By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — Rockford Bicycle Co. is under new ownership that aims to grow the sport here with group rides and other cycling events.
Bryce Mead, president of Mead’s Bike Shop, took over the store at 4169 N. Perryville Road last week. It’s the company’s third location. It also has stores in Sterling and Peoria.
“There’s a lot of good things about this location … beautiful building, we’ve got the bike path right out front,” said Mead, who is hiring at the Rockford shop. “It doesn’t happen over night, but over time you can really turn some things around and really make Rockford a cycling destination.”
Related: Rockford to reconstruct Chestnut Street, add bike lanes
The 41-year-old former professional cyclist started the company 18 years ago doing repairs off his front porch in Sterling.
“We started with no money and just one bike at a time,” he said.
After a year of repair work, he added sales.
“I don’t think we’ve stopped growing since that second year,” Mead said.
Related: 2 ‘trailblazers’ behind Perryville Path celebrated. Here’s its next extension
He expanded from Sterling to open Trek Bicycle Peoria about three years ago, and then added Rockford after Trek reached out about the opportunity to take over the store.
The Rockford shop does repairs and service work and is a retailer primarily for Trek and Electra Bikes.
About | Rockford Bicycle Co.
Where: 4169 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park
On the web: facebook.com/RockfordBicycleCompany
Phone: 815-636-0664
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.