Sorenson Bike Shop

Lawrence Sorenson shows us around the he bike shop. He's a repair specialist and an Evel Knievel aficionado, so get ready to see some groovy work.

"I’ve got pallets and pallets of stuff back there." he says, "like all the New Old Stock hubs, spokes, just things. If somebody ever had a shop and had the stuff they might have four hubs in stock and that would have been really and truly a big deal – no reason to have more than that – where we’ll have hundreds of them. Gas tanks? I’ve probably got five or six hundred."

How does a fellow come across so many varied bike parts? Mr. Sorenson says, "The AMF factory was right over here on 65th Street which is only four or five miles from here. Continuously we got all the factory returns, all the B-grade bikes. When they closed AMF in the early Eighties, the last deal we got was seven tractor-trailer loads. That was all the plastic that went with these. I’ve got cases and cases. Even these blue shelves are from the plant itself."

He puts his motherlode to good use, helping recondition Evel Knievel bicycles for himself and others. "Average person from the 80’s would have thrown that stuff out when it had no value. We saved it. It’s unreal. If I ever find a frame I can make it look like it just rolled off the assembly line
Because I’ve got the fork bearings, the crank bearings, every nut, bolt, washer.These are 100% the way they came off the assembly line."

Being amongst the towering inventory can be intimating, but Mr. Sorenson has it all cataloged in his head. "As clustered as it looks I know where every single thing is. My wife will be looking for something and I’ll be on the road with the Concessions." Sorenson works the traveling festival circuit serving up corn dogs and funnel cakes. He continues, "She'll call and ask where a certain pedal is, or a gasket, and I can guide her to it over the phone. She'll ask, How did you know that? And I'll say, Because I put it there. Might have been thirty years ago, but I put it there."

Mr. Sorenson points out some of his favorite items. "Front ’76 Evel Knievel decals, bundles of number plate decals. Some people would love to have just one, and I’ve got hundreds."

Some might call it collecting, others might describe it as hoarding. Either way, he has a plan. "I’ve got two boys and I always say, Daddy won’t leave you no money, but I’ll leave you stuff.”

He enjoys getting to know his customers and following through on their projects. "It’s just so interesting the different stories I’ve got
Through helping people with these bicycles. There was a – well, he’s an older guy now just like all of us but – his grandfather had a slip right across the canal from where Evel Knievel had his yachts parked. Lo and behold, this guy had some cute aunts in their early 20’s. Evel spent lots of time over at his grandpa’s house. His grandpa passed away a few years ago. He went down there and was helping his grandmother take the shed down
and realized his bicycle was still there. He never dreamt he could find the parts for it. He said, 'The wheels are horrible.' I said, 'Send me those wheels. They’re not as bad as you think.' It probably looks like this, all rusted.A lot of people nicknamed me the Rim God or the Wheel God.
“God” is a little strong because there’s only one of them. I take it as a compliment anyway. I made them look like new, put all new spokes and hubs, then sent them back to him, along with a number plate and crossbar pads. He was so delighted that the bike wasn’t gone. He figured it was gone years ago but now especially, because Evel Knievel physically gave him that bike." He says, "I get more pleasure out of doing for others."