Contributors
Cory Hemminger, Editor
E-mail: chem@thebikinghub.com
My part in this project includes dealing with the technical side of things and, working with the others, the planning and management of site content. I write reviews, post news and photos, and keep the other contributors in line.
I live in Maple Ridge, Canada, about 45 minutes east of Vancouver. While I’m not quite as ambitious as the others when it comes to training, racing, or riding anything with two wheels, I do ride a lot, and have a decent grasp on this newfangled bike technology that cyclists from all over the world are so keen about.
And when I’m not hanging with my kid and girlfriend, I’m out riding with The Fugees, Zeppelin, and, on rare occasions, the craziness that is Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. Oh, and Queen. Queen rules. Seriously.
Dan Dakin, Editor
E-mail: dan@thebikinghub.com
My name is Dan Dakin and I’m a journalist based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. I have written for numerous sports, news and automotive magazines, but my one true passion (other than my wife and son, of course) is cycling.
Mountain, road, cruisers – if it has two wheels (or one, technically since I proudly also own a unicycle), I’ll ride it. Much to my wife’s dismay, my current collection is up to seven bikes, including three mountain bikes and three road bikes. Yes, it’s true, I do have some roadie blood in me, but my heart is still that of a mountain biker.
I’ve been riding mountain bikes since I was a teenager, but in the past four years I have really become more serious about riding. In 2005 I logged around 4,000 kilometres and in 2006 my focus is more directed toward cross country racing, 24-hour team races and pedaling my son to junior kindergarten on my metal flake orange Electra Rally Sport cruiser bike.
Ashwin Amanna, Contributor
E-mail: ashwinearl@thebikinghub.com
I’m a regular joe. I am 37 years old, married with two children, full time job, house, etc.. I’ve been mountain biking since 1988 and lived and breathed cycling until children came when cycling and mountain bike racing took a back seat to regular life. Recently, the kids have gotten old enough that it is possible to devote some time back to cycling and racing.
I decided to really train and focus on chasing my dream, doing a few races a year in the Vet sport class. I started my blog, Team MWC, FTJ, NGT (Team Married with Children, Full Time Job, No Genetic Talent), as a way to document my training on limited time, discuss cycling gear / tech, and share my story with others in the same situation.
Over the past year I’ve corresponded with people from all over the world who have taken inspiration from my story to race which, in turn, has motivated me even more. It’s really difficult to be part of a local cycling community on such limited time, but I’ve found another worldwide cycling community that has become my riding partner.
Denise Britton, Contributor
E-mail: denise@thebikinghub.com
It’s now 2006 and this means I’ve been riding mountain bikes for 10 years. I prefer the gravity fed side of mountain biking with the odd gap, log ride, and not-so-skinny skinny thrown in to spice things up. I competed in the Masters category on the British Columbia downhill circuit (BC Cup) for a few seasons before going into retirement but, things being as they are, I soon found myself unable to pass up a race.
This past year, I travelled to Sunpeaks Resort and successfully competed in the UCI Mountain Bike Masters World Championships. After Sunpeaks, I re-entered retirement and decided that I needed something to keep me from being bitten by the racing bug. So far, I’ve focused some of my energy on Freeride Dawgs — a small business that provides skills coaching and mentoring to other riders.
Regardless of what I’m doing, you can still find me pushing my overweight Banshee up local mountains several times a week with my partner Greg. If I figure out this writing thing you will be reading my two bits worth often.
Greg Rector, Contributor
E-mail: greg@thebikinghub.com
I started freeriding a couple of years ago as a stress reliever. Since then, riding has turned into an addiction and now I find that I get stressed out whenever I am not on my bike. Generally, I take part in a couple of DH races each year but I’m more at home on the trails in and around Maple Ridge, BC. Much of my spare time is spent riding, but I do help out our local trail builders and show people around my ‘backyard’.
I’m an Area Representative for the Fraser Valley Mountain Bike Association, an advocacy organization devoted to keeping trail access open to riders in my area. Also, Denise and I are developing a bike-based business — Freeride Dawgs — that will provide mountain bike skills coaching for beginner and intermediate riders, as well as offering guided tours around British Columbia (and beyond).
I will be making regular contributions from my roadtrips and offering my thoughts on gear targeted at freeriders and downhillers.
Guitar Ted, Contributor
E-mail: guitar-ted@thebikinghub.com
I’m Guitar Ted and, as the name implies, I am a guitar player. However, my main passion in life is bicycles and this is what I will be writing about for The Biking Hub. I am a mechanic at a local bicycle shop, a bicycle commuter, and a fan of long bicycle rides.
I own one of just about every kind of bike, but I’m primarily a mountain biker at heart and I have a very special place in my heart for the 29”er. Ever since I threw a leg over one of these big-wheeled bikes, I’ve had a renewed passion for off road cycling. Another area that I am excited about is the endurance racing scene and I’m becoming more involved in that.
Having something you feel passionate about makes you want to share it with other people. One of my biggest passions is cycling and I have been sharing my thoughts on the subject for a while; now I hope to share that passion with here with the people who read this site.
Big wheels, long rides, and loud guitars from Iowa with love!
Evan Sharp, Contributor
E-mail: sharp@thebikinghub.com
I’m Evan and I like bikes. I like riding bikes most but when I can’t I write about them. I’m 20 years old, a 4th year Classics student at the University of Waterloo, and enjoy books by Christopher Moore. I have plans to be a high school teacher someday but before then there are plenty of other things I need to try and see. I maintain a personal blog which receives varying degrees of attention through the year where you can learn more about me and my other interests.
I’ve been riding since childhood and have in the last five years become very involved in the sport. The last three have seen me start racing and I am now affiliated with Sweet Pete’s Cycles in Toronto. I’ve raced for my university and hope to take my competition into the Ontario Cup and beyond. I ride for fun, fitness and to get around. I have two bikes (“Red Rocket” and “Speed”) both of which are spec`ed out on my website.
My focus while writing at TBH is to write articles for my own age group, namely other cash-strapped students or entry-level racer types who are interested in cycling as a lifestyle as much as a past-time. Email me anytime if you have questions or want to set-up a ride!
