Huntersville student sees need for bike repair service

Along for the Ride

Young entrepreneur is paving the way to his own success

by Sara Coleman photography by Brant Waldeck

Inspiring stories from local entrepreneurs are a regular occurrence here in the Lake Norman area. But it’s not every day a local business sprouts from a 15-year old in the midst of a global pandemic. Meet Brannen Waldeck—founder and owner of Brannen’s Bicycle Service and Repair. Although this teenager’s business was born only a few months ago, the impact on our local community is already being felt.

Brannen, who lives in Huntersville, saw a need for fast, affordable, and flexible bicycle repairs. What started as a kind gesture to help the kids in his neighborhood with their bike repair needs quickly grew into something bigger. Soon he realized bicycle repair could be more than a hobby, it could also be a great way to meet people and earn a little extra money.

Fast forward to Summer of 2020 and Brannen officially launched his own business. Now he offers a variety of ways to ensure anyone’s bicycle repair and service is complete. He can either go to a customer’s house or a customer can leave their bike at his house. He does most the work out of his own garage. But don’t let the garage fool you—he practically guarantees if it has two wheels and pedals, then he can fix it. A typical tune-up and complete cleaning detail on a bicycle starts around $45. He prides himself on the ability to charge less than other shops, with a much quicker turnaround. If you decide to book Brannen’s services, you should know his dad Brant drives him to all his appointments since he’s not old enough to drive, which means you’re likely to meet Dad as well.

One of the most surprising aspects of Brannen’s business is the growth that has come from word-of-mouth advertising. Brannen relies on referrals and repeat business, which has kept him quite busy. He also has a Facebook page for Brannen’s Bicycle Service and Repairs, but he plans on expanding his marketing efforts soon.

If you ask Brannan what his favorite aspect of running a business at his age is, you might be surprised to learn his favorite part is getting to meet so many great new people right here in the community. Not to mention he says he gets to learn something new every day.

To learn more, visit the Facebook page at Brannen’s Bicycle Service & Repair.