New electric-bike shop rides into Winnetka’s Hubbard Woods

It’s not often that someone’s next path in life is found through social media, but an advertisement that came across Scott Radliff’s Facebook page set the wheels in motion for a new journey.

Radliff, an avid cyclist who served in the Army as a paratrooper, worked in technology for the past 25 years. He thought it was time to embark on a new venture when he saw the ad from Pedego Electric Bikes.

The Rogers Park resident opened Pedego Electric Bikes Winnetka last month at 894 Green Bay Road in Winnetka’s Hubbard Woods Business District. The 1,370 square-foot Winnetka location is one of 120 locally owned stores across the country, according to its website. The company started in 2008.

“We pride ourselves for being a non-bike-shop bike shop,” Radliff said. “(We’re) catering to a more casual cycling clientele, that appreciates second-to-none customer service, by electric-bike experts.”

The store has approximately 40 bikes in stock and offers the full line of Pedego electric bikes, which includes everything from beach cruiser to commuter models and all the way up to adventure-based, full-suspension mountain bikes, Radliff said.

He added that bikes are available for both purchase and rental.

The shop is the latest of several new businesses to open on Green Bay Road in Winnetka, joining Casa Spazio and Towne and Oak as newcomers on the block.

Radliff is pleased by the warm welcome Pedego has received so far.

“The first couple of months have gone pretty well,” he said. “There’s been a lot of interest; people have been coming in and are curious about Pedago and about electric bikes. … The community has been great. They have been very warm, very welcoming.”

Radliff said Winnetka was a desirable location because it has a good centralized reach for the company’s demographic, which is typically customers over the age of 50.

Nearby access to the popular Green Bay Trail, one of several dedicated cycling paths in the area, and the high level of foot traffic in Hubbard Woods were also attractions to the area.

Pedago will temporarily close from Jan. 1-15 and will reopen as an appointment-only store for a stretch of time, Radliff said. He anticipates the store will remain appointment-only through February.

Right now Radliff is the store’s only employee but he hopes to bring on a sales person and a mechanic in the spring. He also hopes that the store will have at least 10 more additional bikes available for rent come spring.

Although the store has been open for just over a month, Radliff is already thankful for the opportunity to operate in Winnetka.

“This is a wonderful opportunity within a great community and I look forward to seeing everybody come by,” he said”

More information about Pedago can be found here. Those interested in scheduling an appointment for early 2021, or learning more about the store’s offerings, can call (224) 505-5923 or email scottr@pedegowinnetka.com.