Silver City Cycles Offers E-Bikes to Offset Rising Gas Prices

Local bike shop sees surge in e-bike sales as customers look for alternatives to driving amid soaring fuel costs.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:00am

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With gas and diesel prices up significantly in New Mexico, Silver City Cycles, a local bike shop in Silver City, is seeing increased demand for e-bikes as customers seek more affordable transportation options. The shop, which has been in business for about five years, has made e-bikes a major focus, catering to an older population looking to stay active and tackle the area's hilly terrain. The owner, Dave Baker, says the shop tries to meet every customer's needs, whether it's selling new and used bikes, providing repair services, or helping customers find the right e-bike for their needs.

Why it matters

The rise in gas prices is putting a strain on many New Mexico residents' budgets, making alternative forms of transportation like e-bikes an attractive option. Silver City Cycles' focus on e-bikes and its cooperative approach with other local bike shops highlights how small businesses can adapt to meet the changing needs of their community.

The details

Silver City Cycles offers a variety of road bikes, gravel bikes, and mountain bikes, with e-bikes making up a significant portion of their inventory. They carry e-bikes from six different manufacturers, providing customers with a wide range of models to choose from. The shop also provides repair and maintenance services, though they note that bikes purchased online can be more challenging to work on. Owner Dave Baker emphasizes the importance of customer service, allowing customers to test ride e-bikes before making a purchase to ensure a proper fit.

  • Gas and diesel prices in New Mexico have increased by $1 and $1.60 per gallon, respectively, since last month.

The players

Silver City Cycles

A local bike shop in Silver City, New Mexico that has been in business for about five years and has made e-bikes a major focus of its inventory and services.

Dave Baker

The owner of Silver City Cycles and the executive director of Bike Works, a community-funded nonprofit that Baker operated in Silver City even prior to moving his shop to its current location.

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What they’re saying

“We try to meet every need that walks through the door. We have found that the older population of folks who thought their bicycling days were done — folks that are living here in Silver City and didn't want to ride up the hills or had health issues — they would get on the e-bike and suddenly feel really strong. The bike enabled them to ride up some of the hills they wouldn't be able to ride up before. Seeing that need, e-bikes just became a bigger and bigger part of our business.”

— Dave Baker, Owner, Silver City Cycles

“I think cooperation with the other bike shops is important. I think the competition in town helps us all, too.”

— Dave Baker, Owner, Silver City Cycles

The takeaway

As gas prices continue to rise, small businesses like Silver City Cycles are adapting to meet the changing needs of their community by offering more affordable and accessible transportation options like e-bikes. This highlights the important role local businesses can play in supporting their residents during challenging economic times.