Posted by Randi on Jun 24, 2009 in
Uncategorized Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high
Oh, Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry
One of these mornings
You’re going to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And you’ll take to the sky
But until that morning
There’s a’nothing can harm you
With your daddy and mammy standing by
Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high
Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry
George Gershwin, you said it all. Last sunday was the frist day of summer and probably the peak of our repair season. We’re in full swing at the Rainy Peak HQ. Eric has stepped up to the plate this year and is managing to run the bike shop almost solely by himself. A HUGE task that really shouldn’t be dropped on the shoulders of one person. That’s not to say I’ve been sitting around eating BonBon’s and watching the ’soaps.’ No sir, there’s the whole motherhood deal, sewing orders to fill and a dryer vent to replace. I’ve heard it before but I’ll say it again, ‘what did we do before we had a bike shop and made a baby?’ You all must have waaaaaaay too much time on your hands.
We’re not complaining though - we’re busy at a time when the unemployment rate in Oregon is skyrocketing (at least that’s what NPR tells me almost daily.) I’m working on three large cap orders at the moment - one of which is to the fine folks at Rivendell Bicycle Works. Shoot, we had portobello burgers for dinner and homemade coconut milk ice cream afterwards (I love you KitchenAid!). Summer is here and there’s lots of daylight to get lots of stuff done. I’m still hopeful for a few peaceful evenings at home, perhaps sipping a fine IPA, and taking in the easy livin’ of the sweet sweet summertime.
Posted by Randi on Apr 3, 2009 in
Bloggish,
News On a recent Sunday, my folks came up from Elkton to help us once again rearrange the shop. About every 3-4 months Eric gets a hankering to move stuff around, not unlike a suburban woman & her living room. This time however, the tri-annual rearrange was inspired by a recent rash of theft while we were open - namely the nice lights we had hanging up the farthest away from the repair area (i.e. easiest to steal without getting caught by one of the grease monkeys in back.) Here’s what we came up with:
Move all the small steal-appeal items towards us…
Turn our previous accessory cases into shrines for two handsome fellows…complete with silk flowers & plastic grapes…
And since we’ve got a real carpenter on the scene, we decided to throw up some corragated metal on the wall a la Starbuck’s and..
wha-la! A flash new accessories wall full of hard to steal goods… I’d like to see some one walk out with those fenders under their coat. Ha.
So, the shop seems theft-proof for the moment but the baby-proofing has a ways to go… where do you put a baby in a bike shop anyway? It’s all a bit new for everyone, including Gus. But, he’s found a few luxuries in the whole ordeal…
Beck didn’t really seem to care for it anyway. He seems to be adjusting to us; at least there are moments of bliss…
Posted by Randi on Mar 4, 2009 in
Uncategorized Randi sewed and sewed, as the due date got closer, the whole time trying to keep the baby in until the Hunters’ NAHBS hats were completed. The Due date of February 11th came, nervous the whole time thinking that at any moment she could go into labor. Darwin and Lincoln’s birthday came, maybe it would be that day? Eric’s birthday came, maybe then? All the while plugging away at the hats, waiting for a labor pain, figuring out new and creative way to respond to, “you still haven’t had it?” and “Are they going to induce labor?” By the 23rd, 80 hats were made, wrapped and sent off for the show…
But no belly pain.
Relieved the batch was able to be completed, but all the while wondering what the hold up was, we were starting to loose sleep with anticipation, the mind playing tricks like, maybe it’s just a pulsing tumor or it’s just never going to be born, we began actively trying to get things moving.
There were brisk walks up steep hills 
With Rest
Bus rides down bumpy roads
Even the day at the beach walking on the sand
& teaching Gus to spit loogies
But still the belly persisted
And then there was the castor oil incident, those who know will cringe and those who don’t, just watch Lardass in Stand By Me and imagine more bodily involvement.
Then Coleen, our wonderful midwife, gave us some much needed advice and suggested we STOP trying so hard to have the baby, take the day off and go do something that we like to do. So on the 28th of February we headed off to Elkton for a bike ride.
Randi Grandpa Jeff, Eric and Gus rode along the Umpqua 
And 8 miles later, labor
In less than 12 hours, at home, with no drugs, the ultra tough Randi Jo gave birth 
To a 10 pound baby boy
Posted by Randi on Feb 14, 2009 in
Uncategorized Howdy folks,
Well, the due date has come and gone. The lil’ bambino didn’t get the memo to come out. On the otherhand, I’ve been able to get some more work done and continue to ride my bike. I thought I should post a few shots of the spectacle: Past Due Pregnant Lady on a Fixed Gear!
This bike has saved my pregnant life. Eric made it for me as a wedding gift and it has made riding much more pleasurable with the big ol’ Gut. We had to switch out the stem a few weeks ago for one with a bit more rise, but now she’s as good as golden. Did I mention it’s still a fixed gear?
cheers ( I get to drink beer again soon!),
Randi
Posted by Randi on Jan 8, 2009 in
Bloggish,
News Welp, I’m starting the five week countdown until our baby is scheduled to depart it’s all inclusive resort. This also means that I am no longer taking orders until March. The sewing platter is FULL right up to my due date and any orders beyond that would just be disappointments. For those who put orders in within the last month or two; don’t worry, I’ll get your stuff to you before…unless of course the baby decides it can’t wait any longer!
Thanks for all the patronage & support!
