Charlotte Cycles

What Charlotte Cycles does

Charlotte Cycles is an independently owned, single-location bicycle retail and service business headquartered at 601 S Kings Drive in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company combines a physical storefront with an e-commerce storefront (free shipping on orders over $75, home delivery available) and sells new bicycles spanning electric, road, mountain, commuter, folding, children's, cargo, and recumbent trike categories through authorized-dealer relationships with 11 premium brands including Giant, Brompton, Catrike, Gazelle, Electra, Liv, ICE, Momentum, Tern, TerraTrike, and Velotric. Beyond bikes, it stocks an extensive accessories catalog (helmets, shoes, clothing, car racks, locks, electronics, child seats, hydration, lighting, storage, tools), a full replacement-parts department, and gift cards; product pricing spans roughly $5 (small parts) to $2,600+ (premium e-bikes such as the Momentum Voya E+ 1).

The business operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer go-to-market combining in-store test rides, professional bike fitting, repair and tune-up services, short-term bike rentals, financing for higher-value purchases, and curated community rides supported through local organizations. Its revenue mix combines one-time product sales (bicycles, accessories, parts) with professional services (fitting, repair) and usage-based rentals. Payments are processed via PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Google Pay. Customer segments are diversified across urban commuters, recreational riders, e-bike enthusiasts, comfort-focused riders, folding-bike users, recumbent trike riders, and families, served through organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram), the e-commerce site, community partnerships, and direct phone/email outreach. There is no proprietary technology layer, no disclosed headcount, no funding history, and no public financial reporting; the company is not affiliated with any parent entity.

Name

Charlotte Cycles

Legal name

Charlotte Cycles

Website

https://charlottecycles.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Charlotte Cycles is an independently owned single-location bicycle retailer and service shop in Charlotte, NC, selling premium new bikes, parts, and accessories from 11 brands while offering repair, fitting, rentals, and financing to consumer cyclists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bicycle Retail

NAICS

Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

akta.pro primary industry

Cycling & Bike Retail (Sales, Service & Accessories) (CRAMABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bicycle Retail (New Bikes) (CRAMAHAA), E-Bike Retail (CRAMAHAE), Cargo & Utility Bike Retail (CRAMAHAF), Bike Service, Repair & Maintenance Shops (CRAMAHAH), Bike Rental, Demo & Tour Operators (Retail-Adjacent) (CRAMAHAJ)

Keywords

• Bicycle retail sales
• Bike repair services
• Cycling accessories
• Professional bike fitting
• Electric bike sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Bicycle Sales: Retail sale of new bicycles including electric bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, folding bikes, recumbent trikes, and children's bikes from branded partners like Giant, Velotric, Gazelle, Electra, Liv, Brompton, Tern, and Catrike.
2. Accessories and Parts Sales: Sale of bicycle accessories including helmets, shoes, clothing, locks, lights, baskets, racks, car racks, tools, maintenance supplies, and replacement parts. Brands include ABUS, Unior, Park Tool, and many others.
3. Bike Service and Repair: Professional bicycle service and repair offerings including tune-ups, adjustments, and component replacement.
4. Bike Fitting: Professional bike fitting services to optimize rider comfort and performance.
5. Bike Rentals: Short-term bicycle rental services for customers wanting to try bikes before purchasing or for visitors/tourists.
6. Financing Services: Financing options available for customers purchasing higher-value bicycles and e-bikes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Charlotte Cycles is a local bicycle retail and service shop that sells new bicycles (electric, road, mountain, commuter, folding, children's, cargo, and recumbent trikes) and related accessories and parts from brands including Giant, Brompton, Tern, Velotric, Gazelle, Electra, Liv, Catrike, ICE, TerraTrike, and Momentum. The business also provides professional services such as bicycle repair and tune-ups, bike fitting, short-term bike rentals, home delivery, and financing options for higher-value purchases, operating from a single physical storefront in Charlotte, NC with an e-commerce website.

