Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1466725
50 maconmagazine.com | APRIL/MAY 2022 BIKE TECH Bike Tech is a local tradition for cyclists in Central Georgia. Always a family-owned shop, it opened in 1982, with Bobby and Elizabeth Schorr taking over as the owners in 2015. It was originally located on Vineville Avenue, but the Schorrs moved it to 909 Second Street in July 2021 in favor of a floorplan that would maximize customer service. This is what Bobby Schorr believes makes them special. "The quality of the product and service we provide is unmatched by anyone else in or around town. What makes us unique is our ability to keep someone on the bike they've had for years and years with our service department. We take a tremendous amount of pride in the training our staff undertakes to keep people's bikes running strong. We have many customers who bought their bikes from us in the 1980s that are still bringing them to us for service," he said. Despite the move during a pandemic, the store has continued on an upward trajectory in business. "As the world was shutting down, people were looking for an outlet to get outside. We lovingly said, 'Cycling is the original form of social distancing in terms of exercise!' The industry as a whole, it was a huge boom," he said. Then the challenges hit. By April 2021, the cycling industry had sold through all the bikes that were available in the U.S. Since then, there has been an inventory shortage. "I have orders I placed over a year ago that maybe I will get in November or December of this year — maybe," he said. Despite that, the ride has been positive. "We found new ways to communicate with our customers, like texting. We continue to offer pick-up and delivery, although we had to stop this for a long time because of the pandemic. We've been able to host events like community rides, and we're helping new people get into the sport to show them how to ride in and around Macon," he said. How you can support these businesses AMBITIOUS GRAPHICS is offering a customer appreciation special. Purchase 25 T-shirts, any color shirt, one color print, one location for $225. Price includes S-XL. 2XL+ is an additional charge. One-week turnaround. Tell them you read about it in Macon Magazine! HOMEGROWN YOGA offers a free introductory class at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. The 5:30 p.m. Friday classes are $5. You can find more information about the "All Roads Lead to Home" class on the Homegrown Yoga Instagram and Facebook accounts. The class is free and when you attend, you will receive a coupon for a free studio class. BIKE TECH offers a Crank to Coffee ride every Saturday. All cyclists are invited. Meet at Bike Tech at 8:15 a.m. and enjoy a stimulating ride around town, then stop off for a bite at one of downtown Macon's scrumptious eateries. To book your spring event with SO PRETTY PICNIC, visit their website at soprettypicnic.com for more information. LEFT: BOBBY SCHORR IN BIKE TECH'S NEW DOWNTOWN MACON LOCATION. RIGHT: KATHY NOLAN PIVOTED HER TRAVEL BUSINESS TO CREATE SO PRETTY PICNIC.