Paralympics helps boost business in Huntsville HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – A new shop in Huntsville is seeing an increase in customers following the weekend’s U.S. Paralympics Cycling Open.
Neal Gladden, owner of Rocket City Trikes, said his shop is one of very few locations in the state that sells recumbent tricycles. While the trikes he sells aren’t the same ones the Paralympic athletes use, Gladden said having the competition here brought recognition to all types of cycling. He also said people staying home during the pandemic was a boost to business.
“It’s something different,” Gladden said. “A lot of people started dusting off their bicycles in their garage and a lot of people said I want something different and that’s the trike.”
“There was a huge demand for any outdoor product and that made it a challenge to get inventory. It made it a challenge to get dealership with some of the manufacturers but once they saw we were serious they have been tremendous in helping us get inventory,” Gladden said.
Gladden said his wife and him have been riding recumbent tricycles for years now, and in November of last year they wanted to share their experience of the hobby with others. So they opened up the shop right in the middle of the pandemic. The owner of Rocket City Trikes said he feels this boost in business is here to stay.
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