After Dutch team got bikes from KC shop, Argentina wanted to ride around too

In the midst of preparing to chant ‘hup holland hup’ at the Oranje Fanwalk, Westport bike shop owner Christina Baanders-Decker received a call from the Argentina World Cup team.

Like the Netherlands, they wanted in on the bike action.

Baanders-Decker runs Midwest Cyclery, which was founded by her Dutch parents in the 1970s.

When the Dutch team arrived in Kansas City two weeks ago, their management ordered 17 bikes from Midwest Cyclery for all of the team’s needs as they train for the World Cup.

She’s not sure how Argentina found her.

A group walked in the store and asked to rent bikes, and Baanders-Decker quickly noticed they were with one of the locally based teams. Then, she learned they were with Argentina.

The group was looking for a few bikes to “get out and see the scenery,” so she picked out five.

She knows a coach will be riding one of the bikes but said she’s unsure if the others are for players or team staff. On Tuesday, she delivered the bikes to The Origin Hotel on the riverfront, where the team is staying.

“I gave them three really good routes to go on rides that had nice paths and nice scenery and an ultimate stopping point where they could stop and get something to eat, and they were just thrilled,” Baanders-Decker said.

While the Netherlands team has kept their bikes since they first arrived, the members of the Argentina team would only have these bikes to ride on Wednesday. Still, Baanders-Decker said she’s ecstatic she helped provide bikes for both teams while they’re here.

“It fills my heart,” she said.

Beyond the teams, Baanders-Decker said the shop has been especially busy in the last few weeks.

“I’ve seen more customers coming in the door,” she said. “We’ve had foreigners in just because they see our flags and they’re just like, ‘Oh, look, there’s a shop.’”

Though she’s seen the benefits for her small business, Baanders-Decker knows that’s not the case for all business owners across the metro.

“I just think the impact could definitely be long-term, and I hope that they can visit when it’s not just about soccer,” she said.

She also has noticed a lot of people will only spend a few days in the city around the matches and events, which could influence businesses who expected longer turnout.

Beyond her business, Baanders-Decker said she can’t wait to take part in all of the Dutch festivities for a sport she loves.

She and her husband are taking part in multiple events Wednesday and Thursday, and are closing down their shop and taking a few employees to the fanwalk. She’s even selling bright orange shirts with ‘hup holland hup’ and the Midwest Cyclery logo to anyone looking to blend with the crowd.

“I truly do love it all, and I love what it’s done for the city,” she said. “We’re hopping on the street car and we’re going down to Power and Light to march with the parade because this is just a once in a lifetime opportunity I don’t want to miss.”