|
Meet our Support Staff
 Arlyn BI have been in the bike industry for the last three years. I love working with bikes because i truly believe in them. I have been riding since i was a small child and have, over the last few years, developed an obsession with hardcourt bike polo. Through bike polo i have been able to travel to many different cities that i would never have dreamed of going to, and the best part of it is that i get to experience the cities by bike.
I am a fairly recent transplant to Portland. I grew up in northern Minnesota, spent a few years in Washington, DC and now find myself on the West Coast. I moved here with my lovely wife, Jessica, and our boxer, Gizmo. |
 Jordan C The bicycle has saved my life... twice. I grew up in northern California, riding my mountain bike as a young 12 year old boy over the hills and along the backroads of the east bay area. Oh mother and father, if only you had known specifics about the bicycle hitch-hiking, tresspassing, attempted kidnapping, train track riding, and cross-bay adventures. I wonder why you never inquired as to the whereabouts of your twelve year old boy and his bicycle who disappeared at dawn and returned long after dusk. I consider myself to have lived a charmed life... chased by mountain lions and wolves, blown off the highway by logging trucks and tornadoes, and hopping over barbed wire fences and mounds of beautifully sculpted dirt. Throughout the years bicycles have changed hands, distances have grown, and my home has moved, but the 12 year old boy is still riding. |
 Mike DI have been working in the bike industry for 20 years. I started out in the service department of a high end shop, so I have some good technical skills. I have always been very passionate about bikes, since the moment I learned to ride them. When I was 13, I was bored one day and went for a bike ride with my friend. I have been riding seriously ever since. My current bikes include 29ers, both single speed rigid, and full suspension, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Eddy Merckx, Surly Pugsley (pictured here), SE Lager, KHS Cross bike, and a few others. I enjoy connecting with other riders and riding simply for the enjoyment of riding a bike.
Happy riding! |
 Steve EI grew up in Northern California and started racing BMX at the age of 12. From there I started getting into dirt jumping and eventually decided to buy the first Specialized P.3 they made and started jumping on that. That was my first mountain bike and I knew at some point that I wanted to get into downhill/ freeriding. After a few years on dirt jump hardtails I decided to get a freeride bike and spent a few summers riding at Northstar in Tahoe. I currently have a freeride bike and a dirt jump hardtail and have been enjoying my time on the great trails that Oregon has to offer. I have been working in the bike industry since the age of 20 and love being involved with bikes. Hope to see you out on the trail! |
 Jason EI grew up in SoCal and started riding bikes at a young age. I would ride all over town with friends and to school. Once I moved up to the Pacific NW I stopped riding for a bit. After getting hired at UC over a year ago, my passion has kicked back in for the industry and riding. I started off with a SS La Cruz (Thanks Schmitty), then after a few months of riding up and walking the bike over Washington Park, I realized I needed gears. I now have a Vaya and LOVE it, I don't have to walk up the hill anymore. I think my next bike will be either a Fat Bike or MTN Bike. Thanks to all at UC for your support and laughter along the way. |
 Mary FHello my name is Mary. I grew up in the "Dirty South" and have been riding bikes since before I can remember. My dad always told me that whatever type of transportation I choose, it's crucial to know how it works and how to fix it. Since then I have moved all over the country and worked in a handful of different shops over the past 11 years. I love working on all types of bikes and have a real personal passion for vintage bikes. I recently moved to Portland with my husband and son and we are loving it. I am really excited to be part of this great cycling community! |
 Shawn FI grew up in Montana and have been in to bikes my whole life. I was a certified Honda and Yamaha motorcycle mechanic for many years while living in Missoula. I moved to Portland a few years ago for a change of pace and reignited my passion for bicycles, I went to UBI in Ashland to get my master mechanic certification and also got the master wheelbuilder and suspension certification as well.
I have a few bikes in my stable right now including a cross bike, a Kona Coiler delux and a Kona stuff, my next bike will probably be a Commencal Supreme 6.
On most days I usually have my dog Bodie in the shop with me so stop by and he'll say hi to you. |
 Mark HI've been fixing bikes in Portland, OR and New York City since the late 80's. I got my first job detailing new cars in the 70's just to pay for my first "new" bike - a Schwinn Sports Tourer with a "Campy" rear derailleur! I still have it! The old Schwinn has about a dozen various stall mates since then ranging from old pieced-together, urban assault vehicles, several versions of mountain bikes and some racy road bikes. The roads and hills around Portland offer countless options to test the limits of all my trusty steeds when I'm not busy talking bikes here at Universal Cycles.
