Now that the moving part of the move is over I’m sitting here, foot kicked up on my desk (keeping it elevated) on this 12th day of November. The shop floor is covered end to end with equipment, tools, lots of full boxes, lots and lots of miscellaneous stuff -- all of which await to be unpacked, sorted, shelved and or set up. A Big job indeed!

It seems that every time I have moved the Company (4 times) it has gotten to be more and more of a job. The first move was out of my grandma’s backyard in East Oakland. It entailed the help of a friend (Alec Helner) and myself in which he and I moved the whole shop within three or so trips in the back of my 60 VW single cab pickup.

This move was much larger in scale -- 6 trips in my brother’s 18 wheel semi (that’s six 48 foot trailer loads), packed, loaded and unloaded by 7-12 hard working laborers, friends and family. There were two forklifts, two pallet jacks, 100+ pallets, lots of shrink-wrap, an equipment moving contractor… the list goes on. Needless to say it was a reality check as to how much my little company had grown in the past several years.

Regardless of the customer base, market share and momentum that the company has gained up to this point it does not seem to apply when it comes to Mother Nature. In fact she is still in charge as I am on crutches and cannot bear weight on my left heel for at least three more weeks due to a shattered calcaneus (30+ pieces) that I had sustained in mid September. Yep that’s right I am sporting 8 high-grade titanium screws and a plate down there now. I guess now we can say I’ve done ti.

During the week and a half move the hardest part for me was not being able to do a damn thing except for hobble around on crutches and direct. Lucky for me I had a real good crew to get me through it.

That said I am in the new location with no crew or assistance except for that of my very pregnant (9 months) partner Robin who is ready to give birth any day and can’t lift a whole lot right now on account of her condition.

Needless to say I’ll be hiring and training a whole new crew here in Nevada City. In the near term I will be answering the phone and email; and, doing my best to pick up were I left off before the move. As my heel heals Kelly Bike Co will resume operations at a more steadfast pace -- as good if not better than before.

In the last 18 years my goal has always been to grow and improve upon things. That’s what the move here is all about – continuing that goal.

While we are in this transition I encourage dealers to take this opportunity to give Hawley Company a chance to show you how well they can supply you with Kelly product and apparel. They are in stock and ready to serve you!

In closing, this story does have a moral. It is a simple one that we all should practice: always be extra careful to double-check the ladder you are about to climb up on.