April 2009 - Spokes Magazine

Serving Cyclists in the Mid-Atlantic States APRIL 2009
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C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
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ON
COVER
THE
The bicycle plays a key role in Jeff Yeager, aka
"The Ultimate Cheapskate's" life of living frugally.
Photo Neil Sandler
page 8
GETTING HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT, I opened
the front door and yelled for my son Nathan to grab
his scouting stuff and get in the car. If we didn’t
hustle, we were going to be late for the Cub Scout
meeting at the fire hall a mile and a half from
our house.
As I drove us to his meeting, I could see two bicyclists
riding side by side in our lane a block or so ahead.
Two folks out for a post work ride, I immediately
thought. Wrong. As we approached and passed them,
I saw they were scouts heading to the same meeting.
Immediately, guilt overwhelmed me. Less than an
hour earlier, I’d just finished writing this month’s
cover story, in which local cheapskate Jeff Yeager
talked about importance of doing errands less than
two miles in length on your bike. In an attempt to
make myself feel better, I reasoned that it was going to
be dark by the time tonight’s scout meeting was over.
BS, Neil. BS. I knew better.
We own plenty of the finest, brightest most obnoxious
lights ever invented for use on bicycles.
Okay, I consoled myself, next meeting I’d be better
prepared. The tandem would be ready to go before I
headed into the office that day, and even if time was
tight, it only takes ten minutes at most to cover that
mile and a half by bike.
I learned a lot by interviewing the subject for this
month’s cover story. I learned not to be envious every
time I see someone driving a Prius. I keep my car
in tune and it’s paid for. I don’t need a Prius to be
green. Jeff Yeager also told me about how so many
Americans are using today’s “green” movement as just
another opportunity “to buy more stuff they don’t
need.” The best way to be green is to stop
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buying stuff. There is a huge difference between need
and want. He urges everyone to postpone urges to
buy “wants” and see if they are really that important.
Eighty percent of those who make discretionary
purchases regret those purchases within a year.
Yeager also noted that despite the row upon row of
new “green” household cleaning products lining the
shelves of our grocery stores, the best green cleaners
remain cheap and plentiful old baking soda and
vinegar, like our grandparents used.
The next thing I hope to undertake as a family
project is Yeager’s “Fiscal Fast.” I’ve tried day-long
food fasts and I like the idea every now and then.
It makes you think a lot about how and what you
eat and why you eat it. But Yeager’s “Fiscal Fast,”
which you can learn more about in our story on the
Ultimate Cheapskate, is something I’m going to have
to approach my wife with very gingerly. Spend no
money for a whole week! Right, nice try Neil. I’ll keep
you abreast of my efforts.
Until then, get out there and do your thing for the
planet and yourself and ride the most efficient and
cost-effective form of transportation ever invented!
Happy trails,
Neil Sandler
Editor & Publisher
Touring • Racing • Off-Road
Recreation • Triathlon • Commuting
SPOKES is published monthly eight times a year — monthly March
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throughout Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and parts
of Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia.
Circulation: 30,000. Copyright© 2008 SPOKES.
All rights reserved. No reprinting without the publisher’s written permission.
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APRIL 2009
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1600 Riders • Street Dances • Ice Cream Social
End-Of-The-Road Meal • Great fun for Families
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Layover Day • Rest Stops Every 10 – 15 Miles
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or email info@brag.org, or call 770-498-5153.
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Bike Ride - Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Oregon Ridge Park (Baltimore County)
Check-in 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for 5, 10, 25 or 50-mile courses
Rest stops and bike repair services provided
Advance Registration: Adults - $25, Children 12 and under - $5
To register or to create an online fundraising page where you can build a team, post pictures
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Presented by:

TOUR DE
CHEAPSKATE
“I’M LOOKING AT YOUR BIKE which is about 100 years
old. And I’m looking at your water bottle. Instead of
going out and buying a water bottle, you use just an
old soda pop bottle,” Lauer notes.
“Well it works just as well,” Yeager explains.
----------------------------------------
“Frugal, penny pincher, just plain cheap,” Lauer
begins his introduction. “There are a lot of words to
describe someone who will do just about anything to
save a buck. But when it comes to being the ultimate
cheapskate, look no further than Jeff Yeager. He’s
been one of our favorite guests over the years on this
show.”
The always entertaining Yeager, who has been a guest
of The Today Show eight times, regales TV viewers
with tales of his frugality.
“Sorry about pillaging the greenroom (the room used
to host visitors to the “Today Show” before they come
on stage) like that,” Yeager tells Lauer, with a smirk,
after admitting to packing up most of the free food.
“So what was the deal with that?” Lauer inquires.
“Well, I’m off on my book tour and they (the show’s
producers) said some of the food might go to waste
by NEIL SANDLER
Jeff Yeager’s “newest” bicycle, a 30-year-old ten-speed with about 25,000 miles on it, sits
loaded for touring on center stage of NBC television’s Today Show. As hundreds of
thousands of TV viewers observe this well worn machine, Today Show host Matt Lauer
introduces the bike’s 51-year-old owner, Jeff Yeager, who has ridden the bike from his home
in Accokeek, Md., to the NBC studio in mid-town Manhattan.
so I wanted to economize as much as possible,”
Yeager replies.
“I can only imagine what you stole from the hotel
room we put you up in,” Lauer comes back.
“I did what I did,” Yeager retorts. “There was an olive
oil shampoo. I didn’t know whether to dress my salad
with it or wash my hair with it.”
Lauer interrupts: “But it’s in your bag I bet.”
“Absolutely,” Yeager snaps back.
----------------------------------------
Jeff Yeager, who worked for non-profits in the
Washington metro area for a quarter century before
retiring to the frugal life in his mid-40s, is absolutely
convinced, and convincing in his argument that
Americans would be happier if they learned to
consume less. “Americans have this false assumption
that the quality of life has to go down when you spend
less money.”
Yeager recently published his first book: The Ultimate
Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches – A Practical and
Fun Guide to Enjoying Life by Spending Less ($12.95;
www:broadwaybooks.com) as a guide to living better
on less.
To promote the book, Yeager has undertaken a series
of bicycle tours (which he dubbed “The Tour de
Cheapskate”) around the country to promote it. He
couch surfs at the homes of fellow cheapskates across
the country to “economize.” Over the past year, he’s
done bicycle tours covering over 3,000 miles in the
southwest U.S., Florida, and from his home in southern
Maryland to his parent’s home in Ohio.
A major component of Yeager’s approach to living
his life frugally and one of the origins of his life-long
quests to reduce a dependance on the automobile,
revolves around his use of a bicycle. This fact is no
where more evident than on the cover of Yeager’s
book which shows a caricature of him riding a bike
with a piggy bank lashed to the rear bike rack, and
that Yeager chooses to appear on the “Today Show”
with his favorite mode of transportation, his Romic
touring bike which he purchased new in 1980.
Yeager emphasizes that unlike most cyclists and readers
of this publication, he is not a recreational bicyclist.
“I’m not the kind of guy who wakes up Saturday
morning and says ‘honey, I’m going out for a two
hour ride.’ I like to use my bike to do errands, commuting
if possible, and do long bike tours. If I’m not
on a tour, I’ll still ride about 100 miles a week just
puttering around.”
He agrees biking is a great form of exercise, and
urges those who pay to go to gyms to “save money by
buying a bicycle, getting their exercise by commuting
to work, and then quitting the gym.”
Growing up in rural northwest Ohio, near Toledo,
Yeager and his older brother got into biking together.
In 1972-73, then riding a department store Murray of
Ohio 10-speed, Yeager and his brother began doing
long distance rides.
“No one else was doing this back then,” he told
SPOKES. “It was before Bikecentennial (the cross
country ride in 1976 that popularized long distance
touring in the U.S.) and before the (award winning
bike racing) movie Breaking Away.”
Their first momentous ride was from their Ohio
home cross the Indiana border to their grandparents
cottage 75 miles away and then home a few days later.
“It seemed like the longest ride in bike history,” he
recalls. This was the first of many rides to follow the
same basic route west.
During junior and senior high school, Yeager biked
five miles each way. “And I mean every day. I never
missed a day of school, and I always rode my bike
to school.”
8 April 2009

On to college, Yeager expanded his commute, riding
his now upgraded road bike, a Raleigh Grand Record,
the 25 mile round trip from home to Bowling Green
University. Yeager, who confesses to having detested
physical education class in college, one year choose a
phys. ed. class about bicycling. On Fridays, this cycling
class was his only class. Yeager laughs when he recalls
how he’d ride his bike 25 miles round trip to take the
class. Since the bike class often consisted of a six mile
bike ride, the professor, who to this day remains a
close friend, would occasionally allow Yeager to head
home if the class ride was in that direction.
During the school year, Yeager made money
repairing bikes either out of his dad’s garage or by
visiting college dorms. “My dad jokes that my business
model had a basic flaw. Each year, I would close
up my business just as the busy summer bike season
began so that my brother and I could go on long bike
tour,” Yeager told SPOKES.
Yeager and his brother quickly became enamored
with long distance touring and every summer they
did tours lasting one or more months, riding northwest
to the Canadian Rockies and back (5,000 miles)
one year, to Colorado another, and the south to the
Mexican border during another.
Yeager and his brother always kept to a $3 a day
budget (mostly for food, since they normally slept
along side the road). Typically, Yeager would put in
an average of 10,000 miles a year on his bike.
“We rode every mile. No flying, no hitchhiking.
No cheating.”
He’d also begun leading bicycle tours for American
Youth Hostels during the summer, and took a leadership
training course from AYH. Yeager met his wife
Denise during one of these courses in 1979, when he
was the instructor and she was a student.
Graduating college in 1980 with a degree in philosophy
and political science, Yeager landed a job
with AYH in Washington, D.C. He began a 11 year
career with AYH, where he rose to the organization’s
number two position, then left to become executive
director of the American Canoeing Association, where
he stayed for another 11 years. Over this period, he
completed eight bicycle trips (the longest lasting a
month) in Mexico, Belize and Guadalupe.
After leaving the canoe association, Yeager became a
consultant for non-profits, and began nurturing his
ideas to live life frugally. In 2005, Yeager entered but
lost a contest to see who could live most frugally host-
ed by Washington Post business columnist Michelle
Singletary. But when Singletary was contacted by the
Today Show later that year for a recommendation for
a guest on this topic, she quickly identified Yeager.
“I think they thought of me as entertaining or quirky,”
he recalls. It lead to the first of his eight TV visits with
Matt Lauer.
Enjoying your life to the fullest while not having to
kill yourself working to pay for expensive habits is
something that had become ingrained to Yeager. The
seeds for a book on the topic sprouted.
“There is no doubt in my mind that most Americans
would be happier if they consumed less,” he told a
standing room audience at a public library in suburban
Maryland. (He gives most of his talks at public
libraries and donates proceeds to the libraries.)
Food, for example, is one area where many Americans
don’t think carefully about their purchases. “You
don’t buy peaches in the middle of winter, you buy
grapefruit. You buy peaches in summer.” Buying
cheaply also generally results in a healthier diet,
because it steers you aware from costly processed
foods and red meats, and more towards fresh foods. It
is also a more enjoyable diet because it forces you to
think about what you are going to eat.
As for housing, he firmly believes Americans of his
generation have gotten caught up into constantly
moving up in to bigger and more expensive homes,
forcing owners to work harder and longer hours. His
motto is: “Finish in your starter home.” Buy a modest
home to start off, pay it off as quickly as possible and
settle into the community and enjoy it. That is how
the post World War II generation lived.
“We’ve become a generation of home climbers. It
has proven to be a bad trend all around. And always
remember what the real estate professionals have
been telling us: ‘real estate only goes up in value.’”
Yeager challenges everyone to once a year go on a
week long “Fiscal Fast,” during which time you and
your family spend NO money!
“Throughout my adult life I have periodically practiced
a financial management technique — almost
more of a ritual, really — that I call fiscal fasting. As
the name implies, fiscal fasting is the act of denying
yourself the use of money for a specified period of
time, usually a week or even longer. Yeah, that’s right,
totally doing without legal tender for the sake of tenderizing
your non-monetary soul.
“When I tell people about this penny-pinching pilgrimage
of mine, I inevitably get one of two responses:
1. No way! It can’t be done, even for a day. You can’t
function in this day and age without spending at
least some money every day.
2. No problem! That’s easy. I don’t spend any money
most days anyhow, or at least I don’t think I do.
“It’s the folks who give the second answer who are
usually in for the rudest awakening,” Yeager said.
“They’re the ones who have absolutely no idea how
much cash is passing out of their hands every day, let
alone where it’s going. But an occasional fiscal fast
can be a constructive constitutional for just about
everybody, including those of us who have already
embraced their inner misers.”
Other than paying for vital expenses like the mortgage
and utility bills, do not spend any money, he
instructs. This accomplishes four important things:
First, it saves you money;
Second, it makes you realize how much money you do
spend and waste;
Third, it reminds us that there are lots of terrific
things to do that don’t cost money; and
Fourth, it brings us closer together as a family.
“For food, you can dig into your cupboards and live
on what you’ve been storing for years and have probably
forgotten about. For fun, you can make your
own fun. You might finally open that watercolor set
you bought five years ago after you toured the Monet
exhibition. Or you can get out the board games
you’ve always been meaning to play but never got
around to playing, read the books you’ve been wanting
to read for years. You might even visit the library,
another thing you’ve always been meaning to get
around to. This is also an excellent time to try car
pooling to work or riding your bike to work.
Like a traditional dietary fast, Yeager says the benefits
of a fiscal fast include:
• Purging your system: Your financial system, that is.
Your head will clear, your creativity will soar, and
your perspective on life will change when you go
CHEAPSKATE continued on p.10
April 2009
9

