Pro Cycle and Tri

Pro Cycle Fairhope has served the Eastern Shore’s cycling and triathlon community since Joseph and Katie Bolton opened the shop in April 2011. Located on Fairhope Avenue, the store has built its reputation less on volume and more on expertise, with both owners holding professional certifications in bike fitting and mechanics that go well beyond what a typical bike shop offers.

Joseph Bolton’s background includes Body Geometry FIT Master and Retul Certified Master credentials, along with a USA Cycling Licensed Race Mechanic certification. His own racing resume includes Category 1 and 2 USAC competition, multiple Ironman finishes, and ultra-endurance events like the Leadville Trail 100 and Unbound 200, the kind of firsthand experience that shapes how the shop advises customers on equipment.

Katie Bolton brings her own credentials to the shop, also certified in bicycle mechanics and fitting, and she competes at the Category 1 USAC level with podium finishes in gravel racing and ultra-distance events. Beyond the shop itself, she played a role in securing Alabama’s first bicycle and pedestrian license plate and currently chairs Fairhope’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, work that connects the store to the broader cycling infrastructure of the city.

The shop sells bikes and wheels from a range of established brands, alongside the parts, apparel, and accessories that keep a serious cyclist or triathlete outfitted through a full season of riding. Bike fitting is one of the shop’s core services, using professional-grade tools to dial in position for comfort and performance rather than relying on off-the-shelf sizing charts.

Mechanical repair and maintenance round out the shop’s day-to-day business, handling everything from routine tune-ups to more involved work on triathlon-specific setups. Given the technical background of both owners, the shop draws customers who want a mechanic who understands the difference between a casual rider’s needs and the demands of competitive racing.

Pro Cycle also organizes group rides and local events, giving Fairhope’s cycling community a regular gathering point beyond the shop’s retail floor. Those rides double as informal customer service, letting staff see how bikes perform on the actual roads and trails around Fairhope and adjust their recommendations accordingly. Located at 510 Fairhope Avenue, the shop keeps limited hours through the middle of the week and closes on Sundays and Mondays, a schedule that reflects a business built around a small, dedicated team rather than a large retail staff.

The bike fitting service in particular has become a draw for customers well outside Fairhope itself, since certified fitters at this level are not common along the Gulf Coast. Triathletes preparing for a specific race season often make a special trip for a fitting session alone, treating the visit as a standalone appointment rather than a stop tacked onto a shopping trip.

What sets Pro Cycle apart from a typical bike shop is the depth of firsthand racing experience behind the counter. Advice on equipment, fit, and training tends to come from people who have actually raced the distances and terrain being discussed, rather than staff reciting manufacturer specifications from a catalog. For serious cyclists and triathletes along the Gulf Coast, it has become one of the more trusted names in the region, and its role in local cycling advocacy through Katie Bolton’s committee work ties the shop to Fairhope’s broader effort to build out safer routes for riders.

New riders looking for a first road or gravel bike get the same attention as competitive racers shopping for a triathlon-specific setup, since the shop’s fitting process applies regardless of experience level. That consistency has helped Pro Cycle build a customer base that spans casual weekend riders exploring Fairhope’s quiet residential streets alongside athletes training for Ironman-distance events, a wider range than most specialty bike shops manage to hold onto at once.