Prairie Pedals host maintenance clinic with local bike repair expert

After a brisk ride early Monday morning, the Prairie Pedals women’s biking group gathered in Wakamow Valley for a demonstration from a local bike expert on proper tire maintenance and emergency repairs.

Wade Ariss, mechanic and operator of mobile bike shop Velofix, showed members the basics of identifying and changing a tire tube, cleaning and changing a bike chain and answered any questions the group had about proper bike maintenance.

“It was a really good clinic [and] it was an amazing opportunity because a lot of us don't do our own bike maintenance,” said Laurie Ewen, a representative from the Praire Pedals. 

The Prairie Pedals is part of the greater Moose Jaw Pavers Road and Mountain Biking Club, and is focused primarily on encouraging women into the sport of biking. As a club open to all experience levels, an informational demonstration like Ariss’s was extremely informative.

“Knowing those basic things really helps give that confidence when you're going out on the trails because you know if you're out by yourself and you get a flat, [you] know how to take care of it," said Ewen. "Everybody from our group was able to make it out that morning, which was wonderful to see everyone.”

The clinic-style session was the first ever hosted by the biking group and also the first delivered by Ariss here in Moose Jaw. Both parties are looking forward to organizing more events like it in the future. 

For Ewen and the Prairie Pedals, more informational sessions in addition to group rides are definitely on the horizon, to help riders feel more confident and comfortable out on the trails.

“It's so important, especially for people who are new, which is what the Prairie Pedals are aimed at is the new to intermediate level," said Ewen."This was the first time we've had someone come in and do a program for us, and it's definitely something that I think we'll have to look into doing more.”

For Ariss, he’s looking forward to providing more expertise as well, especially as this is the first year that Velofix — locally owned and operated by Ariss himself — is available in Moose Jaw.

Velofix is a mobile bike shop packed into a van, which means instead of the client hauling their bike to the shop for service, Ariss comes to the client for an accessible, face-to-face maintenance experience with the person doing the work.

“We do everything a typical brick-and-mortar bike shop would do, from bike sales to repairs,” said Ariss. “But one of the perks is that you get to hang out in the van, chat with the mechanic and ask questions, and you get to see the parts and accessories right there.”

The pandemic has shifted the way Ariss and the mobile bike shop operate, in that he is currently providing service to clients’ doors with no contact, but he’s had a good response from both Moose Jaw and Regina clients so far.

The Prairie Pedals will be back on the trails on Aug. 3, with an early morning group ride to celebrate Saskatchewan Day. The group rides in a number of different locations in the local area and will be meeting at Buffalo Pound at 8 a.m. that morning to enjoy the mountain biking trails in the provincial park.

To join the Prarie Pedals or find more information on the group and their weekly rides, visit the Moose Jaw Pavers website here. 

For more information on Velofix or to book a service appointment, visit the website here.