CHEAPSKATE continued from p.9
money free. And obviously you’ll save some bucks
during the fast itself, although that’s minor compared
with the other benefits of fiscal fasting.
• Tapping your reserves: By cutting off your intake,
you’ll start using up reserves of foodstuffs, cosmetics,
and other household items you probably forgot
you even had.
• Reflecting and understanding: Most important, a fiscal
fast forces you to think about the impact money
has on your life day in and day out. By doing without
the convenience and luxury of a ready bankroll,
you’ll gain insights into your spending habits that
no fancy budget worksheet could ever impart. You’ll
be living in a virtual spreadsheet, where you’re
bound to run into your inner miser. Who knows?
You might even like him once you get to know him;
he has a lot to teach you about what’s really valuable
in life.
For himself, Yeager lives his life simply. He does all
his own home repairs, cuts his own hair, makes the
art that decorates his Accokeek home from driftwood
found nearby, does not own a cell phone (“I don’t
enjoy talking on the phone.”), and admits to pouring
generic wine or vodka into top-shelf “empties” to fool
his friends.
But Yeager is a generous soul as well. He donated the
$2,000 expense account from his publisher to local
libraries along the way. He also encourages readers to
save their money and borrow his book from the
local library.
----------------------------------------
Bicycle commuting is something Yeager believes
most Americans find very daunting, even bike riding
enthusiasts.
Bike commuting should start with running errands,
he suggests. A typical American runs many errands
or trips of two miles or less. Like anything else, we’ve
been ingrained to jump into our cars and drive the
errand no matter how short it is.
“Don’t start your career as a bicycle commuter with a
20 mile commute. Start out with running those two
mile errands on your bike. Work your way up to the
commute. Hop on your bike to the corner store. Try
to interest your kids at the same time. Get them to
come along. Get them to think this way. We’ve gotten
away from being self sufficient. When we were kids
we all ran our errands by bike. Kids today don’t think
that way, but they can. We need a whole new mind set
among our youth. They are our future. Give your kids
a healthy addiction. I look back at my youth fondly
and remember how much money I saved by riding my
bike everywhere.”
One of the things that most disturbs him about the
current “green movement” is the emphasis on buying
green products. “The best way of being green is
buying less, less of everything. Stop buying stuff you
truthfully don’t need. Spend time differentiating
between ‘needs’ and ‘wants.’ There is a huge difference.
In all likelihood, you don’t need a new Prius.
Keep your current car in tune and drive it until it
dies. The green movement has become a new buying
opportunity for Americans. I go to the grocery store
and see lots of cool new green cleaning products. The
best cleaning products to this day are baking soda and
vinegar. They’re cheap and they’re green!”
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www.USAirForceCyclingClassic.com

BIG MIG
AND TURBO
by NEIL SANDLER
THE WORLD’S BEST PRO BIKE RACERS like Lance
Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer, and even more so
race officials who officiate major stage races like the
Tour of California this past February are generally
all business when it comes to actually being on the
course and racing.
So if you’re a volunteer with the race, it’s probably
not the best idea to set out an inaccurate official race
course sign just to see if you can get a chuckle out of
the racers and officials.
Clearly, those of you who possess that type of logical
reasoning don’t know how the mind of Mike Butchko,
owner of the Bicycle Place in Silver Spring, Md., or as
he’s better known to race officials he works with “Big
Mig” works.
So it was this past February 19 on Stage 5 of this year’s
Tour of California.
In the days leading up to 134 mile stage, the racers
and everyone involved with it had endured some of
the coldest, rainiest, windiest and most dangerous
weather in the four year history of the race. But today,
racing from Visalia to Paso Robles, the sun was shining,
the roads were dry and the race was entering a
60 mile stretch which though picturesque passing
through scenic farmlands, consisted of probably the
flattest, straightest, and shall we admit boring stretch
of roadway.
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Mike Butchko, left, and Rob Bushnell
So leave it to Big Mig, and his fellow Silver Springer
Rob Bushnell, better known as “Turbo” to race officials,
to try and get a rise of out the field.
Since the two have worked together as course officials
for two decades, it shouldn’t have come as any surprise
to Turbo, who was driving the course command
van, when Big Mig, riding shotgun, yelled “pull over”
in the midst of this stretch.
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With the racers an hour behind, Big Mig pulled out
and set up a large road sign that warned “Dangerous
Descent Ahead!”
Sure enough, and fortunately for the Maryland pair,
the race officials, team managers, coaches, television
commentators, and most importantly the racers had a
sense of humor that day.
Everyone noticed and most pointed to the sign and
got a huge laugh. A much needed tension breaker.
Even members of Team Astana, which included eventual
winner Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong,
making his first U.S. appearance since retiring three
years ago, pointed at the sign and couldn’t resist having
a chuckle.
Big Mig and Turbo have served as course officials
since the week-long California race began four years
ago. Bushnell has been doing it since the mid-1980s,
and Butchko joined the ranks in 1990.
In addition to their official duties, Butchko says they
see themselves as “ambassadors” for the Tour of
California. Among the many things they do to excite
and motivate spectators before the racers arrive is distribute
hundreds of cow bells to cheer on the racers.
“We give most of them to kids, who really get a huge
kick out of them,” Butchko told SPOKES.
This year’s tour was particularly meaningful to
Butchko. Almost more than a bike race, it was a time
for many fans and people involved with the race to
reflect on the impact Lance Armstrong’s return to
pro racing means to cancer survivors. This year, only
six days before this year’s race, Butchko’s 76-year-old
father-in-law Marvin Schrieber died after a battle
with cancer.
Halting in tears as he pauses to think of his late
father-in-law, Butchko said Armstrong’s Live Strong
Foundation, which exists to provide support for
cancer survivors, passed out thousands of pieces of
biodegradable yellow chalk to spectators. Although
there were the usual messages to the racers like “Go
Astana,” “Allez Lance,” the more usual and touching
messages were thoughts about friends and family
members lost to cancer. “We miss you grandpa,” was
typical. And the messages handwritten on the road
were all in yellow.
“There were Lance fans (the yellow lollipop like hand
fans waved by spectators) everywhere,” Butchko adds.
----------------------------------------
Ever the bike enthusiast, 20 years ago, Butchko was a
youthful 26 year-old local road racer. He made a point
of getting out to watch top pros like America’s first
Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, and a very
young former triathlete named Lance Armstrong race
through the mid-Atlantic in the 1989 edition of the
Tour de Trump.
Mesmerized by what he saw and wanting to be a part
of it, he asked a volunteer with the race how he could
get involved. He was told to send in an application.
Within a year, Butchko had become a course official,
helping to set up the courses for pro races, in different
parts of the country and within another two years
he was one of the course officials for the Tour DuPont
(the Tour de Trump’s successor).
By meeting and teaming up with Bushnell, who was
routing coordinator for the Trump and DuPont
events, Butchko became part of a team that even
today plays a key role in some of America’s premier
road racing events.
If you think being a course official is about getting
to watch a lot of bike racing by the world’s best,
guess again. It’s a lot of physically demanding, time
consuming, wet weather surviving hardship, during
which time they seldom see any bike racing. If you
think they get to bring their bikes along and ride the
12 April 2009

Butchko and Bushnell volunteering at the race
courses before or after the pros race, think again.
They’ve never once brought their bikes along, and
using this year as an example, they never once rode a
bike the entire 10 days they were in California.
The day before the race begins they gather up all the
materials required to route the course, including tons
of signs, chalk paint, stencils, highway tripods, course
arrows, generators, and of course the huge inflatable
that indicates 1 kilometer to go to the finish of
the race. The day consists of setting up all the markers
and key landmarks (like sprint signs, king of the
mountain signage) and after the race passes, taking
them all down. Then starting all over the next day.
They typically get up at 4:50 a.m, dress, grab a quick
breakfast, then off into the vans by 5:30. During the
first half of this year’s California race the days began
wet and with temps in the low 30s. The early morning
fog prevented them from seeing much of anything.
With their volunteer crew of six (eight including
themselves), Big Mig and Turbo load up the three
vans and pickup truck. Van 1, manned by senior
members Butchko and Bushnell, serves as the logistics
center for course set up. It’s got a GPS system to help
set up the route. Van 2 sets up the course signage.
“You can't put the signs out too early,” Butchko
explains, “because the signs will get stolen. If you put
them out too late then the race is already upon you.”
Van 3 picks up the advance signage (for example,
“Bike Race this coming Saturday.”), which is set up at
least a week prior to the race. The pick-up truck, better
known as the Trash Truck, picks up everything left
behind as the race is completed.
Being assigned to the Trash Truck is the most
physically demanding, because by the time it arrives
the race is long gone and its crew is in a huge hurry
to pick up everything left behind and keep up with
the race caravan that is steaming ahead quickly.
“Sometimes you have to go over the speed limit,”
Butchko admits. “And the state troopers are there
watching you. It’s amazing. A wink and a smile go a
long way.”
While Butchko says they’ve never screwed up like
accidentally steering the race off course, last year, they
accidentally set up the signage leading to the top of
one climb on the wrong side of the climb (indicating
the number of kilometers to go on the side of the
hill the riders were coming down). Fortunately, they
caught their mistake before the race arrived.
Butchko and Bushnell work several pro races a
year. This year, for example, they will serve as the
entire routing and signage crew for the U.S. Pro
Championships in Greenville, S.C. They already know
the courses, a 30k time trial, and a road race course
that consists of a 20 mile loop and several circuits in
the city limits.
Yes, they get paid but it’s peanuts compared to the work
involved. They do it to be a part of a major cycling happening.
To be in the lobby of the hotel when Levi and
Signage is organized before the race
Lance saunter by in street clothes and acknowledge
them. To catch an elevator ride up to their rooms with
some of the top pro racers in the world who appreciate
their contribution to the sport. Just to be there and a
part of the action is payment enough.
Though Butchko admits “I really do miss riding a bike
for a whole week. Aside from missing and finally
getting to see my wife and kids when I get home, I
can’t wait to get back on my bike and getting in my
first bike ride after watching the world’s best. It’s
definitely motivating.”
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April 2009
13

COPAKE’S LEGENDARY
ANTIQUE BIKE AUCTION by BRIAN CARON
ALTHOUGH I LEARNED TO RIDE A BICYCLE when I was
five, my true interest in bicycles began in my early
teenage years. I began riding and jumping my late
1970’s Huffy Thunder Road until I broke the frame in
half. The next era was the BMX/freestyle bikes of the
1980’s. By the late 1990’s I had formed an interest in
mountain biking as well. You can begin to see a
pattern here I’m sure.
BMX racing was next as I helped to establish a BMX
track in my own hometown. Both road and mountain
biking came into play as a means of cross-training for
BMX. My general interest in cycling seemed to
accelerate faster than new trends were hitting the
market and I got more interested in bicycles from the
generations before I was even born, namely the
“muscle bike” era of the late 1960-70’s. These bikes
ruled the streets as kids emulated the popular muscle
cars of the same era with fat slick tires on the rear,
skinny tires on the front, and tall stick shift levers on
the top tube. During this time period I was offered a
50’s style balloon tired bike which I was able to
narrow down to a 1950 Schwinn Spitfire.
I didn’t have much interest in pre-World War II bikes
at the time until a fellow came into the bike shop I
was working at with a shaft drive bicycle. After some
networking and research I found out that I had
acquired an 1898 Columbia Chainless model 59.
Again, with the help of the internet and other bicycle
collectors I was able to find the parts to complete the
bike last year mostly due in part to a trip to Copake,
New York’s famous Bicycle auction in April 2008.
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The Copake Auction house was built in the 1940’s
and purchased by Michael Fallon in 1985, and later
joined by his son Seth in 1995.
The Fallon family held weekly auctions during the
late 1980’s and it wasn’t until the early 1990’s they
realized the fascination with old bicycles as they
had a collection of old “high-wheelers” catalogued
for sale during a weekly auction and began receiving
calls from interested parties from all around the
USA. After Michael saw the interest and action on
that first collection of bikes he posed the question to
some patrons as to holding a bicycle only auction in
the future. The rest is history as the auction is now a
household name with anyone that has even a remote
interest in bicycles built prior to 1950.
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The Copake auction includes some later bikes as well as
memorabilia from all eras of cycling, but the majority
of the bicycles that are auctioned off were built before
the turn of the century. The rarity of some of these
machines is reflected in the substantial “hammer” prices
with some fetching prices into five figures. In fact, one
of the highest priced bicycles sold at the auction was the
only one like it known to exist and it sold for well over
$30,000! Considering that the United State’s manufacturing
boom and industrial age was in the late 1800’s,
and since then we’ve been through a depression and
two world wars, it’s truly amazing that some of these
bicycles and related items are still around. Even the
high wheeler bicycle that Thomas Stevens rode around
the world from 1884-1886 which today would have an
astronomical value was melted down during World War
II to help conserve steel during the war.
The 2008 auction included a hard tire safety discovered
in a barn a few weeks prior to the event. It was original
and untouched and far exceeded the estimated value
when the bidding finally ended at $9350. This was
pretty incredible considering it was otherwise going to
be dropped off at the landfill by the new owner before
contacting Copake’s Michael Fallon!
The auction also includes some later American Classics
as well including the Schwinn Black Phantoms and
Whizzers from the 1950’s, pristine examples of Schwinn
Krate bikes from the 60’s-70’s, and even more current
Tour de France memorabilia. There’s something for
every fan of cycling young and old.
This year’s auction is scheduled to begin Saturday April
18 at 10 a.m. In addition to the bicycle auction, the
weekend includes a swap meet held on Friday before
the auction (April 17). The swap meet begins bright
and early as the sun rises and lasts throughout the day.
Also a preview will be available late in the day on Friday
when the bicycles and bicycle related items will be available
for viewing prior to the auction on Saturday.
Although the venue of the auction isn’t nearly as elaborate
as the popular classic car auctions that are broadcast
on television, the action and excitement is very
similar. Collectors are on hand from literally around the
globe with the hopes of taking a piece of history home
for their personal collection or even public or private
museums. Although some items are added to the auction
as late as the week of the event, most items are
available to preview with Copake’s online catalog during
the weeks prior to the auction.
Copake encompasses all aspects of cycling including old
photographs, autographed items from years past, items
from bicycle shops, lanterns, horns, clothing and other
accessories associated with bicycles, and the history that
goes along with them.
I had the opportunity to attend last year’s swap meet
and auction with the hopes of simply completing my
Columbia chainless bicycle. I ended up with an additional
project (or two) after it was all said and done.
I came across a Crawford bicycle that was originally
manufactured in Hagerstown, Md., (my hometown)
in 1897 that I couldn’t pass up. In addition, because
of the interest and exposure to the many boneshaker
and high wheeler bicycles that I saw and learned about
at the Copake auction I was able to make an educated
purchase of a fairly original 1882 Columbia high wheeler
during the first few weeks of 2009.
It’s hard to describe the feeling that you get climbing
aboard and riding a bicycle that was built over 120 years
ago, not to mention the looks you get from those passing
by! So, I have entered a fairly exclusive club of high
wheeler owners all due to the fact that I was given an
1898 Columbia frame and fork and decided attend the
Copake Bicycle Auction!
If you have a genuine interest in bicycling and maybe
are curious about the evolution of cycling and its history,
you may want to mark your calendar to visit this
historic and quaint little town in upstate New York on
April 17-18. For additional info see their website at
www.copakeauction.com
14 April 2009

