Kitsbow Welcomes New Bike Shop to the Old Fort Ride House

September 9, 2021

The Schoenauer Service Course will provide service, repair needs for Old Fort trails & roads

OLD FORT, North Carolina (Sept. 9, 2021) — Kitsbow, maker of premium cycling clothing and accessories, will be bringing bike service and repair needs to Old Fort, North Carolina with the opening of the Old Fort Ride House Bike Shop, Powered by Schoenauer Service Course (SSC). Old Fort’s first bike shop is managed and staffed by Chad Schoenauer, of Schoenauer Service Course, LLC and will provide service and repair needs for all bikes.

Slated to open this week, the Old Fort Ride House Bike Shop, Powered by Schoenauer Service Course offers visitors and residents of Old Fort trail-side service on the doorstep of more than 40 miles of incredible mountain bike trails on 70,000+ acres of public land. Helping get flats fixed up fast, or work on more serious service issues, Schoenauer Service Course will get riders back on the trails in no time.

The bike shop will be managed and operated by Chad Schoenauer, a veteran of the bike industry and road racing scene in Asheville for more than 30 years. “The Old Fort Ride House bike shop will address customer needs for all types of cycling,” Schoenauer explains. “Whether you’re a daily commuter, road rider, or trail shredder, SSC will help when you need us.”

The new bike shop will add to the many amenities already offered at the Old Fort Ride House, which include: the only public restrooms in Old Fort open every day, along with filtered, chilled water bottle refill, ample bike racks that are adjacent to the covered, cooled eating area, and a wide array of trail snacks, resupply, and grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals. And of course, Kitsbow apparel that is perfectly suited for biking, hiking and enjoying the outdoors.

“Opening a bike shop at the Old Fort Ride House has been in the works for a number of years and we are eager to finally make it happen,” said David Billstrom, CEO of Kitsbow Cycling Apparel. “Chad is the perfect partner for us and our customers, as he is friendly, deeply experienced, and totally focused on getting people back on their bike quickly.”

Billstrom added, “Old Fort continues to rapidly grow as a mountain bike destination, and the one thing we were missing was a place for people to get their bikes serviced. I predict both seasoned cyclists and those new to the sport will be delighted by Chad’s attention to detail.”

Kitsbow was recently awarded a Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) for 2021 from the League of American Bicyclists. As part of the BFB network, Kitsbow will have access to a variety of tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more welcoming to people who bike. The BFB designation combined with the opening of the new bike shop will showcase riding in Old Fort and will continue to increase the bike community growth by making sure cyclists are confident on well serviced bikes as they explore the area on two wheels.

For additional information about Kitsbow and stay up to date on news, sign up for email updates on kitsbow.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Check out Schoenauer Service Course on Facebook to keep up with the latest news from the bike shop.

About Schoenauer Service Course
SSC is a bicycle repair and service shop located within Kitsbow’s Old Fort Ride House, owned and operated by a 30-year bicycle industry veteran, Chad Schoenauer. Chad’s life has always been intertwined with bikes, whether repairing or racing, and the Western North Carolina cycling community was and in many ways remains his adopted family. At SSC, Chad’s passion for bicycles shines through his team’s work — each customer’s bike gets the individual treatment it deserves.

About Kitsbow
Kitsbow was established in Sonoma County, California, eight years ago by dedicated mountain bikers and apparel industry veterans. Because its designers have logged years in the saddle, each detail is obsessively considered. Every element — down to zippers and reflective piping — is vetted for quality, style, and durability.

Relocating its manufacturing to Old Fort, North Carolina in 2019, Kitsbow is committed to a Just in Time manufacturing model, minimizing waste and maximizing flexibility to serve the customer. All products are packaged in compostable packaging, as well as all shipping materials, ready to return to the Earth in your own garden. Kitsbow already makes over 75% of its products in the USA and is on track to be making all of its products in-house in 2021. Kitsbow is a Bicycle Friendly Business, designated at the highest level (Platinum) by The League of American Bicyclists.

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Marisa Dobrot

Verde Brand Communications

marisa@verdepr.com

505.917.5866