Meet Dave; cycling enthusiast, all around nice guy and easy to talk to. I always enjoy our chats when he comes in the store and recently he shared a little about himself and his bike rides.
Dave's first bike was a red Schwinn, which he got in kindergarten (in the 60's), and he's been riding ever since... not that one of course. While living in Boulder, Colorado his love of cycling grew while watching the Coors Classic with some of the great racers like Davis Phinney, Rebecca Twigg, Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault. His dream now of a 5.5 Madone will have to wait just a bit longer for his girls to get through college. Being a real family guy, his wife and the kids come first...that's the way he wants it. In his college days he reminisced of several years, riding 23 miles to class each day to save cash (don't all parents have a story like that?). Now he rides for pleasure, health and the all important stress reduction factor. He says it makes him feel young. I think we can all relate.
Dave's love of riding includes going fast. He used to be a downhill & super-g alpine skier...I'm impressed! Then came a back injury and surgery. His current ride, a 22 year-old Bianchi Specialissima steel road bike is a classic that he appreciates but would like to replace with, hmm...something in maybe, carbon? He recently did a Lawrence ride with a bunch of guys on REALLY nice bikes, most of them 10-15 years his junior. Dave usually averages around 16-18 miles/hr. with his daily rides around 30 miles. These guys averaged 25 miles/hr. and the ride they took him on was 65 miles. He says one of them let him suck his rear wheel most of the way...I should say! We ain't no spring chickens here! Good work Dave!!!
One more thing I got from Dave that I liked was how he feels about encouraging others. Basically the same way he encouraged the kids he coached in archery years ago. Do it if it feels good, pursue what you love. Good advice that works for just about everything. Thanks Dave!
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