Healthy Habit Sports is Headquarters for Bicycle Sales, Parts, and Repairs

Thinking of the island’s steep hills and slender, winding roads, it appears fair to think admirers of bicycle driving would be dissuaded from pursuing the pastime on St. Thomas. Having said that, a closer seem reveals a variety of citizens have discovered creative means to address the challenges of an unforgiving terrain. It turns out bike using for fun and workout has become a popular pastime in paradise. In fact, some islanders have gone the excess mile to support the sport and commit in its progress.

One particular noteworthy supporter is area entrepreneur, Walter “Wally” Bostwick. In addition to proudly owning and working 1st Vacation resort Portray for the final 15 several years, Bostwick not long ago opened the doors to Healthier Pattern Sports activities. “I was able to change my pastime into a new organization,” Bostwick stated. In procedure considering the fact that January of this year, Healthful Practice Athletics has cleverly merged an aged-faculty workshop ambiance with the practicality of a downtown retail shop offering state-of-the-art restoration and repairs. Things for sale include things like car bike racks, bicycle tires, chains, and helmets. The shop carries elements from two main producers: Shimano and Sram.

Positioned up coming to Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Park, Healthier Pattern Sports activities caters to anyone on wheels — novices to seasoned cyclists. The shop’s down-to-earth unpretentiousness sets it apart as a relaxed put to “talk bikes” with individuals in the know.

The mission statement at Nutritious Pattern Athletics is: “To advance the use of pedaled driven mobility in the Virgin Islands and to boost safe riding parts. ”

With that in mind, the new Veterans Drive Advancement Challenge delivers a pedestrian promenade all together Charlotte Amalie harbor and the expanded sidewalk makes certain a harmless, strain-no cost sightseeing expertise. What a ideal location for biking!

Notably, its proximity to the brand new promenade adds even extra enchantment to Balanced Habit Sporting activities. When you enter the shop, odds are you’ll be greeted by mechanic-in-home Luce Robnett. Don’t be astonished if he is immersed in a fascinating restoration venture. That signifies you are going to get a 1st-hand glimpse at what goes on powering the scenes.

Recognized throughout the neighborhood biking group as “The Bikesmith,” Robnett has acquired an extraordinary standing for his means to restore and restore all varieties of bicycles — from primary kid’s bikes to significant-finish, superior-effectiveness cycles, mountain bikes and electric powered bikes, too.

“The pandemic contributed to major improvements in the current market,” mentioned Robnett. “Demand is large. Much more persons want bicycles because they are paying out a lot more time at residence. Bikes are economical, conserve revenue, and are great for balanced exercising. ” He defined that short term halts in producing, as well as shipping and shipping delays, resulted in source challenges. “If reconditioning the bike you have makes feeling, that is what we can do,” he stated. By the way, considering the fact that the store opened, Robnett has labored on bikes as higher in benefit as $10,000. By contrast, he also restored numerous Schwinns a loved ones had effectively discarded on their back again porch.

“I introduced them back again to daily life,” he stated. Multitalented Robnett also produced and maintains the shop’s web page Bostwick handles the shop’s Facebook updates. If you get the perception Bostwick and Robnett are adept at pooling their respective skills, how right you are! Referencing his private evolution via the biking entire world, Bostwick discussed that just after paying his early childhood in Florida, he attended significant university in Puerto Rico. Recalling teenage a long time, he explained, “Traffic was so dense in Puerto Rico, I could go away the residence 20 minutes later if I rode my bicycle to university alternatively of having my mother’s car. I’d nonetheless get to college on time.” Following graduation, Bostwick relocated to St. Thomas with his mothers and fathers. “My father was campus architect for what was then the Higher education of the Virgin Islands,” he reported.

While his dad and mom left island in the early 1990s, Bostwick has remained a proud St. Thomas resident and business enterprise operator. His reintroduction to bicycle riding took position 13 years in the past throughout the holiday seasons. “My spouse gave me a mountain bike for Christmas,” he explained. “She’s a jogger, but I do not like to run.” The gift impressed Bostwick to adopt his personal exclusive exercise routine. “I utilized to ride from just one Gourmet Gallery to the other together the waterfront,” he reported, adding, “It was all flat driving. ” Fundamentally the route took him from Crown Bay to Havensight and again.

More than time, Bostwick became much more adventurous and his explorations led him to link with cyclists known as the Fortress Storage Riders. “We rode at 5 o’clock in the morning to stay clear of the website traffic and the warmth,” he stated. “Today, there is a newer team called Remaining Lane Cyclers,” mentioned Bostwick. “They are pretty energetic in the group. Various members went up to a Juneteenth ride in Washington, D.C. ”

No matter if you are a member of a cycling group, enjoy biking with pals and family members, or take pleasure in the principle of scenic solo training, Wholesome Behavior Sports is geared up to satisfy all your biking requires. “We are below to maintain you rolling,” claimed Bostwick. Hrs of operation are Monday by Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to midday. For more information go to healthyhabitsports.com, adhere to on Fb, halt by the store at 14A Norre Gade or connect with 340-626-5633.

Editor’s be aware: Walter Bostwick is married to V.I. Source Publisher Emeritus Shaun Pennington.