When two people with decades of business savvy and a mutual love of bikes join forces, the next step seems simple: open a bike shop. When Levi Bourne purchased the Hardwick Inn in the center of downtown Hardwick in early 2024, he had the dream of opening a bike shop in mind. With a proven track record of entrepreneurship, with over 20 years at Bourne’s Energy culminating in the position of President, and an avid mountain biker, he was ready for a new business venture. He put out some feelers in the community, and quickly connected with Jason Bahner, who has had a similar dream for most of his life. Bahner owned and operated Wheels Around Waterbury for 20 years, one of the first mountain bike programs for kids in Vermont. Bahner’s goal was not just to teach skills, but also hard work, ethic, and character. After all, “great riders make better people.”

Riverside Cycles went from an idea, to a concept, to a brick and mortar business in just a few short months, pening with limited hours in mid August 2024. Just a minute down the hill from the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and the Hardwick Trails network, the location is ideal for a bike shop. With a wide range of bikes from Cannondale and Rocky Mountain, including kids bikes, e-bikes, gravel bikes, entry level and advanced mountain bikes, and everything in between. Full service tune up options as well as a “stop and drop” options for quick fixes make sure that everyone stays safe and happy on their bikes. All the usuals apply for accessories: helmets, grips, pedals, bells, and of course some Riverside Cycles apparel.

Bourne shares: “it’s no secret that a bike shop can be a huge contributor to a community. Offering essential services for transportation while also nurturing a growing interest in outdoor recreation and personal fitness. Both Jason and I feel this is a piece of the Hardwick economic ecosystem that has been missing for a long time and we are so excited to be able to bring this to fruition.”