Killarney Guide

Rhythm Cycle owners rejuvenating old True Value building on Broadway corner

BY KIM LANGEN

A new place to spin your wheels this winter is shaping up on a downtown corner.

Matt Nichol, co-owner of Killarney’s Rhythm Cycle, says he and his wife and business partner Kaitlyn Nichol decided recently to shift their popular spin cycling base to a new and bigger venue.

“We have been renting (part of) the Celtic Training Centre, but due to COVID-19 and social distancing, our current spot is so limited in space,” said Matt Nichol. “We have 10 cycles, and we are down to six because of the pandemic guidelines for distancing. We purchased the True Value building at the corner of Broadway and South Railway a couple of months ago, and we started renos there around three weeks ago.”

And this past Monday Gord Reimer’s big crane rolled up to the site, ready to raise the rafters and start on the first phase of the recreation of the disused building next to the tracks. 

“We are putting on a new pitched roof, to replace the flat one,” said Nichol. “Then we will be working on the interior. Our present location is maybe around 1,000 square feet, and we will be tripling or even quadrupling the space in this new location.”

Nichol hopes to see completion of the new spin studio take place in January or February of 2021. The popular indoor cycling phenomenon hasn’t lost its impetus, and Nichol said it is currently not possible to fit everyone into a riding slot. 

“Right now we have a waiting list for bike seats in our classes,” he added. “More space is definitely going to help increase the opportunity for putting in more cycles.”

The capital investment in this new project will bring a fresh look to the north end of downtown, said mayor for the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain, Rick Pauls.

“I think it’s great to see a vacant building on Main Street being redeveloped and rejuvenated, and the expanding of a business during these challenging times,” said Pauls.

And Rhythm Cycle patrons will also be able to enjoy a glimpse through the studio’s north windows of Killarney’s contemporary and commemorative park, Keith’s Korner, as they enter the new location – on their way to cycle through the pandemic winter. 

RAFTERS GOING UP ON RHYTHM CYCLE REBUILD – Reaching for the skies on Monday was a very large crane, which was carefully moving new rafters onto the old Macleods True Value building at the southwest corner of Broadway Avenue and South Railway Street. It’s the start of a brave new rebuild/renovation for spin cycle couple Matt and Kaitlyn Nichol, who operate Rhythm Cycle in Killarney on Williams Avenue. The bikes will hopefully be spinning soon in the huge and expanded new space, sometime in early 2021.

ROOFTOP RENOS – From start to finish…