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About Parkersburg Bicycle

Parkersburg Bicycle opened its doors because of the strong customer relationships owner Peter Kotses has built with Mid-Ohio Valley cyclists over the past decade.

After opening Athens Bicycle in Athens, Ohio, in 1998, Peter quickly built a customer base of cycling enthusiasts from Parkersburg, Marietta, Belpre, Vienna, Gallipolis and many other cities near the Ohio River.

For years, many of these customers would say, "Pete, please open up a shop over here!" We always listened, but it took a lot of hard work and planning to make a second store happen. In October 2007 Peter Kotses and his wife, Meredith Erlewine, opened Parkersburg Bicycle.

Parkersburg residents Nick Casto and Kim Coram manage the day-to-day operations at Parkersburg Bicycle. Kotses is in the shop on a weekly basis, and Erlewine manages with behind-the-scenes projects like this Web site, the shop e-mail newsletter and event planning.

To those of you who made the trip over to Athens from the Parkersburg area for all those years, we thank you for your support and encouragement. We are happy to be able to serve you closer to home.

Who You'll Meet at Parkersburg Bicycle

Nick Casto, Manager

Nick Casto has a love for outdoor recreation and a penchant for organizing inventory. Combine that with bike shop experience and a knack for customer service and you have a great store manager. Nick got involved with the sport of mountain biking while working at Elkins Bikeworks in the mid-1990s, and has been a regular participant in cycling and running events around West Virginia since then. Most recently, Nick was employed as a back counter parts supervisor at Matheny Motors, where he sourced and maintained approximately $5 million in inventory across four buildings. Nick brings his love of cycling and excellent organizational skills to Parkersburg Bicycle -- you can bet that if you are looking for a part or accessory, Nick will track it down and have it in stock ASAP! These days Nick splits his excercise time between mountain biking, running and participating in triathlons. "I love to be outdoors no matter how hot or cold it is. It gives me the opportunity to discover new places and new people."

Kim Coram, Customer Service Expert

Working at Parkersburg Bicycle is Kim Coram’s first "post-retirement" job. Kim comes to the shop after a long career in public service. From 1992 until 2005 Kim worked for the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Bureau of the Public Debt here in Parkersburg, where she managed both people and projects related to information dissemination, computer security, computer programming and systems administration. Kim served in the United States Air Force from 1982 to 1987. Alongside her career in the public sector, Kim has always been heavily involved in community service organizations and volunteer projects. Kim founded Adventure Pursuit here in Parkersburg in 1996, serving as executive director until 2008. The nonprofit organization specializes in making outdoor recreation opportunities available to everyone, particularly those with special needs. While stationed in Europe in the Air Force, Kim fell in love with cycling and used it as her primary source of transportation. Her love of cycling has continued to grow and expand.  She most enjoys riding technical mountain bike trails. Kim is coordinator of the Mid-Ohio Valley Bicycle Council and is a member of the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Leadership Council.

Peter Kotses, Owner

Peter Kotses is a lifelong cyclist with more than 25 years of experience bicycle commuting, touring, racing and riding. He also is an expert mechanic. Pete has worked in the retail bicycle industry since 1991. He worked at bicycle shops in Athens, Ohio, and Teays Valley, W.V., before opening his own shop in Athens in 1998. He is a bicycle fit specialist, having attended several in-depth seminars on the topic. Pete enjoys providing personalized customer service, and prides himself in finding solutions to meet customers' individual needs. "My needs as a cyclist have changed over the years, and I use that perspective to help my customers create the cycling experiences they want for themselves." Pete has a long history of trail advocacy and volunteerism, having played an instrumental role in gaining access for mountain bikers to state land via thoughtful dialogue with land managers in Southeastern Ohio. Pete serves on numerous cycling and outdoor recreation boards and committees. In his capacity as a member of these grassroots organizations, Pete makes sure that cyclists have a voice when decisions are being made about recreation opportunities in public spaces.

Meredith Erlewine, Owner

Meredith Erlewine has nearly 20 years of experience riding and racing bikes. She particularly enjoys helping other people become more comfortable with cycling -- after all, bicycling should be fun for everyone! To that end, Erlewine regularly guides bicycle tours, leads group rides, teaches skills clinics and organizes cycling events. She is an expert project manager, a natural organizer and an energetic team leader. She thrives on the challenge of motivating people to accomplish an objective -- whether it’s organizing a major cycling event or encouraging someone to make it through a rock garden. "It is truly satisfying to introduce the sport of cycling to others. And, for those who already cycle, I love helping them experience the world from a bike and master the art of riding."