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Oak Creek — Dave Fisher's new shop in Oak Creek isn't your typical bike shop.

Instead of selling mountain bikes, jerseys and clip-in shoes, he offers bike repairs, free advice, intriguing conversation, a history lesson or two, Internet access and an occasional ride on his 1948 Schwinn Town and Country tandem bike.

"This community has been very loyal. I think everyone is very excited there is a bike shop here," Fisher said.

Fisher began his pedal-pushing days dreaming about being a BMX rider when he was a teenager, and he never lost his passion for bikes.

Now, Fisher keeps himself busy running his business, South Routt Velosport, taking daily bike rides and figuring out how to decorate the two blank walls left in the shop.

"I thought about starting my own business for about three months, and then the opportunity just presented itself," he said.

Fisher is most excited about promoting a healthy activity and outlet for the youths of Oak Creek and South Routt.

He said the most rewarding part of his job is taking old bikes brought to his shop by children, fixing them and then seeing the children ride them all over town.

"For some reason, none of the kids in this town had brakes on their bikes," he said.

Fisher went to a trade school in Boulder to be a machinist, all the while maintaining his love for working on bikes.

"Right now, I am working on restoring a couple of my friends' bikes in France and Hong Kong," he said.

In addition to doing routine repairs, Fisher also sells South Routt Velosport T-shirts, energy bars and some of the antique bike items he has collected through the years.

Fisher said his shop isn't the kind of place where customers simply stop in, drop off their bikes and pay for services. Rather, it's the kind of store where people come in to chat, surf the Internet for bike parts and information and leave with smiles.

"This is definitely a hang-out spot," he said.

Fisher plans to install bookshelves to house his reading materials, and he hopes the bike shop will become an intellectual spot for customers.

Fisher is an active member in the community and recently has expressed his desire for a BMX-style bike track in Oak Creek.

At Thursday night's Oak Creek Town Board meeting, board members were receptive to the idea and discussed possible locations for the track.

He has experience providing cycling outlets for youths. While in Boulder, Fisher began a road club for at-risk youths, and he remains involved with the organization.

This year, the club made nationals, which was a bittersweet experience for Fisher because he broke his collarbone and had to take it easy throughout summer.

"When you hear the announcer say, 'Ohhh,' you know it's got to be pretty bad," he said about the crash that broke his collarbone. "But I got up, dusted myself off and moved out of the way for the next rider."

Although he still is recovering from the injury, Fisher rides his bike every day.

While the healing continues, Fisher said he is pleased with his business and expects it to pick up as gas prices continue to climb and people realize that bikes are a good alternative transportation option.

-- To reach Alexis DeLaCruz, call 871-4234 or e-mail adelacruz@steamboatpilot.com