©2009 TREK BICYCLE CORPORATION
VISIT THE STORES BELOW TO CHECK OUT THE THE FISHER HIFI
TK_2009_HiFi_Ad_Spokes_Mag.indd 1
2/19/09 3:13:41 PM
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DEPARTMENTS
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She Does Tri
Ever since Krista Schultz began her company, Total
Performance, Inc, which specializes in Vo2 max and
metabolic rate testing, and her coaching career, more
and more women have approached her about learning
the sport of triathlon.
A former Division I track and cross-country performer,
Schultz, 30, has become a world-class triathlete
since her career at the University of New Orleans.
She’s qualified for the International Triathlon Union
championships, the annual Best in the U.S. triathlon
event, as well as earning spots in the Ironman world
championships in Kona, Hawaii.
This season, she’s attempting a new challenge, organizing
two “She Does Tri” weekend training camps
with her business partner and boyfriend, David
Glover.
Glover, of course, is no slouch triathlete, either. He’s
finished nearly 100 triathlons, including 24 Ironman
distance events. This past year he won the Vineman
Triathlon overall title at age 36. Many people in triathlon
community know Glover as both a cancer survivor
and professional race organizer. He’s runs Endurance
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Works, and puts on such events as the popular Luray
Triathlon races and the Savageman Triathlon.
As Spokes went to press the first She Does Tri camp
scheduled for the weekend of March 20-22 had
already sold out all 20 slots. The second She Does Tri
women’s triathlon camp is slated for the weekend of
Friday, April 24 thru Sunday, April 26, and is more
than half full.
“For some women, they’re following their husband
into the sport, and some are single-sport athletes
interested in learning about triathlon,” Schultz told
SPOKES. “With the IronGirl races and the Danskin
events, and other all-girls races, the demand is really
there.” In fact, the early interest is so strong, Schultz
just returned from Austin, Texas, convinced that the
“She Does Tri” camps and brand is something she and
Glover can grow.
So far, most of the women athletes participating are
from with the Northern Virginia-area – the camps are
held in Warrenton, Va. – or from the Baltimore and
Towson-area where Schultz’s Total Performance (totalperformance.net)
business is based. She believes area
women would be willing to travel to warmer climates
for the camps, however, if they’re accessible in Texas,
North Carolina or Florida. Naturally, the camps would
also be expected to attract interest from budding
female triathletes in those areas as well.
The inspiration for the She Does Tri camps, Schultz
said, came from the wife of a coaching client of hers
in Warrenton.
“She said if there was a tri camp, she would do it, and
that’s how it got started,” Schultz said. “The website
has been getting hits everyday.” Schultz mentioned
that other tri camps, as well as biking, running and
adventure sports camps, have been successful over the
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with some of his friends.
16 April 2009

years and she believes the time is right for all-women’s
multi-sports camp.
The only full weekend camps in the mid-Atlantic
region for women only in the mid-Atlantic region, the
She Does Tri camps cover all aspects of triathlon with
both instruction and practice. It’s designed as a welcoming,
non-competitive preparation course for their
first sprint-distance triathlon and each camp has been
limited to 20 women.
Schultz and Glover have pulled together a variety of
experts over three days of seminars and workouts that
include an open water swim class, and a swim clinic
with underwater videotaping with professional analysis
focusing on body position and basic mechanics.
Natalie King, of Schrier Physical Therapy, will lecture
on running and biking mechanics, how to prevent
injuries, and strength training to protect joints and
over-usage damage.
Dave Greenfield of Elite Bicycle in Philadelphia will
demonstrate proper bike fitting. A local Warrenton
bike shop will teach a basic bike maintenance class
and provide support on outdoors rides. Schultz said
they’ve arranged spin classes at the Old Town Athletic
Club, one for beginners and one for advanced cyclists.
Participants leave with a 12-week triathlon training
schedule, a comprehensive training guide to take
home as well, and a top-notch “goodie bag” including
T-shirt, race tote, water bottle and sample products.
The She Does Tri camp is a USAT-sanctioned event,
costs $495, and also includes a USA Triathlon annual
membership is part of the package.
All camp meals are included, as are hotel accommodations.
A discount is also available for future VO2
max and resting metabolic rate testing, coaching and
seminars.
“The most important thing is that these are not just
workouts,” Schultz said about the She Does Tri concept.
“These are for women who are beginners, who
need to learn about the sport, get education about
what they’re doing so they’re not only working out,
but making progress and doing things the right way.”
But the most important perk is a complimentary registration
to either the Luray Sprint or International
Triathlon or the Tri-to-Win triathlon in Carroll
County, Md.
“I’m excited to work with David on this,” Schultz said.
“I think we were both wanting to do something that
would help the newcomer and help them connect to
the sport.
“As a woman, I understand that triathlon can be an
intimidating sport, but it is such a good thing for
women to get out there and do. They get active and
they gain confidence.”
As far as her own racing season, Schultz, who competed
in Ironman China last year, has a half-Ironman
on tap for April in New Orleans, the Columbia
Triathlon in May, and the Revolution 3 triathlon in
Connecticut in June. She’s also going to race the
Luray International, Olympic-distance, Triathlon, and
her first all women’s race, Barb’s Race, a California
event that coincides with the Vineman Triathlon.
For more information visit shedoestri.com
Laurel won the Mighty Montauk Triathlon last year,
took third in Philadelphia Triathlon, and seventhplace
in both the New York City and Los Angeles
Triathlons in 2008. She is a cancer survivor having
won a battle against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when she
was 23-years-old.
“I have overcome many obstacles to get here, and it
means a lot to me that all of my hard work has been
recognized. At one point, I never thought I’d compete
in triathlons, let alone win this award. It just goes
to show – never give up on your dreams.
Andy Potts, 32, of Princeton, N.J., was honored as the
Elite non-ITU athlete of the year after taking seventh
place (best American performance) at last year’s
Ironman World Championships.
Kate Ross, 18, of Doylestown, Pa. and now Colorado
Springs, was recognized as the winner of the Elite
Junior National Championships.
Open Water Swimming Clinics
Margaret Connor has been an open water swimming
instructor since 2000, specializing in introductory
instruction for new open water athletes. And last year,
along with Denis Crean, an accomplished open water
competitive swimmer, she co-founded the U.S. Open
Water Swimming Association (http://owswimrva.
wordpress.com).
Serving as national director for masters and open
water swimming, Connor, of Northern Virginia, is
taking on the tough challenge of growing a sport
where access to local open water swimming is an issue
for triathletes and pure open water swimmers alike.
Currently, her next big open water clinic, the Reston
Swim Clinic, is scheduled for May 23, a day before
TRISPOKES continued on p.18
USAT Announces Elite Athletes Awards
USA Triathlon announced in March, that several of
the ten athletes it has named for their outstanding
performances in 2008, including several with ties to
the mid-Atlantic region.
Laurel Wassner, 33, a Gaithersburg, Md.-native now
living in New York City, won the Rookie-of-the-Year
award, a title earned previously by her twin sister
Rebeccah.
April 2009
17

DU NATS RETURNS
TO RICHMOND by MIKE McCORMICK
road) with the ruggedness of the Off-road Duathlon
Championships in a weekend that also promises
some exciting new wrinkles for multi-sport athletes
in search of a weekend of tough competition, high
stakes outcomes and neighborly hospitality.
First and foremost, is the fact that this year the
USAT Duathlon National Championships is one of
three races nationally (the others being Arizona and
Minnesota) where age-group athletes can qualify
for the ITU Duathlon World Championships set for
Concord, North Carolina in September. And because
there are 12 qualifying slots per age-group category
in Richmond and only three at the other events, Mid-
Atlantic athletes have an especially easy path to the
world championships.
Chuck Harney, who owns the Bike Rack at 14th and
Q in Washington, D.C., is aiming to qualify for the
ITU Duathlon World Championships at the USAT
Richmond Nationals. As an age-grouper last year on
Team USA at the duathlon worlds in Rimini, Italy,
Harney found the experience eye-opening. “It’s interesting
to see people from different countries, with different
uniforms, different bikes – road bikes, tri-bikes,”
he said. “Regardless of your finishing time and place,
just getting there I think is a major accomplishment.”
Harney, who competed in last year’s Richmond
“DuNats,” has been training on the bike and indoor
trainer since Christmas and preaching duathlon to a
growing number of multisporters looking for a satisfying
event. He’s going to be in good company since
as of mid February, over 500 had signed up, marking
one of the largest Mid-Atlantic duathlon fields in
recent memory.
THE OFT-OVERLOOKED SPORT OF DUATHLON is making
a rousing comeback in Richmond this spring, and
folks all over the Mid-Atlantic are taking notice.
On April 25-26th, the second consecutive National
Duathlon Festival will combine the drama of the
USAT Duathlon National Championships (on-
DU NATS continued on p.19
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TRISPOKES continued from p.17
the Reston Lake swim. However, another two other
May clinics at Pohick Bay near Woodbridge, were in
jeopardy, she said, because officials there are concerned
about liability issues after a drowning (tragic,
but unrelated to open water classes or a triathlon
competition) last year. Connor, who often teams with
Endurance Works to put on swim clinics, said access
to legal open water swimming is more difficult on the
East Coast than the West.
“We (the U.S. Open Water Swimming Association)
hope to become a national clearinghouse, linking and
sharing resources and promote the sport,” Connor
told SPOKES.
Connor noted that in her experience, open water
swimming is far and away the biggest obstacle for athletes
wishing to enter a triathlon. But also, often, the
most enjoyable aspect of the sport for many athletes
once they work through their initial fears.
“They overcome it and they love it,” Connor said.
The marketing and operations director at Sport Fair,
a swimming outfitter in Arlington, Connor herself
grew up swimming competitively, and swimming on
Lake Barcroft in Annandale. Recently, she returned
to competitive swimming through the Carl-Burke
Masters team now that her kids are in college. She
joked that she called her daughter away at school to
complain about a bad turn at a recent race.
This month, April 15, she’s putting on a free triathlon
seminar at Potomac River Running in Arlington.
Margaret Shapiro will handle the running portion of
the seminar, Mike Hamberger will talk about cycling,
and Connor will discuss swimming. She’s never done
a triathlon, she’s just the right person for newbies to
learn technique for the first leg of the sport.
“I’m just a swimmer, but I believe every triathlete is an
open water swimmer.”
Swimming Tips
So here are her most important tips for beginners:
1) Get a new pair of goggles and make sure they fit.
2) Do not dive into the water.
3) Don’t go out too fast; pace yourself.
4) If nervous, start on the side and work your way
into the pack.
5) Sight and align yourself every 6-8 strokes; “It’s easy
to get off course and have to swim twice as far as
you have to,” she said.
As far as the stroke goes, she recommends keeping it
simple:
1) Don’t put your head too far down into the water
or up.
2) Use a steady, two-beat kick.
3) Keep proper body balance.
And, she said, “be calm and have fun.”

