Christopher M Brayman/Special to the Sun

More than 30 work party volunteers banded together Nov 22 and 23 to help Paul Ferguson, CEO of Bionicon Bicycles, rebuild his business that was destroyed in a devastating fire in September. Bionicon had opened its doors in the Kern River Valley Sept. 6 and just 13 days later the fire destroyed all of Ferguson’s hard work.

Out of the ashes, came the opportunity to move into the old Peacock Inn building in Kernville. Two weeks later Ferguson had leased the building, but it was in bad shape, said Ferguson. There were so many people in the valley wanting to help, Rebecca Giddens – Olympic silver medalist and co-owner of Kern River Brewing Co. in Kernville – came up with the idea for a volunteer work weekend, sponsored by the brewery. The volunteers pitched in to get the building in shape for the opening on Dec 5. Ferguson said he was “completely overwhelmed” by the community support and expressed his gratitude to those who pitched in. The new location on Sierra Drive will be Bionicon’s new U.S. headquarters.

Ferguson said the cause of the devastating fire at the Wofford Heights location on Sept. 18 was caused by a faulty air compressor. The fire destroyed everything, including $150,000 in merchandise alone. According to Ferguson, the cost of the fire can’t be measured in monetary value alone. Ferguson said he worked five years to bring Bionicon to the US and “watched his whole dream go up in smoke.”

Ferguson opened the US headquarters in Ridgecrest, in 2005, with the hope of eventually bringing the company to Kernville. The opportunity presented itself and in June, Bionicon USA moved to Wofford Hieghts.

Bionicon USA is an independently owned division of Bionicon bicycles with its headquarters in Germany.

In 2000 Ferguson became a professional big mountain snowboarder, competing in events across Europe. In 2002, he won the North American Freeride championship. A replacement of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in 2004 eventually ended Ferguson’s snowboard career.

Through the “snowboard connections” Ferguson met Bionicon’s founders in Austria in 2004. He was invited to test ride one of Bionicons bikes and was an instant believer in the technology. He brought a couple of the bikes back from Germany, and within a few months, Bionicon USA was formed and funded.

Ferguson attended United Bicycle Institute, a prestigious bike mechanic training school, completing the basic and the master course, thus making him the only certified bike mechanic in the Kern River Valley.

All Bionicon bikes sold in the USA are built in the Kernville facility, with parts coming from Europe, Asia and the U.S. Ferguson hand-laces every wheel set and, as part of Bionicons stringent quality control standards, the suspension systems are subjected to a 24-hour pressure test before being shipped. Parts and warranty are also handled in Kernville, ensuring prompt and personal in-house service.

In 2009, Bionicon USA took over the duties of promoting and running the Keyesville Classic bicycle race, which marked its 21st anniversary. All proceeds from the race go to local trail stewardship, Ferguson said. Bionicon also hosted its third annul mountain bike gathering. This event draws more than 50 riders for group rides, a barbeque and just plain fun. Bionicon is dedicated to the promotion of bicycling and bringing and maintaining trails to the Kern Valley. Bionicon is also working with the local BLM on a three phase plan to open new trails in the Keyesville recreation area.

Ferguson has formed a separate company called Ride KRV, opening in the spring, which will have a full service bicycle shop, retail sales of BMX bikes, commuter bicycles and a full line of bicycle components and accessories. Ferguson plans include an espresso coffee bar and a shuttle service for mountain bikers. Interested riders can demo a Bionicon bicycle for the day free of charge by contacting Ferguson on the web at www.bionicon.com or call 1-760-376-8600 or come to the shop at 21 Sierra Drive, Kernville.