🚴♂️ Southfork Cycles Bike Shop
The Southfork Story
At Southfork, we genuinely believe it’s the people that make the shop. That’s why we’re really careful about who joins the team—everyone here is focused on making your experience easy, enjoyable, and one to remember.
We’re not just here to sell bikes. We want to help you understand cycling better, whether that’s the sport itself or the gear you’re looking at. Most importantly, we aim to give honest advice you can trust—and hopefully make you feel part of the Southfork cycling community.
Southfork Racing started in 2001, when founder Chris Green spotted a bit of a gap in the market. There were plenty of bike shops around the Southwest, but not many that really catered to serious cyclists and athletes—especially with the growing fitness and extreme sports scene along the North Devon coast.
So the idea was simple: create a shop that understood performance cycling inside out. A place where people who actually ride and race could offer real advice, not just sell products.
From day one, Southfork was built around that idea. The early team weren’t just staff—they were riders, racers, and enthusiasts who lived and breathed the sport. That hands-on experience helped shape the shop into something a bit different: somewhere you could come not just to buy a bike, but to learn, improve, and be part of a cycling community.
As the shop grew, so did its reputation. But one thing never changed. While Southfork became known for high-end bikes and serious kit, it never lost sight of being a proper local bike shop too. Fixing punctures, servicing well-loved bikes, helping beginners get started—it’s always been just as important as selling top-tier gear.
Today, Southfork Cycles is a mix of both worlds. It’s a place for dedicated athletes chasing performance, and also for everyday riders who just love being on two wheels.
And at the heart of it all? The same idea it started with—great people, honest advice, and a genuine passion for cycling.
🔧 The Next Chapter – Southfork Cycles
Southfork Cycles marks the next chapter in our journey.
We’re moving forward in a time that, honestly, isn’t easy for anyone—but we’re committed to pushing ahead. Our new premises are built from Nick Butler’s vision. With over 20 years of experience, Nick has helped bring this to life alongside the rest of the Southfork team.
While the future may feel uncertain, our direction stays the same. We’ll keep moving forward, staying true to what we’ve always been about: performance-focused expertise combined with the welcoming feel of a local village bike shop.
Please take the time to meet the team below—we’re proud of the people who make Southfork what it is.
Nearly but not quite…
Who we are:
Chris Green – Founder
Back in 2001, Chris recognised a gap in the Southwest cycling scene. While there were plenty of bike shops, very few truly catered to dedicated cyclists and athletes—especially with the rise of fitness and extreme sports along the North Devon coast. As an elite-level cross-country racer himself, Chris understood firsthand what serious riders needed: not just quality equipment, but expert advice built on real experience.
That insight became the foundation of Southfork.
From the beginning, it was never just about high-performance bikes and top-level equipment. While those remain a big part of what we do, it has always been just as important to be a true local bike shop. Whether it’s fixing a puncture for a passing rider, servicing a well-loved bike, or fitting a basket to a shopping bike, every customer matters.
Chris built Southfork to be a place where everyone feels welcome—whether you’re an experienced racer or just getting started. That balance between performance expertise and community spirit is still at the heart of Southfork Cycles today.
Chris spent a lot of time racing and riding in Europe and the US alongside working in the shop, and it was on one of those trips to Germany that he first saw electric mountain bikes. Southfork immediately got involved with e-biking and has never looked back.
Because at the end of the day, every type of cycling is what Southfork is all about.
Nick Butler – Director
Nick joined the business back in 2003… originally just to help out for a day. Safe to say, he never really left. Over the years, he’s become a huge part of Southfork, helping shape not just the shop, but the knowledge and standards behind everything we do.
With over 20 years of experience in cycling and performance sport, Nick brings a depth of understanding that you can’t teach. Before cycling, he was a European water-ski racing champion, and that competitive mindset has carried through into everything he does.
He races downhill and mega enduro across the UK and France, competes in XC at national level, and is known as the ‘dark horse’ in road races. Put a climb or a corner in front of him, and he’s right at the sharp end. His experience across multiple disciplines means he understands bikes, setup, and performance from every angle—whether you’re racing, training, or just looking to ride better.
A lot of people like to call themselves “extreme” or “hardcore”—but with Nick, it’s the real deal.
Tyler Pollington – Director
Fun fact: Martin Crocker sold Tyler his first road bike when he was just 10 years old.
Tyler first joined Southfork back in 2021 at 18 years old, working in sales and social media. During that time, he learned a huge amount about running a business under Nick’s wing and quickly became deeply involved in the day-to-day running of the shop.
In 2023, he left to work in Exeter in car sales, but when the idea of Southfork Cycles came about—and the push to move the business forward—Chris and Nick reached out to bring him back into the fold.
Tyler returned in 2025 and is now part of the long-term future of Southfork, working closely with Nick and Chris as the business continues to evolve.
A top-level national downhill racer, Tyler has also competed across road, cross-country, and enduro over the past 12 years. He lives and breathes bikes and brings a huge amount of passion, energy, and drive to both cycling and the future direction of Southfork.
Martin Crocker – Manager / HR
Martin comes from a strong background in both high street sports retail and corporate retail. He brought a real level of structure and professionalism to Southfork, helping us develop systems that keep customers fully informed at every stage of their purchasing and servicing journey.
Whether you’re bringing in your ‘old faithful’ for a repair or choosing your ‘dream bike’, Martin’s focus is always the same—making sure you receive the best possible customer service from start to finish.
Before joining Southfork, Martin also worked with industry names such as Simon Smart and was involved in development work with Scott in the wind tunnel, contributing to bike and product testing and performance refinement. That experience gave him a real insight into the finer details of cycling performance and product development.
Like the rest of the team, Martin is also a committed athlete. He competes in triathlons, road races, and mountain bike events across the country, bringing that same dedication and attention to detail into everything he does at Southfork.
And for those who know Crocker… you’ll know exactly what we mean when we say he’s very much the character of the shop!
Henry Benning – Website, Marketing & Mechanic
Henry has been with Southfork since day one, starting out as the Saturday lad and working his way up through the business. Over the years, he’s played a key role in helping shape Southfork into what it is today.
As our resident “computer geek” (his words, not ours…), Henry looks after the website, marketing, and anything creative or design-related. If it looks good or works online, chances are he’s behind it.
Henry is one of those people who’s good at just about everything—whether it’s solving a technical problem, turning his hand to something practical in the workshop, or helping push the business forward.
But he’s not just behind a screen—Henry is also a strong rider, competing in the Expert category of the national mountain bike series. He brings that same mix of creativity and attention to detail into both his riding and his work in the shop.
Joel Grindell – Mechanic
Joel is the newest member of the team, but with over 10 years of experience in the industry, he’s quickly proven himself to be one of the strongest mechanics we’ve seen.
Whether it’s road, mountain, or e-bikes, there’s nothing Joel can’t handle. He’s also a seriously strong rider himself, bringing real-world experience and insight to every bike he works on.
Joel’s skill set goes beyond just bikes too—he’s been heavily involved in setting up our new unit, including building most of the racks and even putting up a wall or two along the way.
Reliable, skilled, and always hands-on, Joel has been a great addition to the Southfork team.