I met the founders of Speed and Sprocket, Sean Condon and Liz Budd, at their charming place in Northampton. We sat in the living room and chatted over fruit tea and the purring company of their black cat, Salem, staring at me with his jade green eyes. In the comfort of their home, the story of Speed and Sprocket unfolds.
Best Foot Forward
BACKGROUND
Sean was a middle school English teacher, who spent many years working in bike shops. Ten years ago, Liz and Sean decided they wanted to start their own business. "We put our heads together and brainstormed what to do differently, that would mesh with our existing jobs and schedules. That's when we came up with a mobile bike shop." He thought they could still run Speed and Sprocket for fun once they retired from their jobs. "It wasn't so far into the future," Liz laughed. Each year, their business grew, until about three years ago when Sean was working two full-time jobs. "During COVID, everyone got into cycling and business exploded. I retired from teaching and am focusing on this," Sean said.
Cruise Control
They are open year-round for mobile bike repairs, home fitness bikes, and local gyms. To support the community, Speed and Sprocket work with the Northampton Cycling Club, Friends of the Northampton Trails Group, and All Out Adventures. They continue to partner with "Will Bike For Food," a fundraising ride for The Food Bank of Western Mass, since its second year.
It is easy to use Speed and Sprocket's services. Sean explains, "We serve everyone, but families find our help particularly convenient because we fix the adults' and kids' bikes simultaneously and ensure everyone is safe to ride." If you enjoy watching the mechanic at work, Sean welcomes your company! "It builds relationships and we make new friends this way." Unlike most bike shops where you book appointments weeks in advance, Speed and Sprocket comes directly to you with their shop-van, to repair your bike right in your driveway. "Some groups set a date where their neighborhood or business comes together to get their bikes done in one day." Liz added, "We also host pop-ups at the Longmeadow Shops and Easthampton River Valley Co-op. It's convenient. Grocery shoppers drop their bikes off and pick them up when they're done. That's first come, first serve, and a nice way to connect with the community."
They also sell niche bikes and accessories, such as water bottles, locks, or a set of lights for the bike, and install them for you. "Our prices are comparable to most local shops for tune-ups and other services. Customers are paying the same price with the added perk of not having to go to the shop," Sean said.
Most of their clinics draw women customers who want to learn how to maintain their bikes. "Our goal is to make cycling more accessible to people and make them less afraid about certain things that happen on the road, like a flat tire, how to prepare and how to prevent," Liz said. For more information on scheduling repairs, and to sign up for a workshop, visit their website at SpeedandSprocket.com.
Upcoming Events
In addition to home service, they also offer spring and fall workshops where they teach essential bike maintenance, including fixing flat tires, adjusting cable systems, cleaning, and tuning.
Sunday, April 2nd | Novice Bicycle Maintenance Workshop
Thursday, April 6th | General Bike Maintenance Workshop
Thursday, April 20th | Brakes and Derailleurs Workshop