One of Loveland’s local bike shops will say goodbye to the community at the end of the year, closing its doors after nearly 80 years of helping people and their two-wheeled rides.
Loveland Cycle ‘N Fitness was opened by Ed and Elmina Klitzke as the Klitzke Bicycle Shop in 1943 on the 500 block of North Cleveland Avenue, eventually moving to its current location, 524 N. Cleveland Ave., in the 1950s. Since then the store switched hands a few times, eventually in 1998 landing in the ownership of Rick Preiss, who has led the shop since.
“I got into this second career as more of a love for the whole idea of cycling and trying to change the world,” Preiss said. “I used to say ‘changing the world one bike at a time.’”
He said when he came into the business he had no retail experience but the technical background to understand bikes. He said while he felt comfortable doing the work, he had to learn the best way to sell his product.
But over the years he said he got the hang of it and had a lot of fun. As trends came and went, Preiss was ready to provide whatever the hot bicycle of the day was. (He said for a long time it was beach cruisers).
Over the years his bikes made their way out into the world, with some even coming back; a tandem bike that sits in the center of the shop now was one that he sold years ago, found on craigslist last year and bought back.
But the last few years served as an exit ramp for the business. Preiss said a number of reasons led him to make the decision to close up shop, including difficulties brought on by the pandemic, a shift in the market and just that he was simply ready to be done. Preiss said that while he had tried to get someone to buy the business for the last few years, it just didn’t work out.
“The sales pressures from everything being purchased online, it is just not the same,” he said. “People used to come to us as the authority for bicycle products, and now they come into the store knowing more about the product before they come into the store. The whole dynamic has changed. It is not as much fun as it used to be.”
He later added he is sad to see the shop have to close because “a town needs a good bike shop.”
“Whenever you put a lot of energy and your heart into it, of course there is sadness,” said Monica Rasmussen, the store’s marketing director and Preiss’ significant other. “It was time, I could tell the signs were on the wall that we were not going to make it another year if we could not easily get stock. It is hard when you realize that.”
But as the shop prepares to close once and for all, Preiss and Rasmussen reflected positively on what they were able to provide.
“We loved the business, it was a lot of fun,” Rasmussen said. “We loved the customers and we loved the industry.”
Preiss said he loves cycling to this day, and cites its positive effects on his health. As he looked back on his years in the store, watching customers come and go in the pastime he adores, Preiss said he doesn’t regret a thing.
“It has been a wonderful ride,” Preiss said. “We have always tried to bring good service and a friendly smile to everyone who comes in.”
The store will be open from Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Preiss expects to be open until about the end of the year or until he is completely out of stock. All items will be 50% off.
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November 20, 2021 at 11:01PM
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Loveland Cycle ‘N Fitness to close after nearly 80 years of operation - Loveland Reporter-Herald
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