A lifelong racer, (he started when he was 13 yeas old) Boyd Johnson founded the company that bears his name in 2009. What began as Boyd Bikes, offering wheels, frames, and accessories, subsequently narrowed focus to just wheels, and became Boyd Cycling in 2011. As a small family-run business, supporting the family, (as opposed to a large corporation) is what drives Boyd Cycling to provide consistent high quality along with value.
PBE Are you SC born and raised? How did you choose your location or did it choose you?
BJ I grew up in Western New York and came to Greenville, SC for the first time in 1998 for a bike race. I fell in love with the town and needed a place that I could ride my bike through the winter. Moved south for the winters starting in 2000 and permanently in 2004.
PBE What are some of the biggest changes you’ve noticed in the cycling industry/scene over the years (or recently)?
BJ With wheels, obviously disc brake and chasing standards. Everybody wants to be the first to come out with something innovative even if it means developing a new “standard”. I think this has led to a lot of confusion for consumers who are tired of buying parts only to have them be obsolete a few months later. I think we have finally settled on standards for road, cyclocross, and gravel, although now it seems the MTB market is playing the game of ever changing axle standards.
PBE What’s your favorite part of operating your business?
BJ Getting to go to events, shows, and races all over the country and world. I love talking with current and potential customers about the rides they are doing, and even getting to ride with them. I also love when an idea for a project starts to come to light. That first ride on a prototype project, seeing an idea starting to come to reality is one of my favorite things.
PBE What inspires you?
BJ I just love cycling. I’ve been racing and riding since I was 13 years old, and being able to make my passion support myself and my family is something I never take for granted. Also, hearing all the happy and positive customer feedback keeps driving us to continuously improve and reminds us of why we operate the way we do.
What’s your favorite ride/route/destination?
I am a huge fan of exploration rides. I love riding in a new area, state, country and always manage to find fun routes. At home I love being able to go on the gravel roads in Jocassee gorges (we have a gravel wheelset named Jocassee). The riding in Taiwan is some of the best in the world. I head over there a few times per year and keep a bike there so I can go out and ride the super narrow, steep twisty mountain roads.