Philip G. Pavely | Tribune-Review

Local Manufacturing firm shows that Bikes Mean Business…and jobs

By David Conti

Published: Monday, May 12, 2014, 11:06 p.m.

Cathy Schnaubelt Rogers (full disclosure, member of BikePGH’s Board) started making biking clothes for herself because big companies didn’t make them for female cyclists.

That motivation led to her first business venture, Schnaubelt Shorts, which folded in 1992 because of what she called a faulty business model.

“We manufactured other brands, instead of our own brands, and there were a lot of price pressures to produce at a lower price,” said Rogers, 56, of Moon, who laid off 53 employees and became a teacher. “We couldn’t make a profit.”

Returning to her initial mission of making everyone comfortable on a bike — from professional racers to folks putting on Spandex for the first time — Rogers restarted the sewing machines at her Coraopolis warehouse nine years ago. The new company, Aero Tech Designs, makes a growing line of biking apparel up to size 5XL and sells it online and in a storefront that opened on Fourth Avenue two years ago.

“We are an actual factory that manufactures a product right here in town,” said Rogers, whose 38 employees at Aero Tech include her sons, Ted and Ben. “Customers appreciate that.”

Read the full article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Not a member of BikePGH? Join today! We need you to add your voice! Bike Pittsburgh works to protect cyclist’s rights and promote the vision of making Pittsburgh a safer and more enjoyable place to live and to ride. For more info, check out: www.bikepgh.org/membership