Bicycle 86 & Fishing Tackle celebrates 1 year
By Kyle Troutman ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
A hidden gem of the outdoor recreation world nestled in the curves of Highway 86 in Eagle Rock is celebrating completing its first year in business.
Bicycle 86 & Fishing Tackle opened in August 2023, offering an extensive selection of pedal and electric bicycles, as well as fishing tackle and collectibles.
Jeff Kneemiller, Bicycle 86 owner, came out of retirement to open the business, and he’s hoping to build a biking following in Barry County and beyond.
“I retired in April 2020 from Ferguson, where I worked from 2011-2020 for another family with a bike shop,” he said. “I got my family business settled in 2019 after my parents passed in 2012 and 2013, and I went looking for a house to retire in. I had a lot of medical problems and was in the hospital Springfield for two weeks.
“In September 2022, I decided to put myself back to work, and it all fell in place. I had help from my former employer putting equipment together, and I have worked in a lot of shops and want to provide a service to the community.”
Bicycle 86 sports 10 lines of bikes, with up to 50 electric bikes and 250 pedal bikes available on-site or by order.
“My bikes cover all ages,” Kneemiller said. “My main brands are Aventon, SE and Giant, which has the Momentum urban line and Liv women’s line. I also have Breezer, Fuji, Tuesday, Schwinn and Mongoose.
“I have mountain bikes, gravel bikes, city bikes, comfort bikes and electric bikes. Different bikes are invented by people, and companies pick up on what they people like. There’s all kinds of new ones. Gravel bikes were just invented in 2010-2011.”
Confident in his sales and service, Kneemiller said he can find a bike for anyone.
“I can order anything online from the manufacturer for eight of the 10 brands, and it can be picked up here or shipped in 3-5 days,” he said. “We do credit cards or can finance at 0% online through the manufacturer, which is the best way to select a bike because there’s so many choices to view.
“Anything delivered here, I will fully assemble and deliver within 100 miles. And, for any bike you buy, I do three adjustments per year — spring, summer and fall — through the life of the bike.”
Bicycle 86 also offers 90-day layaway on any in-stick bicycle.
By providing a unique shop in the area, Kneemiller said he hopes to pull customers from a large area, as near as the lake area and Cassville to as far as Springfield and Little Rock, Ark.
“I have guys ride through from Eureka Springs, and some stop in for air or supplies,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed meeting the locals. Cliff Mitchell has been in business here 40 years and been a big help.
“A lot of people ride on the fantastic Greenway in Cassville, and they have races in Arkansas. I’d like to see city leaders develop more biking areas to attract tourists, and I’d like to reach out to area bike riders to get some races in the county. We should put more emphasis on outdoor recreation other than Roaring River State Park. The trails nearby are at Passion Play and Lake Leatherwood [in Eureka Springs, Ark.].
While his main focus is selling and servicing bicycles, Kneemiller’s shop has added some local flavor, offering fishing tackle and collectibles like originally packaged Hot Wheels and action figures.
“The Hot Wheels I would buy when I was going for my treatments in Springfield — I’m still like a little kid,” he said. “They’ve been popular. I thought they would just fill wall space, but they are selling well. The Hot Wheels and die-casts make great gifts.
“We also have live bait and frozen bait, everything except minnows and crickets. I have multiple bait suppliers, and I carry tackle because I’m next to the lake and there’s not much bait here outside of one other store. I have some free baits too, and I love doing that because people don’t expect it. But, it’s what you should provide; give a little more.”
Kneemiller, who has 13 grandchildren, said youth and adults alike don’t have to be looking for a bike or need a last-minute lure to stop in at his shop.
“Just come by and have a Coke,” he said. “I’m happy to be here and provide a service for the area. I like to make people happy, and you can’t be mad when you’re riding a bike or catching a fish. Be wheel with yourself!”
Bicycle 86 and Fishing Tackle is located at 32567 Highway 86 in Eagle Rock. People may reach the business at 417-6354038. Hours are 12-7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Bicycle 86 is also on Facebook at https://tinyurl.com/yrd2w2n9.
