Mermaid

Sometimes you get the opportunity to know someone for a while, and can try to place that person's personality in the bike.  In this case, My neighbor Meredith is in Veterenary School in G-Ville.  I have known her family for 12 years and remember when she was in Mayport Middle School and Fletcher High.

Her birthday is coming up, and she said "Clark, I really want one of those ZenCog's. Mom and Dad said I could get one."  I asked her what she had in mind.  Meredith said "Seafoam green and classic looking, but not too bold, and bullhorn handlebars like Ashley's."  She had seen Ashley's bike in the garage.

I went to our powder coater and he had the perfect color.  The bike will be ready next week, but I felt the need to post the first picture.  I named her "Mermaid", since the color looks like the sea, and all through High School Meredith would get picked up at 5 a.m. so she could go to swim team practice.  Also her dad Bruce probably has 20 surfboards.  They are always in the sea.  So I am bringing the sea to the streets on this one.     

She is finished!

Gunnar Sport - Not Just Fixies

I am finally able to build exactly what I want.  I have had two used Gunnar mountain bikes, but this is the first time I have had one made just for me. Gunner hand builds frames in the USA one at a time.  You order it and they start, I even got the special color of the month, Bamboo. If you have gotten to the top of the line Carbon Fiber bike, and ready to go to the next level, we have two great choices at ZenCog, Gunnar or Waterford custom frames.  After all, Carbon Fiber is simply trying to emulate the feel of steel. Check out the Gunnar in progress this week while I am away on vacation.

Flashdance for a Bike - Grand Opening Party

We are so stoked to be carrying 3G beach cruisers that we want to give 2 away at our grand opening party April 11. But you have to work for it.  The theme 1980's -- so dress appropriately.  Big hair, tube socks, torn jeans.  MTV started in the 80's and most of you were in diapers, if not still an unborn egg in your mama.  I was alive and well and remember the 80's unlike the 70's - which were a blur.

I most remember Jennifer Beals in Flashdance.  So much of that movie exemplifies the change in the air, and a girl welding metal was so great. The dancing wasn't bad either, and she rode a bike to work...how awesome!

Okay, here's the deal.  From now till the party, I will be digging up 1980's pictures and videos to give you guys some dress ideas and moves. I will wear what I have worn every decade, jeans, chuck taylors, and tee shirts....but then again, I am not in the contest. Besides, Garf and I can't dance....well at least I can't....so we can't win. We will put a chair and opened bicycle boxes in the parking area in front of the shop. It is a break dance and flashdance contest.

Guys can dance with the chair, girls can break dance, we are non-judgemental nor discriminatory...but hey - no lap dances...this is a family shop. If you dance with the chair - there is a chance you could get hit with a bucket of water, so dress accordingly. One babe and one dude wins a bike. And you trans guys - your attire will decide your gender, you can't compete for both prizes.

We will take videos of each contestant...put it up on YouTube, and the winner will be chosen by most thumbs up on FaceBook. So in order for you to win, your friends and fans must be a ZenCog fan to vote. That means you can totally suck at dancing, but if you have lots of friends to vote you in - you can win! I am such a shameless promoter...but I can be because we are giving 2 awesome bikes away for summer.

The winners pick the 3G Venice of his/her choice from the 3G website.  We are springing for the Venice, if you find another 3G bike you prefer, you can pay for the upgrade.  As always at ZenCog, you get what you want! You just have to pay!  Stay tuned ya'll, I promise I will get 80's obnoxious for the next 3 weeks.

Almost forgot...live DJ...cokes...beer...and working on Turkey Bubba Burgers...and of course PEANUTS. ZenCog gives new meaning to the term "peanut gallery."

