Surly Bikes
Name: Alexis Pennie
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Who do you think you are anyway?
I am a life-long bike enthusiast and active in a number of Minneapolis organizations seeking to improve the twin cities community. I currently volunteer at my local bike shop, Camden Cycles Bicycle Shop, providing mechanical ride support and educational bicycle knowledge. Additionally, I serve on various advisory boards such as the North Minneapolis Bicycle Advocacy Council, Northside Greenway Now!, and Break The Cycle Minnesota.
How did you get into bikes?
When working at Venture North Bike Walk and Coffee a friend donated a steel Bianchi frame to me to build up into a complete bike and I never looked at biking the same. Bikes are not only a means of transportation but an expression of yourself and your values. I participated in and lead a plenary session at an Active-Transportation Conference in Vancouver, Canada and that experience helped solidify my belief that we could create the type of public infrastructure needed to support safe and livable communities. Moreover, I have elected to live in a city and not own a motor-vehicle, so bicycles and cycling have proved to be paramount in my life.
Tell us about your Surly(s).
I have owned a variety of Surly bikes including the Surly Straggler, Krampus, Midnight Special, Bridge Club, and Big Easy. Most recently, a friend suggested that I try out the Surly Skid Loader and after giving it a try I was absolutely hooked. Like my Surly Big Easy, the Surly Skid Loader provided me with an electric cargo bike capable of hauling all my gear across the city, as well as assisting with grocery store runs and light bikepacking tours. This bike continues to allow me the freedom I need to live in the world without a motor-vehicle and accomplish the things I want to get done.
Favorite bike-related memory?
One of my favorite bike related memories was when my friend (that I mentioned earlier) and I took a train to Big Lake, MN and biked to St. Cloud, MN and then biked home the following day to Minneapolis, MN from St. Cloud. It was so memorable not only because of the people we met and the beauty in nature that we saw, but also because it allowed us the freedom to make mistakes, get caught in the rain, pitch a tent in the middle of the night, and have a lot of fun with it all.
If you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If I could ride anywhere in the world, I would take the opportunity to ride the Buenos Aires’ Bikes Paths and take a bikepacking trip from Buenos Aires to Patagonia in Argentina.
Where can people follow along with you?
Connect with me at the following IG Handle: @alexis.pennie