Center City Bike Shop Brings Its Repair Expertise to Temple University Campus
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On the Temple University campus, a mobile bicycle shop is helping students with repair issues, since there are no bricks-and-mortar cycling stores nearby.
Just north of the bell tower on 13th Street, Breakaway Bicycles' mobile repair shop mechanic, Sam Clarke (top photo), is spreading the gospel.
"I try to help them out and get them going for a minimal investment and a little bit of knowledge," he said today.
What's the most common repair he does?
"Flat a fix," Clarke tells KYW Newsradio. "Flat tires. It's not something most people want to do when they're on their way to class, and they're going to end up filthy. So they come to me, pay me $10, and I'll do it for them."
But Clarke says fixing a flat is a skill every cyclist should know, to help them become more independent on the bike.
A student named Chris rolled up for a maintenance troubleshooting issue. He kept getting "pinch" flats.
"I seem to be having trouble with an issue I can't fix myself," he said. "It's nice to have a little bike spot on campus to help me out."
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Clarke says the bike repair truck also has a stable of bikes, mostly single-speed, in the $250-$350 range for sale. He says those are the most popular style for students. Why?
"For their price," he explains. "And they're simple -- low maintenance."
