Loose Spokes Bicycle Sales, Service, and Accessories

mission

The Loose Spokes is an organization designed and committed to serving the genuine needs of the total cycling community.

That includes the very special needs of everyone from the recreational weekend rider to the amateur racing enthusiast.

Founded as a bicycle club in 1979, the Loose Spokes is now a full service bicycle shop that provides FAST professional service on all makes and models. Special services include:

* custom wheel building
* complete frame and fork repair
* bicycle restoration
* and much more.

These are complete lines with something for everyone, from the casual juvenile rider to the most discriminating athlete. Loose Spokes currently sells these lines of bicycles:

Bianchi

Haro

Masi

Fuji

Premium

Moots
Guerciotti

Sun

Colnago

SE

Fast Friendly service is our hallmark, with an emphasis on integrity in all we do.

Our Quality workmanship and our modest price continues to be the basis of our ongoing growth and success.

service

Our service begins with the test ride and never ends. Our service promise since 1989 has been to stand behind the new bikes we sell with respect to "after the sale" care. We call this our "Pro Service Agreement". This service is good from the date of purchase to the original purchaser and includes virtually any "adjustment" the cyclist may need for as long as they own the bike and for as long as we are still "turning wrench."

Our Pro Service Agreement - means that when a cable has stretched and the shifting is not as smooth or quiet when new, there will be no fee for those who have purchased with us to make this minor adjustment. Or, when the cyclist hits the rail road tracks the wrong way and perhaps moved the wheel out of round there will be no fee for spoke adjustment & wheel truing or realignment of the brakes.

With time the brakes may begin to "squeal" or rub the wheels. The original owner needs only to stop by with the bike - no appointment necessary and a friendly knowledgeable, professional mechanic will make the necessary adjustments for the cyclist at no charge.

We have a list of exactly each adjustment covered for view any time in store. There are some obvious exclusions to this service. All any one needs to do is simply ask for details.

Most other shops offer some kind or type of after market service. Some will tack on a charge for their services to the original sale. Some will offer as many free "tune-ups" as you need for the first year or some other limited time frame.

As mechanics, we know that there is no value to the consumer if there are time limits on the "free" service. There are many factors that will dictate the kinds of services and the frequency of need for bicycle maintenance. The conditions of the trail or road, weather conditions, the number of miles ridden, the riding ability and level of skill for each cyclist, the amount of preventive care and maintenance the bike receives, who else other than you is riding your bicycle and many other factors come into play that will determine the adjustment requirements of your bicycle.

The fact is - no matter what brand of bike you ride, you will, if you ride at all, eventually require some form of mechanical service. Many of our cycling friends perform a lot of their own bike maintenance. However, even for the avid cyclist it is comforting to know that they don't have to get their hands dirty before race day if they don't want to. Simply put, we stop what we're doing, we put your bike in the stand, make any adjustment necessary any time you need it. No hassles, No foot dragging, No charge has been our policy since 1989, Our Pro Service Agreement.

