Beyond the Ride

Never did I see it coming.

Ten years ago, I’d have laughed if you’d told me I’d be running a nationally recognized bicycle shop, leading an international racing team, and working on projects that reshape communities. Back then, my world revolved around food sustainability, aquaponics, and running a community center. Yet here I am, writing to you from a place I never imagined.  

It all started with a shed, a friend named Dick Fox, and a vision: teach kids how to fix bikes and give them something meaningful to do after school. That little program became Bike and Sol, a nonprofit that’s changed lives, built connections and sparked passions beyond anything I could have dreamed.  

I remember one of our first students. He didn’t know the difference between a wrench and pliers. Tools were foreign to him, but what he did know was Dick Fox. They had a history, and the kid trusted Dick enough to be our first guinea pig in the Earn A Bike program. He spent countless hours cleaning and tearing apart the bike he would earn. The satisfaction on his face when he finally got to ride it was unforgettable. He built it. To this day, we still joke and say hello whenever we see each other. He’s now a young man thriving with a job and doing life. He’s enjoying his ride.

Today, Bike and Sol is more than a shop—it’s a hub for community, a launchpad for dreams, and a place where people find purpose. Over the past decade, we’ve helped kids discover their talents, launched Team Bike and Sol Racing to inspire excellence and promote mental health, and built partnerships that have transformed lives. My journey has been one of exploration and growth, and now I’m inviting you to join me on the next chapter: Beyond the Ride.  

This blog is about more than bicycles. It’s about building communities, embracing challenges, and making a difference—together. I’ll share stories, lessons learned, and insights from my community development, entrepreneurship, and leadership work. We’ll talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of what makes communities thrive or fail. And most importantly, I want this to be a space for conversation and connection.  

Dick Fox was my first partner on this journey, bringing his bicycle mechanic skills to our shared vision. Together, we built something that has grown far beyond what we could have imagined. And that’s the beauty of partnerships—they take us places we couldn’t reach alone. I hope to inspire you to explore what’s possible when we ride together toward a common goal.  

So here’s my invitation: come along for the ride. Let’s explore how we can create, build, and thrive as individuals and communities. Whether solving big problems or celebrating small victories, every journey starts with a single pedal stroke. Let’s enjoy the ride—together.