Updated: Bike rental shop opens Saturday along Roanoke greenway
UnderDog Bikes, a bicycle rental shop, opens Saturday inside Black Dog Salvage near the Roanoke River Greenway.
Owner Chris Heslin has experience with bikes from working as the mountain bike manager at Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing in Craig County.
He said he sought to bring a bike rental shop to the area because he wants to see riders utilize the nearby greenway that starts at Vic Thomas Park, and because the Grandin area has bike paths, but no bike shops.
His fleet of KHS Bicycles will include cruisers, hybrids, tandems, children’s bikes, trailers, and baby seats. While the store won’t sell bicycles, it will sell cycling accessories. (Update: Heslin tells me that the store will be a full service shop and although it won’t have an inventory of bicycles for sale, he can order bicycles for anyone looking to make a purchase.)
The shop will be at least the second the business to rent bicycles on the greenway. Bob Welsh operates River Greenway Bicycle Rental out of Wasena Park on weekends from April to October.
March 8, 2012 - 9:00 AM
This is the ticket to making the greenway a real gem. If development can bring light retail and food fare to locations throughout the greenway, this resource could be a real draw for the city. A good model is the Cape Cod Rail Trail, that is peppered with light (and not so light) food fare. Hopefully, the new development in Wasena will take advantage of this notion. Are you listening Mr. Walker?
Dont forget HITS IceCream Shop on the greenway at the Walnut St bridge. Over the winter he has updated/improved the access path from the greenway side of the shop. His homemade ice cream is always wonderful and he has a covered patio overlooking the river and greenway. I believe he opens for the summer this month.
@Kat: Thanks for pointing that out! I wrote about their reopening last summer.
I think this is a fabulous idea..
I wish him nothing but the best of luck..
and look forward to when it gets too hot
in Texas to ride..to come back and rent one!!!
Good luck Chris! Thanks for helping make Roanoke a great destination for outdoor adventure!
I am, Patrick, and I agree that our community needs to make this happen in lots of spots along the greenways. It’s very encouraging. If we can make as much progress in the next 60 months as we have in the last 60 months, we’ll really be on our way. So much cool work being pursued by so many interesting people. Congrats to Chris and UnderDog Bikes. Thanks for staying on top of all this Amanda. Take care, E
No more Blue Collar Joe donuts…..say it isn’t so!!!!!
Here’s the link to our story on Blue Collar Joe’s closing.
Hi Ed.
Thanks for all you do to improve Roanoke!! The Patrick Henry is beautiful. Now if we can just get IVY Market developed the way it was intended back in 2004! Any ideas on how to lure another good grocer that we do not currentily have? We need more choices in shopping in this area. Would love to see a lifestyle center in this area. Do you have any plans to get involved more in the commercial aspect of Roanoke and trying to lure some better upscale shopping to this area? We really need this to compete with other markets. I hate having to go to Richmond and Charlottesville just to have good shopping.
Sad to see blue colar joes close although the donuts at the patrick henry were not near as good. Do not see them staying open at PH. Will probabily close there as well. Sad!!
It seems that Mr. Walker has singlehandedly taken on the task of dragging Roanoke forward. Fortunately he seems more than adequate for the job.
I agree with you Chris on everything you said, sad to see them go too. I went to UJ once and the staff there was extremely rude and never went back. BCJ always had a great, friendly staff and even though they were 20 miles from my house I had no problems making a weekly trip out for a dozen.
Call me crazy, but shouldn’t we work on improving Roanoke’s ECONOMY??? “Upscale” shopping, dining, etc. is fine for the select few who can already afford it, but can’t something be done to ease the burden on those of us who are paid “normal” salaries for an ever-increasing amount of work, or have no jobs at all???
The complacency of those who aren’t directly affected by the multitude of social and economic problems in this country is exactly why we’ve fallen this far.
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF SPINY. THERE IS ENOUGH SOUTH ROANOKE/ HUNTING HILLS PEOPLE IN THIS AREA TO SUPPORT GREAT UPSCALE SHOPPING AND MORE THEN ENOUGH PLACES FOR YOU GUYS TO SHOP AS WELL!!
Chris’ viewpoint seems to fit in with the “Mitt” perception of the world. Remember what happened to Marie Antoinette.
Hmm… finally a McCain who makes sense.
Thanks, Chuck.
YOU KNOW IT O CHUCK OH!!
Do you have a link to a website or a phone number? I would like to check on pricing but can’t seem to find a website, etc for them. I think this is a great way to try out the greenway on a bike before investing in one.
UnderDog Bikes can be reached at 540.204.4276. You might try their Facebook page, too.
quote: “Call me crazy, but shouldn’t we work on improving Roanoke’s ECONOMY??? “Upscale” shopping, dining, etc. is fine for the select few who can already afford it, but can’t something be done to ease the burden on those of us who are paid “normal” salaries for an ever-increasing amount of work, or have no jobs at all???”
America is mostly a service industry nation now. We have priced ourselves out of manufacturing largely because wage wise we cannot compete with the Chinese, Indians, Asians, and the the rest of the world which is now becoming more capitalistic.
So if it is service industry we have, then support that!
The answer to more employees (more jobs) is more employeers and expanding businesses needing more help. Support this entrepreneur and maybe there will be more jobs added. Rent a bike, or even buy one! See you on the Greenway!