Bike Geeks Open New Summit Shop

Inspired by European bicycle shops, a pair of Union County bike enthusiasts have turned a former Summit car dealership into a state of the art bike shop. Aptly named Hilltop Bicycles, the Springfield Avenue shop's owners hope to attract everyone from certified bike geeks who ride 50 miles every weekend, to that parent looking for a first bike for their 10 year old. 

"We saw that Summit lacked a good bike shop," said Dunn, who was sporting a shirt that actually read "Bike Geek." The lease on the property was signed in December and bikes started coming in after Jan. 3. The aim for Dunn and business partner, Sam Cooper, was to open a family friendly bike shop that also catered to serious cyclists. "We have something for everyone," he said. The duo has worked in bike shops in Westfield and Cranford with a combined 20 years in the bicycle retailing game. 

The shop specializes in Giant and Guru branded bikes as well as custom-built carbon frame bikes. A small area in the rear of the shop acts as a custom-fitting room that matches a rider to the proper bike size. The stores bike mechanic, Marc Ivory, works alongside a bar with stools that customers can pull up to watch the work done on their bikes.

Many of their entry-level bikes start in the $600 to $700 range, but maintaining a certain price-point isn't the goal for the new venture, which opened on Saturday, March 3. Rather, it's building a community around bicycles and giving Summit something local. 

Timing was everything for opening Hilltop said Dunn. Giant, the bike manufacturer was looking to expand its operations in the Garden State and take advantage of its factory in Cranberry which provides overnight shipping.

Adding to the community vibe, Dunn says Hilltop Bicycles will open group rides which will last for around 20 miles starting next week. He hopes to get groups together on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday for the rides. "We want other cyclists in the community to meet each other," said Dunn.

The shop is offering a grand opening special through April, which includes 50 percent off a bike tune-up as well as other packages.

Ivory, a bike mechanic for 15 years, says regular maintenance is an important aspect of riding and owning a bike. Hilltop Bicycles offers free repair estimates. The following are things Ivory says are often overlooked when owning a bike:

• Wear and tear on tires.
• When brake and gear cables need replacing.
• Worn-out brake pads.

An avid cyclist who often goes on 50 mile bike rides with friends, Dunn says he was left unsatisfied with other bike shops in the area, which is why he wanted to open his own. "We do this because we love cycling," he said.

Hilltop Bicycles, 314 Springfield Ave., 219-4622. www.hilltopbicycles.com, @HilltopBicycles on Twitter, or via Facebook.