First year down.

YES! We made it through the first year! Its hard to believe that just one short year ago, The Prairie Peddler was just getting up and running.

From The Prairie Peddler - creatin the Shop

This was what I started with. A nice empty space. A blank slate to imprint with my personality and passion.

From The Prairie Peddler - creatin the Shop

Opening day. It hasn't been this clean since.

From The Prairie Peddler - creatin the Shop

You'd have thought that starting a business in the spring would be a good idea. Then the heavy machinery moved in[yes, I knew about it!]. Nothing like having your street torn up for a few months while you're getting started! Surprisingly, that little fact didn't slow traffic down. I did twice the repairs I thought I would be doing. People found me, that's for sure!

I've sold a few really cool bikes.

From The Prairie Peddler - creatin the Shop

From The Prairie Peddler - creatin the Shop

And worked on few cool ones too. No pics though. I'll save that one for later!

I've also got a new website up for the shop. Something a bit more static that won't change a whole ton, but has good information on it. Check it out! The Prairie Peddler

So to thank everyone, there's a sale going on - EVERYTHING in the store is on sale. 15% off 2008 bikes. 10% off 2009 bikes. 15% off all accessories. Come on down and lets get the 2009 season started right!

Listening to: The Current

Cold? Bah! Its time to ride! Pugsley's out and having fun.

Its chilly here in the hinterlands of Wisconsin. Normal temps this time of year should be near 40. Thats shorts wearing territory folks. Yesterday was maybe in the 20's with a nice brisk north wind, putting temps on the decidedly cold side.

So what did we do about it? Sit inside, curled up with a hot cuppa tea and a good book? Paint? NO! We flipped off Ma nature, escaped to Iowa and road. Off road. On super hard packed snow and ice. And we had a ball.


We were all [all three of us] on Surly Pugsley's. Those 4" tired monster bikes that the creative minds of Surly have put out. I swear that thing is one of the ten greatest bikes ever made.


That 4" wide footprint does absolutely remarkable things for traction. Yes, even on ice. Without studs.


Yes, you do have to be extra careful when travelling on ice, but it is utterly remarkable that you can ride on it. Even climb up hills. This bike totally defies logic.


Its all about balance. Keep the bike straight. Keep the bike upright. And be ready to tripod it!


This snow was so hard, you could have nearly ridden a 28c tire and not punched the crust. It was SO fun. And very fast with an amazing amount of traction.


Sorry. Porn moment. The Pugs found a suitable cougar to mount.

In the end, yes, we all fell. We all did several 180* spins. And no one got hurt.

And for those locals wondering - Volga River State Rec Area.

They're here!

Ok, teasing. There's only ONE here, but its the first of a whole slew of 'em! I'm VERY excited to announce that The Prairie Peddler will be the exclusive seller of Singular frame kits in the US and Canadian market! Who, you say? Singular Cycles is a small UK based frame company that produces wonderful steel [4130 cromo, FTW!] bicycle frames with a timeless look, high versatility and quality materials. Great bikes for riding racing or simply bumbling about, no matter how you set them up.

From singular

We will be selling and shipping Swifts, Gryphons, Peregrines, and Hummingbirds out of the shop here in beautiful Prairie du Chien, WI. They all come ready to set up as a geared bike, a singlespeed, or any combination there-of that you can think of. How is this? Each of the frames has an eccentric bottom bracket. And that eccentric is no ordinary eccentric!

From singular

Yeah! A Phil Wood eccentric is included in the price of the frame, ALL of the frames!

From singular

A nice headbadge is there.

From singular

And generous room for big meats. The model I've received first, and the first ones that will be arriving, is the Swift. The Swift is the 29"er mainstay of the line. The one that started it all for Singular. This first order should be arriving in mid to late May.

Of course they can be ordered as a frame/fork kit only, and I'm working on being able to sell the bikes as complete's as well, if that's the direction you'd like to go. Shimano, SRAM or SS of course. As stated above, there is a rigid fork included in the purchase of the bike, but if you would like a suspension fork, I can accomodate that too.

Final pricing on frame kits is yet to determined, but you'll be surprised at how affordable these are going to be! Availablility should be in late May. Availability will be limited! I am only bringing in 100 total frames this year!

If you have any questions, and I'm sure you will, please email me - theprairiepeddler@gmail.com - I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

To see many more Singular's, head on over to Flickr to see lots of 'em.

