What Are These "Brand Ambassadors" You Keep Talking About? Pt. 4

Imagine a long stretch of freshly groomed gravel road. The birds are chirping, the breeze is cooling, and the sun has been dancing in and out of fluffy white clouds all day. You are on your bike enjoying the wonders of the world by pedal power and you are a few miles away from your destination. What awaits you there are friends, food, laughs, campfire stories, and...dare I say it again...community!

Bikepacking is an amazing opportunity to experience the oh-so-familiar landscape of our local area in a whole new way and Andrew Robertson is our guide to that wide world. He will be leading a series of rides and classes teaching the in's and out's of a successful trip as well as give you the knowledge to head out on your own adventure!

"In the past seven years of bikepacking, my Salsa Fargo and I have gone-far and are ready to go-far on new adventures. I've learned a bit, went on a few trips, and have a few true bikepacking stories to share"

I didn't choose the SNS life, the SNS life chose me.

We couldn't not have Andrew leading these rides, he is an amazing teacher, he lives bikepacking, and has a great sense of humor. He has been supporting this shop for years and his drive for learning, sharing, and experiencing new things is everything a brand ambassador should be. We didn't force him to take the position (nervous laughter) he chose it willingly.

Why go bikepacking?

"Bikepacking is a great way to experience a microadventure close to home without having to take vacation time or be too far from friends and family. Escaping the grind for a day can reinvigorate the soul, ignite passion, and help unplug from the 24-7 interwebz data cycle. Adventure is just around the corner."

What do we do if we are interested in a bikepacking adventure?

1. Check local state parts for camp sites

2. Check local city parts for camp sites

3. Check rails to trails for any routes away from motor vehicle traffic

4. Using Google Maps to plan your route is a great option

5. Make sure your route includes stops for water, food, or rest if it is a long trek or your first time

Most importantly, try not to get too lost.

Andrew, adventure is out there. Thank you for taking us along for the ride!

And thank you reader for taking the time to get to know our ambassadors. You are the reason we are a business and without you we just wouldn't be. So again, thank you. If you are interested in more information about these events, group rides, and other community opportunities check out our rides and events page on spoke-n-sport.com and we will see you on the trails!

What Are These "Brand Ambassadors" You Keep Talking About? Pt. 3

Did you know that people like OTHER activities besides cycling?! (We couldn't believe it either). Did you know that cycling is actually amazing cross-training for runners and other athletes, or that the triathlete community is growing by laps and miles?! All if this is true and that made us rethink the way we do things at Spoke-N-Sport. Community is a unified body of individuals, a people with common interests living in a particular area. South Dakota is rather particular so what better way to do that than to introduce a brand new type of ride? This year we have added a series of Bike/Run/Bike rides to our calendar and we couldn't be more pumped about who will be leading them!

Coming from a strong swim background, Melissa McCauley's love for running and riding has grown significantly over the past few years and her devotion to an active community is contagious. During her interview she had so many empowering and positive things to say about Spoke-N-Sport and the cycling community you'd swear we were paying her to do this (we're not).

"I started riding when I began training for a few local sprint triathlons . I remember the first time I jumped on a road bike, I was nervous because I hadn't been on a bike in years. It was exactly like I remembered, except it was FAST. I fell in love with the openness of the trails and the feeling of the ride. As a part of training I found my love for running. Last year I finished the Chicago Marathon, my biggest accomplishment yet."

What brought you to Spoke-N-Sport?

"To be a part of an amazing community like Spoke-N-Sport is a big deal. I am excited to partner together to spread my love of this community and have others experience the joys of cycling and running."

What are you most excited for with this ambassadorship?

"Full inclusion. What I mean by that is that joining in on group activities can be intimidating. I want everyone to feel comfortable. If you’re not an elite cyclist that is ok, neither am I. That should not stand in the way of joining group rides or activities. I love bringing people together."

Thank you Melissa, we are excited for everything you are bringing to the table.

Last but not least, our bikepacking ambassador, Andrew Robertson...

