Air Force Veteran Joins The Bike Bistro

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Air Force veteran Mark Maddox has joined The Bike Bistro, a specialty bike shop and coffee bar on Summerlin Road near the Sanibel Causeway.

Maddox retired in 2010 after a 25-year career in the Air Force, where he was a communications project manager working closely with air-traffic controllers to coordinate the needs of communications squadrons. “We’re excited that Mark has joined our team because of his exceptional organizational and leadership skills honed in the Air Force,” says Steve Martin, owner of The Bike Bistro.

The Bike Bistro is a popular destination for cycling enthusiasts who enjoy relaxing with a cup of coffee and healthy snacks before or after they ride. Riders can lounge in comfortable chairs, socialize with other cyclists and log onto the internet using the shop’s free WiFi. The shop has been renting and selling custom-fitted bikes, gear and apparel since 2012.

Maddox has always had a passion for bikes, which allowed him to explore new places. His father worked in the oil exploration business, so the family moved frequently to far-flung countries in Asia and the Middle East. When he joined the Air Force, Maddox continued to explore new surroundings on his bikes even in remote areas like the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. “I had a bike with me on every assignment,” he says.

Maddox prefers to ride solo and is partial to mountain bikes, but his outgoing personality will make clients feel immediately at ease in the shop. A scuba diving instructor since 2014, Maddox enjoys teaching and helping others reach their goals.

While Maddox assists with all store operations, he will be training to become a certified bike mechanic at an intensive six-week program at the United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, Ore., in the spring thanks to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

For now, Maddox is helping prepare the shop for the busy winter tourist season. In particular, Maddox predicts The Bike Bistro’s fleet of electric bikes will be hugely popular. “Summer has been surprisingly strong but we’re expecting a great season as northerners return to Southwest Florida for the winter,” says Maddox.

The Bike Bistro is located at 20351 Summerlin Road, #114, in Fort Myers at the Publix shopping center near the Sanibel Causeway. The store is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information visit thebikebistro.com or call 239-479-1999.

About The Bike Bistro
The Bike Bistro is a specialty cycling shop and café at 20351 Summerlin Road, #114, in Fort Myers at the Publix shopping center near the Sanibel Causeway. The shop has been renting and selling custom-fitted bikes, gear and apparel since 2012. For more information, visit thebikebistro.com or call 239-479-1999.