07/17/2026
Hey, sports fans! It's been over a couple of days since I have made a post, so I thought I would write about who I am and what I do here.
But before I go historic on you all, Sven's is still open 9 A. M. to 5 P.M. Monday through Friday, Saturday officially 9 to 3, (but I often stay open to 5. Sundae, I have been in more than I haven't, but I recommend that you call (406-563-7988) just to make sure I'm here. Recently, I caught a RUMOR that I had closed, I think that may be due to the big sign on the corner was reinstalled near the top of the building. Harder to notice it UP THERE. I am hoping to restore it to it's original location so you know I'm still here. Might need some help on this.
So, back to the races...
Some of you know I have been at this job for a while. I first took up road bike racing in 1975. Didn't get many races back then, as there weren't many races, or racers, in Montana at the time.
My first bike shop job was in 1976 in Whitefish for the summer. Mostly assembled new bikes and minor repair work.
I served in the Air Force from 1978 to 1982. My main assignment was in Ramstein, Germany. There I learned what real b**r was, and I rode my brains out while stationed there. Few places compare to Europe for the quality of bike riding, miss that to this day. Color me spoiled.
After the service, I returned to Whitefish, were I had a small business as a commercial artist and sign maker. I also started repairing bikes for neighbors and friends. by 1985, the bike shop I was buying my "supplies" from, Glacier Cyclery, offered me a job as a mechanic. I worked for Ron and Jan Brunk from 1985 to 1991. Mountain bikes were just getting going back then, it was interesting being in on this sport so close to its beginning. I assembled WAY LOTS of new bikes, and a pretty heavy repair load as well.
I also started a Monday night mountain bike ride in the surrounding hills, which grew from 6 riders it's first year, to several groups and around 75 (or more?) by 1991.
In 1992, feeling my oats, I started my own bike shop in Whitefish, Timberwolf Bicycle Company. I shared the location with Snowfrog Ski Rentals, a partnership which worked very well, as I could work for them in my off-season, and as my business got bigger, I kept some Snowfrog employees on my payroll for the summer.
In the fall of 1995, I felt the urge to relocate. I had a pretty good idea on what the future of Whitefish was going to be, and it wasn't to my liking. So,
in 1996, I moved myself and my business to Anaconda. I chose to name the shop Sven's Bicycles of Anaconda, (they shoot wolves around here, don't they?) I originally was located at 220 Hickory Street, having converted the main floor of the house into a bike shop. I also rented cross country skiis and ice skates there. But due to an incredibly expensive overhead and business downturn, I reluctantly sold the building in 2007. I have been in my present location since December 2009. Love the location, but it's a small space which I describe as rather "intimate".
So YES, I still sell bikes, but by special order, from Kona and Jamis, with occasional bikes from other makers. Repairs are my life's blood, and I LIKE to work on older bikes, even wally-world wonderbikes. My greatest weakness, as a wrench, is the incessant arms race of parts and bike evolution making technical skills upgrades constant and necessary.
And as long as I am at it, I will keep renting ice skates, (some winter required) and tuning skiis and snowboards, (winter required here, too.)
Thanks for supporting my little endeavor, Sven's Bicycles of Anaconda, for all these years! Drop me a line, or just stop on by, for service or shooting the breeze,
Pete Kurtz, I am the Sven at Sven's.
