Hello Pat,
I am the guy from Tennessee that you met at the Anchorage Farmers Market June of 2006.  On June 30, 2007 I reached the Pacific at Florence Oregon after riding 1800 miles from Pueblo on the last leg of my 4200 ride across America.

As you  might recall, completion of the ride was interrupted with a diagnosis of cancer.  The cancer is currently in remission.  God is faithful and faithful in detail.
I told everyone I met that would listen my story.  It was a perfect ride after even getting caught in a blizzard in Wyoming.

Attached are pictures with the two jerseys I bought from you.  They are my favorite and generate a lot of interest.

It is 102 today in Tennessee and we have yet to have a high below 94 for the month of August.  Oh how nice it must be in  Alaska!

Ed

Wearing my jersey after a 3000 foot climb in the Wasatch Mountains,
Utah.

D.G.

Hi,
Just wanted to say that I received my order today and love it!
I am 6'-5" and 210.  I have a lot of trouble buying jerseys that fit.  They are usually too short unless I buy a tall size which is real hard to find.  Yours fits great!
Thank you, Kevin

Meeting your husband in the Downtown Bike Rental Store and you at the market is one of favorite stories of our Alaska Summer Vacation.  Right up there with seeing whales which is my daughters passion.  Both my mom in Wisconsin and AJ and myself in Texas have gotten a lot of nice comments about the jerseys.  We now just respond that it was a long ride to get here.  We were able to be together again in Wisconsin a couple of weeks ago.  Here are some photos if you chose to use any.  We keep looking at the gold rush wind jacket but then we want to come back next summer and maybe you will have more designs.  Thanks so much for the fun that you have provided. Carrie

Hello!  We recently bought two Alaska jerseys from your company...they are beautiful!  Anyway, last weekend we rode in the MS 150 Bike Tour in Michigan.  We had so many wonderful comments on our jerseys.  We just wanted to thank you for your services.
I have attached a few pics of our ride.
Sincerely,
Cherie & Carla

Sam, Nik and their dad, Leon Unruh, of Eagle River recently completed an
eight-day, 500-mile cycling trip called Biking Across Kansas. More than
800 riders started at the Colorado state line and finished by dipping
their wheels in the Missouri River in northeastern Kansas. This was the
first BAK for Sam, 11, and Nik, 9, who met their goal of riding every
mile. The Alaska jerseys were a real hit and big attention getter all across the
state.

the Unruh family

Kathy: I have three of your jerseys...

Alaska w/fireweed
Alaska w/howling wolf silhouetted
Oregon w/Mt Hood

Whenever I wear any of the three...I always get compliments and "Where can I get one of those?" Keep up the good artwork!!!

RC

Hello,

Last year my wife and I each ordered an ALASKA Gold Rush jersey to wear when
we skated the Northshore Inline Marathon in Duluth, Mn ( largest inline
event in North America)
Could not believe how many people asked us about them. We lived in Alaska
for 23 years and miss it terribly. We skate 10 to 12 marathons during the
summer and plan to wear our Alaska Jersey's at each one this year.
Thanks for making a great jersey that is not just for biking.

Glenn

I am, also, a cyclist and when I was in Anchorage last summer, I wanted to buy something really special to remember the trip.  And there you were at the Anchorage open air market!!!  One look at the jerseys & I was a goner!  They are just beautiful!!  So, now I wear my jersey in Los Angeles & get tons of comments while out on my rides.  I think your jerseys are really the best looking I've come across and buying it was the best  souvenier I could possibly have & the most useful.  I would like to buy a California jersery soon, but I'm torn etween California & Washington....which is were I'm from originally.  We'll see.  Thanks again......kathy from L.A.

Kathy:

Thanks for getting back to me. Welcome to winter! We've had nearly 8 inches of snow and the temperature hit -2 last night here in Delta. The wind jacket took a little getting use to with the left hand zipper. 56 years as a righty is hard to overcome. Other than that, the jacket is an awesome performer during my training runs. It gets rid of moisture very well and the bright colored design makes me visible to the vehicular traffic out on the Richardson highway. I've used the jacket with and without the sleeves. Same great performance either way. Thanks again for the excellent customer support.

Bob

Pat

In October, the doctor told me that I was in a complete remission from the lymphoma and that the remission could last only a few months or could be several years.  I  going to take each day and make it the best!
To celebrate my 59 th birthday, I rode my bike 59 miles proudly wearing the Wolf Jersey.   It was a beautiful ride with the  fall colors at their peak even though dogs caused me to crash at mile 57.  I finished later to find I had a broken shoulder, extensive brusing and 5 stitches in my face.  Still it is great to be alive!!!  I will not complain.  Just as soon as I get healed up, I plan to dawn the wolf socks I ordered, get the jersey on and do the ride again (not the crash).   If I do not get to come back to Alaska next summer, I hope to complete my ride across America.  I have the Pubelo, Co. to Flourence, Or. segement left.

