Offering electric bike tours and rentals, The Flying Bike gives visitors and locals the opportunity to explore Asheville’s charming character and fascinating history on two wheels. Because the bikes are electric, it makes conquering Asheville’s hills and slopes a little easier.
Check out our Q&A with The Flying Bike’s Co-Owner & Operations Director Torin Kexel below.
Tell us a little about the history of The Flying Bike.
“The company was started in 2012 as Electrobike Tours, an electric bike tour operator. The current owners (Torin and Alice Kexel) bought it in 2017 and changed the name to The Flying Bike. They have since added Ritchie Rozzelle as a business partner and expanded to add Pedego e-bike rentals, sales and service from their Coxe Ave South Slope location.”
What’s a little known fact or trivia about your company?
“Torin discovered the business for sale by accident in a Craigslist Ad when looking for a used electric bike.”
What are you most proud of about the company?
“We are proud to be making a positive impact on our community by being a Living Wage Certified and a Gold Level Bike Friendly Business. We intentionally hire for diversity and actively support underserved BIPOC communities in Asheville by how we hire, promote, contract, collaborate, donate and through the powerful stories that we tell on our tours. We consistently make our guests happy, and have risen from the #16 to the #1 Tour on Tripadvisor.”
What’s the best advice you’ve gotten for operating a small business?
“Our business coach, Annie Price taught us to start with our core values and use them as a guide for decision making. This has meant that as we grow, we continue to build a business that we are proud of.”
Tips for other small businesses?
“Hire a business coach and other professionals when you need them. It has always been worth more to us than the investment.”
What’s next on the horizon?
“New tours starting with a “Winter Warm-up Tour” that will keep you warm and well-fed during your ride with all things tasty and toasty! We are also looking into exciting new collaborations and the possibility of a shared location in 2022.”
Our tagline is “Together, We Are More”. How does that apply to your business or what does it mean to you?
“This resonates because we see ourselves as an important link between locals and tourists in our community. We have started to become part of a conversation that aims to hold the tourism industry accountable for making the most positive possible impact in Asheville, and we believe that this will lead to a much better future for everyone here.”