My father started the Cross Country Ski Chalet in November of 1972 and I worked there part-time while going to High School. In the spring of 1973 the 'Ski Chalet' started carrying Gitane bicycles and the company name was changed to Cross Country Ski Chalet/Now Bikes. In the winter of 1976 (at the age of 20) after 2 years of studying philosophy at the University of Minnesota, I left school and worked out a purchase agreement with my father and took over operations of the business.

As I've stumbled my way through life I've ended up with a career that makes me happy in many ways. I stay healthy, I help people get and stay healthy and work with healthy people. We've gone through much in our 30+ years, from one to seven stores, ending up with two great locations that put a product out in front of the public we can proud to say is ours.

Ambrose is the best mechanic is town, period. Don't let his youthful good looks and devilish mustache fool you. He's been wrenching since he was 10 and his knowledge of bikes is actually quite scary. Quiz him oh Shimano part numbers sometime. I dare you to stump him. Why would you take your bike to anyone else when we have a guy like this?

Mike Davis is the head mechanic at the Arden Hills shop and is an avid mountain biker and all around cyclist. He's also a proud new dad.

What can we say about Mike? His nickname is "Bustin' Loose" because he likes to wheelsuck up until the sprint and then blow it up. Even so, we all like him. He's probably our most knowledgeable salesperson from years of competitive racing. He gets his power from pulling his 80 lb. Black Lab around in his bike trailer.

You can find her up at our Arden Hills store working side-by-side with her father and NOW head honcho Paul.

Tracy "Cubs" Farr. The man, the myth, the legend. He's Now Bikes official cycling advocate. What does that mean? He attends a lot of meetings. Not just any meetings, but any and all meetings related to biking in the Twin Cities. We all should be thankful for this guy's work because he continues to keep cycling front and center with our legislators. He's also a great teacher of road biking skills and helps new riders get comfortable on their bikes.

Jeremi loves mountain biking on his favorite local trails and is also a serious snowmobile dude. Rumor has it that he snowmobiles into remote areas with his bike on his back to do some serious winter riding. We're not sure about this but he does sometimes bike into work in the winter pulling his snowmobile. Strong rider.

Ryan "Curly" Saathoff wrenches at both the St. Paul and Arden Hills shops. He's an awesome mountain bike rider who loves to go for crazy night rides. If you're interested, stop by and ask him how you can join him.

The youngest member of the NOW Bikes crew is by no means the least experienced. Working in shops as a tech since 2000, Sam came to NOW last winter looking to further his skills in the shop. He has taken on an expanded roll with NOW, extending out of the shop and onto the road, by leading Thursday Night group rides out of the St. Paul store and Sunday afternoon trips to Afton with Mike J.

Anyone who has worked long enough in the bike biz knows at least someone from Portland and here at NOW "Rally" Kalli Phillips is our girl from the City of Roses. Our resident cross-spert, fender fanatic, and embro perveyor moved to the Cities last winter (for reasons still unclear). Kalli can found waxing nostalgic for the rainy mountin passes of the Northwest with her trusted shop dog Albert at the St. Paul shop.