Grand Re-Opening

I was walking through campus today when I saw a flyer carefully taped to a pole. It was like I took the little red pill. It hit home, Jess and I are really a part of the best bike shop in town. I know I am supposed to say that, but I am shocked to be part of something I find so special. I am also shocked by the amount of work we still have ahead of us before Saturday.

As you can see from the flyer, this Saturday is going to be fun. We will unveil the new t-shirt designs, nothing radically changed, but a new twist on the old idea. I even heard that we might have a few as door prizes...But I'll never tell.

There are also a good number of bicycles in boxes that we just pulled off the truck today, and a number of bikes that we can special order to meet the needs of all the local riding fanatics. Joel, Pedar, Lindsey, Miguel and I will be working quite diligently to create a quiver of bicycles that will tickle your fancy and help you shake off the winter blues.

As far as the reorganization, it goes well. Here we see my dear friend Joel enjoying the fruits of our labors...that is apple juice in his hand. Cold brewed, frosty apple juice.

This was a rewarding Saturday evening, if you will notice, the picture is moved closer to the mechanics were we have opened up a little space to view the latest races on the telly, or to try on a pair of Shimano road shoes. Notice that the counter is clear and the mechanics are visible for harassment, or just a little social interaction.

So come and join us on Saturday, check out the new bikes and see what all the fuss is about. Hope to see you there.

"We need the moisture"

When I flung open my curtains on Saturday morning, my first thought was, "NO" ! I was in denial about the chances of snow in Laramie during the spring,...as if I have not lived here my entire life.
The snow was extremely wet and heavy, but at least there was a lot of it.



The snow did provide us with the opportunity to examine our layout around the Pedal House. Joel revealed that in another life he was actually an interior decorator, and so the adventure began. We decided that we did not want the customers to come in and feel like we were a completely different bicycle store. In fact, we wanted to have the customers feel at home, like always. Which leads me to my first dilemma. I had some bad feelings toward this painting;


I won't go into detail, but it has nothing to do with long standing love triangle between Lance, Greg, and Trek. We don't sell Trek, so I don't care. :) I am just a huge feng shui kind of guy, so we moved it to accommodate my flow. In fact we found a few changes that made us all feel a little more comfortable.

Before:
After:


So come on down and let us know what you think of the new face of the Pedal House. We did a lot, and it was all thanks to the snow. Mother nature, you are the best. Thanks for the chance to clean and reorganize, and as so many people who optimistically view the world, "we need the moisture."

Weather in Laramie

Today is Earth Day, a celebration of the planet we inhabit. Plans to provide free tune-ups at Prexy's pasture today were changed due to the earthly produced moisture we cyclists like to call, rain. On the subject of rain, this is a wonderful time to talk about commuting in the spring. Though we might step out the door and find a clear sky and a sun drenched view over our handlebars in the mornings, often times by lunch we find the truth in the words of Biggie Smalls when he said "things done changed." Remember to throw a rain jacket in your backpack, and gloves are always nice. I like a brimmed hat, usually a Dodgers baseball hat, because I wear glasses and the brim helps keep the rain off of my lenses. Another tip I hear all the time is to pack up your daily necessities the night before. If you are at all like me, mornings are the worst time to try to plan anything except where to get some coffee. So I pack my day bag (not to be confused with a European Carry All) the night before. Then in the morning, when I am a caffeine deprived primate, all I have to remember is my bag and my bike.
Oh yeah, and one last thing. When it rains, slow down a little bit. I was talking to my friend Miguel tonight about the various crashes we have been involved in due to the rain. Things to watch out for: crosswalk paint, smooth sidewalks (usually older ones), decorative rocks, and as I found out this very evening...cornering at high speeds with slicks in the poring rain. I went down like a sack of potatoes. I am fine, but after inspection I did notice that I have a bloody and bruised ego. Ride Safe, and Happy Trails.

Opening Day

Bicycles have a special place in a young persons life. Before the bicycle, children are part of a family unit, traveling in herds of humans with little to no real say in the direction of the packs movement. But when you straddle that iron machine, leather grips in your hands, wind in your hair, suddenly you have a degree of autonomy that is not only new, but exhilarating. Individual thoughts can guide your every move, and for the first time, you can decide where the wind will take you...at least until supper time.
I have never stopped feeling that excitement in the saddle. Sure, I have bicycle mechanic experience, but it is all derived from the love I have for everything bicycle.
Recently, Jessica (my beautiful river rat of a wife) and I purchased the Pedal House, THE bicycle shop in our home town. It is an honor and a privilege to be associated with such a stellar bike shop. The reputation and traditions that have been developed over the last 20 years will be held in the highest esteem, and as the new owner of the Pedal House, I will work to insure quality and service not only stay the same, but they improve. Of course I could never do any of this by myself. I have a team of amazing employees, and I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my friends Pedar, Joel, Lindsey, and Pee Jay for remaining patient and supporting me through the transaction process. I would also like to thank Carl Gose, my friend and the former owner, for taking me seriously when I told him I wanted to buy his business. Thanks could not be extended in this blog without mention of the mothers and fathers, both mine, (Don & Gloria) and Jessica's (Dean & Phyllis) for the unwavering support. And where would I be without Jessica? I can't even begin to describe how much I am indebted to Jessica for helping me realize my dreams. Not only did she agree to riding a tandem through town on our wedding day with a "Just married" sign on the back, but she encouraged me to enter into this adventure.Last, but obviously not least, is you, the customer; thank you. The Pedal House is your shop too, and we don't want to come in a make huge sweeping changes. We want the quality of our services to be something you can count on. So come on down to the Pedal house for a bike, a tune up, or just to say hi. I look forward to sharing my love for bicycles with you and helping keep your bicycle on the road.