Paul Nicholson, Abbot

Bicycle Way of Life is Paul’s terminal, accidental career. After stints as a restaurateur, photographer, school teacher, factory manager,  graduate student, and writing instructor Paul became an accidental bicycle retailer on a $5 bet. His one insight about bike shops in Eugene; in a place that abounds in choices of products and places to buy them, only a great staff can deliver the service that will distinguish us.

 

 

Virginia Xing, Performance Analyst
[Email Virginia]
Voice Mail: 541-632-3432

Those of you who have been with the company for a few years will not have forgotten Virginia Xing, our former ferocious office manager. Virginia is back again as our new performance analyst. She is sure to put the fear of Virginia back in your hearts so that no one will dare do his or her job less than perfectly. On the other hand, Virginia is also actively involved in our community outreach program where she is busy inserting love of Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life in the hearts of local cyclists in the area. Perfect balance!

 

Ardas Calhoun, Accounting/HR

Ardas Calhoun is our in house yogi, she teaches yoga at the Eugene Family YMCA, as well as performing as overseer for HR and accounting for the BWOL. When she is not at her desk, she can be found hiking and/or kayaking in our incredible Cascade Mountains. After years of managing a natural food store, she decided to take a break and work in the exercise end of the healthy living industry and now graciously shares her office at Bicycle Way of Life with Paul.

 

 

Matt Ritzow, General Manager
[Email Matt]

When he isn’t overseeing the operations of the Paul’s Empire, Matt enjoys collecting pictures of himself holding large fish that he has caught (or so he claims). He also releases all of the large fish that he allegedly catches so we have yet to see proof that he isn’t merely taking pictures of the same plastic fish in different exotic locations. In addition to his fishing delusions, Matt for many years has been one of Oregon’s premier road racers. If you need advice about road bikes, road racing, racing tactics the racing scene, talk to Matt, whose expertise in this area is real, unlike the fish. Matt rides a Madone 6.5 and a Fisher HiFi Pro, a Raleigh Team, and he commutes daily on his Trek Portland. Favorite Ride: To the Nearest Fishin’ Hole.

 

Michael Martin, Shop Manager at 152 W. 5th Ave.

Ever since his first attempt at riding a neighbor’s two-wheeler ended in a collision with a parked car back in 1956, Michael has been living a “Bicycle Way of Life”. Along the way he has explored just about every aspect of cycling – from commuting to racing, to long-distance touring. Michael likes to “ride them, fix them, sell them and build ‘em” A cross-country bicycle trip that led him to Eugene from Pennsylvania, also passed through Urbana, Illinois where he first met Paul, his future employer. If you’re interested in going for a ride up the nearest hill and need a companion or just want advice on where to explore next on a bicycle, give Michael a call, or stop in at the 3870 West 11th shop. Michael rides a Trek Madone 5.2, and a Trek Fuel EX8. His favorite ride: Any ride that goes uphill both ways.

 

Rod Bautista, Inventory Manager at 152 W. 5th Ave.

Rod is the inventory of the 5th Street store and the head of the Bicycle Way of Life physics department. He wears the additional hats of chief electric bicycle mechanic and unofficial company therapist. Check out our new 5th street mountain bike room.

Rod also pitches in as an additional store manager at 5th Av. Rod’s wide experience includes machinist, frame repair, and custom fabricator.

 

Joe Peck, Shop Manager at 2480 Alder St.
[Email Joe]

Joe defected from the dark side (serving cars) to serving bikes – may the force be with him. Joe came to us from Les Schwab, he says that he needed a job where he wouldn’t have to shave as often. Joe and his wife had a beautiful baby girl almost three years ago. Now they have another one on the way. Joe owns a multitude of bikes and a Chariot Cougar 2 trailer so he can take his daughter along for the ride. In addition to his bikes Joe has a vast collection of socks. If you see Joe and ask to see his socks you’ll get a 20% discount on socks!

