Passing through the parks and by the old brick store fronts and zigzagging throughout the neighborhoods of arch-eyed houses, there is not much difficulty in the way of understanding what may motivate a rider into taking a trip around town.  And if a trip confined by the streets of this city isn’t enough for you, throw your helmet on, grab enough to drink, and indulge in a ride across our historic Capital Region.

If you wish to make more out of this fantasy, or if you already do, Blue Sky Bicycles of Saratoga Springs is a top-notch bicycling resource. For the past 10 years, Blue Sky Bicycles has serviced the local community.

Jeff Cimino, store manager of Blue Sky, was nice enough to break away from his demanding schedule and talk with me about the services and products provided by Blue Sky, their reputation as a multifaceted bike shop geared for all kinds of riders, and bicycling in general.

Blue Sky Bicycles is a full service bike shop that has everything necessary to satisfy your bicycling needs. The store provides accessories and services for recreational riding to the professional level, whether road biking, mountain biking, touring, or some combination. Jeff and his staff provide many services at their shop.  From fixing flat tires to professional overhauls, the mechanics at Blue Sky Bicycles cover the full range. Blue Sky also provides fitting services for athletes, which is necessary for competition riding. They also feature a number of top quality product lines such as Guru, Giant, Serotta, Trek, Specialized and Santa Cruz. Jeff remarks that Blue Sky works very closely with their featured big name brands and is exclusive with their product retail. 

What may interest you seasoned cyclists and/or those beginner riders is Blue Sky Bicycles offers free clinics during the spring and summer seasons featuring maintenance tips and bike care. And for those who enjoy the dynamics and hands-on engagement of bicycle maintenance, Blue Sky also offers advanced mechanic courses for a fee. It would seem that the spring and summer are the most convenient times of the year to enjoy bicycling because the weather can be more agreeable, but Blue Sky Bicycles knows that the true cycling spirit does not stop for nice weather. Blue Sky offers “spin classes” or indoor cycling classes, during the winter. “We try to have something going on at the shop all year round,” says Jeff.

It is no wonder that Blue Sky Bicycles can provide top quality products and highly specialized technical support. The staff is composed of a mix of area locals who are specialized and certified in cycling mechanics. “The knowledge our staff carries effects the customer experience,” offers Jeff. “I’d say customers have a far better experience than 99 percent of other bike shops.” 

Whether a person is looking for a three-wheeled bike or a $10,000 carbon fiber bike, the customer will receive a very professional response from the highly qualified staff of Blue Sky Bicycles. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a $300 bike or a $3,000 bike, the level of service is the same for everyone,” Jeff said.

There is much about Blue Sky Bicycles that is impressive. Their showroom, complete with beautifully finished wood floors and day dream destination decals on the walls, is complete with bicycles of different styles and designs hanging from racks and standing parked across the floor.

The front of their store is also a striking display of cycling accessories, which includes some items like safety vests, child seats, and riding clothes. 

As much as the success and reputation of Blue Sky Bicycles comes from their highly specialized staff and the superior products, Jeff commented that their success is due in part by the Saratoga area. The city’s status as a destination location for New York State and beyond brings many tourists and seasonal occupants to our streets.

“We have customers who live as far away as Australia and Hawaii,” announces Jeff. “Visitors come by the shop and are impressed by what they see and hear. The knowledge of our staff is immeasurable.” 

More often than not, a customer finds the Blue Sky shop by word of mouth, from their website, or is referred to them while on vacation.

As for the Saratoga area, Jeff said the city and the surrounding area is fantastic. He advises that the area is great for cycling. The Saratoga area has good roads that can lead you out into the gorgeous roadsides of the Capital Region. Not only does the area jive with tourists looking for enjoyable ways to live out their vacations, but biking in and around the Saratoga area is a mini-vacation in itself for the local inhabitants. 

“It is a great place to have a bike shop,” beams Jeff.  He has noticed that the county itself is growing, and with a growing county comes more people, and with more people comes more people coming in to the store.

This is an interesting parallel to what Jeff and his staff have seen happening to the recreational prowess of cycling. Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the population of cycling enthusiasts. With the achievements of Lance Armstrong and his proven abilities as an International American sports star, the whole sport has received a boost. This boost in awareness has been energized given the increases in fuel prices over the past year. The public is becoming keener to cheaper, greener methods of transportation, and Jeff has noticed this increase in his customers’ attitudes and sales. Much of the clientele at Blue Sky mirrors the products they seek. They manage a wide range of customers and customer needs.

Blue Sky Bicycles is growing every year. Their next realistic stage of development will be focused on expanding their fitting services and in the emerging commuter and lifestyle bike market. With the rising price of fuel, more and more people are rediscovering the enjoyment of bikes along with starting a fitness regimen for a healthier lifestyle. Blue Sky will continue keeping up with new products and accessories such as bike components and clothing lines. They will be featuring a new triathlon department sometime in the near future and is the current focus of their energy.

So if you are looking to begin bicycling, if you need to pick up any accessories or parts for your bicycle, or if you are ready to take your cycling to a serious level, Blue Sky Bicycles is the place for you. Blue Sky strives to share their experiences and help anyone and all who drop in the shop whether they bike two miles or 50 miles a day. 

You can find Blue Sky Bicycles at 71 Church St, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. For information pertaining to bicycles, recreation, mechanic services, cycling accessories, and/or questions call (518) 583-0600 or visit their website at http://www.blueskybicycles.com.