We're home

Ramshorn Peak in the Absaroka Mountains in Dubois, Wyoming. This is now our backyard!

DATELINE DING'S CUSTOM CYCLE LAND-BASED SHOP, DUBOIS, WYOMING --- It's with a heavy heart but a bounty of hope that I must announce the end of Ding's Custom Cycle American tour 2012-2013. A string of bad weather and low ridership in Texas this spring, combined with a truckload of stress, burnout and health issues weighing on both of us, led to what I believe was a smart decision to land base for a stretch.

 

I'm proud to say that with the ongoing support from so many people - family, friends and customers, especially Bill and Deb Gray in Hondo - we had one hellava an adventure. We worked at 20 motorcycle rallies over the course of a year, vending in 10 states from New Hampshire to Nevada, and traveled through more than two dozen total. By my estimate, we had in excess of 200 customers who bought tires, oil, T-shirts, batteries and an obnoxious air horn, and we handed out some 1,000 business cards and dozens of cool company magnets made by the Grays. In shops, garages and on fridges nationwide, people have a Ding's memento nearby.

 

The plan underway has us working and residing at the Dubois shop (Ding currently building us a cool warehouse-style loft), planning regular visits to the Dunoir Valley rustic cabin for occasional fishing breaks, and regrouping for several months. If feasible, next year, we may consider a smaller tour schedule that would have us vending at Algona, Iowa, Sturgis, and possibly a couple in Texas and Oklahoma. We need to wait and watch with hopes that the market can bear our services and fees in the future. Right now, a lot of full-time vendors are struggling to make ends meet.   

 

I'm cooking and grilling more, which I truly enjoy (shrimp tacos with lime last night); we are reading novels like crazy, and Thumper is back in his "hood," chumming neighbors daily for ball tosses and snacks. I plan to continue blogging occasionally and we will keep the website and Facebook pages going. 

 

Anyone headed to or fro Yellowstone better stop at the shop for a cup of strong hot coffee, a view of the mountains and stories from us about life on the road and life in Dubois (pronounced due-boys instead of the more authentic French due-bwah). We can still service your ride while you wait. Also, phone numbers and email remain the same.

 

Have a peaceful summer all....

 

Love Hol, Ding and Thumper