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The Ride Continues words and images Scott Faldon
Scott Chapman
Scott Chapman never expected to get back into
During those years, Scott also realized he needed help
the cycling industry – despite being immersed in it for most
coping with the curve balls life had thrown at him. He began
of his life. But as a man of faith, he knows second chances
attending Celebrate Recovery at Community Bible Church. “I
are always possible.
knew I needed to turn to something, and I turned to God,” Scott said. “I let go control. I turned it over to Him. I said
He started at Bicycles of Fort Smith, assembling and repairing
‘Lord, you’ve got to take this, I can’t do it.’ It was a dark time
bikes for owner Buster Brown in early 1994. While he’d
in my life, but once I did that I have never felt more free.”
ridden bikes his whole life, he’d never raced. He and his friends would go on all-day rides from Fort Smith to Alma
As he healed, Scott dusted off his bike. The passion for cycling
and back on whatever junker bikes they owned. Brown,
began to return. Then one day he got a phone call. Bryan
Scott’s first boss in the cycling world, was a Master’s national
Dobbins, owner of The Woodsman Co. in Fort Smith, had
champion in the time trial – a race against the clock. After
begun thinking of adding bicycles to his store’s mix of outdoor
seven years with Brown, Scott helped to open the original
apparel, fly fishing rods, backpacking gear and kayaks. He
location of Champion Cycling. Then in 2005, he opened his
needed somebody with experience in the cycling world.
own eponymous store – Scott’s Bike Shop – in the east end of Fort Smith in the former Ozark Mountain Smokehouse.
“I was actually riding my bike and was on Dallas Street right by Community Bible when I got his call,” Scott said. “He told
“I really enjoyed owning the shop, I made a lot of great
me he wanted to open a shop. We talked for several months,
relationships thanks to it,” Scott said. “But, also, I was
bouncing ideas off each other.” Scott began to feel the pull
running the store by myself. The bicycle business was
of the cycling industry. “I knew I was designed for more than
booming at the time, but I was so stressed and missing so
what I was doing, and I needed more,” Scott said.
much time with my daughter.” So, in 2015, Scott sold his store. His plan was to spend more time with his daughter,
Scott joined The Woodsman Co. earlier this year as the
Nora. But that plan quickly changed.
bike department began to take shape. After owning a 1,600-square-foot shop years ago, he’s now managing a
The buyer of the shop struggles to keep it afloat and then
5,400-square-foot department with four service stations.
passed away. The nest egg Scott expected from selling his business and the building disappeared. He suddenly worried
“After I turned everything over to God, it just didn’t feel right
about losing, well, everything. With so much stress, Scott
to walk away from the business,” Scott said. “I didn’t like how
put his bike into a corner of the garage and did not touch
it ended. That’s just not how it was supposed to end.”
it for several years. His financial plans wrecked, he began taking any odd job he could get.
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