Drinking: Pearl Street Brewery//That's What I'm Talkin' 'bout Stout

Saturday Am ride

Saturday Am ride
Originally uploaded by unclefuzzy_ss

One more to add to the mix. Taken with the HERO 5wide. Yep. It takes still too!

A chilly start to the 'training'.

We've(Eric, Ryan and I) finally begun to really 'train' for the Ragnarok 105 coming up in April. Saturday's ride was a bit chilly, as most days in February tend to be, but with the sun being higher in the sky, it sure did feel good as we rode through the more protected spots of the quickie we did before the shop opened.



It was probably kind of funny to see us riding down the slippery, snow covered roads. There was me on the skinny tired commuter. Eric on his 2.3" mtb tires, and Ryan on his monster truck of a Pugsley. Ryan can't sneak up to ANYONE on that bike. Its got a hum to it that can be heard for miles around.



Sunday, we went to Eric's house for a ride based out of Boscobel. Stats: 27 miles, 2950' of climbing, maxed grade, 20%. Probably a good 50/50 split of gravel to tarmac. Definitely a good ride.

From riding 09

Green+lower elevations, orange = high spots. The ridge ride on the left of the picture was AMAZING. The views went for miles on either side of the ridge. The riding here sure is pretty.

I've just begun to catch up with the Tour of California. They just had a string of outstanding riding days there. Not for the race though. Weather has turned to absolute shite. Rain and cold. Could the ToC turn into one of those typical spring classic's that take a true hard man to win it? Here's to hoping! It'll be good to have a legendary race like that on US soil.

I was reading through VeloNews, getting race updates and ran into this video. His Lance-ness is asked a question by Paul Kimmage. It is clear that neither is a fan of the other. Lance flat out pwned Mr. Kimmage on this exchange. Go Lance. Git 'em!

Listening to: The Current from MPR.

Riding season has begun!

And oh, does it feel good! Saturday morning we headed out for what is likely the last snow ride of the year. Three Pugsley's, some slightly icy trails, a few bails and back in time to open the store.

Of course this is steeper than it looks. And a whole ton slipperier. It was really, really good to be out, watching the sun rise over the hills. One of those mornings being out that simply makes you feel alive again.

Then on Sunday, we headed out again. This time on gravel over by Elkader, IA. There is a veritable crapload of beautiful gravel roads over there. It really is a fantastic place to ride. I guess I really should call this a training ride. See, I made a rash decision last fall to participate in the Ragnarok 105 up in Goodhue County, MN. I meant to be riding all winter long, so I wouldn't feel so compelled to crash train like I am. Well. This past winter frankly sucked for riding. Too damned cold. But conditions were usually good, but SO COLD. Oh well, I'll just make the best of it, as will Ryan and Eric.

Eric and the Rawland. Me and the Ti Cruiser.
Gravel to ice to slush to ice to gravel. Thankfully, none of it too slippery.
Going over the Turkey River, contemplating ice break up.
Me and my eleventy million cm tall post on the Ti cruiser. First ride. I liked it.
Eric on his new Rawland.

Many thanks to single speeder/Ryan for posting the shots.

Listening to: Boy with a Coin//Iron + Wine

Winter.

"__________"


That would be the sound of crickets. If crickets could live in weather so far below zero that my thermometer doesn't register it.

But just because there isn't anything here, doesn't mean nothing's happening. There's a BIG bubble on the horizon. If the stars line up, and hope they do, it'll be announced here first!

I've got a few other neat little projects going on. Last weekend was the weekend for Cedar Falls folks to show up. One gentleman brought a nice Roadie up to do a frame swap. Putting him on a Jamis Supernova Cross frame!Both he and I are excited about this one. Two of the other's were brought in by the Pugsley I so strategically place out front. Who can resist the freakbike?! Turns out they're interested in new rides this year too. Who knew I'd be getting customers in from Guitar Ted's turf??? Not that I'm complaining.

I'm also working on a real website that'll be launched on my one year anniversary. Yeah! One year in business! I've made it further than many others, and in a very tumultuous economic time. First I had to make it through a summer with a street all torn up, then winter, and now we have this charming recession. Lets get the stimulus rolling folks. We all need it.

Drinking: McGregor Coffee Roasters//Sumatra. Black goodness!