ASH Hall might spend a lot of time on his bicycle, but right now he is being run off his feet.
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With families across the twin towns – and the region – all in a hurry to make sure they have the bikes they want for Christmas; Ash Hall Cycles in Nish St has become a home away from home for its namesake.
He is now open seven days a week; and will stay open seven days a week until 4pm on Christmas Eve.
Because, he confided, “you would not believe how many guys come in here between 3pm and 4pm on Christmas Eve to buy a bike for the next day – and it’s always guys”.
But that late rush is still weeks away.
Right now Ash is struggling to keep up with the normal demand.
And that doesn’t even take into account the rest of his work – servicing and/or repairing bikes of all makes, sizes and styles.
It is one of the many things on which Ash prides himself.
“If it has a tyre and a tube, I can fix it,” he said.
“Even better, if you are unable to get to us, we have a pickup service so we’ll come and collect your bike.”
His shop is an Aladdin’s Cave of cutting edge, two-wheel technology which includes brands such as Specialized, Trek, Scott, Mongoose, Norco, Merida and Avanti.
Ash said his business also stocks all the leading brands of clothing and equipment from Specialized, Giro, Pearl Izumi, Thule, Garmin, Shiman, Sram, 100% and many more – “if it’s not listed, ask us”.
Also, check out the range of scooters – with the virtually indestructible Envy Prodigy S8 the scooter de jour.
“The scooters, like your bikes, require an approved helmet and I would recommend some knee or elbow pads, particularly for those starting out and wanting to learn a few tricks,” Ash added. “The other bike we have that is becoming increasingly popular is the Trek e-bike where your pedalling power is dramatically multiplied with an electric boost via a long-life battery you can recharge through any household outlet.”
The other thing Ash insists on is every customer gets the bike that is best for them.
He would be, he said, mortified if he sent someone home with a bike they could not use properly.
And he knows a fair bit about that himself because Ash basically lives and breathes bicycles.
He has been riding since he was 15 years old; and started his competitive career by racing the school bus home on his BMX, from where he progressed into formal competitive road racing in his late teens and went to high level competition in his early twenties.
He has worked in the bicycle industry his entire life in shops and as a mechanic. A serious racing accident in the Tattersall’s Cup kept him off the bike for 11 years – in fact he had been told he would be lucky to ever ride again, let alone race.
But his passion for the bike industry was not dulled and he eventually got back on the bike and through grit and determination lifted his riding back to competitive state level racing.
Though retired from elite competition he still tries to get in a good ride at least four or five times every week.
Cycling technology is another thing Ash has to stay ahead of and his shop does updates and runs diagnostics on electronic gearing as well as updates on other electronics such as Garmin software, power meters etc.
“We also offer Body Geometry Fit, a comprehensive fit philosophy created to help cyclists ride faster, longer and in greater comfort, while reducing the chance for injury,” Ash said.
“The process involves a one-on-one appointment with a rider, their bike and a qualified fit specialist,” he said.
“It can take a couple of hours, and includes a pre-fit interview, flexibility assessment, side view and front view assessment and changes and a follow up appointment.
“And don’t forget, we don’t just do bikes.
“We also do basic repairs on wheelchairs, scooters, trikes, buggies etc, and also repair punctures for all size wheels.
“We service what we sell, and offer after sales support – we can even help you custom build your dream bike.”
But for the moment he’s still facing that tsunami of demand for Christmas bikes and will have the shop open from 9am-5.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm Saturdays and 10am-3pm Sundays until Christmas Eve.
More details from Ash Hall Cycles, 37 Nish St, Echuca. Phone 5482 4706 or email ashhallcycles@bigpond.com