Iced coffee served on three wheels

We will start this story with a riddle. 

What has three wheels, an umbrella, and weighs close to 300 pounds?  

That would in fact be the First Gear Grinds coffee-on-wheels bike business. 

It is run by Parker and Payton Sproule. Parker, 18, is heading to McMaster University in the fall to take business, while Payton, 21, will be going into her senior year of Psychology at the University of Central Arkansas on a Beach Volleyball scholarship. 

Parker says First Year Grinds got its start three summers ago after hearing from his dad about the old Dickie-Dee bikes that went around and sold ice cream treats. 

"I figured we could kind of tap into that market and reach a different audience, kind of follow that same generation as they grow up so I figured I could do coffee on wheels instead of ice cream so that was kind of what I was going for," explained Parker. 

But getting around town to various locations and events on the coffee-heavy trike can be tough. 

"There are lots of inclines so it can get really heavy," said Parker, a Chippewa S.S. graduate.  

He says a provincial funding helped them get their business wheels peddling. 

"I have not had many challenges legally I started with a summer company program from Ontario so they helped me out with my cash flow, all my planning that went into it," said Parker.  

"It was a really great experience so I think the more challenges came from personal challenges and I definitely grew more as a person than I grew the business for sure."

The iced coffee-making duo split their shifts with both working together on Wednesdays and Saturdays for the Farmer's Market. Parker then takes Tuesdays and Thursdays on his own while Payton fills in shifts on Mondays and Fridays.  

The Sproule's also use local iced coffee for their trike too as they utilize Twigg's cold brew coffee with their own unique twist. 

"We have a nitro infuser that we had shipped from California implanted inside the bike," said Payton, a Widdifield S.S. graduate. 

"So what that does is the nitro-infused coffee cuts the bitterness and makes it a lot smoother and creamier so that is our most popular."

Payton believes teamwork makes the dream work. 

"It is all weather dependent. We all bike together, we just help each other out as best as we can," she said. 

"I think we have grown closer working together. We have always been close but we have definitely grown closer."

"We are best friends," said Parker about his sister and business partner.  

"We do everything together."  

Payton says the feedback on the business has been great, especially from southern Ontario visitors.  

"A lot of people from Toronto, when they come back here they get super excited to have our cold brew because they don't have anything like this in Toronto so it is nice to see people from out of town get excited, come back and know what they want because they know the menu," said Payton.