Bike Repairs for Summer Tourists, Summer Residents, and Year-Round Residents in the Eastern UP
Here it is:
Bike Repairs for Summer Tourists, Summer Residents, and Year-Round Residents in the Eastern UP
Learning never really stops around here — everyone at Woods & Waters seems driven by a never-ending curiosity. That curiosity extends to bikes. With the Peek-A-Boo Trails now complete just outside Cedarville, more cyclists are finding their way to the Les Cheneaux, and more cyclists means a higher likelihood that someone needs a replacement tube, a tune-up, upgraded platform pedals, a headset tightening, rear derailleur adjustment, or simply some retail therapy related to their passion.
Sue wandered down to Asheville, NC for a 5-day bike immersion course offered by Jenny Kallista at the Appalachian Bike Institute (ABI). Sue is not a bike gear head. She's someone who looks at a bike as something with two wheels that's fun to ride — she calls parts "thingies" and sometimes by their wrong name. Obviously in desperate need of training. Over the week she learned to replace a bottom bracket, install a headset, replace a star-fangled nut (she still occasionally calls it a bolt), address shifting issues, repack a rear hub, adjust brake levels, and fit a bike to its rider. She also discovered Phil's Hand Cleaner made with crushed walnut shells — amazing stuff. These days Sue may not be the one turning wrenches, but she can change a tire, convey what's going on with your bike, and actually understand where a problem might be coming from. That's progress.
Brian is the bike nerd — and this is said with all love and respect. He's the type who will doggedly research until he understands exactly how something works and how to fix it right. As a self-taught mechanic who once won over Sue's dad by swapping out an engine in a Ford Escort, when we say Brian can figure it out, we have zero doubt. He spent a week immersed in an advanced mechanic's course at Biked in Grand Rapids, where David and KC graciously answered every question he thought of over five days — and maybe some he didn't. Brian handles tune-ups, truing wheels, replacing electronic shifters, swapping tubes for tubeless tires, finessing shifting, replacing cranks, and more. For more in-depth repairs, reach out ahead of time to schedule with him directly. And if Joe happens to be around, you'll realize we have mechanically gifted people coming out of the woodwork.
If we ever get stumped, Biked in Grand Rapids is a good friend and we can arrange to bring your bike down and back. Biked also has a suspension specialist on staff who can rebuild shocks — which, did you know, should be serviced regularly depending on your riding?
We're open seven days a week from May 15 through early October. Off-season repairs can be scheduled by appointment — just reach out. See you soon.