In the dog-eat-dog world of local retail business, the weak are weeded out and only the strong survive.
So, it says something special that Pedal Pusher Bicycle Shop has been serving Harrisburg and surrounding communities for 50 years.
Over that time, the bike shop has stayed true to its traditional values, has served thousands of riding enthusiasts of all ages and interests, and has evolved right along with this very personal mode of transportation.
Ted Carskadon, a 54-year-old resident of Lower Paxton Township, has been Pedal Pusher’s proprietor and shopkeeper only since February. But he is neither new to the business nor the bicycle, experiences that give him an empathetic insight into the minds of customers.
“We try to stay cutting edge,” he said. “But we know we can’t be all things to all people. My biggest enjoyment comes from people being thankful we’re here. We see the delight when a customer makes a purchase. People can’t wait to ride the bicycle they just bought. It’s that joy.”
Jay Barnhart and James Hartman founded Pedal Pushers Bicycle Shop in 1973. Carskadon had worked in the store for about two years when he was approached with a business proposition.
“There was the prospect that Pedal Pushers was going to close,” said Carskadon. “One of the owners said to me, ‘We could talk about this.’ I wanted to see it continue because it’s been such a fixture in Harrisburg. Harrisburg needs a bike shop. I’m willing to take a chance because this place is worth it.”
Subculture
Gone are the days when bicycle shops were sprinkled in every downtown business district and suburban shopping mall. Today, two-wheelers often are purchased online, at mega superstores or at do-it-all sporting goods palaces.
But many come disassembled, and good luck when something breaks or a replacement part is needed.
“They know me, and I know them,” said Dick Norford, a local bicycle enthusiast and a loyal Pedal Pusher customer since 2004. “I’m confident they’ll do the work right, and if they don’t, they’ll make it right. I don’t want my bike out of service too long. It’s the kind of place I like to do business.”
Indeed, the local bicycling scene is like its own societal subculture. Everybody knows everybody else, and they share a craving for pedaling on the open road.
“I love the freedom of getting outside and using my power to move me,” Carskadon said. “I like that it’s exercise and that it keeps me healthy, physically and mentally. There’s a great feeling of accomplishment that comes from riding a bike. I like that you get to see things, smell the air, feel the sun.”
On any given day, Pedal Pushers displays about 100 bikes across its floor. Road bikes, touring bikes, mountain bikes, kids’ bikes, adult bikes, a handful of used bikes that were trade-ins—all the makes and models, all the accessories.
Pedal Pusher’s bicycles range in price from around $150 all the way up to $3,000. Repairs and service generate 65% to 70% of the shop’s earnings, while the remainder is the result of sales, Carskadon said.
“We’re a pure bike shop, and there’s only one of us,” he said. “We have a lot of knowledge. It’s not about putting the almighty dollar first, and people see that. We try to treat everyone fairly, and we’re honest. I think that’s what kept us here so long.”
Norford agrees with that assessment.
“There’s a lot of people who do a lot of business there, and it’s because of the personal service,” he said. “It’s like your car. You can’t drive it forever. Things do break, and when they do, you have to take it to people who know how to fix it.”
New Phase
Carskadon is optimistic for the future of his sport and his shop.
He traces the long history of the bicycle from its early 20th-century frenzy to, over the following decades, a niche product for kids and enthusiasts. But he now believes that biking is entering a new phase.
“There’s this shift that’s taking place, a shift in the mentality,” he said. “Bicycles are definitely making a comeback, with the price of gas and the weather. Plus, a lot of people are working from home.”
Carskadon is more than happy to ride that wave, offering his experience and expertise to a new of generation of cyclists.
“I’ve been very fortunate to come across an opportunity to turn a love and passion into a business,” he said. “I know I’m not going to be the next millionaire. But I can go home every night knowing I helped people.”
Pedal Pusher Bicycle Shop is located at 3798 Walnut St., Harrisburg (Susquehanna Township). For more information, visit their Facebook page.
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