When mountain bike enthusiasts and travelers Tyler and Morgan Baumgardner began to look for a place to call home, they chose one of their favorite stops along the road: Northwest Arkansas.
The couple spent two years living and working remotely from their RV. Soon after settling in Bella Vista, the Baumgardners saw an opportunity to provide quality mountain bike rentals in Benton County.
Bentonville has more than 250 miles of top-tier mountain bike trails and has earned a reputation as one of the top off-road cycling destinations in the nation. Due to the popularity of the sport, rentals were frequently difficult to find.
The Baumgarders launched Encore Bike Rentals in early 2022 and reached out to the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at the University of Arkansas for guidance.
They also participated in the first cohort of the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) at the University of Arkansas Collaborative in Bentonville and were mentored by Catherine Corley, a UA Fayetteville ASBTDC business consultant.
Corley and the ASBTDC team assisted the Baumgardners with market research, financial preparation and planning, website review, social media strategy, and photography.
Encore rents mountain bikes, electric mountain bikes, and city/greenway e-bikes. The business strives to provide convenience, quality, and service to their customers in Bella Vista, Bentonville, and Rogers, including a location at Hobbs State Park.
Customers book the bikes of their choice, plus helmets, protective gear, trail guides, and maps. Then, the gear is delivered to them at the local trailheads, their home, hotel, or Airbnb. After exploring trails and greenways, riders meet Encore back at their set-up location for an easy return.
As the region and the sport of mountain biking continue to grow, Encore Bike Rentals is ready to capitalize. The owners are developing partnerships with area hotels, Airbnbs, and other outdoor organizations and activity providers – and following the ASBTDC’s advice.
“We have been doing a bit of dreaming as you all encouraged us to do. A few of those dreams have pushed us to try a new booking software,” said Tyler. “We are currently implementing that, and it’s going to be far more custom to our needs. You all have been nothing short of incredible to work with!”
For more information about Encore Bike Rentals, visit encorebikerentals.com.