staff
	Tanner Jacobs - Assembly Mechanic Tanner, our newest employee, displays enthusiasm which encourages the rest of the staff. As a member of the Grand Haven Science Olympiad Team, his mechanical skills, while still being developed, are exceptional for his limited time in the saddle. Tanner is an outstanding student and star Football player. Tanner is "Green" thinking and commutes every day by way of bicycle. He rides his bike to and from work and school most every day. He is a conscientious employee who always puts others first. Currently he is working on the assembly of his first road bike. We all look for great things to happen with this up-and-coming employee.
	Kevin Wilkins - Mechanic Kevin is the "fix it" guy. After last season's apprenticeship and work as an assembly mechanic Kevin shows great promise as one of our Service Team leaders. Kevin is part of the graduating class of 2011 at Spring Lake High School and holds an A- grade point average while playing in Spring Lake High School's award winning Marching Band and performing on the Cross Country Team. His hobbies include music, marksmanship and cycling. Kevin says he enjoys music from, in his own words, "all eras, both old and new". What we have all noticed is that the music CD mix tends to change over from alternative rock to his more preferred classic rock/metal selection once he is punched in and ready to wrench. Kevin is one of the most communicable of our mechanics and is well liked by all his colleagues. His first road bike he uses for commuting to and from work has recently seen its first outdoor group ride as Kevin is new at road cycling. His future both on and off the road will be highlighted by his excellent stamina and strong aerobic capacity once he fine tunes his new found skill. As with all our staff, we are proud to have Kevin on board our team!
	Ben Fisher - Lead Mechanic Benjamin Fisher, born November 8, 1989 the same year the bike shop opened for business. Celebrating his third year at the Spokes Benjie as he hates to be called is a Grand Haven High School student and local BMX guru. Ben is the "Boss" when it comes to BMX, not at all shabby on the mountain bike and oh yeah, he works on some of the finest road bikes in the world too!
	Erin Purdy - Sales Associate / Customer Service Erin is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in Education. She resides in Grand Haven with her husband and shop friend Gabe along with their 3 cats and one very large dog. As a Sales Associate in our Customer Service Department Erin is as strong on the mountain bike she is on her road bike. She keeps us looking good on the sales floor and is especially good at assisting you with your cycling clothing and gear selection. Not only is she a real plus for our women customers needs but the guys like working with her too! She keeps all us boys in line whenever she's on the clock!
	Aaron Beebe - Service Manager Aaron is a Senior at Grand Haven High School with a 3.9 grade point average, varsity swim team leader and an aspiring cyclist. His first two years in cycling and working at the shop have brought him a long way from his first flat tire repair to building some of the finest bicycles in the world. Aaron serves as Service Manager and is responsible for a variety of tasks such as prioritizing the workload and communicating with the Lead Mechanic as to who he wants working on what projects and when they are expected back for his inspection. He is also responsible for assisting with weekly inventory needs for the Service Department and makes sure the shop has on hand the materials expected of the mechanic on a timely basis. Aaron is a dedicated and talented employee who always puts the customer first. Whether he is building a $10,000.00 road bike or taking care of a derailleur adjustment on your 1970's classic Schwinn, Aaron treats each bike he works on as if it were his own. He is well liked by his co-workers and yet keeps each one in the Service Department on their toes as each bicycle repair and assembly must go past him before reaching the customer. He oversees all the new Assembly Mechanics and the building of all new product that leaves the store. In addition he works closely with the Repair Mechanics. It is his job to make certain that each repair is test ridden and inspected to ensure quality of workmanship and attention to detail and that each bicycle worked on meets the high standards the shop is known for. Aaron is strong on the road bike and has great form. He is a Michigan State Time Trial Champion in his class and will pursue a USCF classification jump this upcoming race season. Looking toward college he is actively seeking the school of his choice with the hopes of continuing his commitment beyond this upcoming season as opportunity presents itself.
	Ken Taylor - General Manager / Webmaster Graduating from Grand Haven High in 1999 as an honor student, Ken comes to us as a graduate of Grand Rapids Community College with an Associate Degree in Mechanical Design. His real bucks are made at his other job of over 8 years now as a Systems Specialist addressing upper level management on all procedural manuals and processes within the manufacturing firm. Currently a student at Davenport University, he is working on his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a major in Marketing. Going to school, working two jobs, and taking care of his Bride to be, Theresa Findley and their young boy Keegan would be more than enough for most. Ken still finds time serving as a Tech Rep & Media Manager for K2 Snowboards, K2 Skis, and 686 Outerwear in the Great Lakes Region as well as putting in many miles a week on the road bike. All of this and he still finds time for the Loose Spokes taking care of much of our purchasing requirements making him an expert on our product lines among a long list of other duties. His experience in retail at both the old Ski & Sport and Earth's Edge outdoor shops goes hand in hand with his new found passion of road cycling. Ken's cycling skills and his genuine people skills are well respected throughout the area.
	Susan Seibert - Secretary / Treasurer Sue is technically part owner of the Spokes and has served as the Treasurer/Secretary in past years. The only official retiree of the fledgling firm, Sue is now comfortable at home with her cats but still helps out whenever needed. Married to the boss puts her in a good position for reaping the benefits of ownership without a lot of actual presence. Sue has a Bachelor's Degree from Grand Valley University in Graphic Art & Design. As a free lance artist she is responsible for our past and present marketing pieces, our advertising artwork, our signage in and around the shop and virtually all of our printed pieces as well as the home page sketch of this site. Her credentials have taken her many places over the years doing work for some of the largest corporations in the state including work for the State of Michigan. Among her many talents, her hobbies include needlework and sewing, beading and crafts of all kinds including dried flower arrangements, wire work, glass work, perennial gardens and more. Sue's passion for cycling is like 90% of our market as a casual recreational weekend bike path rider out to enjoy the scenery and the fresh air. Always gathering "Ideas" for new and exciting projects she is very talented in both frame and finish construction with experience in handling any power tool on the market she loves to cut up wood and make something out of it. Our interior walls, lighting and fixtures were all designed and implemented by Sue nearly 20 years ago.
	Jack Crawford - C.E.O. With bicycle touring in the 1970's on his Schwinn "Super LeTour", bicycle racing in the 1980's on his Bianchi "Super Legerra" and working in bike shops since his early college years, the enthusiasm for cycling grew to a passion for the sport that spawned business objectives. With heroes like Major Taylor and Eddy Mercx, Jack grew an appreciation for the sport of cycling, for the bicycle in general, for the history, for participants at all levels, for the camaraderie and for the business. Jack’s vast personal collection of bicycles and cycling gear from every decade since the invention is enough to fill a museum. Jack is the chief bottle washer and cook at Loose Spokes, the kind of boss that makes sure things get done and that everyone has fun while doing so. Passion for cycling is not all Jack brings to the table. Being a business graduate of Michigan State University with a double major in Business Management and Computer Science, his former jobs have taken him across the country working for the U.S. Dept. of Defense as a computer operator and programmer. In addition, Jack has worked in the Insurance Industry as a computer programmer, systems analyst and in many different trades down through the years - always looking to fulfill his dream of running his own business with the customer as his preferred boss. That dream became reality when in 1989 he and his wife, Susan, opened the Loose Spokes Bicycle Shop of Grand Haven, Michigan. Jack brought a lot of cycling experience to the bike shop business. With averaging 250 miles per week in the saddle from 1975 to 1985, riding with the famed “Cal Vets” cycling club of Southern California, and coming within just 20 seconds of the National Time Trial Record in 1980, Jack has tens of thousands of racing/touring miles behind him and a world of experience in cycling. Jack's vision of a quaint European style pro bike shop where the products speak for themselves, where the mechanical skills exceed customer expectations and where the knowledge of cycling history never dies is what Loose Spokes Bicycle Sales & Service has become.