American Faces No. 115: A goodbye to summer.

Well, summer has officially come to an end. But before we bid it a complete farewell, I wanted to share my 115th American Faces story featuring Todd of Northern Cycle. Nestled wonderfully close to the heart of Minnesota lake country, Northern Cycle serves riders near the Heartland State Trail in Park Rapids as well at its other store in Bemidji, MN with Todd as business owner at both locations. 

The Park Rapids shop, in particular, offers a warm, inviting, and beautifully decorated Northwoods atmosphere. This story was photographed in Park Rapids—a place near and dear to my heart, where I grew up hunting, fishing, and taking in the great outdoors. I’ve logged many miles pedaling the Paul Bunyan Trail myself, riding all the way from Walker to Park Rapids, often with a welcomed stop at a local ice cream shop in Dorset or a quaint coffee spot in Nevis. Along the trail, I’ve crossed paths with countless folks enjoying the ride: families out for an afternoon, cyclists training for a speedy group ride, and folks comfortably cruising the area on e-bikes. 

At the very heart of bicycling is the relationship you build with your local shop. Whether you need wheels trued or the intricate mechanical operations of your trusty two-wheeled ride tuned, stepping into a local bike shop truly makes a difference in the community. You’re supporting a local shop owner, a skilled mechanic, and a hometown economy that counts on you. It might be fixing a broken chain, patching a flat tire, picking out a new bike, or investing in an e-bike—which now accounts for over 40% of the market share. The shop owner here is Todd. He brings decades of experience to running a business in an area defined by bustling lake country tourism in the summer and quiet, snowy winters. He spoke candidly about the stresses of owning a bike store, but his face lit up as he shared how much it means to see the genuine smiles on people’s faces after they pedal away on a bike they’ve bought, rented, or had repaired. That joy is what keeps him in the game. I watched his exceptional customer service shine as folks came through the door. Every single person was treated like an old friend—never looked down upon, even if all they needed was a quick pump of air for their tires. Todd was consistently courteous, welcoming, and genuinely caring. Todd is also incredibly thankful for and grateful to his dedicated, skilled staff. As he put it—"We wouldn't be able to be successful without them."

In fact, as I wrapped up my time with him, I asked what advice he would offer to the next person aspiring to own a bike shop. He put it simply: “Be honest, be friendly, and be courteous. Don’t talk down to others. Talk with them.”

So, how best to wrap this up? Perhaps by encouraging all of us, just as Todd suggested, to be honest, friendly, and courteous to one another. Oh, and go ride, buy, or fix up a bike—it just might put that classic, child-like grin back on your face!

Check out Northern Cycle's website: Northern Cycle

Photos and story by: Nielsen Studios

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American Faces No. 114: Paddlers are welcome here.

I think all of us can muster up a grand story of adventure that involves a canoe or some watercraft.  Maybe one we formed while swirling our hand in the water, or having some faded orange “life” jacket pushing into our neck as we sat slumped in a 12 ft Alumacraft boat in our younger years.  Well that was me for sure.  I guess my memories are what fueled my curiosity to connect with Clear Waters Outfitting in Clearwater ,MN.  More specifically; Sandra Meer, who now continues the legacy of the shop after her husband, Dan passed away in April of 2025.  Sandra is not a tall person by any means but her warmth, love for paddlesports and a relentless care for the customer are evident from the moment you walk in the store.  Clear Waters Outfitting is the only paddle sport specialty shop and outfitter on the banks of the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota and it is wonderfully filled with well fitting life jackets, canoes, kayaks, SUP boards, accessories and smiles that make you feel welcome.  

You can tell wisdom has been hard earned when you talk to Sandra, who with her husband established Clear Waters Outfitting in 2009 and officially started selling boats and offering river trips in 2010.  There have been many people who have been a part of the Clear Waters’ story through the years, both family and friends alike.  Growth has been well thought out, from helping anglers discover kayak fishing on a “Wild and Scenic” stretch of the Mississippi to integrating a repair shop in 2018 when NorthWest Canoe was added to the mix.  While Sandra and her team may not be a box store with price cutting discounts, they are a warm, knowledgeable, customer service driven place that loves to hear your story and likely share one of their own.

So here’s my thoughts in a nutshell.  Let Amazon be Amazon.  Shop small with someone like Sandra of Clear Waters Outfitting.  You literally help their business thrive.  You might just meet a new friend to help you with your adventurous life story.

Photos and story by: Nielsen Studios

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American Faces No. 113: The American Farmer

This might well be the quintessential American Faces story so far.  Not because of Larry K.’s face but due to the fact that he is an American Farmer who has continued to farm on the very land his family has been farming since the 1950’s.  For many years he was a dairy farmer in the St. Michael, Minnesota area.  Larry, his brother and their families raised Jersey dairy cows for milk production along with growing corn, soybeans and hay.  In the not too distant past the farm transitioned to crops and raising Angus/Holstein steers that may someday find their way to markets near you. He continues to farm a couple hundred acres of ground slowly being enveloped by housing developments all around.  Year in, year out his tractors continue to work the very ground on which  he was raised.  

The stresses of farming have always ebbed and flowed but in my ten plus years of knowing Larry I have always encountered a man who had a warm smile, a kind word for the day and a dry joke or seven to lighten the mood.  I have had the privilege of Larry’s kind and cheerful nature as we loaded trailers full of hay for the goats my wife and I keep.  Even when I haven’t seen him for a while and we greet each other with a handshake, it feels like he’s a friend I have known forever.  I think that is the true measure of a good man. 

When I asked Larry why farming means so much to him he said, “It’s what I have always done and I enjoy it”.

So as 2026 begins to move ahead, take a deep breath and remember life stresses will ebb and flow.  First, enjoy your family.  Second, smile…you and the others need it.  Third, make a difference in the world around you.  It definitely needs you.

Photos and story by: Nielsen Studios

Editing by: Cristine Nielsen

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