BIKE SHOP TALK with Shaun Fowler, Buyer

Just the other day, I met up with Shaun Fowler, our Cycling Buyer, to congratulate him on Paragon Sports being named by Cannondale as one of their TOP 16 Bike Shops in the country, and to talk a little cycling with him.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? Anaheim, CA.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST BIKE AND WHO TAUGHT YOU TO RIDE IT ?  It was a Schwinn Stingray and my mom taught me.

WHAT MADE YOU GET INTO CYCLING SERIOUSLY? I bought a mountain bike to ride during camping trips and found that I really enjoyed it. Next thing I was racing for a team…

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE INDUSTRY? When I first moved to NYC I needed to change professions. I decided to use my cycling knowledge to jump into retail.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CYCLING CULTURE IN NYC, AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PLACES? There is nothing else like it in the US. You can ride 50 blocks in traffic and then jump into Central Park for a few loops. More people are starting to realize that cycling might be their best option for transportation.

WHAT MAKES PARAGON’S BIKE SHOP SPECIAL? Some customers get a bit intimidated going into a bike store. At Paragon, customer service is our strong point, so people are more comfortable shopping or just asking questions.

HOW INTEGRAL IS BIKING TO YOUR LIFE? Cycling is my mode of transport and my main hobby. I rode 11,000 miles last year.

THAT’S IMPRESSIVE… WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE NEW TRENDS AND TECH FOR THIS SEASON? Disc brake road bikes & commuter bike wear is really in right now.

ANY EVENTS COMING UP THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? Cycling season is just about to really kick into gear…pardon the pun…the Bike Expo New York is May 2-3 on Pier 36 in Manhattan and the Gran Fondo Expo May 16 – 17 at Lexington Armory in Midtown Manhattan. Paragon will have booths at both of these events. Come by and check us out!

SO SINCE YOU LOOK AT GEAR ALL THE TIME…ANY BIKES OR PRODUCTS YOU ARE OBSESSING OVER THESE DAYS? Always!… The Focus Izalco Max is a totally pro ride and the POC Octal Helmet uses a really innovative ventilation design.

I CAN’T WAIT TO CHECK THOSE OUT AT OUR SHOP…DO YOU HAVE A BIKE SAFETY TIP FOR US TODAY? Be aggressive when riding with traffic. Don’t ride on the edges and stay in the middle of the lane.

THANKS, THAT’S SOME QUALITY ADVICE… ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT?  Well, we are currently involved in Cannondale’s Bike Madness Contest with the TOP 16  Cannondale dealers in the country. It’s an online “bracket style” competition to become the #1 Cannondale Bike Shop in the country. If we win, Cannondale throws a big party for us and our customers with giveaways and prizes in front of our store. It would be pretty cool. We made it through Round 1, and Round 2 ONLINE VOTING AND MOBILE DEVICE VOTING starts TODAY.

THAT SOUNDS PRETTY SWEET! I’ll BE SURE TO VOTE. THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO SHAUN AND RIDE SAFE OUT THERE!