Chat with you soon! |
 Aaron NI've been a bicycle mechanic since 2002. My love for cycling started at age 8 when my dad gave me a hand-me-down pink 20" girls huffy that had the front fork installed backwards. I'm mainly a downhill mountain biker and dirt jump rider however I love every style of riding. When I'm not wrenching on bikes here at Universal Cycles I'm either doing shuttle runs at one of my many favorite local trails, digging and riding dirt jumps or travailing to a race somewhere. 2010 is going to be my first season racing in the pro class for down hill and dual slalom. |
 Brian PI began riding bikes with BMX in and around my hometown of Casper, WY. Since moving to Portland I have come to realize the importance of bikes as a viable and realistic transportation option. I like the freedom that riding gives me. I have taken my enjoyment of bikes to another level as a member of The Axles of Evil Portland Bike Polo Club. If you haven't seen it check it out!
I started building wheels for myself about six years ago and for a living two years ago and have since built a few thousand wheels. I take pride in my wheels and I enjoy my job. |
 Victor SLike most people I have been riding my whole life. I rode my first mountain bike in 1985 in Mount Saint Anne, Canada while on a family trip and was hooked. I bought my first real mountain bike in 1989, a DiamondBack Accent that I worked a whole summer to payoff! I started racing mountain bikes in 1990 and my first race was in Windham NY, which was a hillclimb. Through the years I have done my fair share of XC racing although these days I do mainly DH racing. In 1990 I started working at a bike shop in my hometown in New Jersey, where I was fixing Schwinn's and Huffys' all day, I eventually moved up to working on nice bikes which is way more fun, I have also built more wheels than I can count. I have worked in every aspect of the bike industry but still love working in shops and helping people find the bikes and parts that will work best for them. Working 20 years in the bike industry has giving me a wealth of knowledge so stop by the shop and let me help you with your next project bike or your first big bike purchase |
 Mitchell SI've been riding since 1989, so I've pretty much been a bike geek since 1989. I've tried most riding, but mountain biking is my passion. Like most people into cycling, I have a serious bike addiction. I have an all-mountain bike, a DH bike, 5 single speeds and a road bike (I'm not going to put a number on the partials and the projects). My philosophy is you need a different bike to ride to work everyday...and then a spare bike (or two) just in case.
Keep the rubber side down!
PS. I bought my first mountain bike from the shop that Mike was working at in 1989. Small world... |
 Jim S Riding bicycles has been a lifelong passion. From the age of 9 I would ride my bike to school and to the beaches of Santa Barbara Ca. In 1986 I purchased my 1st off road hybrid bike. One year later my 1st MTN bike( Trek 990 Singletrack). My passion soared! I then became an avid mountain biker. The mountain bike changed my life and along the journey enabled me to meet lots of new friends and dropped me off in some pretty cool places. I met my wife Sara at a MTN bike race in the year 2000. The journey continues and has brought me to Universal Cycles.
My current stable of bicycles include:
Surly Pugsley
Pivot 429
Kona Kula 29r Deluxe
Kona Jake The Snake CX
Kona Honky Inc.
Phobia(KHS) Anxiety 26 hard tail |
 Tom WRacing overview:
Started racing in 1973. Won my first USCF race In 1974(7). It was the Mt. Washington Hill Climb which Is considered one of the hardest climbs in the country.
Moved to Utah in 1975, raced all over Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho thru 1979. Won 17 races In 1978 and was Invited to the Olympic Training Center in the spring of '79. It was educational and I was asked to stay on after the general session to train with the national team but I really wasn't quite fast enough to make that last big step.
Raced In New England In 1980 and '81. Too many criterlums for me but I did get to know Bill Farrell (developer of the Fit Kit). He used to show video of me time trialing to his Cycling Academy class because I had a very good position and was very smooth(and fast).
Reno and San Francisco years (1982-2000)—Started mountain biking in 1982 when it was a sort of counter culture to the road bike scene. Raced In many road, mountain bike and cyclocross races as well as time trials and triathlons. The things I am proudest of are my work In the early days of the forward position (and more aero) time trial bike. I was one of the first to move my seat forward and bolt on some very low tt bars. I was also written up In a national bike
magazine for being the first (or at least one of the first) people to use cllpless pedals In mountain bike racing. I finished 4*" In the National Championship (In my age group) Road race and 5*** In the Team Time Trial (my favorite event). I rode a 54:42 40K time trial In 1999 at the age of 46 (certified course) and rode In the A class In all the Reno area training races until I left In 2000.
Summary—I have ridden in hundreds of bicycle races In every aspect of the sport over a 40 year period. I was a very strong regional rider wherever I lived and have ridden at least 150,000 miles on my bike. I may have ended my career In 2010 when I crashed and broke my hip but in my last seven races before the crash I had 3 wins(mt bike,tt, road race), a third, three fourths, and was leading the OBRA best all around rider category by over 200 points. The future is uncertain............ |
|
