At an early age he built a bike out of spare parts that he and his friends found around the neighborhood. Now, at nearly 69, he still repairs and builds bikes - only now he does it with parts at his own bike shop, Sparki's Olde Tyme Bicycle Shop in North Lakeland.
Because of his lifelong love of cycling and willingness to go the extra mile to help those who enter Sparki's, Jennings is my "Ageless Aging" feature for the month.
Born Sept. 9, 1941, in Hartford, Conn., Jennings learned to ride a bike without the use of training wheels. He and his friends would climb onto an adult bike and push each other in a grassy field until they would gain their balance.
At 62, Jennings retired after working at the Miami Herald and the St. Petersburg Times as an advertising salesman. He had moved from Sarasota to Polk County a year prior to his retirement from the St. Petersburg Times.
Shortly after retirement he found himself wanting something to do. He walked into Sparki's and started working part time. He soon wanted to run the 20-year-old bike shop his way, so he bought it. "I have had a passion for bikes all my life and I really wanted to own a bicycle shop."
Five years later the shop is cleaner and more organized. Jennings knows where to find the smallest part in the many drawers and cases around the small shop. He carries new and used bikes and new and old parts to fix all types of bikes. Tires of all sizes hang on the wall next to pedal cranks and an assortment of other items.
Jennings is married to Shirley, his wife of 19 years. Jennings has two children from a previous marriage. Both of his children learned to ride and race bikes.
A photo of his daughter competing in a BMX race when she was 3 hangs on the shop's wall. She learned to ride a bike like her father, without training wheels.
"I put up that photo to prove a point that a child that age can learn to ride a bike," he said.
Jennings completes most repairs the same day and he tries to make the shop an inviting, friendly place to be.
"I envision this shop like a Cracker Barrel store used to be . . . everybody comes in and has a good time," he said.
On a recent afternoon he put new tires on a touring bike for a woman who wanted to ride the Fort Fraser Trail for exercise. He also sold a pair of wheels to a man who was building an adult tricycle, and a bike rack for a bike with a small motor.
He is proud of the shop's ability to make a repair on the spot while the customer waits.
"Everybody deserves to ride their bike tonight. People seem to appreciate it once they understand why I'm doing it," he said.
Jennings also restores antique bikes and has several he will gladly show you with fatherlike pride.
"You can build what you want to ride and you can enjoy riding the bike cause you built it," he said.
Jennings just doesn't fix bicycles, he also rides them. Every evening he can be seen riding around Lake Hollingsworth on his orange-colored Italian racing bike. He enjoys the solitude of riding alone. Cycling helped him get over 2008 knee surgery.
Jennings said in his retirement he is finally able to do something he really enjoys.
He loves what he does and never thinks about riding away from the shop.
"It's a matter of enjoying what you do, and when I can't do it anymore, I guess I'll sell it. Right now I feel healthier because I've got the shop and because I ride."
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