Ron Kadera started County Cycles in 1980 in a hidden away little warehouse. It certainly has grown since then! He has always been a bike commuter and even went on his first tour at age twelve. Ron has fond memories of a Schwinn Typhoon with a two speed kickback that he rode from age eleven until twenty-one. Now he enjoys competitive cycling and triathlons as well as leisure riding. Ron’s vision for County Cycles emerged from the energy conservation movement during the late seventies. He bicycle commutes regularly and encourages others to do so.Ron has honed a deep understanding of the biomechanical relationship between the bicycle and the human body. He has become an expert in bicycle fit and a coach of competitive cyclists and triathletes. Ron has vast experience riding many, many different types of bicycles coupled with a huge knowledge of frame materials. This enables him to connect a person with the correct bicycle and all its various adjustments. Ron keeps this knowledge up to date by getting a new personal bike very frequently. Tough job! Ron likes being a bike shop owner! “We have a fun staff and interesting self challenging customers” he says in response to what he likes best. He goes on to explain that he is inspired by the attitudes coming in our front door and how the bicycle contributes to our customers devotion to health, environment, and the future of transportation in this culture. Ron stays active in many other hobbies. Fishing, hiking, swimming, water and cross country skiing as well as being a home owner take up some of his leisure time. Of course, “there is nothing like a good, long ride!”
Marty Erickson has been riding and working on bikes over parts of six decades. He says of his years in the bicycle business that he is “Very proud to have led the great staff of County Cycles since 1991.” In addition to his interests in bicycle transportation he brings County Cycles experience from other bike shops, wholesaling, frame building, and being a coordinator in a bicycle co-op. His experiences span the decades and the globe from British three speeds to Campagnolo ten speeds.
Marty remembers delivering papers on a red bike with paper boy baskets and taught himself to ride all the way to school no handed. “A kid sure couldn’t do that in today’s traffic!” he cautions. Marty's junior high principal noticed him using hand signals consistently as he rode into the school yard and asked him to participate in a school assembly demonstrating safety. Marty still encourages helmet use, hand signals, lights and all aspects of bicycle safety. Once a bike nerd, always a bike nerd. In the late seventies, Marty went on a four month bicycle tour of the British Isles. He believes there is no better way to experience a new place than from a bicycle seat.
Marty has dedicated a huge portion of his life to promoting bicycle transportation and riding for fun and exercise. He has been a regular bicycle commuter since 1974. Some of his time is spent volunteering at the St. Paul Bike Depot, the Yellow Bike Coalition, and he serves on the board of directors of the Minnesota Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance. He can talk the talk with the racers, but he definitely rides the ride with commuters and tourists. His idea for a better world? “more pedals, less cars”. Marty does make time for other interests besides bikes. After work he might relax at home playing his trumpet along with jazz radio. In the winter he loves to speedskate and helps out with the Powderhorn Speedskating Club in his neighborhood. But he says the most fun ever is bicycle touring.
Scott Ronken has worked in bicycle stores in three states since 1995 and found his home at County Cycles in 1998. He purchased a Schwinn Impact to ride the Black Hills in 1991 and now owns 9 unique bikes and dreams of more. Scott has almost always been the “fix-it” guy. Early memories include fixing his mothers hair dryer and helping to assemble a new bike on his ninth birthday. He still has a scar from its inaugural ride because the stem broke. “Always buy a bike from a reputable bike shop who will stand behind their service”, Scott now recommends. Scott brings a bit of small town South Dakota to County Cycles.
The mechanical aptitude, work ethic, and humor he applies to daily tasks inspire his coworkers to good work and bad puns. He especially enjoys the attitude of our customers, his coworkers, and is frequently surprised at how much he learns at County Cycles about non bicycle subjects. This staff is very knowledgeable on a wide variety of subjects from politics, current events, to music, and art. Scott can fill any role thrown at him but he considers himself really good at fixing anything mechanical, fitting bicycles, and suspension tuning. His listening skills have been well honed so that he can find a solution to most problems, bicycle related, no marriage counseling from Scott! Scott has been a year round commuter since 1998. He appreciates the environmental softness that commuting has to offer. He enjoys the exercise and freedom of riding declaring enthusiastically “on a bike you can go anywhere!”. Scott fell in love with riding off road but has discovered how fun road riding is. A ride will be great anywhere there is fresh air, but a favorite is riding during a gentle snowfall. Outside of bicycles, Scott has many interests, too many to name really. In adopting Minnesota as his new home he has taken to ice skating and also spends free time reading, camping, and going to the theater. One of Scott’s personal beliefs is that sugar, butter, or pineapple will make anything taste better. Another is that bicycle riding is so nice it needs no spice!
JOE
Joe Blegen has been working in bicycle stores since 1995. He started working
in another bike shop because County Cycles did not have any vacancies
when he first applied. Now at County Cycles he can handle things in all
departments as he is equally adept at advising customers on touring panniers
as pulling apart a bottom bracket. He is also the only member of our core
staff that can take laps around the store on a unicycle. Bicycles have
been a constant part of Joe’s life since before he can remember.
Joe remembers always having a bike project going, and now has traveled
to Africa, fixing bikes while visiting there. He used to fix bikes around
the neighborhood and broke a cheap frame in first grade. Make sure your
bike is up to jumping as hard as you are, he now recommends. Bicycles
weave around the years and around the world of Joe’s life. Joe owns,
rides, and maintains a fleet of six bikes, but has always been in love
with single speeds. He is a year round bicycle commuter and likes the
stress relief he finds while pedaling home. He enjoys the social aspects
of riding with friends but also digs going out for long solo rides. Joe
likes his home at County Cycles. He finds his coworkers very knowledgeable
about all aspects of bikes and is impressed with the obsession over small
details he sees in the staff. Joe thinks our customers are fun, and enjoys
talking bike with them. He especially likes it when a customer leaves
happy and charged up about riding! Joe is active when he is not involved
with bicycles. Some of his free time is spent snorkeling, playing rugby,
drawing, listening to music and boarding: snow or skate depending on the
season. Of all the things you can do on, around, or to a bicycle, Joe
says: “I don’t know why, but I really like riding in the rain”.
If you see a big grin on a face in the rain riding to County Cycles, give
Joe a wave!
