Blazin' Saddles pedals into Sisters

Relaxing in the leather cowboy couch with a cup of coffee and gazing up at the 42-inch HD TV, surrounded by rows of gleaming bicycles, one immediately senses they're not in any typical bike store.

Blazin' Saddles rolled into the Sisters sporting scene on Saturday and invited the whole town out for a sneak preview of their new cycling emporium. The official grand opening is set for Saturday, May 8, and will include door prizes, free giveaways, lots of refreshments and much more.

"This is just a soft opening, and we still have tons of stuff coming in every day," said owner Jacquie Zanck, accepting hugs and congratulations from friends and family. "We wanted to get people to come in and see the place and have some fun, feel the energy and be part of this great new enterprise."

Rudy the golden retriever greeted guests at the door and welcomed pedal-power enthusiasts of all ages. A 10-foot, custom airbrushed "Blazin' Saddles" logo, depicting a cyclist being bucked off his mountain bike, looks down on 2,800 square feet of retail space filled with cycling jerseys, logo T-shirts and hats, water bottles and a rainbow of specialty bikes from lazy beach cruisers to competition racing machines.

Zanck wants Blazin' Saddles to be the active lifestyle hub for all of Sisters.

"Come in, have a cup of Blazin' Brew from Sisters Coffee Company, meet friends before a morning ride, watch some race highlights on the big screen and make yourself at home," she said. "It's not just a bike shop, but a total spectrum outdoor center with lots of community involvement. That's very important to us - making Sisters a commuter-friendly, cycling environment. There'll be organized rides posted on our bulletin board, bike fitting workshops, guest speakers, flat-fixing demonstrations and bike skills classes. We have an excellent, experienced staff of trainers and repair technicians to service all of the area's two-wheeled needs."

Blazin' Saddles will feature the complete product lines of both Felt and Raleigh bicycles with models to fit anyone's budget. They will offer professional bike fitting and a full-service, 4-stand maintenance and repair department with wraparound counter to sit a spell and thumb through magazines and catalogs.

"This has been a dream of mine for years, and to finally see it become reality is amazing," said Zanck. "I've been an active cyclist, taught spin classes at Sisters Athletic Club and worked as a personal trainer, and this is the culmination of all those avenues and outlets. My son, Casey, played such a vital role in the business plan and his enthusiasm for its conception helped bring it to life. I am just so excited and thankful."

Casey Meudt will manage Blazin' Saddles' day-to-day operations and run the repair shop and sales floor. He's a Certified Bike Tech with a diploma from the prestigious United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, one of the most well-known bike schools in the nation.

Meudt also completed the rigorous specialized technical masters course to add to his list of credentials.

"It's exciting to finally let people come in to see what we're all about," said Meudt, tightening bolts on a new mountain bike, clad in one of the shop's signature black shirts.

"Felt will be our primary brand and brings a huge variety of steel-framed, aluminum, and exotic carbon fiber mountain and road bikes. They're based out of Southern California and are one of the fastest-growing cycling companies in the country... With the addition of the Raleigh line, we feel we have a bike for everyone, no matter what your experience or skill level."

Blazin' Saddles is located at 413 W. Hood Ave. They can be reached by phone at 541-719-1213.