RIDING HIGH

Writer & Photographer / Ali Snyder

As you drive through Shipshewana, you will likely see your fair share of horses and buggies on the road. What you might not expect is to see one of the most unique businesses in town - FAB LLC. This oneof-a-kind shop sells, builds and services electric bikes on-site. Customers come from near and far including the South Bend area, Fort Wayne and, of course, local areas, to get their hands on these high-quality bikes.

Approximately 14 years ago, Owner Perry Miller and his wife, Carrie, first became interested in e-bikes. The spark came when they were pulling their son, Michael, on a tag-along bike. Michael has disabilities, and the idea to create a conversion kit for bikes struck a chord with the Millers. When they decided to make their vision a reality, it was still well before most people in the area had even heard of an e-bike.

Fast-forward to 2021, and the Millers started noticing more and more e-bikes showing up in the area. They jumped on the trend and began converting the bikes for themselves and others. They did their research and saw a high demand for e-bikes in other countries such as Germany and the Netherlands. Their Amish roots came in handy, as Carrie had connections with the Dutch in the Netherlands to educate herself on how the e-bike business operates. They then realized they could make a full-time business out of their own backyard.

Last summer the Millers did a lot of biking, and as a result, they ended up meeting and talking with many different types of people. “It’s very easy to strike up a conversation with strangers because they love to talk about their e-bikes,” says Carrie Miller. Those conversations helped the couple pick up on statistics, pro tips, what people like and dislike, and what locals are looking for. The Millers saw a need for a salesand-service bike center in the area, and now work with some of the largest e-bike dealerships as a direct result of these conversations and networking.

Their shop offers a wide variety of e-bikes to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a safe, off-road bike, city bike, longdistance bike or children’s bike, FAB LLC can accommodate. If you’re new to e-bikes, Perry and Carrie are more than happy to share their knowledge with you and help you choose the best fit.

Miller says they originally designed and imported their own bike model. However, when they saw how many well-designed e-bikes there already are, with great power and pricing, they decided to go that route. Some of the most popular brands they sell include Heybike, Aventon and KBO. There is a bike for every need, from off-road adventures to daily commutes. They even offer a three-wheeled e-bike that is great for the elderly or physically handicapped to get out and about. The team at FAB LLC is even able to convert your regular bike into an e-bike if you desire.

“We are surprised at how many people have started coming in from South Bend, Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas,” Miller says. Some of the most surprising customers are retirees, the couple says. The Millers pride themselves on the highest-quality customer service.

Even if someone has purchased their e-bike from somewhere else, Miller says they can still bring their bike in to get it serviced, have questions answered and load up on accessories. If you are not familiar with e-bikes, you can come in to learn about them and even take different types for a test drive. The bikes can get up to 30plus miles per hour, although the owners do not recommend this, especially for beginners.

Miller shares a story of how a customer said his new e-bike was the best birthday present he’d ever purchased. In the customer’s words, “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy an e-bike.”

FAB LLC is owned and operated by the Millers and their son, Michael. Michael focuses primarily on sales and service with his dad, while Carrie keeps the business running behind the scenes.

The family enjoys working as a team and tackling new challenges together. One of their greatest joys is seeing how they can provide a service to the community, as well as seeing Michael make the most of his special needs in an amazing way. The Millers are a tight-knit family of eight who owns and operates several businesses in the area.

Next time you are looking for a new hobby or a different way to get around, consider an e-bike.

FAB LLC is located at 2195 North 675 West in Shipshewana. They can be reached at 260-585-4139.

Let’s ride!