nd year of
operation. They carry several name brands of MTB, road,
triathlon, gravel and e-bikes. They have a great inventory
of bikes for sale and a large inventory of bikes for rent if
you are in town for a visit. They currently have e-bikes for
those who want to experience the newly open section of
the rail trail running from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake.
They have a service staff to take care of any repairs or
adjustments you may need. They provide an enjoyable
bike buying experience no matter if you are a first time
purchaser or looking for an upgrade to your current ride.
The shop is near the Adirondack Rail Trail, offering rentals
bikes of all kinds, plus several off-road trails and offers test
rides for bikes of interest.
Placid Planet Bicycles, also in Lake Placid, and the
owners Kenny Boettger and Julie Voss are committed to
providing a local shop experience for those who live in or
visit the region. They have an excellent inventory of MTB,
road, gravel, and e-bikes to meet you’re riding requirements.
They have several technicians on staff to assist
with your tune up and repairs. They offer a personalized
experience when you are looking for a new bike and take
the time to ensure that you will find the right bike to meet
your needs as well as your budget. They plan for the many
local events and races to ensure that staff can assist all
cyclists with last-minute needs. Placid Planet also offers
bike rentals of all kinds, for road and rail trail, perfect for
test riding what could be your future bike.
Justin Oliver just cut the ribbon on Silver Birch Cycles
in Saranac Lake – formerly Human Power Planet Earth
Bike Shop, which he recently purchased from John Dimon
– who has run it since 2013 and will stay involved as needed.
Justin has been the service manager since 2021 and
has big plans for growth in the community – perfect timing
with the Adirondack Rail Trail a few blocks away – and
off-road riding at Dewey and Pisgah mountains. They had
a grand opening on June 8th and are looking forward to
helping locals and visitors get on bikes, even if you have
a small budget. Silver Birth sells MTB and gravel bikes as
well as some e-bikes and they have a variety of used bikes
for sale.
Also in Saranac Lake, Gear-To-Go Tandems has been
ably owned by Rich Shapiro and Lindy Ellis for many
years. They’re doubling the fun at New York’s largest tandem
bike shop! They have many top brands of tandems
in stock, plus have plenty of free instruction, tandem tips,
provide full-service repairs and adjustments, and test
rides are available. With Gear-To-Go, you can also take a
tandem vacation as they offer French Canada One-Week
Tandem Tours, this year from July 27-August 4 and August
4-12. Visit their website for trip details.
In Brant Lake, The Hub is owned by Drew Cappabianca,
celebrating 10 years. He was recently named the North
Warren ‘Business of the Year’ – reflecting their accomplishments
and impact on area community life. and offers
bike repairs as well as food, local beverages, ice cream
(and live music) along the shoreline of Brant Lake. The
shop does repairs to MTB, road, gravel, and hybrid bikes.
Next to the shop is Bartonville Mountain, which Drew,
Wilderness Property Management, and volunteers have
developed into a series of MTB trails – s “Brant Lake Bike
Park” – that are free to use by riders as well as hikers. Views
from the top of the trail system are impressive as you look
down on Brant Lake and the surrounding area. The shop
has become a start, finish and rest stop for several cycling
groups and events on paved and dirt roads circumnavigating
many lakes and rivers. Maps of local bike routes
are available in the shop and are part of the Adirondack
Cycling Advocates and Warren County efforts to promote
cycling in the region.
See BICYCLING 23