Whether you’re young, old, or in between, a professional cyclist or just out to spend some time getting fresh air and exercise, riding a bicycle can be a fun outdoor activity. But as with any sporting activity, one needs the proper equipment in good repair.
Jeff Nalley, a cyclist for forty years, has participated in recreational, touring and entry level racing, and now he is sharing his love of cycling with many area residents as owner of Suwanee Creek Bicycles located on Buford Highway in Suwanee.
Nalley and his wife, Wendy, have lived in Suwanee for 15 years, so when they were contemplating opening the store six years ago, Nalley said location was key.
“My previous business required a lot of travel, so when we decided to open the bicycle store, I wanted it as close as possible to home,” he said.
With that in mind, Nalley said they were fortunate to find a location across from the Suwanee Greenway. With the ideal location, the Nalleys opened the shop in spring 2007.
Open six days a week, Suwanee Creek Bicycles remains a family-owned and operated business offering both new bike sales and repairs. Nalley works full time in the store, primarily in repairs, though he can also be found on the sales floor or building supplier relationships, while Wendy Nalley works part time handling the administrative side of the business and on the sales floor when needed. Their daughter, Jennifer, helps out part time in sales. In addition to the family, Fred Murphy works in sales and Spencer Oliver works in the repair shop.
Nalley knows from experience that when cycling, comfort matters.
“A rider that is properly fitted to a bicycle is a much more efficient and comfortable rider,” he said.
To help ensure a comfortable ride Nalley uses Bike Fit Systems, a company whose tools are used to help properly fit the customer to the bicycle by determining proper saddle height, saddle fore and aft placement, handlebar positioning and so on, to make sure cyclists are riding at their highest comfort level.
In addition to comfort, Nalley said listening to his customers is important, adding that his biggest challenge is having the products his customers want. Because there are so many new products coming out every year, Nalley said it makes it impossible for him to stock everything.
“So I listen to my customers about products they have heard about, whether it is a different type of saddle, new wheels, nutrition and so on,” Nalley said.
Suwanee Creek Bicycles helps to support neighbors and the community by sponsoring a local junior racing team, Frazier Cycling and they also have riders under the “Suwanee Creek Bicycles” club name as well. In addition, they are a shop sponsor for the “Tour de Cure” charity bicycle ride, which raises money to find a cure for diabetes.
“This will be our fifth year as a sponsor for ‘Tour de Cure,'” Nalley said. “We recruit riders to ride for our team and raise money, and we provide mechanical support during the ride.”
Likewise, the community support has been an important part of building the business, and Nalley said as new business owners, sticking close to home in Suwanee has turned out to be a good idea.
“My primary brand of bicycle is the Fuji brand,” he said. “(And) in 2012 Suwanee Creek Bicycles was the number one Fuji dealer in the southeastern United States. To go from brand new to number one in six years…is a testament to the support the Suwanee community has given us.”
For more information, you can also visit their website at www.suwaneecreekbicycles.com.
Suwanee Creek Bicycles
1175 Buford Hughway, Suite 115 • Suwanee
770.904.4860
BY: Amy Wilson and Tana Suggs
