BIKE shops in Tamworth are busy dusting off cobwebs and repairing punctures as locals pull their steeds out of storage to get in some outdoor exercise amid the COVID-19 shutdown.
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BC Bike Shop owner Ben Clark said going for a bike ride gives people "cooped up" indoors the chance to get out of the house and get some exercise.
"A lot of families are getting out riding and enjoying themselves, which has been fantastic," he said.
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Worried his Bridge Street store would have to close as the pandemic spreads, Mr Clark said it was a nice surprise when business boomed in the cycling world.
"We're so busy, it's just crazy ... we're struggling to keep up with the work," he said.
Mr Clark said the shop is selling more mountain bikes and kids bikes than usual, and electric bikes have also been rolling out the door faster than normal.
However, he said the biggest influx in business has been from locals bringing in their bikes for repairs and a service, after pulling their rides out of storage or hibernation.
"We check the bikes over and make sure they're safe to ride," he said.
"There's been a few spider webs we've had to dust off."
As COVID-19 restrictions force people indoors, Mr Clark said he's thrilled to see people out and about riding bikes for exercise, especially as a family activity.
"Hopefully people realise during this time that it's a good thing to do as a family, and once this virus is done, more people will be riding bikes," he said.
BC Bike Shop is offering a free, contactless pick up and delivery service for keen riders stuck at home, a service which Mr Clark said the community are embracing.
Over at Tamworth Bike Scoot Skate, owner Kris Faulkner said he's doing a week's worth of puncture repairs on bike tyres every day.
He said his business "really started going nuts" a couple of weeks ago, when COVID-19 restrictions around non-essential travel were ramped up.
The Darling Street store is also busy with repairs, as Mr Faulkner works to fix perished tyres, sticky grips and broken parts on bikes brought in from home.
Hopefully people realise during this time that it's a good thing to do as a family, and once this virus is done, more people will be riding bikes.
- BC Bikes owner Ben Clark
He said scooter sales are down with the local skate park closed, but mountain bikes are "filling the void".
"[Customers] say it's some of the only exercise you can really do outdoors now, so we've sold a fair few more bikes, and it's definitely about getting out of the house," he told the Leader.
Tamworth Bike Scoot Skate is popular among BMX riders, and with the track closed, Mr Faulkner said he's been impressed with the creativity of local riders.
"We're actually still doing BMX bikes too, a lot of dudes are getting the shovel out and building their own jumps, which is really cool to see," he said.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
