Hunter Seyfarth’s passion for bike repair began rolling 10 years ago when the East Lansing resident grew sick of waiting to get back on his wheels. “I learned how to fix my own bike when I was 14,” the 24-year-old said. “I knew it couldn’t take three weeks to fix.” Ten years later, Seyfarth continues taking matters — and tools — into his own hands as owner of Evergreen Cycles and Repair, 314 Evergreen Ave.
As sole repairman, Seyfarth replaces everything from flat tires and broken chains to pedals, and he builds custom-made models.
“People come in with all sorts of problems,” he said.
Hanging bicycles, tires, tools and parts crisscross the two-room bike shop, leaving enough space for a bicycle stand and a desk with a computer where Seyfarth makes sales and customizes orders. His new 9-week-old puppy, Brutus, also can be seen scampering around the shop.
The atmosphere is so inviting that many of Seyfarth’s customers and his good friends stay and talk while he tinkers with the bikes.
Secondary education and environmental policy senior Alex Ticu goes to Evergreen Cycles and Repair just for bicycle parts — he does most of his own repairs.
“It’s happened before that I’ve just gone in there to use his tools and he has let me do that for no charge,” Ticu said. “On more than a few occasions, he’s given me information, which has resulted in him not making a sale.”
Seyfarth prides himself on fast, efficient work.
“I’m picky about what I send out the door,” he said.
Seyfarth opened the repair shop in October 2006 after spending eight years at several other bike shops.
“It’s nice not having to, for lack of a better word, kiss ass,” he said.
Seyfarth said his journey to becoming a young business owner involved emptying his savings, taking out loans and turning to his parents for the funds needed to get the wheels moving.
Sean Green, a senior at Central Michigan University and longtime friend of Seyfarth, helped Seyfarth when he first started renting the space on Evergreen Avenue.
“I couldn’t see Hunter doing something like this,” he said of Seyfarth’s choice to leave Lansing Community College. “I expected him to do the college thing.”
Seyfarth was a prelaw and economics major at LCC before starting his repair business.
Seyfarth has plans of expanding his business to include a full bike shop with a showroom elsewhere in East Lansing.
Seyfarth said he has toyed with the idea of opening a similar type of shop in Kalamazoo where there are “lots more college students that need their bikes fixed.” He shared advice for other young people with a passion to start a business.
“Don’t let money stand in the way of a good idea,” he said.
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