Bikes for Barrels – TGM’s Latest Venture?
Posted on 09. Apr, 2010 by Jordan in The Gear Movers
To get a feel for the wine before you indulge, Ranno tilts and swirls
A new direction? Well, not exactly, but definitely a new way to seal the deal. Before we get into things, lets get one thing clear – wine does it for me. I’ve put in the base miles training my palate, and the rewards being reaped are magical. Good bottles stay in my memory for weeks until I get the ‘wine guy’ at Liquor Mart to order the store a case I soon there-after splurge on with the 20% case discount. I just can’t seem to have a meal after 12 noon without the stuff. Not quite addicted to the point of AA, but an admirer of the art form. I also happen to be applying for Italian citizenship, and guess what, that’s part of the application – molto bene!!
Nick tests the value of a possible trade for some bike gear...
A new client of TGM just happens to be the owner of a vineyard. I heard this tid-bit of information through my boss’s closed office door across our warehouse to my lonesome workspace with Pandora set blasting on 80’s pop. I perked up like a 6th grader at a pool party. But at this point it was still hear-say. “What are the chances of that working out” I thought to myself. Well, this morning my skepticism was thrown under the bus. A delivery at 10:30 a.m.? You got it. I could see the alcohol sticker on the blank brown box from afar – brought me right back to my days at Boulder Wine & Spirits where I began to memorize the monthly visits of the reps with “the good stuff” for us to taste and hopefully sell. That’s right, we received our feeler, our taster if you will. Our possible client, who unfortunately will have to remain nameless, came through. Four bottles free of charge – a gesture of good faith. Now its up to us to test the waters… Obviously, we can’t trade 72 cases of wine for a road bike, but who knows, maybe the wine can be his/her form of The Gear Movement coupons, redeemable at Diesel’s desk.
Pop that thang!
Now on to what came out of the box. A 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet, a 2007 Sonoma Valley Syrah, a 2007 Montepulciano – Sonoma (I like him already, he’s importing Italian varietals!!!), and a 2005 Sonoma Valley Cabernet. Boo-yah!!!! An ‘03 Napa Cabernet?! Are you serious? This sucker is going to be a face eraser! Big & balanced forward fruit with, huge nose, lingering berry notes in the back of your tasters as she goes down – surely to flank the palate from all sides. The 2007 Syrah should be a soft, elegant, and smooth fruit sensation ready to swing dance with any savory dish thrown its way. The Montepulciano? This Tuscan gem is hopefully the dry, balanced-tannin and sophisticated fruit I’m after in my $7/bottle budget that I am all-to-often unable to find. And the 2007 Sonoma Cabernet? A possible cellar candidate (yea, if I had one)? Well, I’ll let you know when I get there. We’ll see if I can wait until Friday. Salud ”
The wine is poured by Diesel himself!
A Visit to Arrow Bicycles
Posted on 29. Dec, 2009 by Jordan in Jordan
Jordan visits Arrow Bicycles from left Jordan, Chris Militello, GiGi, Chris Davidson
Just a few days after Christmas I stopped into my favorite bike shop on the East Coast; Arrow Bicycles! Owned by the two Chris’, Davidson and Militello, this shop is the brain trust of two highly experienced veteran’s of bike shop culture. Have you ever had that one boss that drove you crazy in the shop you used to work in? Well these two did, they managed as best they could but finally looked at each other and said, “Hey we can do this better on our own.” You put a drive to create a top notch bike shop, the friendly attitude of these two men and the need for a bike shop in the up and coming neighborhood of Hyattsville, MD and you have a recipe for success!
A visit to Arrow Bicycles, we are able to catch a sneak peak of the limited edition Arrow Bicycles Custom Hockey Jerseys, modeled by Chris Militello
Chris and Chris have been in business for a little over a year and a half and while their shop is not busting at the seams, they seam to be doing just fine in a terrible economy where bike shops are dropping like flies. Their reason for success? “Its got to be their experience and bicycle savvy,” say most people. Knowing these guys for the better part of the last decade I know that is a possibility but the real reason is that the Chris’ are just fun people! In a competitive market, everyone needs to be at the top of their game, but the Chris’ go beyond that. They will help you out with whatever you need, no matter who you are, and they will do it with a smile and some love. Its the love that keeps these kinds of bike shops going in hard times. Hats off to you boys!!
Never a dull moment at Arrow Bicycles, always joking around, but here to serve your every bicycle need, no matter what the situation!
My business partner Ben Duke and myself started this business about 6 months after they started theirs and no matter what the hardships where that they encountered he still told me to follow my dream. Militello happens to be one of the few people in this world that I can trust more than anything, and he has proved himself. With a little heart and a big smile, Ben and I have created a great business that is steadily growing and growing!
Chris Davidson, Chris Militello, Gigi and that great bottle of Scotch, here is to you, you guys rock! (A glass is raised)
PS Folks, if you happen to be in the greater Washington, DC area please look these guys up, they will take care of you for all your cycling related needs!
Recent Comments