Veteran mechanic brings lifetime of bike wisdom to Park City Bike & Demo

Kenneth Acklin, service manager at Park City Bike & Demo, brings more than 50 years of experience to the shop’s service department. A trusted mechanic to cycling legends, Acklin is known for his problem-solving skills, mentorship, and passion for hand-built wheels. Photo: Park City Bike & Demo

PARK CITY, Utah — On the floor of Park City Bike & Demo, a visitor might not recognize Kenneth Acklin. He’s not one to boast about his five decades in the cycling industry or his time as a personal mechanic to Olympic medalists and pro racers. But ask around, and the legend quickly comes into focus.

Acklin, 64, serves as the service manager at the Kearns Boulevard shop, which has become a hub for local riders and visitors under the leadership of general manager Ian Rugaber. Together, they’ve cultivated more than a repair shop—they’ve built a community with Acklin at its heart.

Acklin entered the bicycle world with what he called “a punishment.” At 11 years old, he let the air out of every tire in a showroom while waiting for his father to finish a visit with a friend at a Pennsylvania bike shop. “My punishment was every Saturday for the next month, I had to go to the bicycle shop and air up the tires,” Acklin said. “The first time, it was really painful because they wouldn’t let me use the air compressor. I had to use a floor pump, and it literally took all day.”

By week three, the punishment had turned to passion. “They started letting me work on bikes. For an 11-year-old kid, that was a blast—just being able to use wrenches and listen to the older mechanics. I was part of a team.”

Acklin’s résumé spans ownership, consulting, and a role on the board of Torelli Bicycle Company, where he still hand-builds wheels signed with his initials and a date code. His early work in Boulder, Colorado, led to a fateful encounter with cycling legend Davis Phinney. “I was a cocky mechanic at the time and made fun of him,” Acklin admitted. “My boss called Davis and made me apologize. The next day Davis came back, gave me a fat tip, and said he appreciated the work. I pretty much became his personal mechanic after that.”

Phinney’s wife, Olympic gold medalist Connie Carpenter, soon followed. Acklin also tested for the Women’s 7-Eleven Pro Team in the late 1980s, earning a spot as a tour mechanic before the program was disbanded due to budget cuts.

After stints in California and Colorado, Acklin relocated to Utah following an injury. His eventual return to bike shops came through consulting work—and a calling he never truly left.

“Problem-solving is the one thing a bike mechanic has to do on a regular basis that more and more people are losing touch with,” Acklin said. “The skills you’re learning here are things you’re going to take with you for the rest of your life.”

Rugaber, 25, credits Acklin not only for his depth of experience but for the culture he fosters. “He’s probably the biggest role model and mentor in the cycling community,” Rugaber said. “His experience is unmatched, and he’s not the type to rub it in your face. He always says, ‘Anything I teach you, all I ask is that you share it with someone else too.’ That’s inspiring to all of us.”

The shop, nestled in the Iron Horse district, prides itself on hospitality—offering espresso shots to customers, community movie nights during Sundance, and seasonal kickoff parties. It’s part bike shop, part gathering place, and fully committed to being a local fixture. “I was brought on to make this the shop that locals love and visitors enjoy,” said Rugaber, who was raised in upstate New York and previously worked for Trek. “We’re creating a place where people start or finish their rides, but also just want to hang out.”

Mentorship is central to the culture. Acklin, the oldest on staff, shares the floor with technicians half his age. “When I teach new techs, it’s not just about fixing bikes,” Acklin said. “It’s about being proud of what you do, whether you’re cleaning a bike or building a wheel.”

He’s quick to return the praise to his colleagues. “There’s not one person here I wouldn’t let work on my own bike. This is the dream team,” he said. “It’s the family I’ve always wanted but never had.”

Acklin continued, “I can’t do what I do in the shop if it wasn’t for the support and insight of the owners David and Rob DeMartini. I learn something new everyday from Beau Frentheway and Tomás Parra-Gomez. This team is what truly makes this shop special. It’s more than just our individual talents, the shop is unique because of how we all work together.”

That mutual respect keeps the energy alive in a shop that sees constant evolution—mechanically and culturally. “Bikes used to be simple machines. That’s no longer the case,” Acklin said. “Now you have to understand both mechanical and electronic systems. But at the end of the day, it’s still about helping someone ride better. That’s what gets me up every day.”

Park City Bike & Demo is located at 1500 Kearns Blvd., and remains open year-round.