What Are These "Brand Ambassadors" You Keep Talking About? Pt. 2

Living in the Midwest, with it's calm rolling hills and flat prairie lands doesn't necessarily scream MOUNTAIN BIKING but that hasn't seemed to stop the steam rolling single track community what-so-ever. With the fresh trail up in Brookings and plans for more miles in Sioux Falls, to the well worn Leaders and Yankton Trail Parks there is no doubt the urge to ride is there. That brings us to our next brand ambassador, Ken Kreger.

Ken has a passion for mountain biking, that is without question. He will be leading a series of Intro to Mountain Biking Classes for all skill levels this year to help spread the joys of riding on dirt as well as ways to be safe, keep our trails maintained, and feeling confident when riding with others.

What do you love about riding?

"I love cycling because of the freedom to explore miles of roads and trail without burning gasoline or spending anything other than time. Even when it is really hot or really cold outside it feels great to go somewhere on a bike. Especially with friends."

Why did you choose Spoke-N-Sport as your bike shop?

"Spoke-n-Sport makes it easy to get connect with other cyclists, find new areas to ride, participate in events, and learn more about the community."

What are you future cycling goals?

"Last year I focused mostly on local mountain bike trails, and that was a lot of fun because you can just grab your bike and go whenever you get the chance. This year will require more of a focused approach because I am planning to do some endurance rides, possibly in Nebraska and North Dakota."

We are looking forward to everything you have to teach us Ken and thank you for your passion and excitement for this growing community.

Melissa McCauley is our next ambassador so check back tomorrow for her story.

What Are These "Brand Ambassadors" You Keep Talking About? Pt. 1

Sooo, you keep reading the words "brand ambassador" ALL over our page and you are asking yourself, "what does that even mean?" Well we would be more than happy to explain it to you AND introduce just who they happen to be!

In short, a brand ambassador is someone that embodies the brand they are representing. To us, they are out on the trails when we as a store cannot be, providing honest, respectful, and legitimate promotion to Spoke-N-Sport through group rides, classes, and events. It involves being emotionally committed to the product and value we stand behind and offer to our customers. Their passion for cycling and community are key. They are strong leaders and teachers and want to grow a healthy and strong cycling community in our local area.

That being said, over the next week we want to introduce to you our ambassadors for 2018 and we cannot wait to see their events unfold!

Spoke-N-Sport is very proud to carry Liv, a brand created by women for women. With that brand comes an amazing ambassador named Jes Horton.

"As a kid, I rode my bike a lot because it was the only way I could get to my local pool or library. I didn’t get into biking seriously until I was 22 when a close friend asked me to do RAGBRAI. I said, “sure, why not?” and dove in head first. I bought a road bike, clips, pedals, and my first pair of bike shorts. I trained about 50 miles prior and I had no idea what I was getting myself into! Seven days and copious amounts of pie later - I was hooked! Since then, I have had the opportunity to bike throughout the U.S. and have met some of the most unique, wonderful, and inspiring humans as a result."

What are you most excited about with the Liv ambassadorship?

"I’m most excited about the opportunity to connect with so many fearless females in the Sioux Falls community and get more booties on bikes!"

What suggestions do you have to the women that want to start riding but don't know where to start?

1. Find a community of people who will both encourage you and challenge you. After all, the best things in life happen when you get out of your comfort zone! 
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I had very little experience when I first started biking. Heck, I didn’t even know how to pump my own tires! Once I learned some basic bike maintenance it became a lot more fun (and empowering)! 
3. Find a local bike shop and get to know the staff. They are there to help answer those questions and make sure you feel confident on your bike. Spoke-n-Sport has always been my go-to for anything bike related! 
4. Get fitted to your bike. Biking should be enjoyable and pain free and a good fit ensures both. 

Do you have any personal goals for 2018 bike riding or otherwise?

"Riding my bike in every state is on my bucket list. I’m about 1/3 of the way there, so I still have some work to do."

Jes, we are so excited to work with you to strengthen the women's cycling community, thank you so much for all of your hard work and we are grateful to have you on the team!

Check back tomorrow to meet our next ambassador, Ken Kreger!