A year ago (with much uncertainty) we opened a shop, workshop and hire centre at Ashton Court Estate with the hope to continue inspiring new and seasoned riders

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For a couple of friends with relatively little business experience, the thought of owning and running a ‘shopfront’ business was pretty daunting. Until this point, Pedal Progression had been run from laptops in our bedrooms. Sam and I knew that shop frontage would increase custom and help us to give up our day jobs as bike salesmen to go full time with Pedal Progression. For me this was a childhood dream – something I’d written about in an English class aged 14 “…and by the time I’m 30 I want to have my own bike shop…” I’d just turned 27 when we opened in July 2013.

We seemed to be just in the right place at the right time putting our bid in for tender just weeks before the deadline and coming away with the green light. A deal with Norco bikes deal was being written, Ross (our mechanic) had agreed to join us and the project suddenly became very exciting. We were stepping out, unsure of the future but certain we had something different to offer Bristol and three of the most skilled and knowledgeable bike heads in the City.

What a year it’s been! We survived our first Winter managing to open 5 days a week even in the worst weather and now we are open 7 days a week with more stock and hire bikes than we’ve ever had! The photos really show how much has changed. The top one was taken on opening day – there wasn’t even a workshop installed!

The bottom photo shows one of my favourite parts of the job we’ve created. Seeing people get into riding for the very first time! The family pictured all had their first mountain bike experience a couple weeks after we first opened and they all came back buzzing! Its that feeling that we work so hard to make sure all of our customers experience.

Other highlights include coaching a whole host of riders, launching our ‘Support Your Local Bike Shop’ campaign, having Ed Bartley join as a Saturday boy and being able to work in such an amazing place and environment! Our team ‘Pedal Progression Racing’ has been an exciting development too and seeing Liz Fowler go to the World Champs last month was amazing!

Thank you to everyone who has followed us, given their business and their friendship. it’s been an awesome first year and we can’t wait to see what our second one holds!

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