Posted by Randi on Dec 11, 2008 in
Bloggish So, who’s got their Charlie Brown Christmas tree in place? How ’bout those stocking? Had any nog yet? I guess it’s officially here; the season to give, get fat & wonder how bike shops ever make it in the winter.
Here at Rainy Peak we’ve been keeping busy with a flood of orders for caps to shops mostly. Eric managed to sell 7 bikes & helmets to a family of nine and we just sent out a huge box of goodies to our Teasdale, UT annex. That’s right, we’ve expanded….in Utah. A couple of our friends moved out there and have by default become the bike shop for the little community. So, if you need some work done in Utah, go to RPC2. Those guys will set you straight and probably help you get drunk.
Eric’s been riding our little trail we call the “train loop” most mornings. Here’s a few shots he captured the other day when it was a bit frosty:
The Pugsley with the new camera case - strapped down good!
And after all that beauty, the ride back down Gowdyville road gives you this splendid view. Honkies love to shoot stuff…like mattresses & lazy boys….
But hey, each to his own….right?
The third wheel of RPC (besides Gus of course) is growing & kicking all the time. I image it’s getting it’s little legs ready to pedal, pedal, pedal. I guess I’ll have to wait a couple years for that but maybe my legs will get buff again hauling the little grub around. Here’s a shot of the belly that’s about 3 weeks old…it’s much bigger now.
And just so we don’t forget how cute Gus is:
Here he is looking for the bird that lives under the desk….We played some bird sounds for him on the computer and Gus now believes these “birds” are nesting under the desk and he gets really concerned about them. He’s such a sensitive man….
Welp. Have a good season y’all & have a hot toddy for me!
Cheers!
Posted by Randi on Nov 11, 2008 in
News This morning we saluted our good friends Jynelle & Kyrod goodbye as they left for the Sunshine State. In celebration of the good times we had ourselves a fancy breakfast of pancakes & memosas a few days ago….
Gus enjoyed the morning as well, finding love at first sight with the Champagne cap…
After such delightful times, J and K did some more packing of their gypsy caravan including the soon to be constructed “Baba Yaga’s Coffee Caravan” to be parked somewhere near Santa Cruz. (That’s what’s under the tarp!) Watch out lil’ children!
In other news…Eric and I went down to good ol’ Elkton a couple weekends ago. I got a driving lesson in the ‘77 Mercedes (That’s right…I still don’t have my drivers license):
And my three aunts & Grandma Lou got 4 deer with 4 bullets. Good aim, ladies! How many of you out there can say the same? Obviously not me….
Out.
Posted by Randi on Nov 4, 2008 in
Bloggish Wow. Aren’t we getting fancy? New website look…updated blog. New products. Shoot. We almost got citified. Don’t worry though…we’re still bringing you the goods from lil’ ol Cottage Grove. The only mustaches here are on real men in Carhartts.
So, here’s a few new shots from Halloween which also happens to be the 2nd anniversary of our bike shop being open in Downtown CG.
But wait…there’s more!!
Ahh, yes. You guessed it. The Mariachi and her Luchador ‘Fuego de Cabra’ with his tag-teammate Poochador!! Yes, even he had red super underwear. And a side note: the Mariachi does not have a middle-aged man gut, she is Prego. Horray!
Way back in September Eric, Gus and I broke out the Pugsleys and took a ride on the sandy beaches. Gus obviously got more of a workout than we did!
Then my folks scored the raddest short bus from the Elkton School District auction. A whooping 325.00 got them a sweet diesel short bus which was swiftly modified into the most awesome bike camping rig EVER! You can fit 8 folks & up to 10 bikes in that thing!
And now we’re enjoying a lovely fall with plenty of colors on the trees and mushrooms galore. Here’s a few shots Eric took out at our place. Happy November!
Posted by Randi on Sep 18, 2008 in
Bloggish Hey folks,
Ahhh… fall is fast approaching yet we’re still extra busy at the shop and in the sewing room. Randi’s getting ready for the Oregon Manifest up in P-town. A biggish hoot-nanny for bike geeks. Here’s a sneek peak of what she’s been working on:
And here’s a fine portrait of Ducky… THE trike rollin’ recyclin’ guru.
Last weekend we spent some quality time with Mr. Goodtimes in Ashland for the 1st annual Southern Oregon Handbuilt Bike Show. It was a hoot. We brought the bike blender, made some impromptu smoothies and hung out with some cool dogs….and people too.
Gus was the luckiest of all. Not only did he fall in love with a gigantic wolfhound named Katie, but he won a Gary Mathis UBI frameset. Shit. That dog gets it all…the ladies, the bikes…
Here’s a shot of him marking his territory. Lucky bastard.
And for the grand finale…. our little friend the Praying Mantis.
Out.
Posted by Randi on Jul 12, 2008 in
Merch!,
News It’s been busy here at the Rainy Peak headquarters. Plenty of greasy hands, flat tires, tune ups & happy bicycle riders to go around. Our strawberries are ripe and ready from our planter out front. The park next door keeps getting uglier (refer to blog on March 19). Gus hasn’t been to the shop in weeks due to the lack of green space. Hmmm…
And just as gnarly are some of the bearing situations Eric’s been dealing with lately:
But on a good note, Randi’s been making lil’ caps for the lil’ cuties that keep popping out in town:
If you’ve got a lil’ cutie that needs a cap, give me a holler. They’re going fast!
Speaking of lil’ cuties our little man Audric is getting a sweet ride - an old Peugeot with new paint & upside down sweep-backs. SWEET!
I guess that’s it…more mayhem to come…. Keep checkin’!
