Do you remember that feeling of freedom when you hopped on a bike as a kid– cruising the neighborhood with friends, the wind in your hair, banana seats, and high-rise handlebars? If you were born after the 80’s you might not exactly remember the later two, but Dan and Kirsten Cruikshank certainly do. While Dan was cruising on a green Schwinn Fastback in the Minneapolis suburbs in the 70's, Kirsten was riding the streets of Thief River Falls on a Red White and Blue “Miss America” bike.
After many years in the outdoor industry making backpacks at Granite Gear with his friend Jeff Knight, Dan shifted his focus towards the bike world in 2013. Years before the first walls even went up, the first Cedaero bike pack prototypes were being designed and sewed. Late night kitchen table conversations about sewing packs and selling bikes led to the thought of weaving everyone's favorite adventure fuel into the vision
... and that solidified the path of building a community centered on bikes, coffee, and adventure.
We established the sister companies: Spokengear, Cedar Coffee Company and Cedaero. With Dan's vision of the trio nestled in the cedar forest along the Two Harbors bike trail, Cheryl Fosdick of CF designs saw the vision through the trees, creating the building you see today. We wanted it to be welcoming, accessible, and peaceful; a place you would stop to enjoy a test ride and a conversation— not a drive through.
After ten years Dan has created a package of offerings in Spokengear to meet the needs of our customers, ranging from small repairs, to the sale of higher-end bikes for gravel and mountain biking.
The coffee shop is also thoughtfully curated, offering quality espresso and specialty beverages in addition to healthy food options. We pride ourselves in using as many local vendors as possible, a reflection of our dedication to quality, sustainability, and the timeless connection between nature and craft.