DU NATS continued from p.18
As for what he expects of this year’s event, Harney
says: “It’s a better race for the general public because
you have a broader race – experts to newbies – and
they all benefit from the experience.”
Suzanne Edgar, of Leonardtown, Md., has been training
with a group from the Pautuxent River Triathlon
Club, and is psyched to make it to the world championships.
“Twelve seems like it would be pretty easy to
do,” says Edgar. “I love duathlon. It’s fun to take the
first leg as fast as you can and see what happens.”
“This is thrilling because it’s opening up a whole new
world for me,” adds Sue Hite, of Bethesda, who has
registered for her first national championship. She’s
adept at triathlons, having competed internationally,
but she describes herself as slow in the water and likes
how duathlon plays to her strengths.
In addition to the on-road event, the Off-road
Duathlon Championships is also proving popular.
Set on Richmond’s rugged urban trails that course
through the James River Park, they give off-road
duathletes a rare chance to rub shoulders with onroaders
in a side-by-side format. And that has led to
some interesting add-ons, like the Double Du and the
Du Duo Relay.
Fifty-nine-year-old Charlie Redmond, of Demarest, NJ,
has signed up for the Double Du challenge, certainly
one of the tougher offerings on the mid-Atlantic calendar.
The Double Du combines a competitors’ times
on-road and off-road which are held on consecutive
days. Last year only three competitors signed up
and finished.
“Richmond is great, especially the off-road course,”
said Redmond. “I like both sports. It seems so easy,
why not?”
Another new feature is the Du Duo Relay which has
one runner and one biker per team. Teams can be
male, female or mixed. The mixed teams seem to have
the most incentive. Just ask husband-wife duathletes
Roger and Jen Cortesi of Springfield, Va. “Since we tend
to be a little competitive with each other, we thought it
would be better to team up,” laughs Jen Cortesi.
The Cortesis will have their three youngsters and a
friend in tow to cheer them on in both the On-Road
Du Duo Relay (Roger runs, Jen bikes) and the Off-
Road Du Duo Relay (Jen runs, Roger bikes). “It was
kind of perfect to be able to do a little bit of everything
we are doing right now,” said Jen who trail runs
and road bikes, while Roger road runs and trail bikes.
And if all the competitive options aren’t enough
incentive, there’s some great swag (finishers get a
backpack, technical shirt, pint glass and hat.) As for
the hospitality, all are welcome to a post-race tailgate
party hosted by the Richmond Triathlon Club.
For more information on the USAT Duathlon National
Championships, go to www.duathlonnationals.com.
W&OD TRAIL PATROL SEEKS
NEW MEMBERS
The Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail runs through
the Virginia communities of Arlington, Falls Church, Vienna,
Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Hamilton, and
Purcellville. The Trail Patrol is seeking new members to be
on-scene ambassadors of safety, courtesy, information, and
goodwill. All adult trail users--cyclists, walker, runners, skaters,
carriage pushers, dog walkers, horse riders, or wheel chair
users--are eligible to apply.
Orientation sessions are planned for this spring and summer.
For further information and sign up please go to http://www.
wodfriends.org/ or call the trail office at (703) 729-0596.
POTHOLEPALOOZA
Potholepalooza is a new, beefed-up public initiative
spearheaded by DC’s Mayor Fenty to fill all of DC’s bumps,
crevices, and craters in the roads. As you are well aware, this
region has poor roads and some killer potholes. So go crazy
and help Mayor Fenty out!
How to Report a Pothole in DC:
Residents and Commuters can notify DDOT in a variety of
ways: 1) call the Mayor’s Call Center at 311, 2) use the Online
Service Request Center at dc.gov, 3) text message or Tweet to
www.twitter.com/DDOTDC, or 4) e-mail to Potholepalooza@DC.
Gov. Callers must identify the location including the correct
quadrant (NW, NE, SE, SW) in the District and as much detail as
possible about the hazard, including the approximate size and
depth of the pothole. DDOT crews will also be out and about
proactively identifying potholes.
The neighboring jurisdictions also have similar hotlines to
repair potholes. Listed below are the methods of reporting a
pothole in the surrounding region:
Alexandria: (703) 838-448
Arlington: (703) 228-6570 https://www.arlingtonva.us/
departments/environmentalservices/cpe/concrete/
resform.htm
Fairfax County: (703) 383-8368 [roads are maintained by VDOT]
Frederick County: (301) 600-1564; E-mail: OHighOpsEmail@
fredco-md.net; http://www.co.frederick.md.us/index.
asp?NID=1682
Montgomery County: (240) 777-6000 http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/dpwt/pothole/Pothole.asp
FREE
CLASSIFIEDS @
www.spokesmagazine.com
US DOT SECRETARY ADDRESSES BIKE
SUMMIT
Newly appointed U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood told those attending the Bike Summit on Capitol
Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 11 that he is fully committed
to investing in programs that encourage bikes to coexist with
other modes and to safely share our roads and bridges.
He emphasized that as a long time member of the
Congressional Bike Caucus, when he was in Congress, there
remains “strong support in Congress for these goals as well.”
“In the Department of Transportation, bicyclists have a full
partner in working toward livable communities,” LaHood continued.
“We’re excited that the Federal Highway Administration
is looking at best practices in Europe to improve safety and
mobility for walkers and cyclists. We’re excited that a federally
funded pilot project to study the effects of improved walking
and bicycling facilities in four communities is underway.
(BikePortland.org.Streetsblog.org)
LaHood further said he “welcomed the vigor of the bicycling
community in advocating for bike-friendly measures in the
upcoming authorization bill, CLEAN-TEA. Bicycles are a critical
part of a cleaner, greener future in American transportation, so
keep those wheels spinning.”
301.663.0007
April 2009
19
April 2009
19

DEPARTMENTS
BMX MID-ATLANTIC by BRIAN CARON coolbmx2c4me@aol.com
Making BMX a Family Affair
One would be hard pressed to find a family more into
the sport of BMX racing than the Hartloves. I had
the pleasure of meeting Mike Hartlove during the
2008 BMX season. He had decided to let his sons, 8
year-old Nathan, and 6 year-old Billy give BMX racing
a try. So early last summer Hartlove rolled up to the
Hagerstown BMX track in a pickup truck loaded with
bikes and a cab full of kids. Three little boys peered
out at the track with excitement in their eyes, anxious
to give it a try.
It’s not unusual to see newcomers at our track, but
when they travel about 70 miles to ride bikes around
a dirt track, locals here at HBMX sit up and take
notice! I don’t recall exactly how the boys placed
on that first day, but I do remember that we added
two riders to our already popular 6- and 8- year old
Rookie classes. We knew they were hooked because
the following Sunday they pulled into the track again,
the Hartlove boys practically falling out of the truck
in anticipation. Granted, they had just sat for over an
hour on the trip from their home in Freeland, Md.,
which lies just north of Baltimore. Hmmm, what was
this? This time the truck was also towing an enclosed
trailer with some MTB racing graphics on the side.
This really piqued our interest. It looked like this family
was serious about BMX!
Later that day Mike formally introduced himself to
me. I also met his wife, Christi, who was busy keeping
track of her energetic offspring. They both
mentioned how impressed they were with our organization
and offered their help with the day’s events
if needed. Always grateful for the help, I took him
up on his offer. I quickly realized this wasn’t his first
rodeo when Mike ended up announcing the races
that day. It was obvious that he was at home on the
mic, entertaining the spectators with his play- by -play
racing action, calling out the kids’ names and giving
them deserved recognition during their races. Later
in the day, he casually mentioned that he helped
organize some mountain bike races. Ah, the pieces
were all starting to come together now.
A few months later Mike talked me into entering one
of the downhill/dual slalom races that he was promoting
at the Wisp Ski Resort in Western Maryland. After
some consideration, I took him up on the offer. I got
to see first hand why he was so aware of our efforts at
our local BMX track; he appreciated all the work that
goes into an event because he’s “been there, done
that” himself in the mountain biking circuit.
Well, it didn’t take long to talk him into reciprocating
and giving BMX racing a try. Aside from a slight injury
as a result of a crash during his third moto, he had
a blast. Unfortunately the injury sidelined him for a
few weeks, but it didn’t stop him from bringing the
kids to sharpen their BMX skills every Sunday. Before
the season ended his wife Christi had geared up and
hit the track. The Hartloves received the award for
Most Enthusiastic new racing family at Hagerstown
BMX, for obvious reasons.
I caught up with Mike and the family at the NBL
President’s Cup Race in Virginia last December,
where I had the chance to ask a few questions. I managed
to piece the rest of his story together.
Mike Hartlove started riding bikes at an early age, but
his first real exposure occurred when he was just 13
years-old. The trails and jumps that he had built in his
backyard were featured in an East Coast BMX ‘zine
called Bermbuster. He got into BMX riding as a result
of his exposure to motocross. He credits his uncle
Chip Anacker, a former AMA District 7 Pro rider for
introducing him to the dirt sports of both BMX and
Motocross racing. Meanwhile, in Baltimore, a girl by
the name of Christi Anderson was also dabbling in
the sport of BMX. Actually she was doing much more
than that, as she was already on the Hutch Factory
BMX Team and a national champion by that time.
Mike recalls the first time that he went to the races
with Christi. “Her folks invited me to race my first
national at South Park, and I ended up getting
smoked by the competition,” he said with a sheepish
grin. But it wouldn’t be his last BMX race– nor would
it be the last time he’d see Christi.
Hartlove began riding and racing mountain bikes in
college and was racing strictly downhill bikes by 1996.
He made a great showing at his first national event
at Mt. Snow, Vermont where he won his class-- and
the respect of some well-known riders in the process.
Soon afterward he had turned semi-pro and was racing
the national circuit. Along the way he began helping
design and build race courses at different venues.
It was about this time that he bumped into Christi’s
father at a local corner store. Her dad remembered
Mike, and he mentioned that Christi was interested in
getting back into biking. Mike didn’t waste any time
getting in touch with her and hooking up for a trail
ride the following week.
“Yeah, it took about 15 years for her to actually go out
with me,” said Hartlove with a chuckle. “But here we
are 11 years and three kids later,” he said with a tone
of amazement.
Mike continued with downhill racing until 2002 when
an accident ended up requiring major re-constructive
surgery on his elbow. This sidelined him from his racing
endeavors for a while, but “I couldn’t just sit on
the sidelines and watch, so I started promoting races,”
he said. He continued race promotions the next
few years, and in 2004 was contracted to build the
National Mountain Cross track at Snowshoe, W. Va.
“The racers loved the course; it was hailed as the best
track ever by some of the top pros in the country, so I
was stoked on that,” he said proudly. That same year
Mike went on to win his first national championship
in mountain cross and finished third in downhill.
The Hartloves of Freeland, Md.
“I probably would have won downhill too if I wouldn’t
have flatted in my last run at Aspen, “ Mike said wistfully.
Nonetheless, 2004 turned out to be a pretty
good year of racing for him. His impressive list of
credentials in the MTB racing circles enabled him
to design courses over the last few years throughout
the Mid-Atlantic including Bear Creek, Whitetail,
Blue Knob, Snowshoe, Wisp, and most recently, a
killer dual slalom in Hereford, Md., for the 2008 Fall
Festival in October, aka Biketober Jam.
“I’m hoping to open a national level NBL track in
northern Baltimore in the near future. After seeing
the turnout we had at Hereford I know we can make
it work, “said Hartlove, barely containing the excitement
in his voice.
It’s always amazing to see how BMX racing comes
around full circle and ties the generations together.
The current Hartlove Racing Team (HRT) consists of
the entire family. Since Mike’s youngest son Connor
has recently ditched the training wheels, he has hopes
of racing BMX like his two older brothers Nathan and
Billy “The Kid” are doing.
As with everything the Hartloves do, the HRT is dedicated
to giving it their all to be the best they can be
in the sport. Mike hopes to have both a winning and
injury- free season while making it to all of the local,
state, and national races. He’ll also be racing, promoting
and selling Chumba bikes as they begin to get
their feet wet in the BMX industry for ‘09.
Christi will be racing both 20” and 24” cruisers this
season and has her mind set on earning a #1 national
plate. Nathan and Billy are setting their sights on
competing in the NBL Grands aboard their Kuwahara
minis and moving up to the Novice (Intermediate)
class soon afterwards. And the baby of the family at
just four years old, Connor will make his BMX debut
this season! Looks like 2009 will be a busy year of
racing for the Hartlove Racing Team! Look for the
Hartloves racing at a track near you this season, and
maybe running their own track by 2010.
20 April 2009

