It's no secret that the novel coronavirus outbreak has been one of the most life-altering and significant historical landmarks of the century. It has affected every person on the planet – most of which have been negatively impacted in a variety of ways. But in some circumstances, it has posed the perfect opportunity to make lemonade out of lemons.
"We've been very busy over the past few months," says Bob Soroky, manager of the Century Cycles bike shop in Medina. "A lot of people have been dusting off their old bikes and bringing them in for service so they could ride and exercise during the quarantine. We've also noticed a lot more interest in our indoor trainers because it gives people the option to stay active in the comfort and safety of their own homes."
Bob explains that biking has been an especially healthy activity to do during quarantine because it's something that you can do solo, maintaining social distance and getting in a little exercise at the same time.
The entire team at Century Cycles has always held the belief that riding a bike is an invigorating, life-changing activity – so much so that the business's motto is "Define your life. Ride a bike." And Century Cycle lives by this motto every day by going above and beyond the offerings of your average bike shop. Simply put, they're not just a store, they're a community.
Aside from selling everything and anything related to cycling – all kinds of bikes, riding accessories, parts, wheels, tires, helmets, shoes... you name it – Century Cycles is actively involved in communities throughout Northeast Ohio. Their three locations – Medina, Peninsula and Rocky River, serve not just as full-service bike shops, but as community gathering spots.
"Our Peninsula store is located on the Adventure Cycling Association's Underground Railroad Bicycle Route," Bob says. "And it's walking distance from the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in the scenic Cuyahoga Valley National Park."
The Medina store is also located close to some great mountain bike trails such as the Huffman/Reagan Park Trails and the Austin Badger Trails. And if mountain bike riding isn't your calling, Medina has some great paved routes that the team at Century Cycles recommends, such as the Medina Lake paved trails, Chippewa Lake Inlet and Rail trails, Roscoe Ewing Park paved trail and the Lester Gravel Trail. (The Century Cycles website has these routes and many more that can be downloaded for free!) They even rent out road bikes by the hour or day.
The Medina store also has a magnificent program called the Century Cycles Bike to School Challenge. The annual, community-loved program takes place every May – with the exception of May 2020 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Each year, thousands of students and their families from nine area schools participate. Throughout the challenge, students have the opportunity to compete for prizes provided by the sponsors. The Medina program in conjunction with Century Cycles' Rocky River and Bay Village programs constitutes the largest nationally-recognized bike-to-school program in the country.
Century Cycles is also actively involved in the community through their group rides. They offer free group night rides from their Peninsula store on the Towpath Trail, beginner-friendly rides in partnership with the Medina County Parks District, twice-monthly group road biking group rides in Medina and more.
They also seek to make biking easy and accessible. For instance, they offer pickup and delivery services. If you're too busy to make it to one of their stores, they'll pick up your bike, complete your desired services or repairs and return it back to you when it's complete.
If you're in the market to buy a new bike or upgrade to an electric bike, Century Cycles has dozens of options and they're committed to helping you get fitted for a bike that is not only comfortable, but something you enjoy riding!
"Electric or e-bikes have been really popular lately," says Bob. "A lot of people don't know this, but there are actually three different classes of e-bikes – 1, 2 and 3."
He continues: "They aren't like motorcycles; they're considered pedal-assist bikes. And class 1 and 2 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 20 miles per hour. The electric component of the bike is really there to assist you in your ride."
In addition to their e-bike selection, Century Cycles sells mountain, commuter, adventure, road, BMX, fitness, comfort, hybrid, cruiser and kid's bicycles. And when you purchase a bike from them, you automatically become a preferred customer. As a preferred customer, you'll get a free Century Cycles t-shirt, a free 90-day safety check on your new bike and 15% off all regularly-priced parts, clothing, and accessories purchased on the same day. Plus, supporting Century Cycles means you become a part of their amazing community.
To learn more about Century Cycles and to shop online, visit CenturyCycles.com. Give them a call at 330.722.7119 or visit their Medina location at 1059 North Court Street, Medina, OH, 44256.