PHOTO BY PARK BAKER
THE HUB AT BACKCOUNTRY OUTDOORS
Mountain bikers pack in like sardines on any weekend afternoon at The Pisgah Tavern. Stories about an epic wreck or getting caught in a summer thunderstorm fly back and forth while the latest micro brews are poured left and right. People are often covered in mud, blood and sweat. Brevard locals can be found a few PBR's deep most days, and your sanity may be questioned depending on which size wheels you ride. It's like that nearly all year: the porch has had to be expanded to accommodate the number of people coming back from their rides in Transylvania County, and the crowds show no sign of slowing down. The Tavern is located inside The Hub at Backcountry Outdoors, and is the brainchild of Sam and Jordan Salman, both Brevard College graduates with a passion for all things outside. The Hub opened in September 2008, across the parking lot from where it is located now. They're not just a bike shop though, and sell nearly anything you need for a mountain adventure. “We sell a lot of convenience items for people who have come in from out of town and may have forgotten a sleeping bag, or a rain jacket, or some easy-to-find climbing gear,” said Jon Angermier, college friend and the longest standing employee at The Hub. Both Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education majors, Sam and Jordan decided they were going to take a big road trip after college and find a small town in need of a bike shop. “We went to Harvey, whose shop we went in while we were in college, and asked him for tips and advice on our journey,” said Jordan. “Harvey told us to just buy his shop. We thought he was joking and we didn’t know what to say, except to ask him if it was for sale. He replied to us saying ‘everything’ was for sale.” At the time, Sam was working at the middle school and Jordan was working at Keystone Camp in charge of their Outdoor Staff. Jordan said that Harvey was gracious enough to finance it for them, because he and his wife knew they would do a good job. They decided to expand a few years later, as the idea of the Pisgah Tavern started to form in their minds. That required that they move into a larger location as the shop started to do more business. Jon Angermeier has worked at The Hub since it opened, after a brief stint living in Bellingham, Wash. »1 8 B I K E T R A N S Y LVA N I A , 2 0 1 4