Centre County bike shops hope for continued growth despite looming tariff threat
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Tariffs on metal imports drive up bike prices, squeeze profit margins in Centre County.
- Local shops focus to community events, outreach to bring new people into community.
- Independent retailers collaborate and prioritize service to sustain cycling culture.
Riding the high of an international bike boom during the pandemic, plus an emphasis on outdoor recreation from local and state politicians, the cycling community in Centre County has thrived in recent years.
However, the cycling industry has recently been caught in the crossfire of President Donald Trump’s trade war — notably, a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. That presents a problem for local shops in Centre County, which mainly rely on foreign manufacturers to stock their bike racks.
Justin Wagner, the co-owner and founder of Freeze Thaw Cycles on West College Avenue, said all of his store’s suppliers have raised their prices.
“We’re paying more for everything,” Wagner told the CDT. “People come to expect that these days, but my problem is when our profit margin that we’re expected to make is decreased to just about nothing sometimes.”
The biggest bike brands are manufactured overseas in countries like China and Taiwan, which have been targeted for reciprocal tariffs that are scheduled to be implemented on Aug. 1, 2025. The exact rates for these countries will likely be negotiated in the coming weeks, but Wagner indicated that the local retailers and customers in the U.S. will be impacted regardless.
Wagner explained that each manufacturer handles things differently, whether it’s increasing wholesale prices, retail prices or both. That part is out of Wagner’s control, though; he said his strategy is just trying to keep people happy through good customer service.
The Bike Roost in Boalsburg has seen its suppliers raise prices as high as 10-20% on some brands, but the local shop still continues to sell pre-tariff products at their original prices, according to co-owner Rich O’Neil. He said the shop’s focus is on bringing new people into the market, which would help in the short-term and also reap rewards long-term.
“We like to cater to everybody. We think that is key, but also the bike industry concentrates on a pie of already existing cyclists,” O’Neil said. “We are trying to go outside that pie and grow that pie from noncyclists, bring them in.”
To help achieve this, The Bike Roost has been involved in the community through hosting its annual Glow Ride in August and supporting cycling clubs in the area. Co-owner Jim Welsh argued that even with some price increases, cycling is a relatively cheap activity to get invested in.
“Compared to everything else that everyone is buying, bikes are potentially a cheaper option than a weeklong vacation somewhere,” Welsh said. “If you’re tightening your own personal budget, you’re gonna cancel a trip and spend a few hundred dollars on a bike, and that’s your recreation for the summer.”
Two Brothers Bicycle Company, which has a location on Benner Pike as well as in Burnham, is also trying to build up the cycling community in Centre County. Co-owner Nick Johnston said they are involved with the Nittany Mountain Biking Association (NMBA) and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, and they host weekly group rides through the Strava app.
Johnston said that while there have been price increases at his shop due to the tariffs, it hasn’t hurt his customer base. He believes a big reason for that is because Two Brothers aims to treat both cycling newcomers and veterans with respect and help in whatever way possible.
“If we continue to do what we know is fundamental to the foundation of our beliefs, we’ll be fine — but you have to continually innovate and be different,” Johnston said. “And I don’t know what the next turn is but, if you’re not staying on top of it, someone will pass you by.”
Local bicycle shops used to be a lot more competitive with each other, according to Two Brothers store manager James McTaggart, but things have become more collaborative due to their shared goals.
“There used to be a pretty big rivalry between shops, and it was just cutthroat,” McTaggart said. “But now everyone’s relaxed; everyone just wants everyone out riding bikes.”
The shops sometimes share specific bicycle parts, and there’s been plans of hosting group rides together to bring more people into the scene. The county has also made a big push to popularize cycling, hosting the State College Criterium this past weekend and working to build about 50 miles of hiking trails in the next three years. These efforts and community support will likely be key for the local bicycle stores to continue to grow.
“I think nowadays, as these prices go up, and you see all this changing, just support the local businesses that you want to see around in five years,” Wagner said. “You can always get something cheaper at a big box store or online. But if you’re getting good service from a local business, no matter what it is … the support goes a long way for especially the three independent shops in town. We all really appreciate it.”
