New McCandless bike rental charged up for customers

ASR North, located near the East Ingomar Road entrance to North Park, is slightly switching gears on bike rentals and bait.

The shop rents, sells and services electric bikes in addition to renting and servicing regular bikes.

Adam Rossi and Jeff Blood opened the store at the start of May and are gearing up for a grand opening on June 1. The shop is at the McCandless site of the former North Park Sports, Bait and Tackle shop, which closed for the season last fall. Its owner did not continue the lease.

So far everything has been rolling along as expected, said Blood, who lives in Richland.

“It’s mostly been legacy customers of the North Park sports shop stopping in to see what’s going on,” he said. “We have rented quite a few bikes, done some simple repairs and sold a few bicycles and Onewheels,” referring to an electric, one-wheeled board on which a rider stands.

ASR North is still under construction, finishing the final touches and getting in product, said Blood. They are leasing from local entrepreneurs Jason and Susan Wolfe, who purchased that site and the surrounding property, which was being sold by land’s former owners, in January.

Rossi, founder of Adam Solar Rides, also owns and operates the electric bike rental ASR Tour Kiosk in Station Square and the ASR sales and service location on Mayview Road in South Fayette.

He also designs and installs solar panels, but is all about the benefits of eBiking.

“That’s what this entire business is about for me: getting out riding with friends, exploring, adventuring, and making memories while having a good time together on two wheels,” he said.

ASR offers a wide variety of eBikes, eTrikes, family cargo bikes and more, Blood said. And for those who haven’t tried an eBike, don’t be intimidated.

“Our rental eBikes are quite easy to ride,” he said. “If you can ride a bike, you can ride an eNike. The biggest difference is eBikes make it up the hills easy.”

The shop offers a fleet of Devinci, Batch, Niner, VAAST, Basso and Lee Cougan mountain, road, children’s and gravel bikes for rental and demonstration.

“Our bikes range in price from a $130 kid’s bike all the way up to custom hand-built Italian carbon,” Blood said. “Our primary eBike brands are Gazelle, Devinci, Magnum, Troxus and Bulls.”

They are planning to have a demo space to try out the bikes before purchase, as Blood acknowledged that because it’s quite an investment, buyers should have a chance to try it out first.

Blood has years of experience in the field, opening Iron City Bikes in 2005 while he attended the University of Pittsburgh. He grew up riding mountain bikes in North Park since he was 12.

ASR still offers bait like the site’s predecessor. Those looking to fish can use a 24-hour Fisherman Live Bait and Tackle vending machine right outside the shop.

“I think it is going to be a great fit for the community. Fishermen will be able to get all the bait and fishing tackle products they need as early as they’d like, regardless of our bike shop hours,” Rossi said.

Blood said they even have a tricycle set up for carrying fishing gear and cooler.

And ASR North will offer a pump for free air, like its predecessor.

Andy Hoberman and Owen Hoffman, both originally from Pine Township, were out for a drive on a May afternoon and said they didn’t even know the shop was there. So they decided to stop in and rent an eBike.

“I love being outside. I’m visiting family. Sun’s out. So it seems like a no-brainer,” said Hoffman, who now lives in Colorado.

McCandless resident Francisco Buxareo, originally from South America, is 71 and stopped in to see about renting an electric bike for himself and wife, Beverly, 64. They are looking to bike to Ohiopyle State Park, Harpers Ferry in West Virginia, Cumberland, Md., and Washington, D.C., this summer.

Blood said eBikes can be rented for a trip around North Park or for several days for bigger trips.

Buxareo, who works at Trader Joe’s in McCandless, is curious about using an eBike on their extended trail ride, “because if you don’t have an electric bike you have to do everything on your own.”

ASR staff will match a rider with an appropriate bike, demonstrate how to use it and explain where to go in North Park.

They even have a Thrive Trike electric bike that’s good for those that may have issues with balance or mobility. And their cargo bikes can be used for carrying items, gear or kids, Blood said.

“We’re not just a bike shop. It’s an experience center,” he said.

While eBikes may help assist up hills, Blood said he uses them when he trains to help him target his heart rate.

ASR also sells electric hydrofoils, which can be used on water. Rossi and Blood also began PGH eFoil in 2021, bringing the first electric hydrofoils to Pittsburgh’s three rivers and beyond.

Rossi, a 2001 Upper St. Clair High School graduate, lives in Peters Township near the Montour Trail with his wife, Jamie, and sons Anthony and Austin.

“We ride bikes, eBikes and Onewheels almost every day. And as of now you can usually find me on weekends at ASR North, often with one or both of the boys helping out at the shop until we can hit the trails and pump track after work,” he said.

The grand opening will feature manufacturer demos, product raffles, group rides, discounted rentals and discounts on products throughout the weekend.

ASR North is open Tuesday to Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. Call 412-980-5352 or visit www.adamsolarrides.com.