Today we’d like to introduce you to Vicki Peden.
Vicki, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Fort Worth is a cycling community from the bike lanes along city streets to the miles of bike paths on the Trinity River. My husband Neal, daughter Keely, and I wanted businesses that would offer residents fun alternative cycling activities. Now we own and operate two unique cycling companies in the same location at 129 W Leuda, across the street from the Rahr Brewery in Fort Worths Near Southside.
It started in 2012 when we opened the Cowtown Cycle Party. Initially, we had one 16-person Dutch-made party bike and Keely and I were the drivers. The business has grown to include three big bikes and our own 2400 sf building, which was constructed around a shipping container. The Cowtown Cycle Party is BYOB and pedalers must be 21 or older to ride. We knew there was a need for a cycling activity for younger people, for families, and for older people who couldn’t pedal a regular bike without becoming too tired to enjoy the experience. That’s when we discovered the fun associated with electric bikes.
In 2015, we bought a dozen Pedego electric bikes and started doing guided tours. At the time, we were renting warehouse space at a florist shop. We took groups on an electric bike ride to the Fort Worth Stockyards to see the Herd Cattle drive and to eat Texas BBQ.
This year, we moved into our building where we are now able to offer guided tours, rentals, sales, and service of Pedego Electric Bikes. Pedego e-bikes are the great equalizer – you can pedal them just like a regular bike and get as much exercise as you want. The electric motor assist ensures that you can still get home after a long ride and really it’s fun!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting our first business, the Cowtown Cycle Party was quite a challenge. City officials didn’t know how to classify the big bike. Ultimately they wrote a new city ordinance allowing us to operate. That’s Mayor Betsy Price and her staff on our home page at cowtowncycleparty.com.
After operating in a private parking garage downtown, the building sold and we had no place to store our big party bikes, which are 9 feet tall and 17 feet long. The only option was to buy land and construct our own building. Getting into our building was another major challenge. We initially bought land next door to our current location only to discover there was no working sewer along the street. We were able to persuade the owner of the corner lot at W Leuda and Galveston to sell.
After getting new architectural plans, we proceeded to get started but had to wait six months on a utility easement before there was power to the building. All in all, the process took about two years. Once we got in the building, opening the Pedego electric bikes store was a much smoother process and we have enjoyed every minute of it.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pedego Electric Bikes Fort Worth and the Cowtown Cycle Party – what should we know?
Pedego Electric Bikes Fort Worth is the first Pedego branded store in Texas. We are fortunate to attract customers from all across the state and neighboring states as well. We sell, service, rent, and offer tours of Pedego e-bikes. Pedego is known for its state-of-the-art technology but it’s the excellent customer service that sets us apart from others.
I am most proud of the way the Pedego e-bikes have been a real life changer for some of our clients. Many couples buy one e-bike so either the husband or wife can keep up with their cycle-enthusiast spouse. We had a client who suffered an injury that wouldn’t allow him to exercise come into the store weighing over 400 pounds. He is making steady progress losing weight by riding his bike. And an elderly man who bought our Pedego Trike carries his oxygen tank in the back and tells us he is out in the fresh air having more fun than ever. For him, it’s like being a kid again!
The Cowtown Cycle Party consistently wins accolades as a fun way to see downtown Fort Worth and get some light exercise in the process. We were named the Best Birthday Party destination by Fort Worth Texas Magazine and were a finalist for the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Our success is due to a never-failing positive attitude and belief that our businesses serve a special need for people. Whether it’s getting healthy and enjoying cycling on an electric bike or getting together with friends and family to celebrate special occasions on a party bike. We are in the fun business and we love what we do!
Contact Info:
- Address: 129 W Leuda Fort Worth, TX 76104
- Website: https://pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/fort-worth and http://cowtowncycleparty.com/
- Phone: 682 305-8304 (Pedego Electric Bikes Fort Worth)
682-42CyCLE (The Cowtown Cycle Party) - Email: info@pedegofortworth.com info@cowtowncycleparty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pedegofortworth/ and https://www.instagram.com/cowtowncycleparty/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pedegofortworth/ and https://www.facebook.com/CowtownCycleParty/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pedegofw and https://twitter.com/ctowncycleparty
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pedego-electric-bikes-fort-worth-fort-worth and https://www.yelp.com/biz/cowtown-cycle-party-fort-worth-3
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