Jesse Drury Talks Savages- the longest established bicycle shop in Canada

According to the David Suzuki Foundation, cars are the largest source of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants—contributing to habitat-destroying climate change and increased problems with respiratory health.

Cycling is a quick way to get around in the city; it reduces the risk of many health problems and requires less than $500 for upkeep and accessories each year—a lot less than your average motor vehicle!

Making the move to active transportation is not one that can be done overnight. Just like owning and operating a motor vehicle, getting around on a bicycle is something that requires planning and thought: what kind of bicycle should you buy? How do you service a bicycle if it breaks? What are the rules of the road?

All of these questions can prove quite intimidating to new cyclists, and if they don’t know where to go to get the expert advice they’re seeking, they might be deterred from biking completely.

Savage’s Bicycle Center on King Street is the longest established bike shop in Canada, since 1897 they have been providing the support Fredericton cyclists need to get out on the road and stay out there.

This week we talked to Jesse Drury, Savages Mechanic, to find out more about the support and services they offer.

“We offer a number of different services: anywhere from bike sales, all kinds of different servicing… We also offer bike rental services, and we can do bike fittings as well—set people up on their bikes, make sure they’re comfortable.” Says Drury.

Savage’s is a one-stop shop designed to serve every cyclist’s needs. On their website you can view the different types of bicycles they have in-stock as well as browse their bike accessories, helmets, and apparel options. And their service doesn’t just end after your visit—they offer life-long servicing for free to the original bike owner, “satisfaction-guaranteed.”

The Bicycle Center also offers half-day and full-day bike rentals geared towards the city’s extensive trail system for those seeking an active form of recreational activity.

“We also have a tandem bike which we rent out as well. We just got that out on the road this year and everybody that’s taken it out loves it. I’ve ridden it a bit too and it’s pretty crazy, it’s a lot of fun.”

For those who are eager to learn more about how they can take care of their own bike, Savage’s has been providing repair workshops around once a month for the past year, with anywhere from 8-15 people registered for each workshop.

“We do an entry-level course, which covers very basic stuff—setting up brakes, gears. And then the advanced course will cover more advanced stuff—like disk brake, suspension, just different aspects of bikes because some are harder than others to understand.”

The crew at Savage’s also provide a range of organized opportunities for cyclists to get out on the road.

According to Drury, a variety of weekly rides set off from the shop that are geared towards all sorts of different cyclists, including the Women’s Road Ride that happens on Tuesday nights and Joel’s Rip (pictured left), a mountain biking ride that varies in difficulty level and happens each Thursday.

For those who are new to road-riding and hesitant to start, Savage’s offers 8-week programs to introduce beginner road riders to the scene. These programs expose cyclists to the etiquette of road riding and help increase confidence and comfort in the activity.

This wide range of services and support make Savage’s the ideal destination for all levels of cyclists, and a great starting point for those who feel lost or confused.

“We can walk people through anything really, whatever they want to ride, offer them guidance towards things they might need,” says Drury.

Savage’s also offers affordable bike options through trade-ins, used bike sales at their annual consignment sale, and financing plans. These are great for students who want the convenience of mobility but can’t afford the high upkeep costs of a motor vehicle.

“We’ve had a lot of university students come to town and say, “I need a bike but I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg.” Typically we’ll have something to suit their needs.”

For more information or to start shopping for your new set of wheels, visit them at https://sbcoutlet.com/
 

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