ST. GEORGE – Giving back to the community. That’s something that William Shake, owner of High Knees Cycling, takes very seriously. High Knees is located at 2052 E. Red Hills Parkway, and specializes in teaching the community about the joy of cycling.

“I’m a big believer in paying it forward,” Shake said. “We sponsor the city of St. George and the local triathlon club.”

The club has over 60 members this year, and is growing. “It is a good group and we want to get behind it,” Shake said.

It is Shake’s passion for cycling and his desire to share that passion with the community that drives him to provide the best possible cycling experience for beginning athletes, as well as experienced triathlon competitors.

High Knees hosts many cycling clubs who come into St. George to train. Recently about 50 riders from Balanced Art Multisport of Sandy were able to use the High Knees shop as their headquarters for a three-day training event.

By hosting these events, High Knees is boosting the local economy as riders are staying at area hotels and eating in the restaurants. This is one way that Shake said he feels he can contribute to the local economy.

But its not just the professional that Shake wants to see riding.

“We are here for the entry level athlete,” Shake said. “We really want to teach our customers about cycling. We want to have a relationship with them.”

Bike mechanic bays are in the open where customers can watch the mechanics work on their bikes, ask questions and learn how to fix and maintain their bikes themselves.

“My biggest goal is to educate customers about their bikes,” Shake said. “Some people will buy a bike and are never taught how it shifts. They ride it a couple of times and then it sits in the garage.”

High Knees is customer-centered. “We want to know our customers and we want our customers to know us,” Shake said.

It is important to Shake that his customers know how to use their bikes before they hit the streets. A beginning bike rider can soon become an accomplished rider, he said, if they are properly educated.

This is why High Knees conducts classes the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Classes teach basics like how to change a tire and basic mechanics of the bike, yoga for athletes, and the importance of good nutrition while riding and training. Besides these examples, High Knees classes cover a large variety of topics.

Gary Quinn is an avid cyclist and frequent customer of High Knees.

“The well educated cyclist is a safer cyclist,” Quinn said. “When people start to understand the science, technology and health benefits of riding, they will enjoy cycling.”

Cycling is a great way to stay fit. But for Quinn, he also lives for the spirit of adventure and exploration that cycling allows.

“Biking opens up the area and you can see a lot more from a bike then you ever will see from a car window,” Quinn said. “I get a certain joy of discovery when I’m on my bike.”

For Shake, bike riding is about families. It’s a “Family Fondo,” he said, drawing on the term “Gran Fondo” of large cycling events. Cycling can be enjoyed, and should be enjoyed by families riding together, he said.

“That is something I’d like to develop in Southern Utah,” he said, “that Family Fondo with other cyclists.”

Shake’s mom was a cyclist, his grandfather is still riding his bike, and he said he hopes his son will enjoy riding when he’s old enough. Shake’s 3-month-old son recently experienced his first trailer ride behind Shake’s bike.

High Knees Cycling invites you to come into the shop and let William Shake share his cycling enthusiasm with you.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

Resources

• High Knees Cycling  Website | Facebook
• Address: 2051 E. Red Hills Parkway, St. George
• Telephone: 435-216-7080
• Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A D V E R T O R I A L

Related Posts

• High Knees Cycling offers culture to the biking community
• Swim, bike, run; give it a ‘tri’
• Road biking, mountain biking in Utah’s Dixie, favorite routes, trails and resources
• The St. George Shanklins continue their 2,500 mile bike ride

Email: [email protected]

Twitter:  @STGnews

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.