Goderich Bike Shop opens Blyth satellite location

BY DENNY SCOTT

The Goderich Bike Shop is opening a satellite rental and repair shop in Blyth by taking over the Blyth Bike Tours business behind the Blyth Studio Suites on the village’s main street.

Goderich Bike Shop owner Brendan Sowerby said the changeover followed a partnership between the owners of the site, the Sparlings, and his company.

“Annie Sparling contacted us, as she was interested in our fat bike fleet and getting them up to Blyth,” he said. “She wanted to rent them out for [use on] the [Goderich-to-Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail]. From there, we decided to amalgamate the rental fleets.”

Sowerby said there will be a new rental fleet being operated under the name of Blyth Bike Shop, which will be operated by his company.

The operation will be very similar to the rental business that has been behind the suites as part of the Blyth Bike Tours business, he said, with a few more amenities.

“There will be contactless bike repair available,” he said, adding that people will be able to fill up their tires there. “We’ll be selling parts for people that need repairs and making it a drop-off site for people that need their bikes looked at.”

While the rental aspect of the business will be self-service, Sowerby does plan on having someone at the site a couple days a week for on-site repairs.

He said having an operation in Blyth is an intentional move because it has a unique culture and it’s the last community on the G2G trail before detours are required to reach Goderich.

Sowerby said he plans on operating tours and historical tours of Blyth as the Sparlings did before him, and is also planning on offering snowshoe and paddleboard rentals as a way to make more activities accessible for the area.

For more information, visit the business on Facebook or contact it at 519-955-5100 or by e-mail at contact@goderichbikeshop.com.