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RANDY: My name is Randy Martin. I’m the owner of Continental Bike Shop in Hazel Park, Michigan. Some people call me the Bicycle Doctor. I’ve been doing this for thirty-five years, and I’ll continue to do it as long as I can. I graduated school a certified auto mechanic.

However, I found bikes in the middle of high school, my first job. And I just fell in love with it. The Bicycle Doctor started back in 1989, as I got this crazy idea to do house calls, basically work on your bike in your driveway. So I just winged it, sold everything I owned, got the van, redid it to look like an ambulance. I did scrubs, even carried a stethoscope with me sometimes. People still remember me to this day.

So I’m in the market for a new vehicle. I have a gentleman named Robb coming by from Ram, so I’m really excited to see what has to offer.

ROBB: Hi, I’m Robb Burns from Ram Design Studio. Today we’re here at Continental Bike Shop to talk to Randy , and we’re here to pick his brain a little bit and see if we can help him out.

Now you kind of support a lot of charitable events. You go to a lot of these races and that. Can you talk about that?

RANDY: Yeah, the charity events. We volunteer our time for the American Diabetes Association, the MS Society’s bike ride, Make a Wish Foundation bike ride. So we’re out there doing anything mechanical on the events.

ROBB: You’re volunteering your time, so I imagine the upkeep on the van you’re using right now is kind of tough.

RANDY: Yeah, you know, you’re paying for the gas, the upkeep.

ROBB: I mean, it’s an older van. It’s what, how many years old, 8-9 years old?

RANDY: It’s nine years old now. 270,000 miles.

ROBB: Wow. Look at this old beast. This one stick a little bit?

RANDY: That one sticks a little bit. Gotta pull hard.

During the day I’ve got product in here for retail sales. I was really after the full-sized door. I wanted to convert that so it tilted up, so I had a shield in the rain.

ROBB: How would you upfit a new vehicle for these mobile events?

RANDY: Any part on a bike has to come, because you’ve gotta to be prepared for anything.

ROBB: Is size a concern?

RANDY: I think with the product I take on the tours and the house calls, I can downsize pretty well. Minivan size, something of that nature, just as I long as I can still tweak it to what I want to do.

ROBB: Well, Randy, thanks. I really appreciate it. And please thank your guys for me, too. I know we took a bit of time today, but Ram Trucks really appreciates it. And if I can, could I stop back in a couple days? I think I might have something you’ll like, and I’d like you to take a look at it.

RANDY: Sounds interesting.

ROBB: Alright. Take care, sir. See you in a couple days, then.

RANDY: Thank you. Alright, Robb.

ROBB: So yesterday we had a great conversation with Randy , kinda picking his brain on his wants and needs for the perfect commercial vehicle. Today, we’re talking about Ram Trucks’ latest vehicle, which is designed with the small business owner in mind, like Randy. It has the power and versatility needed to suit any job. And here it is: the Ram C/V.

First things first: Power. 3.6-liter, 283-horsepower, Pentastar V6 engine. Security panels up top. Ram C/V also has dual sliding doors with an aluminum flat-load floor, which is pretty cool. Ram C/V also gets an EPA-estimated 25 highway miles per gallon. Alright. 144 cubic feet of space, 1800-pound payload capacity, and 3600-pound towing capacity, which, quite honestly, I think, is plenty for Randy.

And I think it’s time we close it up, and let our guys get to work. Because we’ve got a nice surprise for Randy in the morning.

JOE: Robb.

ROBB: Joe, good to see you.

JOE: I’m glad you called. We’re excited to hear what Randy needs for his new van, and make it a little more equipped for his needs. The guys are working hard. We’re putting in shelving units for him, bike racks, extra storage space.

The safety wall’s in. The boys are off to a really good start.

ROBB: Nice. So do you think your guys are going to have this ready by today?

JOE Absolutely. Yeah, Randy’s going to be in for a really good surprise.

ROBB: (on phone) Randy, buddy. How you doin’? It’s Robb Burns. Hey, you got a minute? Could you come out back? I’ve got something really cool to show you. Alright, I’ll see you in a minute.

Eh?

RANDY: That’s sharp.

ROBB: Bet you didn’t see this comin’.

RANDY: Didn’t see this comin’.

ROBB: What do you think?

RANDY: Awesome.

ROBB: Did we get your logo right, here? Want to take a look inside?

RANDY: Yeah, let’s take a look.

ROBB: First thing you’ll notice is the aluminum flat-load floor. It’s great for getting in and out. Security panels so you don’t get bumped in the head in those emergency breaking situations. The metal locking bins and everything. Stainless steel built-in boxes. Back there you’ve got the smaller containers that can probably hold your derailers, your gear sets.

Pop it. See what we’ve got inside. One thing you’re going to notice, too, is the back-up camera. It’s our ParkView camera. So, I know you said you had a problem backing up. You’re always using your side mirrors. So hopefully that might help out a little bit.

RANDY: Give a little depth perception.

ROBB: There’s an 1800-pound payload capacity in here. You can pretty much upfit it anyway you want.

RANDY: We have a canopy now.

ROBB: Yeah, we talked about that. We talked about issues with the rain getting on you. This might help a little bit.

Okay, Let’s take a look and see what we’ve got. first thing’s first, redesigned instrument panel. This is our new UConnect system. Down here, we have our Economy Mode for freeway driving. Hopefully we can get you a little more miles per gallon on the freeway. What do you say we take it for a spin?

RANDY: Sounds great.

ROBB: So, what did you think?

RANDY: Rides very well.

ROBB: Nice. Well you know what we’re missing? Some of your gear. So why don’t we load it up and let you continue this test drive for a few more days. What do you think?

RANDY: That would be awesome.

ROBB: Randy: , sir. Thanks for everything. I really appreciate it. I have some parting gifts. Got a few things for you. I have some wonderful Bike Doctor Continental Bike Shop water bottles. Of course a bike shop isn’t a bike shop without—

RANDY: Bike jersey.

ROBB: Now you can’t call yourself a Bike Doctor without some proper scrubs. Here you go.

RANDY: Thanks

ROBB: And, finally, for your new van. It’s not an ambulance without a light.

RANDY: Very cool.

ROBB: Not bad, eh?

RANDY: Nice finishing touch. Thank you very much.

ROBB: Thank you, sir. Why don’t we go back inside and we can talk about a bike for myself.

RANDY: Sounds good.

All the charity rides we do—it’s giving back to the community. My van takes me to my customers, it’s a billboard for my business. The Bike Doctor, without the van, doesn’t exist.