I just wanted to make a quick post before I head out to the bar while it's fresh in my head.

I had a frame crack in two places recently on my commuter bike, and Erik at Peacock Groove offered to help get me set up again with a Fuji frame he had kicking around. Today I took my old bike in and Erik spent damn near a half day working on getting a new bike set up for me exactly the way I wanted it. He faced everything, welded on a custom brake cable stay, and took off old canti mounts and welded on new ones. He also fitted the fork and did all the other bike assembly stuff, but at the end of the day he charged me for parts and did not charge me for a half day of labor. What other bike shop would do that?

The bike that was cracked had to do with a really bad experience at another shop and getting suckered as a new guy to bikes and a new guy to town. Erik told me he wanted to make that right, and goddamn if half a day of work isn't going above and beyond.

Basically, Peacock Groove treated me really well, Erik's a professional in every sense of the word, and I am definitely going back for parts and service.

A++++ would ride bikes again

Dropped in to say "hi" today - I was visiting another shop in his building, and I thought I would finally meet Erik. He is a very nice guy, and a bloody ARTIST - some of the coolest new bikes I have seen in years are hanging in his shop - some paint jobs that belong in a magazine (new age things, not Cycling - that's where the guy across the hall goes) - no wonder my daughter thinks he builds cool bikes, and after seeing them up close, I concur.

If you get a chance, drop in his shop - jaw dropping shit in there (plus you can also poke your nose into the other shop, where Campy is entry level) - when the young out there start buying expensive bikes like the old guys, this guy is going to have a line at his door. He has two bikes in there that need to be shown at someone's retail shop and at more shows - the public needs to see some of this stuff.

While talking with Paul last weekend, I was regaled with the tale of all the MN builders getting together to get a booth at NAHBS. Eric's spearheading that, AFAIK.

I won't be ready to show anything until 2011.

And lets not forget E's commitment to the community, e.g. sponsoring trail watch volunteers. If he is behind here and there it is only because he is doing so much for all of us.

It is only natural for a guy to get a little behind.

Erik Noren's Peacock Groove shop ( http://www.peacockgroove.com/ ), very conveniently located in the Ivy Building (2637 27th Ave. S.) is our real "Bicycle Nirvana" in these parts. Visiting this man is educational, inspirational, enlightening and entertaining. Kudos also to this host of last summer's multiday Minnecycle local bike builder's showcase.

"Bikesmith" Mark Stonich at 53rd & Elliot Ave. S. ( http://bikesmithdesign.com/ ) as well as St. Paul's Battle Creek area Bob Brown ( http://www.bobbrowncycles.com/ ) equally share my utmost admiration for honest, high quality repairs and custom modifications at very reasonable prices. These gentlemen are all expert artists who really share a deep passion for the simple magic of riding a bike. I am grateful for their honest assessments and referrals concerning my personal bike needs. Thanks all!