GREENVILLE, S.C. (BRAIN) — After eight years catering to women cyclists, Pedal Chic owner Robin Bylenga will close her brick-and-mortar store in downtown Greenville on Dec. 30 and will shift her focus to online.
In a release, Pedal Chic stated that the shop’s “original goal of making cycling more accessible and inclusive for women was achieved, making this the right time right to spearhead new approaches and pursue new opportunities in the cycling industry.”
Bylenga said, “New trends in transportation and particularly in electric bicycles indicate that utilizing innovative methods to reaching the active cycling enthusiast can have a significant impact on the industry, and Pedal Chic intends to play a meaningful role in defining a 21st-century commercial approach to cycling, transportation and pedal mobility.”
Pedal Chic had moved to downtown Greenville in February after operating since 2010 in a space a couple blocks away. It was named best women’s/female-friendly shop in the Interbike Awards for 2012, 2013 and 2015. In 2017, Bylenga launched a line of Pedal Chic-branded women’s bikes developed with U.S. manufacturer Kent International.
Pedal Chic plans to launched a revamped website after the first of the year. “The online company will deliver breaking news, trends and new products from the best manufacturers in the cycling industry. The company is committed to ensure that longtime customers and supporters will have information on the exciting changes that will be occurring in the industry,” the release stated.