ZenCog Tribe

Okay Ya'll, we are opened four weeks and Garf pointed out that we have already processed 100 invoices, that is just freakin' awesome. Three months ago, there were just a handful of people that knew about ZenCog (it was just my mini-warehouse man cave), and we are becoming a tribe. I say tribe because folks are not only buying - or not, they are hangin' out, sharing stories and oogling over Internet bike stuff - fondly referred to as "bike porn." you won't catch a disease from looking at this stuff, but you may get addicted.

Now is the coolest part - you are creating us. We had a pre-conceived notion that we would do what no other shop has, and that is what is happening - not selling you what we want, but selling you what you want. And what you want is incredible! Every day we get a few bikes in, really old crap. Bikes that people forgot about. But there is something you love about it - the unique fenders, or saddle or just the frame itself.

I think we are more like a hair dresser, than a bike shop. I remember watching Kat the other day. She comes in while I gave Garf a break. She and Sandy play some Ms. PacMan, then go over to the Internet while waiting on Garf. He returns and I say he has a customer waiting. He goes over to Kat and Sandy then says, "what are we going to do today?" They search the Internet looking at bike stuff.

The order is placed and here we are three days later, her old mixtie bike has its first makeover. She likes the top tube bend so she can wear skirts and heels. Someday Kat wants to paint the frame, and I would like to see a newer crankset. But this was the first stage, conversion to a single speed with Green wheels and chain. We hope she likes her, I don't believe Kat has seen it yet.

Garf said a seventy year old guy came in and wants to convert an old bike to a fixie. This is not a trend, it is a revolution to the big name $3,000 bikes. People want some history in their bike, they want to recycle, they want something cool and unique and they want it simple. Will we get a bunch of service fixing gears, or hydraulic brakes, or the like -- maybe not, but we will give you what no other bike store in town wants to - your own bike identity, created by you! You become a member of the ZenCog Tribe!

Garf's Timeless Riverside Ride

As I reflect on all the events of the past few weeks in my drama filled, spicy, busy life, I realize again that all things happen for a reason. My life is filled with excitement and there is never a dull moment. I wouldn’t change it for any amount of money. For the first time since I opened our little bike shop on Stockton Street I finally rode my bike to work.


On the way I stopped by Trouvez 2730 Park Street 904-381-0535. I chatted with Audra Pruitt one of the owners. They have just opened. She is always encouraging and knows how to tackle life. The journey continues, and I pedal on down the familiar roads in my beautiful neighbor hood. Today I feel is the start of great cycling weather. I suggest riding today it is a beautiful day in north Florida.

I stopped by Gilmore Street where RADO (Riverside Avondale Development Organization) hosted a neighbor hood cleanup. Melody is an outstanding person and she is organizing events to clean up our hood. I picked up trash before pedaling down to my own little slice of dream pie ZenCog Bicycle Company. At the end of the journey I realize that Life is full of speed bumps and nothing always goes as planned.

Oh yes I was greeted by Leonard, one of the Riverside legends, and had the same conversation I have with him everyday about him wanting to buy a bicycle with a back rack, a basket for his radio, and a lock with two keys for his key ring. He wants to pay me with 25 fifty dollar bills. I hope this sale goes through. You gotta love Riverside!

Written by Garfield Cooper (The Garf)

Pre-Opening Party

The party was a phenomenal success. We had people from all walks and rides of life. There were young and old. Roadie purists and fixie lovers. We had mountain bikers on the way back from the 50 mile muddy Ididaride, and long haul trekkers. We even had local residents and I suspect one or two homeless taking advantage of the free food. They were executives, doctors, nurses, and artists, musicians, and students. But you know what - I had no idea who was who, because they did not where what they did on their sleeve. And they were all interacting with each other.

Anybody that knows me well knows that I pursue diversity and feel that all people are equal, whether a doctor, or the homeless person they serve in the clinic. And to see this diverse group interacting, having fun, sharing stories at ZenCog, christens the store with an aura that no amount of money can buy.

As we embark on this experiment of web/brick and mortar retail space I need to thank the people who helped make this pre-opening event a phenom.