ED

Kathy

Just wanted to thank you, the jersey is better than the pictures.  Sorry I missed you at the market.  Thanks again for the very fast shipping and also the magnet it is on the fridge     Thanks again   Galen

I lived in Alaska for almost 40 years before moving down here about a year and a half ago, and I still travel up there three or four times a year on work related issues and to visit my many  friends. Your jerseys and jackets make me feel right at home when I'm cycliing down here, which is most of the time. They get quite a bit of comment. I'm attaching a picture of me and a friend on a cycling tour in northwesten New Mexico this summer for your collection.

Thanks again,
Frank

Hi,

In 2005 Marion and I, we compete the Fireweed. We stay for two weeks in Anchorage. We married in Anchorage two days before the Fireweed race.
The Fireweed and the Wolf Jerseys are so pretty, we took both back to Germany. This year we did the Transalp Challange in week 26. A bicycle race through the Alps. Seven stages, 850km (prox. 530 miles) and 21000 m to climb. Our team name was Fireweed. Here some pictures, maybe for your webside. At every place we ride with these jerseys, the people told us how nice they are.

Maybe you could use these pictures for your webside.
With best regards
Martin (Germany)

Hello

Of course being the only person in Philadelphia with your jersey and jacket has been really fun. I get lots of comments.
My friend loves the wolf jersey. I will get him the socks when they come on the web site.
PAC TOUR will be back in Alaska in 2008. They will be running two tours- one before the Fireweed and one after.
I am sure you will have a run on jackets again.
Thanks.
It was great to meet you. Hope to return to Alaska in 2008.
Thanks for all you do!
Anne

Kathy,  

I bought one of your Oregon riding jerseys at REI 10 days ago.  I've worn it 4 times in the last 9 days.  

Jerseys often make some kind of a weird or unpleasant statement, but yours are pleasant and beautiful.  We like the bright yellow on top, it's not realistic, but adds a nice touch of safety.  Adding your web site was a great idea.

This jersey ends my nearly 20 years quest for a decent looking jersey, and from discusions I've had with other riders, it will also end their quest.   Amongst the bikers I know there is a huge demand for decent looking jerseys.  The biking world has been looking for you for a long, long time.  Keep up the great work.

None bikers are also liking it.

You are probably already working on this, but how about a jersey for all 50 states, all the national parks...

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
John P

Guys,
There are two good looking things in the attached picture as described:
 
1) (daughter) Ellery without a question is #1
2) Oregon Jersey is #2
 
The rest is ugly!
 
The jersey fits perfectly, very comfortable - good job.
 
I rode with George Hincapie today - nice ride.
Pratt

Hello

I came to your house last week and purchases two shirts and a windbreaker.
I want to Thank You for letting me do that. My husband and my 13 year old
grandson absolutely love their shirts. The windbreaker is for me as I
already purchased a shirt from you last fall. They are wonderful.
Something different from the ordinary bicycle shirts you see in the stores
here in the Puget Sound area.

As soon as I can, I will send you a photo of us in your shirts.

Take care,

Gayle D

Hello

Just got back from Ride the Rockies, where I wore my new Washington jersey two of the six days.  Not only did it help me meet a few folks as a good conversation starter ("You must be from Washington?"), but I received many compliments on the design, as well.  My compliments to you for a fine piece of cycling wear.
 
Jim E.
Olympia, WA

Hello

My son and daughter-in-law who live in Eagle River gave me one of your "Alaska" jerseys for Christmas last year after hearing me talk about it for about a year.  I put it aside and saved it for a special occasion.  The opportunity to display the colors came when I rode in the BP MS 150 Bike Tour in April 2006 - 180 miles from Houston, TX to Austin, TX in two days.  I rode with a first year team made up of about 15 of my fellow employees from the Texas General Land Office, a state land management agency.  I had never ridden more than a 50 miler and some of my teammates had not been that far, but we all made it in on top of our bikes.  One of our teammates even pulled his 40# Lab in a trailer!  

The enclosed pix were taken at the last rest stop and I think you can see the relief on my face.  Believe it not, I met and spoke with another rider wearing the same model of your jersey - his brother lives in Anchorage.  I plan to ride in the July 2006 Ride for Life and may fly your colors again, but will be one among many that day, I'm sure.  Look forward to the next offering.  They are great.
Bob M

Kathy,
I was a bit surprised to receive my jersey yesterday, since I ordered it only late last week.  It fits well, and looks better in person than on the website.  I plan to wear it on my ride tomorrow, and my very first triathlon this weekend.
I hope business is booming for you.

Thanks,
Fred
Cincinnati, OH

Hi Kathy & Pat
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

A letter from Vermont forwarded to us from our friend Pete...

I wore the Alaska wolf shirt from your friend Kathy Sarns yesterday and some
of the females in the office were purring, "ooooooooooohhhhhhh
niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice shirt." And there I always thought I needed a puppy to
get some action!

John J C

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.

Pat,
just saw copies of the new jersey--they look super cool.
John Stamstad/Singletrack Ranch

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