Shifting Gears

Bill Robberson’s Jefferson Bike Company in Yreka…

Sometimes all it takes is retirement to discover a passion for work. At least, that’s what Bill Robberson learned after opening up the Jefferson Bike Company in Yreka a couple of years ago. “It’s a small-town bike shop for sales and service. The other shop in town left, and there was a need. I love bikes, and I love helping people. And because I’m retired, it wasn’t necessarily about the money as long as I could break even. So far, I’ve been successful and happy with that. So, now I have a line of new and used bikes and accessories, and work on other people’s bikes, which I’m enjoying.”

Robberson’s love of bikes goes back to childhood. “I’m kind of obsessed with them. I built my first bike when I was 10 years old, by just getting parts and putting one together. And, I’ve always been passionate about getting outdoors. Hiking’s great, but a lot of times you have to get in the car and go to a trailhead. With a bike, I just exit my front door and take off, and I can get to where I want to go. And it’s always been that way for me. In college, I went a different direction for a time when I became a runner and played organized soccer. But I got to a point where my body needed something less difficult on me. So I came back to cycling, and did a bunch of competitive racing and traveling. It brought me back to all the times when I was a kid and would just get out, go far, and see places. These days I just ride for the joy of it.”

But for all of his traveling for cycling, Robberson holds a special place in his heart for Siskiyou County backroads. “It’s a great area for cycling. I’ve been involved with different groups to put on races, like the Humbug Hurry-Up. I’m currently president of the Jefferson Mountain Bike Club, which is part of the International Mountain Biking Association. Locally, we have a loose-knit group supporting and promoting cycling, even doing some trail work or maintenance whenever needed at Yreka’s Greenhorn Park.” Robberson also says there are all kinds of surfaces to ride. “Of course, there’s mountain biking, with the easiest being getting a shuttle up to the top and take trails downhill. Mount Shasta has a really good mountain bike trail system with a shuttle. There’s also cross-country mountain biking where you do all the pedaling. Because it’s more off-road, it opens up a lot more trails or experiences. The next level on dirt would be a gravel bike, which is a bike with wider tires that’s built to safely ride out on dirt roads. And then, there’s great road biking, especially in Shasta Valley and Scott Valley. That’s the bike people know with the skinny tire. And in those areas, there are relatively few cars and very courteous drivers.”

For Robberson, the benefits of cycling extend far beyond health and sightseeing. “Once you get into the cycling community, you meet people from all over. For instance, I met a couple of guys from LA a few years back and stayed in contact with them, and they recently came up here to ride. And, when I’m in their area, we ride with them. I’ve made friends with people from throughout Oregon. Even one weekend event you can meet a bunch of people. There’s something that builds community when you’re cycling like that together because you’re out there for hours together.”

Finding his way onto the seat of a bike has also helped guide Robberson’s direction in other aspects of his life. “With riding, you sometimes just have to go for it and figure it out along the way. You don’t worry about how steep the hill’s going to be because you can always walk. So, with years of riding, I’ve learned not to be afraid of trying something different. Even if a ride’s a failure and you have to get a ride back to town, but still always get back. And, once you’ve done it before means you’ll be successful the next time. So, for me, starting something new like opening a business for the first time, it’s like, well, at least I took off and went on that ride.” •

For more information and a list of area rides,
visit www.jeffersonbike.com
Jefferson Bike Company
228 Ranch Lane, Yreka • (530) 643-7649