The Online Alaska
Pioneer Press
Pioneer Press
Good Times for Local 'Bikies
By Mike Fisher
SPECIAL TO THE PIONEER PRESS
It was just after the turn of the 21st Century. Talkeetna had a great bike shop with a
Specialized Cycles dealership. The Alaskan economy was rocking. Permanent Fund
dividend checks were out.
The bike shop had a brand new “double squishy” (front and rear suspension) high end
Specialized Rockhopper bike on display. Few of us had ever seen such an amazing
machine.
It featured gnarly tires, a computer-designed 5 link rear shock system, and 27 speeds.
This baby could summit Denali!
My young friend was in love. Dividend check in hand, he made the biggest buy of his
life. It served him well, seeing him through most of his high school years and saving his
mom lots of gas money. But in so doing, it was damaged beyond practical repair.
This was a sophisticated, highly evolved bicycle, requiring frequent adjustments, parts
replacement, lubrication, and tender, loving care. High school students participating in
sports, academics, music, part time jobs, and the social scene don’t have much time for
wrenching on their bikes.
The once proud Rockhopper became a cadaver and was consigned to Mike’s iron pile.
Its frame, seat post, and crankset were broken. Its tires, brakes, chain, pedals and cogs
were completely worn out or missing. Its wheels were loose and wobbly.
Dead on arrival was the sad verdict. It stayed that way for quite awhile.
Then Mike got an aluminum welder and started practicing this difficult art. His friends,
Rob and Harold, provided advice and guidance. The early results were pathetic, but
gradually improved. Then one day, Mike took the bike frame in and started welding it
back together. The results were encouraging. H’mmmm, it sure would be fun to ride
this great bike again! Many hours of work and hundreds of dollars in parts later, it is
back on the road, but still needs more upgrades before tackling Talkeetna’s renowned X-
Y Lakes singletrack trail.
The old Rockhopper tracks straight and true. It rides over river gravel bar boulders as
though they were pebbles. It is, once again, a good ride. Sometimes it is good to take
on projects that make little economic sense just to remind ourselves that the almighty
dollar should play only a minor role in our lives.
If everything hinged on money with high wages and no volunteerism, we would not have
the pleasures of Denali Drama, the new Wildwood Park for children, drag racing at
Alaska Raceway Park, the Sunshine Food Bank, our system of non-motorized
wilderness trails, the Free Box program, and the Oosik Classic Ski Race.
Many other cultural and sports pursuits would go away without supporters who work
with little or no compensation. Be kind to volunteers.
I think Talkeetna is wide open for a combined bicycle, ski, and sporting goods shop.
One would hope that a local family with a bright, mechanically talented kid could budget
$2,800 for tuition at one of the nation’s two bike technician schools.
Females seem to be particularly adept at bike technology, perhaps because of their small,
skilled hands and quick minds.
One of the top biketechs at Slickrock, Utah is a woman. She charges $60 per hour. and
folks are happy to pay it. A good Talkeetna location would be anywhere along our world
class 14.3 mile non-motorized trail. It’s worth looking into.
“Refrain from throwing your bicycle in public. It shows poor upbringing.”
— Mountain-biking pioneer Jacquie Phelan
By Mike Fisher
SPECIAL TO THE PIONEER PRESS
It was just after the turn of the 21st Century. Talkeetna had a great bike shop with a
Specialized Cycles dealership. The Alaskan economy was rocking. Permanent Fund
dividend checks were out.
The bike shop had a brand new “double squishy” (front and rear suspension) high end
Specialized Rockhopper bike on display. Few of us had ever seen such an amazing
machine.
It featured gnarly tires, a computer-designed 5 link rear shock system, and 27 speeds.
This baby could summit Denali!
My young friend was in love. Dividend check in hand, he made the biggest buy of his
life. It served him well, seeing him through most of his high school years and saving his
mom lots of gas money. But in so doing, it was damaged beyond practical repair.
This was a sophisticated, highly evolved bicycle, requiring frequent adjustments, parts
replacement, lubrication, and tender, loving care. High school students participating in
sports, academics, music, part time jobs, and the social scene don’t have much time for
wrenching on their bikes.
The once proud Rockhopper became a cadaver and was consigned to Mike’s iron pile.
Its frame, seat post, and crankset were broken. Its tires, brakes, chain, pedals and cogs
were completely worn out or missing. Its wheels were loose and wobbly.
Dead on arrival was the sad verdict. It stayed that way for quite awhile.
Then Mike got an aluminum welder and started practicing this difficult art. His friends,
Rob and Harold, provided advice and guidance. The early results were pathetic, but
gradually improved. Then one day, Mike took the bike frame in and started welding it
back together. The results were encouraging. H’mmmm, it sure would be fun to ride
this great bike again! Many hours of work and hundreds of dollars in parts later, it is
back on the road, but still needs more upgrades before tackling Talkeetna’s renowned X-
Y Lakes singletrack trail.
The old Rockhopper tracks straight and true. It rides over river gravel bar boulders as
though they were pebbles. It is, once again, a good ride. Sometimes it is good to take
on projects that make little economic sense just to remind ourselves that the almighty
dollar should play only a minor role in our lives.
If everything hinged on money with high wages and no volunteerism, we would not have
the pleasures of Denali Drama, the new Wildwood Park for children, drag racing at
Alaska Raceway Park, the Sunshine Food Bank, our system of non-motorized
wilderness trails, the Free Box program, and the Oosik Classic Ski Race.
Many other cultural and sports pursuits would go away without supporters who work
with little or no compensation. Be kind to volunteers.
I think Talkeetna is wide open for a combined bicycle, ski, and sporting goods shop.
One would hope that a local family with a bright, mechanically talented kid could budget
$2,800 for tuition at one of the nation’s two bike technician schools.
Females seem to be particularly adept at bike technology, perhaps because of their small,
skilled hands and quick minds.
One of the top biketechs at Slickrock, Utah is a woman. She charges $60 per hour. and
folks are happy to pay it. A good Talkeetna location would be anywhere along our world
class 14.3 mile non-motorized trail. It’s worth looking into.
“Refrain from throwing your bicycle in public. It shows poor upbringing.”
— Mountain-biking pioneer Jacquie Phelan
The home base for your Alaskan Adventure in the heart of Talkeetna. 907-733-8500 E-mail us here P.O Box 353, Talkeetna, AK 99676 |
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