Now that’s what I call a convenience store

My friends at David’s World/Casselberry showed me this cool prototype from the Trek Corp. The “Trek Stop” kiosk dispenses spare tubes, bike lube, CO2 cartridges, wetwipes, ponchos and other accessories, along with a selection of energy bars, gels and beverages; a sheltered and lighted repair stand with free use of an air-compression hose and video tutorials to coach visitors through repairs; and an information center with notice board and area bike-route map.

The kiosk sits outside a local bike shop called Machinery Row Bicycles in Madison, Wisc., not too far from Trek’s headquarters in Waterloo.

According to the company, the idea for Trek Stop came about a few years ago, when the Advanced Concept Group (ACG) at Trek Bikes, a crew of industrial designers led by Mike Hammond, began thinking of ways to make bicycle commuting more viable.

“Motorists have it easy,” says Hammond. “Gas stations, convenience stores, auto parts stores, tow trucks — you name it. The support network for cars far outclasses cyclists. The Trek Stop aims to change that by breaking down some of the ‘worries’ attached to cycling.”

Rebecca Anderson, director of advocacy for Trek’s “One World, Two Wheels” campaign, notes that while the Trek Stop is not the world’s first convenience cycling center, “it is probably the most visible because of Trek’s reach.” She adds that current plans include gathering more information about what the public likes — and doesn’t like — about the Trek Stop, and gauging how many Trek retailers might be interested in siting one outside their shops.