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All Fairfield County roads lead to Bethel Cycle, or so it seems. The renowned bicycle shop, a 42-year Bethel institution recently moved to a new and historic downtown location: the old Bethel Train Station.
Greg Pelican and his wife Beth have owned Bethel Cycle for the past 12 years, and for Greg, living only two blocks from the shop allows him to do what he loves most. "It's all about quality of life. Since I have zero commute time, I get up early and train," he says. But his training rides are decidedly more rigorous than a spin around the neighborhood. Knife-lean at 52 years old, Greg is a "very serious racer" who trains 15 hours per week. Two years ago he was the USA Triathlon National Champion "for old guys," he says, in a duathlon, which is a "run-bike-run" race. His goal this year, he says, is to represent the United States National Team in the World Championships in Spain. He intends to get a medal, an ambition that doesn't seem at all far-fetched.
Greg slows things down considerably back in the shop and remains focused on his intensely loyal customers, who return year after year to tap his wealth of knowledge about all things bicycle. They are riders of all levels who come to ride with compatriots in the Bethel Cycle club, buy new bikes or fix or service bikes they've bought there (or elsewhere). "We have professional mechanics on staff who know how to build and service bikes, whether they are $400 hybrids or $10,000 custom road bikes," says Greg.
Fortunately those big chain outfits hovering in neighboring towns, whose prices tend to run slightly lower than those of Bethel Cycle, have not adversely affected Greg's business. He knows why. "The problem with those stores is that they don't have qualified mechanics. We often have people who bring new bikes from chain stores in order to make them work," he says. Customers, he says, try to save money by buying a less expensive bike but their purchases usually need professional intervention, and very little, if any money is saved at all.
At its core, Bethel Cycle is for and about the love of bicycling. "Everyone who works at the shop, including Beth and me, are passionate cyclists," says Greg. "We have shared this lifestyle and love of the sport with many loyal customers and have built a great bicycle club." Long may they ride.
Have you visited Bethel Cycle? Do you ride with one of their clubs? Let me know here, or find me on Facebook.
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