By Kevin Greer, Lakeside Communications Manager
After getting settled in, many Lakesiders make Sypherd Cycles their first stop for whatever set of wheels they are going to use during their stay.
Sypherd Cycles has been in Lakeside since 1977. They are most known for golf cart and bicycle rentals, but they also have mobility scooters, wheelchairs, strollers, pack-and-play cribs, tennis and pickleball rackets, baby gates, fans, cots and dock chairs. Sypherd Cycles also has bicycle and golf cart accessories and parts, and they offer bicycle repair.
The Sypherd family owned a bike shop in Akron, and when the one in Lakeside closed in the mid-1970s, a friend gave them the idea to open a store in their favorite summer spot.
“Somebody said that we should consider putting a bike shop in Lakeside,” owner Tim Sypherd said. “Mom and dad thought about it and said, ‘You know, that’s pretty daggone good idea.’ We opened our doors in 1977 and in four years we’ll be celebrating our 50th anniversary.”
Sypherd Cycles is located at 182 Sycamore Avenue. It was previously known as “Penny Place,” a two-story structure that was built to house workers building Hotel Lakeside. The business started with Tim, his mother, sister and a couple employees, while his dad was going back and forth from Akron.
“At that time, we had a few bicycles,” Sypherd said. “We didn’t have what we have now, but everything has really taken off since then.”
Sypherd Cycles is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but they do have Saturday hours in the spring and fall, weather permitting. The Lighthouse Festival tends to be busy, but that is officially the final day of the year.
Sypherd’s has an impressive inventory with 130 golf carts and 150 bikes. If a customer has any issues with a cart, a Sypherd’s staff member will head out to help.
“There are volt meters on them, so it’s up to the customer to keep track of it,” Sypherd said. “If it runs out, we’ll take them back to their place and get them plugged in. We keep stacks of tires here. We’re like NASCAR, we run out with our jack and lug wrench and down the road they go. If it’s a major problem, we’ll swap the cart out. Between my son-in-law and me, we’re well on top of the maintenance of the carts.”
After the Lighthouse Festival, Sypherd moves to his winter home in Port Aransas, Texas. This past winter, he started a golf cart repair business there with his son and daughter-in-law. He’s been coming to Lakeside since he was born, so it’s always been a special place to him.
“I like to walk the shoreline in the evenings,” Sypherd said. “It’s just the peace and tranquility and I enjoy that quiet time after a long day. Lakeside is perfect for that. You meet people and make friends with them, and that lasts forever.”
Special thanks to Sypherd Cycles for being a Corporate Sponsor for the Sesquicentennial Celebration.
