Bicycle shop ready to roll south

Reno downtown development is the reason Great Basin Bicycle is rolling south to new digs on Longley Lane at South Virginia.

"Due to apartments developing downtown, our time here is limited anyway," says owner Rich Staley of his present location at Virginia and Hillcrest.

The shop sells more than pleasure bicycles. It supplies working mounts for police, security, and emergency staff. Customers include casinos, police departments, the naval air station, even an ambulance company.

"For instance, at the Reno Air Races, should someone in the stands have a heart attack, the ambulance can't get through a crowd," says Staley. But an EMT on a bicycle can reach the victim and stabilize him until the ambulance arrives.

Great Basin Bicycle plans to move into its new 4,000-square-foot store by year-end.