BMX Briefs
Spring has finally arrived and most tracks are getting
underway with preparations and practices. Some are
even holding races already. Most tracks keep their
info and schedules posted on the internet for up- tothe
minute updates. Here are a few items of interest
happening at the BMX tracks in the area:
Virginia always has a strong BMX following. This
was evident after hosting the NBL President’s Cup/
Christmas Classic race in Lexington, Va., December.
The Virginia State board is showing their appreciation
to their riders by offering all riders who attended the
2008 President’s Cup a custom-made commemorative
T-shirt. It’s little things like this that may inspire
young racers to stick with racing and achieve their
goals. They are gearing up for an even bigger and better
Virginia State Series as well.
Winchester BMX has done some upgrades to their
track during the off-season. One big step was having
their turns paved last month. It’s been a long time in
the planning and no track is more deserving. I know I
can’t wait to rail that huge first turn at speed after flying
down the long first straight!
Hampton Supertrack after fighting the damp, cold
weather in February and early March got things rolling
for ‘09 in late March as well with an opening day
double header. Richmond BMX kicked things off for
2009 during the last weekend of March with a 2008
awards banquet on Saturday followed by their season
opener on Sunday afternoon.
In Maryland, Chesapeake BMX is holding over 60
local races this season as well as hosting several
State and regional events. Speaking of regionals in
Maryland, Riverside BMX in Cumberland, Md., will
be playing host to their second regional race ever on
May 16/17th. Hagerstown BMX is looking to celebrate
their 10th year in operation with another successful
season. They actually were awarded a bicycle
from the NBL and Intense bicycles for having the
most new recruits in 2008 for the Northeast region
and they are looking to back that up this season. Look
for them to raffle the bike off during ‘09 and maybe
throw in a few surprise upgrades to the track if everything
goes as planned.
Your Turn
Maybe you know of a local shop, BMX track, or BMX
enthusiast that helps promote some facet of the sport
of BMX in the Mid-Atlantic region. I’m always looking
for suggestions and ideas for future articles that
include people, places and personalities that make up
or help promote BMX in our area, that includes all
disciplines of riding whether it’s racing or freestyle and
the person is 3 or 53. Email to coolbmx2c4me@aol.
com or call (301) 582-1452 if you have ideas or suggestions
for future BMX related articles.
THE CYCLIST'S KITCHEN by NANCY CLARK, MS, RD
AS I WRITE THIS ARTICLE, I’m watching The Biggest
Loser on TV. Many people have been asking my opinion
of this popular show, so I feel obliged to scream
out: It’s terrible! It’s horrible! It’s abusive! I also feel like
throwing my shoe at the TV. Here’s why:
The messages in The Biggest Loser are all about
deprivation, denial, starvation, and punishment.
Exercise is akin to torture. Food is the fattening
enemy. The participants use sheer willpower to whiteknuckle
themselves through each grueling day. They
are praised if they lose ten pounds in a week (as if
they are now better people), scorned if they lose only
two (as if they are scum of the earth), and ridiculed if
the scale barely moves. The participants get no credit
for having inner beauty that shines from the inside
out, nor do they get treated as if they are decent people
with tender feelings. The scale is the sole judge of
their worthiness.
Right now on the TV, one contestant is yelling at
another one for having failed to lose enough weight
for their team to stay in the contest. It’s an ugly segment,
as if the successful loser is superior to the other
one. I doubt that. Being able to endure starvation is
not a sign of superiority.
Now, another contestant is getting applauded and
praised for having lost an outrageous amount of
weight—14 pounds in a week. Everyone thinks that is
just great, as if man is now a success. Yes, he might be
fitter and healthier, but losing weight does not make
anyone a better father, son, mother, or daughter.
Same person, same problems.
What happens in the long run, when the Biggest
Losers return to the real world with no personal trainer
to snap the whip, with no pre-made, pre-portioned
food, and no “fat camp” dedicated to full time weight
loss? Inevitably, without rigid vigilance, the weight will
return with a vengeance. The physiological response
to starvation is to overcompensate (commonly known
as “binge eating” or “blowing the diet”). This desire to
over-eat has little to do with willpower and lots to do
with physiology. Just as a person gasps for air if oxygen
has been withheld, the same person will grab for
carbs if food has been withheld.
The unfortunate message perpetuated by The Biggest
Loser is “eating is cheating.” False. Eating satisfies a
physiological requirement for food. Just as people
need to sleep, urinate, and breathe, they also need
to fuel their bodies, ideally with appropriate portions
of healthful foods. Yet, you don’t need to eat a
“perfect” diet to have a good diet. There’s little harm
in enjoying a slice of pizza or piece of birthday cake.
The E in eating should stand for Enjoyment, not for
Excruciating hunger.
The E in Exercise should also stand for Enjoyment.
When exercise feels like punishment for having undesirable
body fat, the day will come when that dieter no
longer feels like whipping his or her body into shape
and instead reverts to lazing on the couch. The Biggest
Losers lose-out in the long run, because extreme diets
(either on TV or in your life) teach nothing about
sustainable eating and exercise practices that can be
enjoyably maintained for the rest of one’s life. What
about moderation, balance, quality of life?
So how does a person lose undesired body fat? Not
by dieting! We know that diets do not work. If diets
did work, then every person who has ever been on a
diet would be lean. We know from research that students
who dieted in middle school still struggled with
weight in high school. None of their efforts to lose
weight resulted in the desired outcome. (1) Rather,
COLUMNS
THE BIGGEST LOSER TV CONTEST: A BIG LOSER
diets linked with hunger, denial and deprivation
of favorite foods set the stage for binge eating and
weight gain. Hence, the question arises: Do diets contribute
to the obesity problem? Perhaps. The first six
months of food restriction tend to result in fat loss.
But then, the fat generally creeps back (if not rapidly
returns)—plus more.
It’s time to take a different look at how to lose weight.
A new task force on obesity suggests people chip away
at losing undesired body fat by eating just 100 calories
less per day (and for non-exercisers, moving 100
calories more). (2) This contrasts to the Biggest Loser
approach of skimping on breakfast, nibbling on salad
for lunch, and exercising exhaustively on fumes—all
unsustainable efforts that require enduring extreme
hunger. How about eating just a little bit less at the
end of the day: two fewer Oreos, one less can of soda
pop, a smaller snack while watching TV? How about
trade-in grueling workouts to burn off calories for
meaningful ways to move your body throughout the
day: training for a fun event, biking to work, playing
with the kids, running with a friend. The rigor of hard
training can lose it’s glow; even athletes need rest days
and an “off season.”
Food for Thought
I repeat: Eating is not cheating! The trick to losing
weight is to learn how to eat appropriately—a difficult
task in an obesity-producing society. A sports dietitian
can help you create a personalized food plan that
embraces food as one of life’s pleasures. You can find
this weight management expert using the referral network
at www.SCANdpg.org.
People who eat appropriately tend to be thin; dieters
tend to be heavy. Clearly, the eating approach to
weight management paves the road to success! To
manage to eat wisely, we need to learn how to manage
stress, get enough sleep, exercise our bodies enjoyably,
and take care of our souls. Curiously, this selfcare
has little to do with food...
April 2009
21
April 2009
21

DEPARTMENTS
COMMUTER CONNECTION by RON CASSIE ron_cassie@yahoo.com
Baltimore’s Cycling Upgrades
The first-ever on-street bike parking in Charm City
was unveiled last month. The plan was organized by
the Baltimore City Department of Transportation,
the Parking Authority, the Charles Village Business
Association and Be Fit Baltimore.
Converting one vehicular parking spot into a parking
space for 10 to 12 bicycles may not sound dramatic,
but don’t tell Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. She was
scheduled to lead a ride from City Hall downtown to
the blue-ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the popular
Eddie’s Supermarket on St. Paul St. in Charles
Village near the Johns Hopkins University campus.
“It’s literally on-the-street bicycle parking rather than
the sidewalk,” said Baltimore City bike activist Barry
Childress. “A dozen cyclists can park where a parking
space was previously used by a single car – which is cool.
“It’s a first for Baltimore and hopefully the first of many.
In that sense, I think it’s symbolic,” Childress added.
Barry Childress accepting coveted "Mediocre Award" for
finishing in the middle of the American Visionary Arts
Offie Clark, One Less Car board member, left, with
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon at Bike to Work Day.
In terms of symbolic – and practical – support for
bicycling in Baltimore, the city has no better public
official advocate than Dixon, a serious exercise and
biking enthusiast.
In terms of endurance on the road and commitment
to the cause, Baltimore has no more dedicated activist
than Childress.
Dixon started the Be Fit Baltimore campaign earlier
this year shortly after the City Health Department
released the 2008 Health Status Report for Baltimore.
One of the central finds of the report highlighted
some severe health disparities between Baltimore
neighborhoods.
In some instances, Dixon reported on the Be Fit
Baltimore website (www.befitbaltimore.com), a 20-year
life expectancy gap existed between neighborhoods
less than four miles apart. The leading cause of death
in Baltimore City, Dixon noted, is cardiovascular disease,
which can be combated with a combination of
exercise and a healthy diet.
Dixon, trim at 55-years-old, sets an example for
everyone – citizenry and public officials alike. Dixon
attended every Baltimore Bike to Work Day event
when she served as city council president, and then
as mayor, she led a bike-to-work week initiative that
ultimately morphed in weekly, around the year, early
Friday morning rides with the mayor. Those rides
– throughout the winter - were attended by as many
as 20 people, and one warmer days, upwards of 80
cyclists have followed the city’s top official on the
early morning workouts.
Earlier this year Dixon led a spinning class at the
Downtown Merritt Athletic Club, and from April 25 to
June 14, she’s posted five bicycling events on the Be
Fit Baltimore calendar.
The first, the Baltimore Bike Blast, April 25, from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. at Druid Hill, will present bike shops,
vendors and experts to lead beginner clinics while
bicycling advocates will be on hand to lead group
rides and help demonstrate that bike riding is doable
in the city both for recreation and transportation. An
all-day Baltimore Bike Summit, an open meeting of
state and local officials, and bike advocates, designed
to network and strategize “a game plan” for Baltimore
biking is tentatively scheduled for May 1.
May 15, of course, is Bike to Work Day, and May 17
is the popular, annual Bike Jam in Patterson Park,
a whole day of bike races, events, music and food,
and appropriate for all ages. On the calendar for
June 14, is another, popular and annual bike event
in Baltimore, “Tour dem Parks, Hon”, a fundraising,
family-oriented ride that traces the Gwynn Falls Trail
and connects multiple parks in the city.
Childress, meanwhile, a hard-core long distance
cyclist, has sincere praise for the mayor’s cycling skills.
“She’s a former runner who’s really gotten into bicycling,
and she’s gotten faster,” Childress said. “She
goes for some long rides on the weekends and she’s
getting hard to keep up with from the reports I get
from Mark Dennis, who is a friend and the official
photographer for the city.”
Childress, as well, has become one of the most recognizable
bicyclists in Baltimore, riding his unmistakable
“S.U.B.” bike.
“Sport-utility bike,” he said, laughing.
Childress has a unique bike he built though www.
xtracycle.com. With an “xtra cycle” kit, he’s added
15-inches in length to a regular road bike, complete
with a small trailer and panniers. However, he’s still
on only two wheels. The trailer increases the bike’s
weight by five pounds, yet it allows him to carry up to
200 pounds in gear.
Museum-sponsored Kinetic Bicycle Sculpture Race. COMMUTER continued on p.25
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22 April 2009

