We're Building a New Bike Shop!
After 12 years of successful operation at 14 W. Stimson Ave., Athens Bicycle owners Peter Kotses and Meredith Erlewine have announced they will construct a new building just a few doors down the street. The bicycle shop will open its new, bigger location at 4 W. Stimson Ave. on Nov. 1.
After expanding three times since opening in 1998, Athens Bicycle has outgrown its current location. “We’ve been carefully looking for a building that would allow us to offer a wider selection of bicycles and gear but still be located in the heart of Athens,” Kotses said. “Our current location is often standing room only when things get really busy. The new location will offer more space for shopping, plus allow us to expand our workshops, clinics and special events.”
The new Athens Bicycle will be nearly double the size of the current shop, and will feature both renovated space and new construction. The project, which is being designed by RVC Architects, calls for renovating the structure at 4 W. Stimson Ave. and constructing an addition onto it.
Kotses, who was born in Athens and has a degree in history from Ohio University, looks forward to rehabbing the original building and working its design elements into the overall project plan. “I’m excited to contribute a nice-looking, locally owned storefront to the neighborhood where I grew up,” Kotses said.
The expansion of Athens Bicycle follows the successful launch of a second shop, Parkersburg Bicycle, in Parkersburg, W.V., in 2007. After opening the Athens shop, Kotses quickly built a customer base from the Ohio River valley. “Many of those customers encouraged me to open a shop closer to them. So I listened, did some market research and decided on Parkersburg,” he said.
Athens Bicycle is the largest specialty bicycle shop in Athens and, with its second location in Parkersburg, constitutes the biggest bicycle business in the region, employing five full-time and five part-time staff. The shop regularly hosts group rides, produces a newsletter about bicycling in the Athens area, and also hosts a broad range of after-hours activities including movie nights, skills clinics, races and repair workshops. “We’re a hub of cycling activity in the region, and it will be nice to have more space to provide our customers opportunities to use their bikes,” said Erlewine, who also grew up in Athens and is a graduate of Ohio University.
Athens Bicycle has a long history of fostering a bicycling community in Athens. In the late 1990s, Kotses played an instrumental role in gaining approval from land managers at Lake Hope State Park for the Athens Bicycle Club to build trails at the park; since then ABC has built more than 20 miles of singletrack trail there. Kotses also was at the table to advocate for cycling when the trail system was being established between the city of Athens and Strouds Run State Park. “Most people have to drive to enjoy trails,” Kotses said. “In Athens we are fortunate to have trails right out our back door.”
Kotses is a past member of the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway Advisory Committee, the Athens Land Conservation Advisory Committee and the Moonville Rail Trail Association, and is a past board member of the Friends of Strouds Run. Erlewine is a past board member of the Friends of Lake Hope and is a current board member of the Friends of Strouds Run. Athens Bicycle is a longtime sponsor and host of many local bike rides, races and activities, including the Gravel Rouser Classic, the Athens Bike Rodeo, the Race to the Hills at Lake Hope State Park, and the Pawpaw Double Nickel Road Ride in conjunction with the Ohio Pawpaw Festival at Lake Snowden.
Kotses is a lifelong cyclist with more than 25 years of experience bicycle riding, racing, touring and commuting. He has worked in the retail bicycle industry since 1991 and is an expert mechanic. Erlewine has nearly 20 years of experience riding and racing bikes. She regularly guides bicycle tours, leads group rides, teaches skills clinics and organizes cycling events.
Athens Bicycle is located at 14 W. Stimson Ave. and offers bicycles by Trek, Gary Fisher, Mirraco, Independent Fabrication, Lynskey, Salsa and Surly, in addition to a full selection of parts, tools and accessories. Athens Bicycle’s experienced service department repairs all makes and models of bicycles.
Photo courtesy of Athens Messenger and John Halley