The People of the Bike Barn

A brief family history

Doug and Peggy met at Iowa State University. Several years after they married and graduated, they moved to Ogden (Doug's home town) in 1971 to raise their three young sons in a small town.

After 38 years of marriage and not quite as many running the store with Doug, Peggy went to be with the Lord in January of 2003. We miss her greatly.

While Doug and Peggy's three boys were growing up, they helped with the business. They helped with everything from mowing lawns and construction to repairing and selling bicycles. All three graduated from Iowa State University, married, and moved on to other things, although they all still help with the bike business when they can. You can read more about Robb, Dann and Jonn later on this page.

Doug married Denise Johnson in 2009. Denise has retired from Iowa State University. Her children, Alex and Zach, worked summers at the Bike Barn when they were in school, but they have both married and started families.

A brief business history

Doug started the bike business in 1974 in buildings which had previously housed a chicken hatchery. Half of what is now the main showroom was filled with large commercial incubators. Gradually, the bike business took over that entire building. After several additions and remodelings, the business has over 3000 square feet of showroom, 600 square feet of workshop, and a warehouse and offices.

A little about Doug and about railroads

Doug is interested in Central Iowa railroad and mining history, specifically the Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railroad (FDDM&S), the Minneapolis and St.Louis (M&StL) Mudline, and the old Moingona Line of the Chicago & Northwestern (C&NW).

Doug likes to ride his bike year round and keeps a log of his weekly mileage (about 10 miles per week in the winter and 100 in spring, summer and fall.) He is mostly a recreational rider.

Doug is a Christian and is active in Bethel Church which is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

A little about Robb

Robb lives in England, with his wife Joelle, who is Swiss. They both do computer consulting work and run a business importing Alpine wines to England. We are always glad to have Robb and Joelle help us out at The Bike Barn. Robb is our T-shirt artist and computer guy while Joelle has maintained the web site and is an all-around computer whiz.

A little about Dann

Dann and Sue live in Huxley, Iowa. Their 3 boys have all flown the coop. Iann is in Syracuse, NY, Noah is in Mankato, MN, and Hudson is attending Iowa State. Dann is an Associate Director of Analytics at Simantel. Sue is an English teacher and has a lot of fun with her classes. Dann and Sue are actively involved in Cornerstone Church in Ames, and Dann maintains the web site for The Bike Barn.

A little about Jonn

Jonn and his wife Alissa live in Kearney, Nebraska, with their son Isaiah and daughter Rebecca. Jonn works as a quality control metallurgical engineer at Eaton Corporation in Kearney.