FAMILY CYCLING 101 by KEVIN BRUGMAN kbrugman@cox.net
COLUMNS
When Should Kids Ride Solo? Part 2
When I lived in England, I did monthly group rides
with Bike 1 Tours. On one of these rides, I came
across a couple riding with their 6 year-old daughter
on the 15 mile ride option. I was greatly impressed
and decided that if I ever had children, I would like
to raise my children the same way. Now that I have
children, that is exactly what I did and started riding
with my boys in a trailer and then on the tandem
when they were 3 years-old. When Jonathon was 7, we
started letting him ride on group rides on quiet roads.
How old should children on organized bike events
be, before they are allowed to ride on their own singles?
This is a continuation from last month’s article
when I posed this question to a number of bike shop
owners, event organizers and cycling advocates. This
month I will provide the responses that I received
when I asked parents.
In the interest of fairness, event organizers deal with a
wide variety of riders, some extremely inexperienced
of all ages, others that are out for a race paced ride
and everything in between. They have to make their
judgments based on the wider contingent of riders.
The parents I talked to were all experienced riders
and training their children to be skilled riders.
Doug Cherry is a father who has been riding with his
son on the road since his son was eight. His key issue
is that children learn from observation more than
from what they are told.
“In our house, bikes are not just seen as recreation,
they are transportation. My son has seen me, for as
long as he can remember, commute daily by bicycle
- yes even this time of year I bundle up and head to
work every morning with my lights on. My son started
riding with me before he was a year old. I’ve had
child seats, trailers and tag-alongs as he has grown up.
He began doing fairly long club rides with me (30+
miles) on his tag-along when he was 5; by the time he
was 8 he was doing 20+ mile rides on his mountain
bike and I got him a road bike for his 9th birthday.
For the past year and half he’s been clipped in and
riding CC rides with the club.”
This was a common theme with many of the parents.
Bruce Johnson mirrored much of what Doug said.
“I’ve tried to train my daughter in vehicular-style
cycling ever since she was able to ride on two wheels.
I almost always ride behind her on the road. It allows
me to critique her riding style, and I also feel it buys
her some safety, since overtaking motorists have to
avoid me. She has always seen that bicycles are more
than just something fun to do, as I carted her to day
care and to SACC (Fairfax County’s pre- and postelementary
school program) on a bicycle as often as I
could, and we ride our bikes to the Herndon Festival
and evening concerts during the summer.”
It is apparent that many of these children have as
much or more experience as some of the adult riders
on bicycle events. However the ultimate question of
responsibility comes up and that is where there may
be some contention.
Walter Roscello says it rather succinctly. “...as far as
responsibility goes, it is the parents’ decision whether
the child can ride on the road - even if they are 16
and the parent doesn’t come, it is still the parents’
judgment. In other words, the club should not have a
blanket policy in my opinion.”
Paul Meixner does a good job of laying out who
should be responsible for what. “There is a shared
responsibility on club rides. The club is responsible to
ensure that participants are clear about expectations.
Parents are responsible for their kids. Period.”
So where is the common ground? Event organizers
have insurance and liability concerns, worries about
mixed skills of riders and want to minimize their
risks. Having been on a large number of rides with
children, I have seen some children, like Doug’s son,
show up with a well maintained bicycle. He rides in
a consistent straight line, keeping to the side of the
road and obeying the rules. I have seen other children
come to rides with a bike that has one brake
disabled and the tires completely worn out. Some of
these kids ride in a very unsafe manner, weaving all
over the road, stopping randomly in the middle of the
group and failing to follow traffic rules. Unfortunately
I have seen many of these same bad riding examples
with many adults.
The issue comes down to event organizers feeling
responsible for everyone having a good ride but concerned
about the safety and economics/liabilities
of the events. Many of the parents feel that is their
responsibility to determine of their children is capable
of riding on these events. If we do not keep children
involved, many of the parents will not come and
who is going to ride these events in another 20 years
if we block children today?
Like many things in life, several readers suggested solutions
to parts of the issue recognizing that there is not a
single silver bullet solution that will solve all the issues.
I like the policy Frank Anders passed on for the
Baltimore Bicycling Club’s Kent County Spring Fling
held in Chestertown, Md.
“We want to encourage kids to become safe bicyclists
so we don’t want to ban them from our event (KCSF
has some of the best road conditions I know of for
teaching a new road cyclist),” Frank told me. “Our
policy is that every attendee under the age of 18 must
have a parent or legal guardian sign that they are
responsible for the minor.”
For the Spring Fling, the routes are on quiet back
roads where there is very limited traffic and after
over 25 years, the drivers in the area expect lots of
cyclists for that weekend. At this event, the organizers
coordinate family rides where there is a high ratio of
parents to children on roads with either very limited
traffic or wide shoulders. The parents watch out for
their children as well as any others in their proximity.
I have also seen children correct other children for
bad riding behavior.
Another focus is to have rides on child appropriate
roads. While that may seem like an oxymoron
in this area, there are areas on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland and Virginia, the Middle Neck of Virginia
and even some secluded areas of more urban areas of
Montgomery and Fairfax counties that are friendly
for children.
Steve Freides and John Schubert are strong proponents
of the Family Cycling Tour concept where
the entire cycling weekend is dedicated to children
cycling. While each parent is responsible for their
own child, each parent is also watching out for all of
the other children resulting in many eyes on each and
every child. The Family Cycling Tour has been going
since 1982, started in part because children were not
welcome at a bike rally. More information about the
FCT can be found at http://groups.google.com/
group/familycycling.
Central to any child riding whether just a parent/child
ride or in a group is the proper training. Several folks
pointed out that we get folks to coach our children in
baseball or soccer and at school we have professionals
teaching them how to play instruments or sing in
a chorus. Yet too often we assume that children will
just automatically learn how to ride on the road, even
when the parents do not know how to.
My biggest complaint with some adult riders is the
complete ignorance of traffic laws with children
around, especially blowing through traffic stops while
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It’s sharing the fun and experience with
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FAMILY continued on p.25
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703-938-8900
April 2009
23

DEPARTMENTS
SPOKESWOMEN by BRENDA RUBY bruby@verizon.net
…a look at women’s cycling issues in the
mid-Atlantic
Bike Fitting for Women
I have a confession to make. While I love my bike, I
often don’t like it very much. In fact, at times I want
nothing more than to go running and screaming
away from it. There, I said it. And I think a lot of you
harbor the same feeling toward your own bikes. It’s
an unspoken truth many people who bike struggle
with on nearly every ride, but rather than address the
problem, we burrow our heads, or shift our butts,
back, and hands as the case may be, to ignore the
issue. But I love my bike. It tortures me and yet, I love
it. That perhaps is topic for another column, or a
therapist’s couch, but when I had the chance to have
my fit checked by Jen Metzger of Lutherville Bike
Shop, I was eager to try and perhaps end this dysfunctional
relationship.
But am I a “serious” enough rider to warrant giving
this special attention? Isn’t it supposed to be a little
uncomfortable? And what’s a little discomfort when
you’re getting to do something so fun? The answers
in short are “yes” and “no.” Yes, anyone who owns a
bike should be fit on their bike and “no” it should
never hurt.
Jen describes that the end goal of a fit session is “comfort
for the rider.” She warns against comparing your
position to Lance Armstrong. “So few people can
maintain an aero position. If you’re not comfortable
the first day out, you’re not going to be comfortable.”
She recommends that you ride what’s comfortable
and “the majority of people are comfortable with an
upright position.”
24 April 2009
Author Ruby gets fitted by Jen Metzger
But if you’ve been riding a while or have discussions
with some gear head friends, you may be tempted
to focus too much on the geometry. Jen notes that
“people get hung up on angles and get scientific
about it, but bike fitting is not a science, it’s an art.
The most important thing to keep in mind is ‘Does it
feel good?’”
My answer would be “no,” or at least, not all the time.
Sometimes it’s hard to separate out the not-havingbeen-riding-as-much
fatigue from the not-in-the-correct-position
pain. Add to that my revisionist memory
of any completed ride as being a good ride and I’m
not sure what sort of things should be addressed.
Not to worry as Jen says that “there are clues as you
go along of what you need to do” and that the fitter
should ask leading questions.
What we did with me is what would be called an
“existing fit” where the bike you’re currently riding
is adjusted to maximize performance and comfort.
Your “fit can change from year to year depending
on your job, health, fitness level, or injury,” and Jen
adds that it can even change from the beginning of
the season to the end. Small tweaks that you might
make yourself to rectify the situation can actually lead
to more trouble. The bottom line being that if something
is persistently not feeling right you should have
it checked out.
A fit session, typically costing about $175, could
actually end up saving you money. As Jen says,
“putting $150 into a bike to properly fit it is worth it
if you don’t need to get a new bike” but she’s quick to
add that “we won’t recommend putting money into a
bike that just won’t fit.”
Showing up with my well-worn bike I have a few vague
ideas of what could be done to remedy the annoying
pains that have crept into my wrists and neck and
stayed. I don’t want to admit it because I really don’t
want to focus on it, but they’ve gotten progressively
worse over the six years that I’ve owned my bike.
The first thing Jen sees is that I, apparently, like most
women arrive to the session with the chain in the big
ring. “Not only does it damage knees, but the bike
as well.” Jen’s theory about this is that women “have
an innate want to suffer.” Who me? A few years ago a
friend dubbed me “Our Lady of No Mercy” because
1) I’m Catholic, and 2) I hated gearing down on hills
and would power up the ones that I could. It made
perfect sense to her. But while I can certainly agree
that I can tolerate some really unpleasant situations,
I can’t say I go out of my way to seek hills or to go 10
or 20 extra miles, though I know women who do. In
fact, one of the women I now ride with isn’t happy
with a ride until it reaches a certain level of misery. I
point out that achieving misery is not biking nirvana,
but so far that’s fallen on deaf ears and so far I still
ride with her, so I know Jen has a point.
Jen also mentions that many women are actually
riding bikes that are too big. “Women spend less
money on bikes and gear. For whatever reason
women, in general, have a harder time justifying
buying the better bike,” she says. So when the bike
isn’t right to begin with because it’s not as quality as
a person needs or is a cast-off, it’s more difficult to
make them work for an individual. She mentions that
Ebay makes things interesting.
“People buy bikes sight unseen that seem to be the
right size and then bring them in to be fit and a lot of
times it’s hard to make them work out.” She cautions
that “you don’t know how someone measured it; if
they did it correctly. You can take a bike that is small
and try to make it comfortable or more comfortable,
but you can’t take a bike that’s several sizes too big
and magically make it fit.”
In an existing bike fit, the saddle height, seat post
adjustment, cleat placement, and reach to the bar,
stem, and rise are all checked. In the process you’ll
be asked about your riding style and positions.
Constant feedback helps, but a lot of times things will
be apparent immediately. The displacement and wear
of my handlebar tape shows where I lean on my bike
while riding. I know this has been causing my wrists
grief. Now they ache early in the ride and for a while
afterwards. Once my riding season begins and I’m
riding 3 or 4 times a week, that’s a good amount of
time that my wrists are hurting.
The most common fit adjustments of changing the
seat height or the seat post won’t work. My seated
knee angle, known as the neutral knee position, falls
in the green “good” range when measured with the
goniometer (G-meter), a plastic ruler-type tool which
is used to determine joint and body position angles.
For measure, Jen dangles a plumb bob from my knee
showing that it’s almost directly over my cleat, just as
where it should be, meaning my seat doesn’t need to
be moved up or down, forward or backward, and that
my crank arm length is fine. My handlebar width is
also good in that my hands aren’t reaching out or in,
but directly in front of my shoulders when I’m on the
handlebars. And like 80% of the people, I have my
handlebars level with the seat so the stem length and
rise seem fine.
“A good fit can help you bike longer and pain free,
but people are leery of getting fit because they don’t
want to hear bad news,” says Jen adding, “I never like
telling people that they have the wrong [size] bike.”
As for my fit, Jen says that this is one part of her job
she doesn’t like much. Apparently my top tube is
slightly too long which means I’m stretching a little
too much, locking my arms into that position on the
handlebar which is causing me pain. Looking for ways
to make it more comfortable, Jen notes that the type
of stem on my bike doesn’t offer too many options.
“Older bikes do limit you. Parts are hard to find.” In
my case, I can only raise my stem a slight amount to
help alleviate my reach issue.
Wait? Could this be the reason my butt hurts, too?
(You get friendly pretty quickly with the person doing
your fit and somehow this wasn’t an embarrassing
thing to ask at the time, but I have a feeling being
fit by a woman has the advantage of feeling able to
speak more freely.) The saddle question can be a
little tricky. Jen explains that a lot of people think soft
SPOKESWOMEN continued on p.25

