Though die-hards frequent New Canaan’s full-service bicycle shop year-round, the owner of Cycles on Call says recent glimpses of warmer weather have locals tuning up their bikes and thinking about cycling again in greater numbers.
Ann and Lou Kozar of Cycles on Call, a full-service bike shop accessible by the Bob's Sports lot. Credit: Michael Dinan
Lou Kozar, owner of the business accessible by the Bob’s Sports lot, told NewCanaanite.com that he’s seeing an uptick in traffic as locals shake off the stir craziness that’s followed a few nasty storms.
“When we get a little taste of warm weather—even if it gets cold again or starts snowing—people bring their bikes in and will just start to think bikes again,” he said.
Kozar, a 1983 Norwalk High School graduate (as is his wife, Ann) is a Seminary Street resident with a son in the public schools here.
Lou works on a bike at Cycles on Call, a full-service bike shop. As spring cleaning gets underway in New Canaan, plenty of people are getting bikes ready. Credit: Michael Dinan
Kozar operated a bike workshop as well as a traveling repair business for many years before opening the full-service store last summer. Response to the shop from New Canaanites has been strong, he said.
“I can never say enough how many people come through that door and say, ‘We’re so happy there’s a bike shop in town again,’ ” he said. “It’s so nice to hear that.”
Kozar said he believes it has been important for the store that people here know he and his family are local.
“I think in New Canaan, people really love their small businesses,” he said. “It’s part of the community, not just another store.”
Soon, the store will add the name ‘New Canaan Bicycles’ while retaining ‘Cycles on Call’ as its repair business, Kozar said.