STERLING – Mead’s Bike Shop is a cycling store that rivals any you’ll find in the big city when it come to quality, selection – and experience.

Owner Bryce Mead, who opened the shop in 2004 with his wife, Marcy, is a five-time Illinois State Time Trial Champion, and he raced professionally for the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team in 2006-09, in some of the most competitive races in America and even internationally.

“I began in 1996 as a mechanic at another local store, and after that store closed down I opened a repair shop, and it’s turned into this,” Mead said, standing in a beautiful new showroom at 414 Locust St., across from Taco Bell. “We started out on Third Street and grew our business there. I bought this building last summer.”