COMMUTER continued from p.22
Childress, 52, pedals it over all Baltimore, has ridden
it Annapolis and the Eastern Shore. One of his favorite
venues in the C & O Canal, and he often makes
a three-day trip out of C & O treks by heading to
Georgetown first, then riding north to Cumberland
and camping along the way before riding back home
to Baltimore.
Like Dixon, he returned to bicycling a little bit later
in life. Not so late that he couldn’t get in shape, just
that in his mid-40s, it was too late to train for the Tour
du France.
In terms of the overall biking picture in Baltimore,
often considered an older Northeastern industrial
that’s challenging to retro-fit for cyclists, Childress
sees hope.
“I saw what a huge change was made when bike
lanes were added to several roads in Roland Park,”
Childress said. “All of a sudden people began riding
their bikes to the Starbucks there and that became a
busy outdoor café. Older men and women were riding
their bikes to the supermarket next door to pick
up a loaf of bread. There were more strollers on the
sidewalks, more people jogging, too. People were getting
outdoors, getting exercise, running errands and
people watching at the same time.
“Almost like Amsterdam,” he said.
Childress said he doesn’t expect Baltimore to turn
into a European bicycle capital overnight. But he says,
positively, since he’s started riding nine years ago, “we
are definitely seeing – and going to see – more bicyclists
out there.”
FAMILY continued from p.23
children are around, or worse yet teaching their own
children these same habits. It always scares me when
we go to the beach and see adults thinking that while
they are on vacation they can ride on the wrong side of
the road, run stop lights and fail to follow any number
of traffic laws. As Doug pointed out earlier, children
learn more from observation than from what they are
told and assume it is the right way to ride a bike.
Walter Roscello recognized this need and organizes
rides for new riders, whether adult or child, who want
to become comfortable on the road. He includes
coaching on road riding skills at the ride start and during
various breaks during the ride. By splitting up the
information, the riders do not have to think about too
much at once and can practice what they just learned.
At the Tour d’Chesapeake, Bike Walk Virginia hosts
educational sessions for the public. They point out that
parents must decide about the maturity and capabilities
of children for riding and caution the parents about
the importance of teaching children good bike habits.
Teaching those habits only comes from practice.
There are going to be parents that rightly decide it
is not safe for their children to ride in some areas
and other parents that feel that their children are
capable of riding in the same locality. There will be
some club rides in locations that encourage children
to ride and others that do not. For example, the Tour
d’Chesapeake may be well suited for children while
the Bike Virginia tour hosted by the same group
would not be suitable for a lot of the same children.
Paul Meixner brings it into perspective when he
points out: “There is no right/wrong black/white
answer here. When a club is looking to establish or
change a practice, it makes sense to ask for input.
Making bold changes without considering diverse
opinions is a bit presumptuous.”
SPOKESWOMEN continued from p.24
seats are good, but a “broken in” bike seat may just in
fact be broken.
“If there’s no support, you’re just riding the rails.”
Hearing her describe it like that even sounds
painful. She also notes that “we see that women don’t
buy clothes as often as men. Sometimes a new pair of
shorts will do wonders.” And sometimes it just takes
trying a couple of different seats to find the one for
you. Jen herself favors seats without the cut out which
have become the standard in recent years. “For
whatever reason, they’re just not for me.”
The good thing about getting a fit done is that while
you can try to make your current bike more ergonomic,
you can take those fit measurements from the
fit bike and narrow down the field if you decide you
want a new bike. Though stock bikes do have limits,
there are so many brands and geometries to choose
from it’s a rare occasion for someone to actually need
a custom bike. She notes that a lot of times the decision
to get a custom bike arises from how bad the current
bike is. Someone who’s been torturing
themselves on an improperly fitted bike may want to
finally have a bike that’s tailored just to them.
Whether you’re looking to get a new bike or tweak
your existing one, finding a properly trained person is
key. Jen, her husband, Ron, and another employee at
Lutherville Bike Shop have gone through the Serotta
training program to receive their certification, a benchmark
in the field. Jen says that, “A Serotta fit gets every
angle. It’s easier to understand differences when fit on
the fit cycle. You can then apply those measurements
on your existing bike and see the difference.”
My bike has been adjusted all that it can be so I’m
hoping there is some improvement. I’m willing to
hang in and give it more time.
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April 2009
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4949 Bethesda Ave.
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(301) 656-6188
www.griffincycle.com
Road, Hybrids, Mountain, Kids
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Family Owned – In Bethesda for 38 Years
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FEATURING BIKES FROM:
To be listed, send information to Spokes, 5911 Jefferson Boulevard, Frederick, MD 21703 or e-mail: neil@spokesmagazine.com
For a more comprehensive list check out www.spokesmagazine.com.
APRIL 16-19 – ST. MICHAELS SINGLE &
TANDEMS WEEKEND
Members of the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club
and tandemists who attend the Eastern Tandem
Rally will join forces for this Eastern Shore weekend.
Lodging will be both at the Best Western Motor Inn
and nearby camping facilities. Four days of riding: no
hills, sparse traffic, wide shoulders, many roads near
the water. If you would like to rent a tandem, you can
contact Mt Airy Bicycles (Maryland) at 301-831-5151
or Tandems East (New Jersey) at 856-451-5104. To
register for the event contact Ed and Cindy Brandt
ed.b.brandt@gmail.com (301) 657-4657 or Bob and
Willa Friedman at bob-f@cox.net or (703) 978-7937.
APRIL 17-19 – SPRING TUNE-UP
All cyclists and their families are invited to join this
15th annual weekend ride held in Madison, Ga.,
hosted by BRAG (Bicycle Ride Across Georgia). Flat
to gently rolling hills. This is a fun time for the whole
family and a great time to get in shape for BRAG!
Various ride options available daily as well as daily
rates for those who cannot ride all weekend. Plenty
of food, music and entertainment. For more info visit
www.brag.org or email info@brag.org or call (770)
498-5153.
APRIL 18 – OCEAN TO BAY TOUR
Pedal along coastal Delaware’s beaches and bays on
the 20th annual Ocean to Bay Bike Tour, beginning
at 8 a.m.. Routes begin and end at Garfield Parkway
and the boardwalk in Bethany Beach, Del. Cyclists
will tour coastal and inland bay areas on 25-, 35- and
50-mile circuits. Rest stops along the way provide
light snacks and refreshments. Visit the Bethany-
Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce web site at www.
TheQuietResorts.com or call 800-962-SURF toll-free
for more information or a registration brochure.
APRIL 25 – TOUR DE CARROLL
Check out the scenery of Carroll County, Md., and
get those winter-lazy legs in shape for the summer.
Ride the 5th Annual Tour de Carroll and enjoy the
beauty and great rides that the county has to offer. All
proceeds benefit West End Adult Day Care Services,
Carroll County’s only private, non-profit service for
low income seniors. There are four rides for all skill
levels ranging from a full metric (63 miles) 36 miles
spring classic, 25 mile recreational ride, and 8 mile
family fun ride. Check out this event at www.tourdecarroll.com
or call (410) 840-8381 for details.
APRIL 25 – ROAR
Following a record-setting biking and hiking event in
2008 that saw over 1,000 participants, the Kennedy
Krieger Institute’s Ride on for Autism Research
(ROAR) will grow again this year. In addition to the
25 and 10-mile recreational bike rides, from Oregon
April 2009
27

Ridge Park in Cockeysville, Md.., serious cyclists will
have now the opportunity to tackle the challenging
50-mile route, while families will enjoy the low-mileage,
youth fun ride and one of the area’s best playgrounds.
Registration begins at 7 a.m.; 50-mile and
25-mile routes begin at 7:30 a.m.; 10-mile, kids ride,
and hiking trails begin by 8:30 a.m. For details or registration
log onto www.ROAR.kennedykrieger.org or
call (443) 923-7300.
APRIL 25 – END HUNGER RIDE
A day of biking along the scenic western shore of the
Chesapeake Bay in Calvert County, Md. . Pedal along
the bay front, marinas, farmland and a local winery,
knowing that your registration fee will help feed a
hungry family. This is a fully supported event with
routes ranging from 15 miles to a full metric century.
Check out our new beginner ride which includes
safety orientation, road rules and a ride leader to
make sure even our newest riders have a great day.
For details log onto endhungercalvert.org
APRIL 25 – BALTIMORE BIKE BLAST
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Druid Hill bike shops, vendors
and experts will lead beginner clinics while bicycling
advocates will be on hand to lead group rides
and help demonstrate that bike riding is doable in the
city both for recreation and transportation. For details
log onto www.baltimorespokes.org
APRIL 25 – PEDAL FOR POOCHES
Rides ranging from 16 to 37 miles from Charles Town,
WV (near the VA border). Flat to rolling and some
hills. Registration the day of the ride is 8:30 a.m. Rest
stop with snacks and drinks. T shirts guaranteed to
pre registered riders. This ride benefits the Briggs
Animal Adoption Center in Charles Town, WV. For
details log onto www.baacs.org or call (304) 724-6558
or email volunteer@nhes.org
APRIL 26 – GREENBRIER CHALLENGE
Season opening mountain bike races at Greenbrier
State Park in Washington County, Md., with over
$10,000 in cash and prizes to 53 classes. MD State
Championship Medals/Titles to riders from any
state, and Quals to top 15 in each 5 yr age group for
the National Championships. 9 Junior age groups
in Junior Olympic Series race. Regional level mountain
bike race in beautiful state park with a lake. Five
separate races during the day for Marathon (9:30),
Beginner (10:00), Sport (11:30), Kids (12:45), and
Expert/Pro (2pm). Fund raiser for Trips-For-Kids
charity for inner city youth. Pre-register at www.
BikeReg.com. Info at www.potomacvelo.com, Jim
Carlson, jcarlsonida@yahoo.com, 703-569-9875.
MAY 2 – SIX PILLARS CENTURY
Character Counts Mid-Shore is sponsoring this fundraiser
at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near
Cambridge, MD. The event includes four ride choices,
including a 12-mile family ride, a 30-mile fun & fitness
ride, a 56 miler, and a full century. The event will
support Character Counts Mid-Shore, Inc., an agency
which provides the Winners Walk Tall Program in the
public schools in Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester
counties free of charge. The lessons, provided by over
200 character coaches, are based on the six pillars of
character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility,
Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. For details visit www.
charactercountsmidshore.org or call (410) 819-0386.
MAY 3 – FALLSTON DUATHON
Annie’s Playground in Fallston, Md., will be the
site of the first Fallston Duathlon. In support of the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Contes Bikes of
Bel Air, Md., will host this event. Registration is limited
to the first 350 entries. Event begins at 7 a.m.
For details call the store at (410) 838-0866 or email
BelAirMD@contebikes.com
MAY 9 – CAPITAL TO CAPITAL RIDE
The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation is hosting the
Capital to Capital bike ride on May 9th. Riders can
choose to start from either Richmond or Williamsburg,
ride 100, 50 or 25 miles through Henrico and Charles
City Counties. The Williamsburg side will offer a 15-
mile family ride on the completed portion of the
Virginia Capital Trail. For more information and
online registration, visit: www.virginiacapitaltrail.org
5th ANNUAL
TOUR DE CARROLL
Save the date: APRIL 25, 2009
Get those bikes and
cycling legs in shape
& enjoy the beautiful
Carroll County countryside!!
Show and Go – 8am to 10am
Lunch (included) – 11:30am to 3pm
Bike Route Options:
Bike Route Options:
63 mile High Tech Metric Century
36 mile Spring Classic
25 mile Recreational Ride
with 20 mile option (new for 2009)
8 mile Family Fun Ride (new route for 2009)
Radio sag and sweep on all routes until 3pm.
Rest stops, maps, cue sheets.
Plenty of free parking and nearby motels.
Easy location at Dutterer’s Park in Westminster, MD
(just off Rt.140; 25 miles W of Baltimore, 20 miles E of Frederick).
$30.00 Registration includes:
Lunch
T-shirt
30 day pass to Westminster
Family Center, full service
gym. ($55 value)
RAIN
OR
SHINE!
Entry into drawing for door
prizes (totaling $1,000.00).
Winners posted at Noon.
50/50 Cash Raffle.
Drawing at Noon.
To register and for further information go to or call:
www.active.com or www.tourdecarroll.com
Call 410-840-8381
100% of the funds raised directly benefit
West End Place Adult Day Care Services
(Carroll County’s only private, non-profit
service for low income seniors).
MAY 15 – BIKE TO WORK DAY
Join thousands of area commuters for a celebration
of bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to
work! Meet up with your neighbors at one of 26 pit
stops all over the Washington metro region, ride into
the city with experienced commuter convoys and meet
your colleagues at Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania
Avenue. Washington Area Bicyclist Association and
Commuter Connections invite you to try bicycling
to work as an alternative to solo driving. Help the
Washington region become a better place to ride. Bike
to Work Day is a FREE event and open to all area commuters!
For details log onto www.waba.org
MAY 15-17 – TOUR DE CHESAPEAKE
Celebrate the arrival of spring with a bike tour
through the wonderful, scenic and flat Mathews
County backroads along the Chesapeake Bay. Join 800
cycling enthusiasts on this tour, perfect as a family’s
first biking adventure, or maybe the intermediate
rider’s, and even the experienced veteran’s, season
warm-up. Choose tours of 17, 40, 60, or 80 miles.
Families especially will enjoy the abundant quiet,
scenic lanes winding down to forgotten coves on the
Chesapeake Bay, the East River and the North River.
Pedal in and out of the beautiful salt marshes instead
of traffic. Visit www.bikechesapeake.org for details and
to register online. For inquiries, call (757) 229-0507
or email info@bikechesapeake.org.
MAY 17 – COLUMBIA TRIATHLON
Celebrating its 27th year, the Columbia Triathlon is
famous for its outstanding race organization and its
fun and extremely challenging race course. Held in
Centennial Park, Ellicott City, Md. Consists of a 1.5k
swim, 41k bike, and 10k run. Even though the event
28 April 2009

is full, it’s a great spectacle for on-lookers. For more
info call (410) 964-1246 or visit www.tricolumbia.org
MAY 22-25 – KENT COUNTY SPRING FLING
Join the Baltimore Bicycling Club and Washington
College as they host this 27th annual weekend event
along Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Rides range from
11 to 100 miles on flat to rolling terrain. Stay at
Washington College’s dorm and enjoy great food, an
ice cream social, live music, blue grass on the square,
contra dancing, sock hop, and much more. For details
contact Frank and Kathy Anders at (410) 628-4018 or
email KCSF@verizon.net
along the shorelines. Choose from 20, 40, 62.5 or
100 miles on Saturday and 20, 40 or 62.5 miles on
Sunday. CBAR raises money for the American Lung
Association to prevent lung disease and promote lung
health through education, programs and research.
Start/finish, lodging, and activities, including our
famous crab feast, are held at Salisbury University in
Salisbury, Md. For more info or to register visit www.
marylandlung.org or call 800-642-1184.
JUNE 6-7 – BIKE MS: BEYOND THE BELTWAY
Join 1000 participants from across the mid-Atlantic
region for the National MS Society, National Capital
Chapter’s annual Bike MS event in Middleburg, Va.
Choose from several mileage options along our challenging
new route, and enjoy great food, beverages,
and live music at the finish line. Ride for one day or
two. For details, visit www.MSandYOU.org, call (202)
296-5363, or email BikeMS@MSandYOU.org.
JUNE 6-13 – BICYCLE RIDE ACROSS GEORGIA
Come discover Georgia by bicycle on the 30th annual
Bicycle Ride Across Georgia. The 2009 edition will
ride from Hiawassee to Clarks Hill Lake, and will feature
beautiful scenery, historic sites, street festivals, ice
cream socials, an End-of-the-Road party, and more!
Great fun for the family, groups or individuals. Daily
rides average 60 miles, approximately 400 miles total.
Longer Hammerhead options for serious cyclists. Fully
supported with rest stops every 10-15 miles. For more
information, please visit our website at www.brag.org,
or email info@brag.org or call (770) 498-5153.
LUTHERVILLE WEEKLY ROAD RIDES
Lutherville Bike Shop will lead a weekly road bike
ride. The ride will leave from the shop at 5:30 p.m.
Proper riding attire required. Monday nights at 5:30
p.m. 14-16 mph Approximately 30 miles A scenic road
ride through Loch Raven Reservoir and surrounding
areas. We keep the hills to a minimum and invite all
riders to the sport. Racers recovering from the weekend
are welcome as well. We’ll ride as a group and no
one will be left behind.
Call the shop for details (410) 583-8734.
www.luthervillebikeshop.com
WEDNESDAY NIGHT MT. BIKE RIDES AT LOCH RAVEN
Lutherville Bike Shop will lead a weekly mountain
bike ride every Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. from
the shop. The ride will leave from the shop and go
through Loch Raven Reservoir. Distance and speed
will vary based on rider skill level. Call the shop for
details (410) 583-8734. www.luthervillebikeshop.com
SPIRITED SUNDAY ROAD RIDES
Join the folks of the Bicycle Place, just off Rock Creek
Park, every Sunday morning (beginning at 8:30
a.m.) for a “spirited” 36-40 mile jaunt up to Potomac
and back. This is a true classic road ride that runs
year round. While the pace is kept up, no one is
left behind. No rainy day rides. The Bicycle Place
is located in the Rock Creek Shopping Center, 8313
Grubb Road (just off East-West Highway). Call (301)
588-6160 for details.
MAY 30 – RIDE ON FOR CASA KIDS
Ride on the C&O Canal and quiet roads in the western
Panhandle of West Virginia in this fundraiser for
CASA for kids. Visit Civil War sites, historic homes
and the Shenandoah River. The 10 and 25 mile rides
begin at 10 a.m, with the 50 miler heading off at 8,
and the century at 7 a.m. Tykes on Trikes will begin
at 1 p.m. For more information contact Al Levitan at
levitan@frontiernet.net
MAY 30-31 – US AIR FORCE CYCLING CLASSIC
Registration for participation in the Air Force Cycling
Classic, now spread over an entire weekend has
opened. The Cycling Classic, positioned at the center
of the U.S. national road racing calendar and expected
to attract some of the nation’s top racers to its pro
events, will now allow more opportunities for cycling
enthusiasts of all abilities to participate. The weekend’s
events in Arlington begin on Saturday with amateur
and professional criterium races in Clarendon.
On Sunday cycling enthusiasts of all abilities can
challenge themselves on the U.S. Air Force Cycling
Classic’s 12.5 kilometer circuit in Crystal City during
the Crystal Ride, a non-competitive ride with an
option to raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes
Fund. Following this amateur ride, the men’s pro race
will take place on the same course. Registration for
the amateur participatory ride is now open through
the event’s website: www.usairforcecyclingclassic.com.
JUNE 5 - 7 – CHESAPEAKE BAY AIR RIDE
CBAR is a weekend long, pledge-based bike tour and
inline skating event. Open to all cyclists/skaters, novice
to expert. Routes go through Wicomico, Somerset
and Worcester Counties to Assateague Island or
April 2009
29

