WRITTEN BY CHERYL WELLS
We have another business in Le Mars to feature in this issue that is really exciting. Bike Central was purchased from a previous owner and re-opened in the Le Mars downtown close to the Ice Cream Parlor at 200 Central Ave. NE. Cory and Jill Cunard are the owners, and they are residents of Le Mars now for almost ten years. Jill is the Le Mars Center Administrator and Nurse Sonographer at Her Health Women’s Center. Cory and Jill have a young family of four children and expecting number five in December. Cory has a background in business and finance.
Mike and I have really enjoyed getting to know this young couple and hearing some of their story. They have a big heart for the community and a passion for healthy living with a solid plan for what that can look like. Cory told me that bicycles make communities and families better. He is promoting and helping people to start to do group rides, family rides, and in a place like Le Mars people can even ride their bikes to work quite easily. It is a way for people to have some adventure together and get healthier doing it.
Of course, Cory and Jill both are avid bikers and enjoy the trail system in Le Mars. Their seven-year-old son loves cycling (pictured on next page) and has ridden several hundred miles on a bike already. The other three little ones all ride with mom and dad on a Mac Ride bike seat or in a trailer. There is nine miles in total in Le Mars on the trail system. However, many bikers will soon be using the new Plywood Trail that is under construction between Le Mars and Sioux City, which is super exciting for anyone that lives between here and there. Phase One is just about finished with some complications from the flooding. Biking will continue to flourish in our area and Bike Central will be a big part of that for sure.
Cory is doing a beautiful job promoting biking and helping bikers or want to be’s (like myself) in our region with their biking needs, and he’s having a good time doing it because he loves it so much. He sells and services bicycles from top brands like Specialized and Cannondale, and electric bikes as well. If you want a quality bike for your child to learn to ride you can get a Specialized Jett 16” that is lightweight and fun to ride. For an e-bike they have the Aventon Soltera.2 that has great features like integrated lights and a vivid display. If you are a little more adventurous, try out the GT Zaskar LT Expert hard tail mountain bike. There is something for everyone there whether you need a bike for an 18-month-old or an 80-year-old.
I loved seeing the Bike Central Mobile (pictured below) make its debut in the Ice Cream Days parade a few weeks ago. Cory has embraced the Le Mars community as well as the region, and the biking community with a lot of passion and hard work. He has long term goals that we will watch come to pass over the years, which will include hopefully a new and bigger space. To Cory success is more people on bikes on the trails and more places to ride. Here’s to your success Cory and Bike Central!
