Black-owned outdoor business spotlight: Memory Pilot
In honor of Black History Month, we’re spotlighting one Black-owned outdoor business per day. You can read the complete series here.
Passionate cyclist Erik Saunders believes in domestic manufacturing, the power of independent bike dealers, combatting mud, and comfortable socks.
Courtesy
Owner: Erik Saunders
Year founded: 2019
What we do
Memory Pilot offers mountain bike fenders (both front and rear) made of high-density polyethylene resin in its Santa Barbara, California factory. Individuals, retailers, clubs, teams, and bike brands can choose from a slew of in-house designs or create a custom design of their own.
We also make compression cycling socks! I had a finicky relationship with socks so I designed the perfect pair. Our Awesome Bike Riding Socks come in wool and synthetic versions. They have vertical ribs along the back to support the achilles and protect from pedal pins, thinner material across the ankle to alleviate pressure from shoe straps and buckles, and an open weave front for breathability.
What makes us special in the outdoor industry?
First, our focus is on independent bike dealers because I believe it’s important to be at the right retailers who are a part of the scene. Second, we make high-quality products with low minimums and fast lead times, so we’re easy to work with. In the case of custom mudguards and socks, we offer retailers the chance to local-source customized goods, at low MOQs (minimum order quantity), without sacrificing quality or margin.
