On any given day, you may see groups of bikers decked out in colorful skintight gear and helmets, peddling slick road bikes down Scenic Highway 98. There’s a good chance they are somehow affiliated with Katie and Joe Bolton’s Fairhope bike and triathlon shop, Pro Cycle, and Tri. The store, located across the street from the Fairhope Post Office on Fairhope Avenue has everything you might need for outdoor biking activities. Addie, a 9-month-old beautiful rescue dog will greet you at the door, usually with a bone or toy to present as an offering.

Joe is a local and Katie grew up in the Knoxville-Nashville area and competed as a pole vaulter collegiately at Auburn. Two weeks ago, Pro Cycle helped the 200 or so participants of the Publix Grandman Triathlon by hosting the volunteer pre-event meeting, handing out race packets, servicing bikes in need, and making sure everyone stayed hydrated. In talking to Katie, you get the feeling their biking customers are more family than just clients.

Each Saturday, Pro Cycle hosts two different levels of “Shop Rides.” At 7:30 AM, a group of about 20 to 30 bikers starts a 28-mile ride. The first 17 to 18 miles are at a social pace, meaning you can talk to each other. The final ten miles are about how fast you can go. At 10:00, Joe’s dad, Joe Bolton, Jr., leads a more casual group on a 17-to-20-mile ride. These rides are all on road bikes, the ones with skinny
tires, less road resistance, and built for traveling speedily on paved roads. Racing bikes if you will.

Pro Cycle has all kinds of bikes and all the gear for bike safety and competitions like triathlons. For the more casual riders, they have cruisers and E-bikes, which use an integrated electric motor for “pedal assist.” Recently, these have become very popular. They can also hook you up with a nice bike trailer to carry small kids and dogs that you pull behind your bike. As I was talking to Katie, my friend, Joan, walked in to retrieve her bike that had a flat and needed a new tube. Servicing equipment is a big part of what they do.

Katie said that mountain bikes are becoming more popular along Scenic 98 Coastal communities as more and more bikeable and walkable trails are being developed. She mentioned the new trails being readied through a federal grant at the “triangle” property where U.S. Highway 98 and Scenic 98 intersect at County Road 104 in Fairhope. And there are other good places to ride in Josephine, Wilcox Road, Stockton, and Blakely Park as well.

Katie and Joe love their biking family and host events throughout the year. There’s The Gambler, a time trial between Mullet Point and Pelican Point where the rider that comes closest to their predicted time wins. They also host a Le Tour Party at the shop to watch the Tour de France. The Thanksgiving Day Morning ride is a well-attended family friendly social ride.

Pro Cycle and Tri host lots of rides and events each week. Be sure to check out their website to learn more. Remember, they are all about safety for both riders and others sharing the road, so it’s best to get familiar with Katie’s Mommy Duck List before showing up for a ride. She utilizes a real-time strand-specific heat map that shows traffic to ensure bike routes are as safe and enjoyable as possible. Biking is good for the soul at whatever pace you choose, so get out there and have fun!

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