One of Hiplok’s first-ever stockists and a Hiplok flagship store, Red Kite Cycles in the heart of the UK caters to every cyclist wherever they are on their cycling journey. Owned and managed by Adrian Passmore and his partner Candy, Red Kite Cycles is not just a bike shop; it’s a hub for the regional cycling community. We caught up with Adrian to find out more.
Can you describe Red Kite Cycles in one sentence?
Red Kite Cycles is an all-round everybody bike shop – we look after all types of cyclists.
What’s your shop story – how did you get started?
The business was established 30 years ago, and since then, we have moved premises three times within the southern Birmingham area. I’m the third owner and took over 13 years ago. I had always dreamt of owning a bike shop ever since I was a little kid when I rode and fiddled with bikes endlessly. It’s been a dream come true.
Why is Red Kite Cycles “Not Just A Bike Shop”?
We’re not just a bike shop because there’s no such thing as just a bike. Bikes go with riders, and we are all about the rider – every one of which is unique. We love meeting the next person through the door, wherever they are on their cycling journey. We look after pros, beginners, children and everyone in between.
What makes Red Kite Cycles unique?
We are among a number of established bike shops across the UK, and our team has vast experience. But what makes us unique is that we are amongst a tiny fraction of shops that design and manufacture their own frames and bikes. A lot of love goes into designing and building every Bullfinch bike.
Tell us about your team.
We are all cyclists and have every kind of cyclist represented in the team – commuters, road cyclists, mountain bikers and gravel riders. Between our small team, we have 70 years of experience serving the local cycling community in bike shops. We’ll fix anything. If it can be done, we will do it. But we are also a creative team since we have designed, manufactured, branded and built up our own Bullfinch bikes for many years.
Tell us about the community you serve – who comes to Red Kite Cycles?
We’re a local bike shop, which means the people of Shirley and Solihull, but we also have a wider regional reach of loyal customers who have been customers for years. That’s what we’ve worked at – we think of ourselves as in hospitality. The bike is more than a technical machine; it’s a social object, and so is our shop.
What’s your ultimate tandem ride? Who with and where?
The obvious answer would be Mark Cavendish because of his legend status. But I would also like to ride with David Byrne from Talking Heads. He combines two passions—music and bikes. He takes a bicycle everywhere while on tour and rides in every city in the world. It would be fun to tag along and travel the world on that bike.
What is your favourite bike of all time, and why is it not just a bike?
It has to be the first bike we ever built here at Red Kite Cycles, the Bullfinch SP1. Everyone who sees it in the shop thinks it’s beautiful, and it is. But what makes it truly special is that I rode it for miles when testing it on hard track, around the fields. I really put it through its paces. It’s a great privilege to ride on a bike you’ve made yourself.
Thanks to Adrian, Candy and all the team at Red Kite Cycles.
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