Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Reid.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2014, while living near the new (at that time) Beltline some female friends suggested we go rollerblading on the Beltline. Feeling in-line skates weren’t quite for me; I countered with bikes, let’s go biking! So after a quick trip to WalMart (had to start somewhere) and purchasing four bikes me and those girls set out on the beltline. They kicked my butt that day.
I had trouble keeping up. Being as competitive as I am I developed a newfound affinity for biking as I had when I was a kid when I actually raced BMX as the track was directly across from my childhood home in North Carolina. That meant buying a new bike, one that could actually perform like I needed it to. Slowly but surely I turned those 2-mile rides into 10-mile rides around the city. During my trips, I’d often bump into my guy Robert Flood aka Middleman (another ATL influencer)! We would invite other people to join us. Eventually, we linked with 94.5 personality Ferrari Simmons and a local fitness trainer, named Tahlia. Each one of us had a substantial following and we agreed to have rides weekly. From that very ride, we used to put about 80-100 ppl on bikes a week and do about 7-8 miles up and down the beltline and through Piedmont Park. That was the beginnings of what is now the Dope Pedalers. From that core group, some people got serious about biking, the bikes got better and the miles got longer.
We began to bike year round and the weekly ride grew to three weekly rides. I began creating apparel and building a brand. This bike thing was morphing into something that I felt could be huge. Not just from a branding standpoint but from a networking and physical fitness approach. Much as deals are done on the golf course business was being done on the bike rides. People who never would have met otherwise were linking at our rides. Considering the political climate over the past years, there’s been so much division amongst us the bikes have been a place of refuge.
Nobody cares whos republican or Democrat, male or female, black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor! The only thing we cared about was “Do You Wanna Ride?” That all-encompassing attitude has attracted more people to the movement, we are growing by the day! The response from the apparel has been enormous. Coming from the music and fashion industry I learned how to not only create a “dope” tee but how to market it to a core demographic and watch it spread to the mainstream. We now have tees, hoodies, sweatsuits, cycling kits, caps, even shoes and more! We are much more than just a bike club, we are more than a clothing company, we are a movement. A movement about inclusion and support. We have doctors, lawyers, landscapers, strippers, entertainers, politicians, teachers, military, and people from all walks of life amongst our ranks.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Surprisingly we’ve had a smooth transition from concept to implementation. The only hard part is making sure everyone understands the goal of the movement. It’s not a race. Its a microcosm of my vantage point on life. For instance, we do not leave people on rides. We have “mass up” points where we wait for slower riders. This encourages them to get better while still enabling them the opportunity to enjoy the ride. Often times in life people run off from those who are not as advanced. I want to bring my crew up to my level and even past me so they can reach back and propel me to that new level. Although we’ve got some of the fastest ppl in the city we know, we are only as good as our slowest person. We only win when we all finish.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Dope Pedalers story. Tell us more about the business.
The business aspect of the Dope Pedalers is the retail side. We sell tees, hoodies, shoes, hats and cycling gear. We also build bikes and often assist with newcomers buying the right bike for their style of riding. We also give a lot of bikes away to needy commuters, kids or just people needing some activity in their life. We are known for having the baddest bikes in the city. The name says a lot, we are turning negatives into positives. We don’t peddle dope, we pedal dope! Big difference>
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
This has been 50% luck (Gods Plan) and 50% hard work. It’s nothing but luck to have assembled such a group of people who’ve bought into the purpose of what we are building. When you are compiling a team, it is important to understand the different personalities and dynamics involved. I played Div. 1 football at A&T (Aggie Pride) so I have a good foundation of what it is to build a team. I have been very blessed to have the team I have.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TheDopePedalers.com
- Instagram: @DopePedalers
Image Credit:
Jay Reid
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