Cameron Meyer, a geography senior, is cofounder of the Outdoor Adentures Bike Shop. Besides repairing bikes, the shop is dedicated to bicycle responsibility and would like to set up bike trips.
Within the constantly moving world that is the OSU campus, bicycle repair and management are important to many of the students who choose exhaust-free transportation.
It is also common for bicycle enthusiasts to crave the occasional two-wheeled expedition, be it a simple ride around a lakefront path or a journey through narrow off-road paths in an area of dense forestation.
For these reasons Cameron Meyer and Nathan Diekelman have started a student-run bike shop on campus in the Colvin Recreational Center that offers something to satisfy both of the aforementioned demands.
The main priority for this shop does not deal with the stresses of running a business, but instead keeps its attention toward more enjoyable things.
“Our main goal is to run bicycle trips,” said Meyer, a geography senior. “We’ve always tried to lead bike trips, but we didn’t always have bikes for everybody.”
Beyond setting up bike journeys, the shop will also serve traditional purposes.
Amenities offered include bicycle repair, from broken chains to dismantled handlebars, and bike rentals, Meyer said.
“If people need to rent a bike we hope to have [one for them],” he said.
The shop’s name had been chosen before the store’s opening.
“For now, we’re sticking with Outdoor Adventures Bike Shop,” said Diekelman, office manager of Outdoor Adventures.
Offering a nearby location for the many bike riders on campus to have their vehicles repaired is only part of the message that Meyer and Diekelman hope to convey.
As bicycle aficionados, both recognize the many needs the biking community has. For this reason, the main goal for the bike shop is “bicycle advocacy,” the founders said.
The possibility of how effective this new institution can be is rewarding for both of the bikers, Diekelman said.
“You get to teach people about biking,” he said. “We’ll be the platform to distribute bicycle safety information.”
“We’ve been working nonstop to get the shop ready,” said Meyer, who added that for-hire repairs began at the beginning of the month.
Plans to start teaching responsible bike riding next semester are being discussed.
“In the fall, we’ll have some training sessions,” said Diekelman, “they will be taught by campus police.”
Besides classes, repairs, rentals and biking trips, the bike shop is open to other ideas to enhance the biking atmosphere of OSU, Meyer said.
“If there is an event that follows bicycle advocacy, we’re up for it,” he said.
With the variety of services offered come a variety of payment methods. Credit cards, personal checks, cash and bursar are all approved ways to cover the cost of repairs, rentals and other services the shop offers.
“You can also get parts from us,” said Meyer, “those can also be charged to bursar.”
The next event for the Outdoor Adventures Bike Shop is scheduled for April 13. Diekelman and Meyer have arranged a trip to the Syllamo Bike Trail in the Ozark National Forest in northern Arkansas, a system of more than 50 miles of trails.
For more information visit the Outdoor Recreation office in the Colvin Center.
Like a mountain bike trail, the future is unexpected for Meyer and Diekelman.
“We are really just getting started now,” Meyer said.
Hours of operation are set to reflect those of the Colvin Center. The shop opens at 8 a.m. until midnight Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. on the weekends.
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