Product overview

Charlotte Cycles operates as a full-service bicycle retailer and e-commerce platform offering a comprehensive range of cycling products and services. The core offering includes multiple bicycle types (electric, road, mountain, commuter, folding, children's, cargo, and recumbent trikes) across numerous premium brands including Brompton, Catrike, Electra, Gazelle, Giant, ICE, Liv, Momentum, Tern, TerraTrike, and Velotric. Supporting product categories include car racks for vehicle transport, cycling footwear and helmets, apparel (gloves, shorts, t-shirts), and an extensive accessories division covering body care, child seats, electronics, fenders, hydration, lighting, locks/security, nutrition, storage, and tools/maintenance. The parts department supplies replacement components across all bicycle systems. Services include professional bike service and repair, bike fitting, financing options, home delivery, and rental programs with curated community rides. The business model combines physical retail presence with e-commerce functionality, offering free shipping on orders over $75.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bicycles (Electric, Road, Mountain, Commuter, Folding, Children's, Cargo) New bicycles in multiple categories (electric, road, mountain, commuter, folding, children's, cargo) from brand partners including Giant, Velotric, Gazelle, Electra, Liv, Brompton, Tern, and Momentum, sold to individual consumers in the Charlotte area.
• Recumbent Trikes Three-wheeled human-powered recumbent vehicles with reclined seating from Catrike, ICE, TerraTrike, and Sun Seeker, sold to individual consumers seeking comfort or accessibility-focused cycling.
• Cycling Accessories Extensive accessory category including body care, children's bike accessories, child seats, electronics, fenders, hydration, indoor cycling, lighting, locks/security, nutrition, packs/racks/baskets, pumps/inflation, recumbent accessories, safety, storage, tools/maintenance, and travel cases. Brands include ABUS, Unior, Park Tool, and others.
• Bicycle Parts

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BromptoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharlotte Cycles is an authorized dealer of Brompton folding bicycles. They sell Brompton bikes and compatible accessories including bags and racks.
• CatrikecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer of Catrike recumbent trikes, offering these specialty three-wheeled bikes and related accessories.
• ElectracoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer of Electra bicycles, selling their townie and casual cruiser bikes known for comfort-focused design.
• GazellecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer of Gazelle electric bikes, offering Dutch-designed e-bikes for urban commuting.
• Giant BicyclescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Giant dealer offering a wide range of Giant road, mountain, and hybrid bicycles.
• ICE Recumbent TrikescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized dealer of ICE (Inspired Cycle Engineering) recumbent trikes, offering compact folding recumbent trikes.
• LivcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Liv dealer, selling women's-specific bicycles designed by Giant with geometry and components tailored for female riders.
• Momentum BicyclescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Momentum dealer, offering bikes designed for city riding and urban mobility.
• TerncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Tern dealer, selling folding bikes, racks, bags, and accessories designed for urban commuting and cargo transport.
• TerraTrikecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized TerraTrike dealer offering recumbent trikes for various riding preferences and abilities.
• Velotric Electric BikescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized Velotric dealer, offering their line of electric bikes including foldable, commuter, and cargo e-bikes with proprietary technology.
• ABUSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSells ABUS bicycle locks and security products including chain locks, folding locks, cable locks, and U-locks.
• UniorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSells Unior professional bicycle tools and repair equipment including wrenches, chain tools, and workshop equipment.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• REI: US outdoor cooperative retailer with substantial bike departments offering bikes, accessories, and repair services across many of the same brands Charlotte Cycles carries — broader incumbent rather than specialist competitor.
• Trek Bicycle Stores: Largest US branded bicycle retailer with corporate stores nationwide; competes across bike categories and services but is vertically integrated with a single manufacturer, making it a broader incumbent rather than an independent peer.

Others

• Brompton: Premium folding bike brand that Charlotte Cycles resells; included as an ecosystem participant because Brompton's direct-to-consumer push and dealer strategy directly shape Charlotte Cycles' access to folding-bike demand.

Emerging players

• Rad Power Bikes: Direct-to-consumer e-bike brand competing on price and online convenience — represents the disruptive DTC model that bypasses independent retailers like Charlotte Cycles for e-bike sales.
• Pedego Electric Bikes: Franchise-based e-bike retail network with brick-and-mortar showrooms focused on electric bicycles — comparable retail model targeting a narrower e-bike segment where Charlotte Cycles also competes.

Direct peers

• Bicycle Ranch: Arizona-based multi-store independent bicycle retailer carrying premium road, mountain, e-bikes, and family bikes with full service departments — comparable multi-brand independent cycling retailer.
• Contender Bicycles: Utah-based multi-brand independent bicycle shop specializing in road, mountain, gravel, and custom builds with professional service — comparable independent cycling retailer with deep brand partnerships.
• Wheel & Sprocket: Multi-location Midwest independent bicycle retailer offering sales, service, rentals, and group rides across a broad bike category mix — directly analogous full-service shop model.
• Landry's Bicycles: Long-established multi-store independent bicycle retailer in New England selling premium road, mountain, e-bikes, and accessories with in-house service and fitting — directly comparable multi-brand cycling retail model.
• Mike's Bikes: Multi-brand independent bicycle retailer with multiple stores across California and the West Coast, offering new bikes, service, fittings, and rentals — a directly comparable omnichannel cycling retailer format to Charlotte Cycles.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/charlottecycles
• Instagraminstagram.com/charlottecycles
• Xx.com/cltcycles

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charlotte Cycles