The University of Alabama Outdoor Recreation Bike Shop was recently revamped in order to better serve the University. The shop has also adjusted its prices.

With an increase in bike repairs and the expansion of the Bama Bikes rental program, the mechanics of the bike shop knew they had to rearrange and organize their workshop in order to maximize their space effectively.

(See also “UA campaigns for bicycle safety“)

“We’re working to fit as many bikes in here as we can,” Justin Vaught, a senior majoring in English and bike shop manager, said. “What we were running into was the demand for service [increasing] like crazy. As the years have progressed, the demand for bikes has sky rocketed. We realized that we need to be on point all the time to make sure that we’re serving students as well as possible.”

Outdoor Recreation coordinator Stephen Middleton said fall is the busiest time for the bike shop. The mechanics see about 100 bikes each month.

“We are up to our ears in bikes during the fall,” Middleton said. “Right now, you can actually walk through our store. In the fall, that’s not always the case.”

(See also “As bike racks migrate, students become inconvenienced“)

To prepare for the upcoming fall season, the shop purchased an extra double stand to repair bikes on, allowing mechanics to work on at least three bikes at a time. It also added more shelving to clear up floor space and began storing tires along the ceiling.

Vaught said the shop had to raise its prices to reflect the market.

“We decided to be a bit more competitive with our pricing, but to also offer student-friendly deals,” he said. “We’ve set it up so a student comes in and needs to just get on the road, they’re not looking for a full over haul, so we can do [repairs] at less of a cost to them. They’re just trying to get to class, so we want to accommodate that.”

The shop also offers the Bama Bike program, which allows students to rent out bikes by the month. Vaught said the program has grown over the years and the shop is working on adding more bikes and variety to the selection.

“We are in the process of expanding our Bama Bike program even more,” Vaught said. “We’ve got a deal with Fuji bikes. We’re bringing in eight cruisers and eight single speeds; it’s sort of a higher-end Bama Bike. It’s to give students a little quicker, sportier option.”

In addition to growing the shop and rental program, the bike shop staff hopes to get a safety program started. This informational program will inform students about the rules of the road and how to be safe while riding a bike.

(See also “Dangerous bikers“)