COLUMNS
MY BIKE SHOP by BRENDA RUBY
SILVER CYCLES
WHIZZING DOWN GEORGIA AVENUE just half a mile
south of the beltway exit for Silver Spring, Md., it
might not catch your eye at first, but nestled between
Seminary Road and 16th Street in Silver Spring, Silver
Cycles bike shop stands as a testament to one woman’s
love of cycling.
Linda Mack opened shop in August 2004 and the
story alone might be the fact that Mack is one of the
few female bike shop owners in the area. But just like
her tiny blink-and-you’ll-miss-it store, you’d be overlooking
a real gem.
Her get-down-to-business, get-it-done demeanor obviously
has been one of the keys to her success, subtly
conveying confidence in her store and work. But her
understated nature belies the fact that you’re talking
to one of the woman largely responsible for bringing
women’s racing to the area.
Mack had been involved in cycling a bit when in college
at Cal State Northridge where she took a cycling
class and learned the basics of racing. That combined
with the high gas prices in the 70’s made biking a key
part of her life.
But the story doesn’t begin there. Really it seems to
begin back in childhood where one of Mack’s early
memories is of going to the dump with her father and
dragging home bikes to fix.
“I was always interested in fixing things,” Linda told
SPOKES. Though a Humanities major in college, her
jobs have reflected her desire for meticulous, exacting
work. She did a lot of radio and audio, eventually making
her way to National Public Radio (NPR) where she
worked for 26 years doing high-end sound work.
All the while Mack raced, but there was only one
field for women and that included the top racers and
the few who would be willing to take on the beating.
Mack, being one of them, knew first-hand the difficulties
facing women who wanted to race.
“It was an uphill battle,” she says, of establishing a
Cat 4 field for women, but ultimately very successful.
“Women who cycle today have no clue what it’s like
not to have different fields.”
Mack recounts her race memories where there would
be the top female cyclist who was riding at a national
performance level, the second place rider who could
maybe ride her wheel, and “then there was me and
the other women, riding way off behind them.”
A driving influence to have local clubs include women’s
entry level Cat 4 racing in this region, her efforts
made it easier for women to break into the sport.
Local clubs run the races, often combining the top
fields when there are fewer participants, like in the
women’s field. The unfortunate result being novices
competing and trying to learn to race along side seasoned
racers. (By contrast, the men’s racing fields are
so crowded that some close weeks before the event.)
It’s participation in and results from these races which
allow a rider to acquire the points needed, as mandated
by the United States Cycling Federation (USCF),
to move up. But without a designated beginner’s field
to compete in, it’s not likely that you’ll even get that
chance. Before the addition of Cat 4 to the women’s
race scene it was very difficult if you, as a female novice,
wanted to seriously give racing a try.
Of the ultimate success, Mack remarks, “institutionally
it worked very well. That’s what happens when you
convince other people it’s their idea.” “The ultimate
goal was to get women out of the region to race, get
some national level experience, and bring that experience
back to raise the level at home,” states Mack.
By all accounts, it’s worked. Considering all this just
happened in 1997, Mack’s efforts have helped shape
current racing in the region. It was Mack who got
Evelyn Egizi, eventual founder of Artemis, a successful
local team, into racing. Mack’s efforts were going on
while she was working at NPR and on one of her daily
commutes she recalls being passed by Egizi, though
she didn’t know her at the time.
Riding strong herself, Mack recalls thinking “this
woman wants to have fun racing.” After introducing
herself, Mack suggested Egizi get into racing. She did.
Mack states, “What I started at a local level, Evelyn
took over and took it to a higher level.”
After her success with this and after racing a few years,
Mack’s life took on a new challenge as she became
the mother of first one, then two adopted daughters.
It’s while she was on maternity leave in 2002 that she
first got into bike shop ownership, helping to purchase
the existing Proteus store in College Park with
Jill Dimauro. Working there for eight to nine months
fixing bikes, Mack decided that with possible changes
coming to NPR, her full-time employer, she wanted to
venture out on her own.
Turning her usual attention to detail that had made
her a successful audio person, Mack took online business
classes for a year, drew up a detailed business
plan, talked with current shop owners, and meticulously
researched demographics and other shop
locales before deciding on a location and opening
Silver Cycles. It may seem easily overlooked, but in
actuality its location reflects the precision Mack puts
into everything. All this in an effort to keep from “falling
flat on my face,” she says.
Far from it. While the growing years can be nervewracking,
Mack’s business plan has taken her from
startup to growth and beyond.
“Starting a business requires a lot of capitol to live
through the build up phase. Growth costs money. And
there are some items you just have to have.” Mack
knows a high-end frame which costs thousands of dollars
might sit on display for a year or two, but she says,
“a good bike shop needs to have that to indicate you
know how to build a bike from scratch.”
Mack apparently knows how to build more than a
bike from scratch—Silver Cycles has grown 30-40%
every year except for last fall. “We had so many
repair bikes and were selling so many bikes that we
expanded into a warehouse to get all the work done.”
Located not far from the shop, the warehouse has
four repair stalls and allows the tiny shop not to be
hindered by its size.
Asked how the current economy is affecting business
and she notes that “when you’ve been having such
tremendous growth the past few years, growing 3 or
4% like we did last Fall is hardly anything.” But while
new bike sales may have fallen off, everything else has
been increasing.
“People are fixing bikes more instead of buying new.”
While the increased gas prices of last summer not
only affected the cost of getting goods shipped in,
increasing bike prices a good 20%, the other effect
is that “people are dragging bikes out of their basements
and fixing them up to ride.” She notes that the
good news is “a lot of the low end bikes really aren’t
that bad” but if you want to save as much money as
possible, a lot of the time “you can make an old bike
ride beautifully for under $200.”
Linda Mack
Mack prides Silver Cycles on being a neighborhood
store, selling a lot of hybrids and family bikes. “It’s so
much fun to ride and anyone can do it,” she notes.
One thing she loves most is setting kids up to ride.
“Good kids’ bikes are really important because if they
like their bike, they’ll like to ride.” Though the store
is just a few years old, Mack hopes that those kids will
someday bring back their own.
It’s no surprise then that Mack’s daughters, who’ve
grown up around one bike shop or another, are
developing their own interest in biking. While Mack
stopped racing with her first child, she’s coming back
into the race community because her daughters ride
with Artemis in their Junior program. Bragging just a
little and smiling she says of Svetlana, her eleven-yearold,
“she’s got great handling skills.”
With solid service, Silver Cycles’ reputation is growing.
A high-end frame in the window isn’t what garnered
a double check rating from Washington Checkbook,
only one of three bike shops in Maryland to receive
that distinction from the nonprofit consumer information
resource. Mack is obviously the key to this
success. “I’m always trying to make sure the work gets
done properly and solve problems.”
She sees basic good service as integral to longevity.
But just as essential is her attitude of equality. “People
deserve respect no matter what bike they bring in.”
In other words, you don’t have to be a racer or even
know much about bikes to be taken seriously. “There’s
a bike for every purpose. What can be a more important
use than an El Salvadoran using a bike to get to
his job? That’s an important bike.” And that’s not just
Mack’s attitude; “my employees are all like that, too.”
The way Linda Mack sees it, “biking is freedom and
independence.” Whether it was riding on her Schwinn
as a child to the local amusement park to ride the roller
coaster over and over with her brother, establishing
a way for local women to break into racing, or eventually
riding the Allegheny Trail with her family as she
hopes, Mack is someone who lives her belief.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
A good independent bicycle shop still remains one of the
treasured resources of bicycling–among the best places
to learn about places to ride, meet locals to ride with, and
learn about new products. Oh, and they also do a super
job fixing the bike stuff you break. “My Bike Shop” is a
regular feature of SPOKES in which we give you a look into
a local shop and the folks behind it.
30 April 2009

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DELAWARE
BETHANY BEACH
BETHANY CYCLE & FITNESS
778 Garfield Parkway
(302) 537-9982
VIRGINIA
ALEXANDRIA
SPOKES, ETC.
1545 N. Quaker Lane
(703) 820-2200
ARLINGTON
REVOLUTION CYCLES
2731 Wilson Boulevard
(703) 312-0007
ASHBURN
SPOKES, ETC.
20070 Ashbrook Commons Plaza
(703) 858-5501
BELLE VIEW
SPOKES, ETC.
Belle View Blvd.
(703) 765-8005
BURKE
THE BIKE LANE
9544 Old Keene Mill Road
(703) 440-8701
FREDERICKSBURG
OLDE TOWNE BICYCLES
1907 Plank Road
(540) 371-6383
LEESBURG
BICYCLE OUTFITTERS
19 Catoctin Circle, NE
(703) 777-6126
STAFFORD
REVOLUTION CYCLES
100 Susa Drive, #103-15
(540) 657-6900
VIENNA
SPOKES, ETC.
224 Maple Avenue East
(703) 281-2004
WOODBRIDGE
OLDE TOWNE BICYCLES
14477 Potomac Mills Road
(703) 491-5700
MARYLAND
ARNOLD
BIKE DOCTOR
953 Ritchie Highway
(410) 544-3532
BALTIMORE
MT. WASHINGTON
BIKE SHOP
5813 Falls Road
(410) 323-2788
BETHESDA
GRIFFIN CYCLE
4949 Bethesda Avenue
(301) 656-6188
COCKEYSVILLE
THE BICYCLE CONNECTION
York & Warren Roads
(410) 667-1040
COLLEGE PARK
COLLEGE PARK BICYCLES
4360 Knox Road
(301) 864-2211
COLUMBIA
RACE PACE
6925 Oakland Mills Road
(410) 290-6880
DAMASCUS
ALL AMERICAN BICYCLES
Weis Market Center
(301) 253-5800
ELLICOTT CITY
RACE PACE
8450 Baltimore National Pike
(410) 461-7878
FOREST HILL
BICYCLE CONNECTION EXPRESS
2203 Commerce Drive
(410) 420-2500
FREDERICK
BIKE DOCTOR
5732 Buckeystown Pike
(301) 620-8868
WHEELBASE
229 N. Market Street
(301) 663-9288
HAGERSTOWN
HUB CITY SPORTS
35 N. Prospect Street
(301) 797-9877
MT. AIRY
MT. AIRY BICYCLES
4540 Old National Pike
(301) 831-5151
OWINGS MILLS
RACE PACE
9930 Reisterstown Road
(410) 581-9700
ROCKVILLE
REVOLUTION CYCLES
1066 Rockville Pike
(301) 984-7655
2/20/09 9:24:15 AM
SALISBURY
SALISBURY CYCLE & FITNESS
1404 S. Salisbury Blvd.
(866) 758-4477
SILVER SPRING
THE BICYCLE PLACE
8313 Grubb Road
(301) 588-6160
WALDORF
BIKE DOCTOR
3200 Leonardtown Road
(301) 932-9980
WESTMINSTER
RACE PACE
459 Baltimore Blvd.
(410) 876-3001
WASHINGTON, D.C.
GEORGETOWN
REVOLUTION CYCLES
3411 M Street, N.W.
(202) 965-3601