Outspokin

Columbia's Best Bicycle Shop

Opened in 1982, Outspokin' Bicycles was one of the first "pro" shops in the Southeast, offering Italian framesets and components, expert fitting and excellent service. Outspokin' also sponsored many race teams through the years, including former LA Sheriff's pro riders Thomas Craven and Jim Copland. The Outspokin' jersey, worn by Charlotte hard man Gordon Steil, has also seen the top of the podium at the 1996 Masters Cycling National Championship. As one of the first Specialized and Trek dealers in the area, they were also the first to sell "real" mountain bikes like the Stumpjumper.
Owner Brian Curran began his cycling career in 1989 at Outspokin', working in sales for founder Chris Hardwicke. Brian managed Outspokin' for fifteen years and purchased the store in 1997. He attributes Outspokin's success to its staff members' passion for cycling. "We've got one of the most diverse staffs that I've seen in the cycling industry. It's a requirement that our employees ride regularly, but what's different about Outspokin' is that we've got people on staff that range from category 1 road racer to a couple of guys who just want to enjoy the trails occasionally. It's this kind of diversity that makes shopping here easy. We've got people who can talk technical issues about bikes, and then we've got people who can talk to someone who has never ridden a bike before," Curran said.