Brent Forrer didn't have to go far to find a spot for his Hudson bike shop All-Around Cyclery. Housed in a former maple syrup evaporator house, it's less than a half-mile from Main Street Cupcakes, which his wife, Sarah, opened with her sister nine years ago.
"We want to be the family bike shop, and Hudson is very family-oriented," Forrer says. "It's a natural fit."
Homey touches echo some of Hudson's boutiques and restaurants: countertops made from reclaimed bowling alley lanes, wooden pallets transformed into displays, bar stools pulled up to the counter so customers can watch Forrer work or just chat him up.
"I want people to say, 'Hey, I'm going to go over to the bike shop and hang out for a little while,' " he says.
After 19 years working at shops such as Spin in Lakewood and Century Cycles in Peninsula, Forrer's done every aspect of the job. He can repair pretty much anything, including complicated electronic shift systems.
Stocked with accessories such as Lazer helmets, All-Around carries bike brands covering a range of needs and prices, from Niner mountain bikes starting at $1,500 to stylized Linus cruisers from $290 to $800.
Forrer wants to build a community around biking in Hudson, organizing group rides geared toward all levels. Some groups meet outside the shop for rides around town, while others hit trails in the nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