First my wife Peggy, who has encouraged me to seek my dreams and has been by my side through success, failure, and stupid mistakes over thirty years. Also my kids, Maddie and her friends Bryce, Alison, and Sara who helped serve burgers, put smelly sneakers on the fence, and all around assisted the party. Maddie will be doing an awesome video of the day, which we will post on YouTube once edited and set to music. And Ashley, my older daughter who is at FSU and provided the art photos on the walls. Anyone who knows me, knows my family always comes first.

Next we would like to thank all who attended in person and spirit, without you we would not have a chance to survive. In six weeks since starting our interaction on Facebook we have nearly 300 fans. That is freakin' incredible. It gives us motivation to take this plunge of faith. Our future is in your hands.

And a special thanks to Brandon who rode from G-ville on his hand made piece of art. Sheila, who brought chips and Salsa in the nick of time. Kim, who got the ice. Bea, who ran for the plates and knife to cut the cake. Matt from Burro Bags, who ran to get some bags for us to display. Bakery Moderne for making the best cake I have ever eaten, and the homeless bearded lady for finishing it off. Big Joe from Zombie Bikes who took the time to jam with the old man. Finally, Craig our landlord who let us sign the lease over a pole dancing school - sorry guys.

BUBBA BURGERS - were incredible. Thanks to Andy and Pat, who made it all happen. In fact Andy asked me yesterday when we were doing the Grand Opening Party so they can get it on the schedule. Yes - we will do this again in March, and we will have more Turkey Burgers. Those who got one of the six Turkey Burgers were the first people outside of corporate to taste them, They will be in stores soon.

Now a bit about who we are. I am Clark and I work for Bubba Burger, that is how I was able to make that connection. My bosses are cyclists, as is Andy, and they are supportive of my side business. I bribed them with parts at cost. I am really the bass player in life. I build the bottom and try to keep the rhythm, but I am not the rock star - that is Garf and Steve.

My partners are incredible at what they do - they are the shop. Garf is the lead singer, he also plays drums. He is the front man and the face you will see when you come into the shop. Garf is patient and laid back, he will make sure you get what you want - not what we want to sell you. And on lead guitar - Steve. He is the most awesome bike mechanic in Jax. When other mechanics fail getting that bottom bracket out, they send their customer to Steve. For those that know him - he can be an opinionated ornery SOB - but that is why we love him. Me, on Bass, I will be here on the web early in the morning, building our catalogue of components and keeping you guys informed on the web pages, FB, blog and gallery.

Once again - thanks to ya'll we are here, and hopefully through your support will be here next year too.

Brandon's Pilgrimage

I have yet to meet Brandon Kelley. We have spoken a few times on the phone and traded some Facebook messages. Brandon is a freebird, free of material possessions, no car, no cell phone. But Brandon is a wealthy man. Not in material ways, but in passion and freedom.

He is an apprentice frame builder in Gainesville and has a love for steal framed bicycles and White Industries components. You can see him above meticulously working on a lug. He tells me a hand built frame could take as long as a month. In an era when most frames are built by robots in Taiwan, he is learning to keep the art of custom frame building alive.

After giving up on trying to cop a ride to Jax for the party, he called me yesterday and said he is riding to Jax on his bike Friday all the way from Gainesville a mere 70 miles - I assume the single speed mountain variety probably running 32x16. Wow. When we started the shop and the idea for the pre-opening party, I never expected someone to want to be there so much, I am truly humbled and excited by this gesture.

We are not a big corporation. We are not heavily stocked with bikes and accessories. We are not judgemental of the bike people ride, whether bought from Wal-mart or another bike shop. I applaud you for riding for fun, transportation, exercise, social benefit, or just like us - to feed the addiction. We are a community, and want to be your friend. We are ZenCog, and yes - we are Art in Motion.

Good luck with your pilgrimage Brandon! Be safe! We can't wait to meet you!