Video: One Pontotoc Man Turns A Hobby Into A Small Business

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PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI) — Many People use retirement as a way to try new hobbies or reach new goals.

James Allen now spending his days proving the old saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

“I was driving by and seen some bicycles in a pile so I just stopped and bought them home and started working on them. Didn’t know nothing about a bicycle,” says James Allen.

After working in the insurance business for nearly 30 years, the Pontotoc man decided to mix his skill in sales with a new passion.

What started off as a hobby, James Allen now has a collection of over 300 bicycles for men, women, and children. He will fix them up and then place them in his front yard to sell.

Allen has new and old bikes that sell from ten to 45 dollars.

“I would like to be able to sell them a lot cheaper than what I do but parts for bicycles if you have to buy new parts and sometimes you do on some of these expensive bikes then it’s real expensive and you have to charge,” says Allen.

Although he’s only been fixing up bikes for three years, the 77-year old has already earned the title, “The Bike Man.”

Allen has sold hundreds of bikes, but says his repair skills are the biggest accomplishment of this business,

“I was not mechanical inclined I just never could put anything together but I got started with it and got interested in it and now I can do it with my eyes shut,” says Allen.

While using his four senses to bring these bikes back to life, Allen says he is thankful for the time well spent.

“I enjoy having something to do. It keeps me busy. My wife thinks it keeps me too busy,” says Allen.

Allen says he also sells bikes to riders going to Tanglefoot Trail in Pontotoc.