Take one step inside Clemson University’s state-of-the-art outdoor recreation complex — the 16,500-square-foot Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center — and you’re met by a bike repair shop. It serves as a conversation starter for students looking to build connection and curiosity.
Since 2020, the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center has been home to Clemson Outdoor Recreation and Education (CORE), a hub for adventure, learning and one of the University’s most distinctive student spaces.
While students know CORE for its trips, gear rentals and outdoor programming, one of the center’s busiest spaces is also the most visible: the bike shop. The prominence is intentional, said Taylor Williams M ’20, associate director of outdoor recreation.
“By design, the bike shop is the key feature a visitor sees when they walk into the center,” she said. “It’s designed for students to come in and practice a lot of what we teach, which is recreational education.”
Whether they’re seasoned mountain bikers or curious first-time riders, students find more than tools and repair stands inside. They find a place to build confidence, learn new skills and connect with a community that shares their passion for exploring the outdoors.
In-Store Tools for Bike Repair
CORE staff maintains two full sets of mechanic tools in the bike shop to assist students who come in to replace a flat tire, change a brake pad or make other adjustments to their equipment. At the same time, student technicians gain plenty of hands-on experience while upholding the highest of maintenance standards.
Helmets for Rent
Providing safe recreational experiences for students is critical to CORE’s mission. Inside the bike shop, protective helmets in a variety of sizes are available for rent from the center’s front desk staff, ensuring riders have what they need before heading out on local roads or nearby trails.
Ensuring a Proper Alignment
Similar to a car, sometimes a bike wheel is misaligned and needs a tweak. The shop includes an area for wheel truing, where microadjustments to the tension in the spokes help alleviate wobbling and up-and-down movement as it spins.
Field Repair Needs
Flat tire while riding miles of trails in the Clemson University Forest? No worries. The bike shop has students covered with everything they need inside the field repair kit, including a multipurpose tool, tire lever, replacement tube and hand pump.
How to Rent a Bike
CORE has a fleet of bikes available for rent at the Andy Quattlebaum Outdoor Education Center, located at the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex, during normal office hours.
For rental and price listing, go to go.tig.rs/bikes.
