Pedals gives Posey residents a new, better way to travel

Celebrating the ribbon cutting of Pedal in Mount Vernon are Ambryn Siddons, Andy Hoehn, Steve Loehr, Elaine Scheller, Casey Scheller, Jonathon Scheller, Everett Scheller, Duke Siddons, Tyler Siddons, Aubree Siddons, Eleanor Scheller and Oakley Siddons.

By Dave Pearce

There’s something new and different in Mount Vernon. Near the place where Dan’s Competition Bicycle Store once was located, another bicycle store has opened. Pedal Ebike Service, Sales and Rentals is now open in Mount Vernon. Pedal opened its doors for the first time on June 5, 2026, and the Siddons family and the Scheller family couldn’t be happier.

“After I got out of the military, I started working for the Corps of Engineers,” Tyler Siddons explained. “It was a great job as I was a locks and dam operator and a diver on the dive team.”

But shift work with a family can sometimes be tough. Siddons looked for a business that would allow him to spend time with his family. After four years, he learned that an excavation business wasn’t the answer because his body, which had already been under duress during his military time, could not continue to take the daily wear and tear that type of business had to have. Following back surgery last year, the neurosurgeon advised him that he should find a job which could benefit his overall health.

From the minute you walk into the store, you can tell there is something a little different about this store. Family and children are welcomed with open arms. It’s not unusual to find one of the Siddons children helping on the sales floor or one of the Scheller children “assisting” with bicycle repair. Their father Jonathan does bicycle repairs.

Siddons pointed out that while the bicycle facility that once existed is very different from the new store. While the old shop became a world-wide bicycle parts community, Siddons wants this store to grow slow and organically, taking care of the local customers along the way. Bicycles give family members an opportunity to spend some quality time “unplugged” from the hectic world. And with the new E-Bikes, it makes it possible for bicycling to become viable transportation for some people who otherwise would be unable to ride a bike. And so far, interest has been unbelievable.

“We honestly don’t know where to start,” the store owner posted on social media just a week into the new business. “From service bikes rolling through the door, to new faces stopping in to say hello, test rides, bike sales, and all the encouragement along the way — you all have kept us busy in the best possible way.”

What makes these bikes special?

“The bikes are made with four or five different modes,” Siddons explained. “I like to ride in eco mode because you still get a lot of exercise and your battery lasts for a long time. Eco gives you the least amount of assistance. But they are all equipped with throttles and they can go at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. The throttles are especially nice to help get you going if you are on an incline.”

But this store is not limited to Ebikes. Although they are the newest thing in cycling and allow people to ride bicycles longer in life, Pedal has many different kinds of bikes for sale.

“We carry anything from adult bikes to kids bikes from cruisers to mountain bikes,” Siddons exclaimed with excitement as Posey County enthusiasts now have a place to get the latest items or the old stand-bys without leaving the area. “We even have some kid’s Ebikes in stock. You can cap those to go anywhere from seven miles per hour up to 15 miles per hour.”

The store also handles all types of bicycle accessories for anyone looking to get out and enjoy the open road, either for the first time or returning to it. They also carry racks to go on campers, trucks, SUVs or RVs to make it much simpler to take the bikes with you when you decide to get away. And you don’t want to leave the store without a helmet.

“We take that very serious here,” Siddons said. “Nobody test rides or rents a bike without using a helmet. On all our test rides and rentals, we provide helmets for people. But we don’t bring in a lot of fluff…we bring in things that people actually need and use.”

The bikes sold locally are a step ahead on quality therefore, the service department is a very important part of the business. Whether you bought the bike at Pedals or if you haven’t ridden an older bike in a long time, Jonathan will be happy to get you rolling again in style and safety.

Jonathan hand-assembles the bicycles when they come in. And in the overflow area of the store, the test bikes and the rental bikes are kept in perfect repair. The rentals allow those who are considering purchasing an Ebike the opportunity to try them out and see if they enjoy the concept. New bikes are also kept in the overflow area, alongside the bicycles which are in for service.

“When you are young, you just use a bike to get to where you are going,” Siddons exclaimed. “But as you get older, you learn to appreciate the bike as a machine. It’s like a guitar. If it isn’t tuned correctly, it is not going to sound right. And that’s really what happens with bikes. The news from the doctor ignited an old passion. We love it and we enjoy serving the community. Our foundation is based on service.”

The store is growing and the owners feel there are unlimited possibilities. The possibility exists of making the Ebikes available in New Harmony for riding in the community or at Harmonie State Park.

The shop is located at 3350 Old Hwy 62 in Mount Vernon. The store may be reached at 812-682-9866 or by email at pedalebikes1@gmail.com.