Ask about his bike shops name, and Ben Alexander offers up a history lesson.
Kansas, the state, was named after the Kansas River, which derived its name from the Kanza Indian tribe. Kanza translates to people of the south wind.
Plus, its a key geographic feature here, where the wind blows out of the south at 20 mph 300 days out of the year, Alexander joked.
Its also why when area Extension Districts merged, they aptly renamed themselves the Southwind Extension District. The running and biking trail from Iola to Humboldt followed suit, becoming the Southwind Rail Trail.
So it was only natural that when Alexander took over the Velo+ bike shop he would localize the name with Southwind Cycle and Outdoors. Alexander took over the bike shop at 17 E. Madison Ave. at the end of August.
Its going very well, he said Tuesday. I have a lot of new bikes to build, plus a whole lot of waiting for repairs.
As the name suggests, Alexander offers more than two-wheeled merchandise. Hes adding camping, disc golf and paddle sport merchandise, including newly made canoes and kayaking, plus some clothing and locally produced stuff.
Just as importantly, Southwind Cycle will continue to sell Messenger Coffee, the premium blended and single-roasted coffee introduced in Iola by the Velo+ owners. Its a unique product, Alexander said. Customers are invited to stop by his shop on the south side of the downtown square, grab a cup of coffee, and sit around and talk about the trails, how their latest rides are going, what they planned, or just to give me an update on how long they rode yesterday.
Thats really a key part of the Velo brand I liked the community building, he continued. Thats really how I got to know them.
Alexander is an avid cyclist, beginning as a youth in Kansas City.
I rode all over Overland Park, and Shawnee and Kansas City, Mo., he said. As soon as I got my first bike shop-quality bicycle, I rode all over the place.
He raced bicycles while in high school, and even formed Freewheels For Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to getting more bicycles to youngsters.
He eventually moved with wife Sofie to Iola, where he worked at Thrive Allen County. Sophie is office manager for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.
They really started something good, Alexander said of the Kansas City operation. I see a lot of people riding around town on well-maintained bikes. Now I get to help people enjoy bicycling all day long.
IN ADDITION to the outdoors merchandise, Alexander is increasing the bicycle stock.
One of the differences people will notice is Im bringing in a lot more entry level bikes, at a substantially lower cost than the high-end models he also sells. Such cycles are still a huge step up in quality than what one will find in chain box stores, he noted. Theyre more expensive, but theyll also last, he said. And you can bring them in, where its free for me to fix because you bought it here.
