Having trouble finding a parking spot on campus? Many students are discovering that they enjoy commuting to campus by bike instead of fighting for a parking spot. What most students don’t know, though, is that they have access to a full-service bike shop directly on campus.

The Bike Shop, located within the Outdoor Connection Center in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Building, provides students, faculty, staff and HPER members a convenient option for keeping their bikes maintained and running properly. The Bike Shop has two bike mechanics and is open to students Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m.

“I ride my bike to class so that I don’t have to struggle to find a parking spot,” said Dylan Evans, a junior kinesiology major. “Plus, it’s good exercise and it’s fun!”

In addition to bike repair services, students may also purchase small parts like spare tubes, grip tape and bike lights. Unlike most bike shops, the OCC’s Bike Shop allows students to use its tools and repair stands to work on their own bikes for a very small fee.

“The Bike Shop at the Outdoor Connection Center is unique because students can use our tools to perform their own maintenance,” said Kenny Williams, graduate assistant for Outdoor Recreation. “Our mechanics will also allow students to watch them perform repairs so that they can learn about how bicycles work. The real focus of the shop is to educate students about cycling.”

For students who do not have a bike or who are looking to try something new, The Bike Shop offers rental fleets of mountain bikes, road bikes and cruisers. Bikes can be reserved and checked out for a half day, full day or weekend.

The University Recreation Outdoor Connection Center runs several cycling trips each semester around the state and across the country. OCC trips, like The Bike Shop, are open to students, faculty, staff, and all HPER members.

Whether you have a bike that needs work, want to go for a road bike ride, or are looking for an adventure like a mountain bike trip in Moab, Utah, The OCC Bike Shop is a great resource for the campus community.

For more information, please contact Kenny Williams at 575-2267 or krw009@uark.edu.