Dayton’s indoor bike park set to open before summer

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Six months ago, the building at 1300 E. First St. near downtown Dayton was a run-down, dingy husk. The former factory site had been empty for three years and was rife with debris, with roofing and plumbing issues.

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However, within two months, it will be officially reborn as Mike's Indoor Bike Park -- the area's only facility of its type.

Check out our behind-the-scenes Facebook Live below:

SNEAK PEEK inside Mike's Bike Park in Dayton

Posted by Dayton.com on Wednesday, March 29, 2017

When completed, the bike park will feature two full floors for riders of various styles, including mountain, street and BMX. It will also have a pro shop for purchases and repairs, as well as a lounge area for those wanting to watch the riders on large flat-screen televisions.

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“If you’re a parent and you want to see what your kid’s doing, you can watch right there on the big-screen TV of all the video footage from it,” said owner and operator Mike Bisig.

A look at the skills section on the first floor.

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The avid mountain biker and Beavercreek High School teacher and his team of investors have seemingly thought of everything a rider could want in the re-purposing of the old industrial building. He’s spent a lot of time listening to the local biking community, and they’ve spent a lot of man hours pitching in as well.

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Bisig estimates he’s had at least 100 volunteers help with everything from cleaning up junk to making repairs to constructing the various ramps and obstacles to painting over the last several months.

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“Usually, when we put the word out that we need something, there are people here,” Bisig said. “I can’t even begin to thank the volunteers that have come out to help us. They are the reason that this place looks the way it does. The community has been phenomenal on that.”

Bisig has also been insistent that the park be inclusive to riders of all skill levels.

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"You're going to see some things here in the park that may make you go, 'That's beyond my ability level.' Well, we have places for every ability level. There's plenty of room for people to ride and ride at their own pace here."

Bisig also plans to extend the park’s capabilities to the building’s third floor in the near future.

The ramp leading from the second floor down to the main level gives riders plenty of options.

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Mike's Indoor Bike Park will offer a year-round option for cyclists, with season pass and daily pricing as well as children's discounts. Bisig estimates the park will be ready by the end of May, and is excited to help provide something he says the local biking community really needs.

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"Every week I meet someone who says this is exactly what Dayton has needed for years. We want to provide that," he said. "We want this to be something for the cyclists in Dayton."

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