Yes!

As I’m looking over my posts, I see that it’s been a while since I’ve given any news about Sprague & Sons Bicycles. I’m still here. I’m still wrenching. It’s been a year of personal and professional growth. I’m looking forward to sharing with you all whatever comes next in future posts. Writing about bicycles and mechanical difficulties is just as fulfilling as doing the work. Today, I’ll focus on what’s changed about Sprague & Sons, and what hasn’t.

I’m still wrenching. My repeat clients and my neighbors here in Indian Village have referred a lot of new clients my way. I’m doing almost all maintenance now. I have enough repeat and referred customers that I don’t have to go out searching for bikes to flip. That said, there are some that land in my lap that I will fix and sell. The curb appeal of a bike left on the curb with a “FREE” sign is still something I can’t pass up. People often don’t want to take the time to list a bike and get $80 for a great fixable daily rider. I also still do trade-ins, and sometimes I’ll buy something that shows up at the shop. No more road trips to and from Holland, Muskegon or Kalamazoo for me. I’m staying put, doing more wrenching and less driving.

I’ve also started a career at Keller Williams Grand Rapids East as a Realtor. I received my license in June of 2023, and have been learning the trade. No clients yet. Potential clients, yes. The market is very slow right now, but I’ve enjoyed getting to know a ton of new people and expanding my group of friends in Grand Rapids. I co-hosted an open house with an experienced rockstar realtor a few months ago. She’s one of the leading salespeople in Kent County, and I learned a lot during our two hours together. She asked me a question that gave me pause to ponder. ”Do you want to be known as the bike guy, or the realtor?” Being a people-pleaser, I gave her the answer she was looking for. ”I want to be known as the realtor.” But my honest answer is simply “Yes!” I want to be known. I love talking to new people. I love work. I love solving problems and fixing stuff. What I don’t know, I learn. If someone learns from one side of my business that I do superb work, and that I am dependable and honest, they are likely to give me something else to do. I used to tell people that I can sell anything that’s not nailed down. Now I can tell them that I can sell it even if it IS nailed down! LOL!

I’ve taken on another home/shop improvement project. With the remodeling side projects that I keep getting roped into by friends, I’ve salvaged a lot of materials over the years, and this January, I’ve found a purpose for all of that stuff. I have insulated the gable of the west interior wall of the garage, and decked it with leftover siding, door luan, oak scraps from when I installed the hardwood floors here, the body of a 1960’s Gulbransen electric organ that was free on Craigslist, and some nice Cedar that I bought at Lowe’s, my favorite place to be when I’m not riding my bike. Here are some pictures of the progress I’ve made on it. Scroll to the bottom for the final product. This jives well with the mission statement of Sprague & Sons Bicycles, “Old bicycles rebuilt to combat a global climate catastrophe.” I’ve made use of what was going to the landfill, and I’ve completed a project with minimal new materials. A drop in the bucket, perhaps. But to me, it’s worth every bit of the effort. Have a great day, everyone!