Hi Kathy & Pat
I was in the other day and said I'd send a pic or two. We do have more from our cross-U.S. bike trip but didn't want to make you have a big
download.
Just wanted to say what a great experience taking the ride, and what a difference it made wearing your Jerseys! It got conversations going wherever we went and even got us free food, an SUV (in Sturgis) for 3 days and countless other bennies. It was a ball telling Alaskan tales to all those who inquired which were many! It was especially cool driving the bikes into the water at Hampton Beach past lots of sun-bathers, many of whom wanted out picture. And we got a free Lobster dinner out of it!  You have a fine product especially now with your new ones and we wish you lots of success with them. We did our part to promote them!

Paul and Venetia

Pat & Kathy

Okay… here’s the news from the lower 48…

I received my Alaska jersey less than five days after I ordered it.  I saw it advertised in Denali somewhere during our 19-day Alaskan vacation.

I went out on a normal training ride after work, wearing the jersey for the first time.  I forgot what I was wearing.  After four “incidents” over a 30-mile ride, I realized during the fifth incident what was happening!  Here I thought L.A. drivers were being more belligerent than normal… yelling at me, practically coming out of their cars to say stuff to me, waving at me………  It was the jersey!  I understood when the fifth incident was a guy in the passenger seat of a car, leaning out of the window and yelling, “Hey!  Go Alaska!”  The jersey definitely got noticed.

I recently went up to the Oregon Bicycle Ride tour (www.oregonbicycleride.org <http://www.oregonbicycleride.org/> ) and took my Alaska jersey along to see what kind of reaction I would get.  I noticed on the roster of 250+ participants that two of them were from Kodiak.  I wore the jersey on the first day of mostly mountain climbing to give it maximum “exposure” to the participants.  I thought, “What are the Alaskans going to say when they see this jersey???”

Well, within 10 miles of the start, a guy comes up alongside me and says, “Hey, where’d you get the jersey?”  I told him and asked if he was one of the Alaskans on the trip.  He said he’s from Bend, OR, but lives in Alaska part of the year and that he KNOWS the designer of the jersey, Kathy. Small world, eh?

After about 25 miles I had run into the Kodiaks and they had never heard of or seen the jersey, but they thought it was cool.  I told them of your website.  So if a Dan and Kim from Kodiak order jerseys, you’ll know where they saw it for the first time… on some back road, climbing a mountain, in Oregon, being worn by a Southern Californian.

Then there were the jealous ex-Alaskans on the tour. At first they got under my skin… then I made it a game to see how jealous I could really make them.  This couple moved from Alaska nearly 15 years ago, and now call Bend, OR, their home.  They said, “You aren’t from Alaska, so why are you wearing an Alaska jersey?”  I told them of my recent long vacation there and that I liked the jersey.  They weren’t impressed.  A couple of days later they saw me in the chow line wearing my Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival t-shirt.  They called me the “Fake Alaskan”!!!  After that I made sure I ran into them when I wore my Ketchikan, Juneau, Hoonah, and Denali t-shirts!  HA HA HA!

Here I am, in my jersey, eating a specialty concoction of the rest stops… saltine, salt side down, a dollop of peanut butter, topped off with a cucumber pickle chip.
Dennis M
Tujunga, CA

Kathy
A photo of me in Douglas County Colorado (Pike's Peak in the background) during last month's Elephant Rock Century.

I work in Anchorage 3-4 times a year. We proudly display some of the artwork that I purchased at your shop in our home in Parker CO.

Keep it up!
Terry C

Hey,

Just wanted to let you know that the jerseys are awsome!! My friend Chaun
and I were born and raised in alaska and recently moved to colorado to
finish school and compete in bicycle and triathlon events...I was curious
if you have ever considered making some yellow and blue AK bike short to
match your jerseys?? I would deffinately buy some! Well I just wanted to
let you know that the jerseys rock!

Brett T

Hi Kathy,
I just wanted to let you know that my husband LOVED the jersey - and he tried to check out your hubby's bike shop page, too.  :-)

Thank you!
Ramee

Dear Kathy Sarns,
I wanted to take the time to thank you and your husband Pat for the Alaska jersey.
I placed my order on Sunday night and it arrived just in time Friday to ride with me on the annual Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle Classic. On route I was paid may compliments on the jersey, each offering a new conversation about its origin. I got the pleasure of meeting a father-son duo from Juneau, a young gentlemen from Anchorage, and a score of others with their own stories of Alaskan travel and experiences. I was even granted the opportunity to hear the history of the golden staircase depicted in your design.

Dear Kathy,
I recently purchased your bike jersey and so did my friend, Steve. The first time we wore them was on a week-long bike tour in southwest Utah. The jerseys fit well, are well made, and are very comfortable. I have attached a picture of the two of us in our jerseys in Utah. I just wanted to share this with you. Thanks for the great design!
Alice T.

thank you kathy!
got it yesterday! was delighted and it fit! wore it around palmer and wasilla and everyone wanted to know where i got it...am turning around to show them your web site...lot of people want one! this is great advertising for you and the shirts are so cool! great quality! love the material...
ty so much!
kc

Kathy,
I had ordered an Alaska cycling jersey from you and just wanted to tell you how much I like it. We had lived in Anchorage for 3 years while my wife was working at the Alaska Native Medical Center. I must admit that I am able to do much more riding now that we live in Arizona than when we were in Anchorage . . . but I am proud to wear this jersey while I am out on the bike!!!
Thanks,
Paul W.

News from the top of the Eiffel Tower...
I have received your jersey TODAY (so quick!!!), it looks great and I'll be making some heads turn in the forêt de Marly le Roi ; as a matter of fact if you're ever in the area you'll spot me from far away. Thanks again and keep us posted on your new designs,
Best regards and Happy Holidays,
Oliver

Hi Kathy and Pat
The jerseys landed yesterday they look fantastic. My brother in law was delighted with his. They will get their first outing at the weekend.
Regards Terry O

Pat and Kathy,
Don't we look great in our jerseys? We'll send something to the masses when the official results are on the web site.

The Sisters High Cascades Off Road Triathlon, an Xterra points series race, was changed to a duathlon due to the fires in the area (burned up the original race course). Wide spread confusion and a hastily marked alternative course was definitely a factor in this race. We got our points anyway!

This competition drew many elite Xterra competitors. The Alaskan delegation of Rick Rogers, Peter Giannini and Janus Nauman Reyes raced admirably, conquering the conversion from sea level to 5500 ft elevation. The Alaskans sported stylish team Alaska Jerseys designed by renowned Alaskan artist (and athlete) Kathy Sarns and available exclusively at Pat's Bikes.

The grueling 5500 ft elevation course consisted of a 5k run, a 13.5 mile bike and a 5k run. After a quick 5 k run, participants jumped on their bikes and hit the old logging road uphill to the single track where they encountered loose sand, boulders and dead trees. There were 3 mandatory dismounts on the course, 2 where the bike went over, one where participants slid the bike under the fallen trees. If you survived that, there was a several mile sand trap followed by a grueling uphill in loose cinder. After conquering the bike, participants changed back into running shoes for an uphill romp through weeds and bushes and a short down hill to the finish.
Dan & Janis