 

 

Aaron Shelton, Shop Manager at 3870 W. 11th Ave.

Aaron began his career at Paul’s as a high school intern. He has been with the company ever since! In addition to Aaron being one of our most bicycle expert mechanics, he is an expert welder, an accomplished bowler, and a series champion autocross driver. You can meet Aaron, a mainstay of our company, at the W. 11th Av. store. Aaron rides a Gary Fisher G.E.D., and commutes on a 60′s era Raleigh Sports.

 

Ben Kubas, Shop Manager at 234 W. 6th Ave.

Though Ben only joined us in 2009, he has already passed our challenging Master Mechanic certification. Before joining Paul’s, he was the manager of Evolution Freeride bike shop for eight years, and before that he managed True Wheels bike shop. Both shops were located in Killington, Vermont. So Ben was not acquainted with real mountains before joining us. Ben is a pro class downhill mountain bike racer, and also an avid downhill skier (everyone is allowed one vice).

 

 

Isaac Johnson, Master Mechanic

Your tireless editor, having failed to obtain any information from the subject of this bio, can only discharge his responsibility to introduce staff members to the public based on his forensic investigation. I have in my hand, for example, a list references, that indicate that Isaac is an experienced professional cook. If you have eaten at Bon Apetit or McFadden’s in Portland or at the Cafe Glendi in Eugene, Isaac may well have prepared your meal. So why did we hire him? Beats me! Maybe because two of his references are good friends of mine. Or could it be that we wanted better food at the shop picnic? Or was it because he is a bike nut? Because he has a cool mustache? Frankly, no one can remember. Anyway, Isaac has a Santa Cruz Blur, and a Heinz 57 commuter among other bikes. If any of you, gentle readers, discover why we hired him, send the editor an email.

 

Chris Norton, Mechanic

Chris is an all around athlete. She especially excels at ultimate frisbee. The shop guys say she’s a hucker – “and that she’s amazing for a girl.” But they didn’t call her a girl when she was around to point out the distinction. Chris rides a Norco A-Line, a Lemond Buenos Aires, and a Fuji commuter bike.

 

 

 

Tom Barrett, Master Mechanic

Tom used to own his own bike shop in Arizona. Now instead of doing business taxes, he’s able to ride his mountain bike. He has brought his dry sense of humor to Oregon where we need more dry. Tom Barrett, better known as Big Tom, and Tom Stockton, better known as regular size Tom, make up the Alder Street taciturn team. But if you can get them talking, they can share a wealth of knowledge about local trails, mechanics, and bikes in general. Tom commutes daily on a Rans Fusion and also rides gazillions of miles off-road on his Surly Karate Monkey and his Salsa El Mariachi – known locally as the one speed mad man.

 

 

Tom Stockton, Master Mechanic

Home grown, Tom graduated from North Eugene High School then went on to study the graphic arts at LCC. He has previous experience from working for Collin’s. These days he still enjoys drawing and painting, eating Mexican food and all types of cycling; particularly downhill and freeriding. The word on the street is that he can manual ’til the cows come home. Tom has too many bikes to list.

 

 

 

Andrew Alef , Community Outreach

Andrew is a Eugene native and has been hanging around bicycle shops for as long as he can remember. Having elevated to the position of Community Outreach Coordinator, Andrew’s goal is to continue to make Paul’s an integral part of Eugene’s cycling community. From general bicycle advocacy to participation with local school programs and free mobile maintenance at local events, Andrew loves to see people riding bikes.

 

 

Andrea Hemphill, Sales and Service

Andrea moved to Eugene  from Kalamazoo after a stint at Alfred E. Bike.  She became so enthusiastic about the bikes that she decided to move to Oregon to attend United Bicycle Institute where she completed the professional repair and shop operation program. After completing her training she moved to Eugene and took up a position with us.  She is currently working on achieving the highest level of mechanic certification: our rigorous master mechanic certification.

 

 

Ted Wade, Sales and Service

Ted’s first position in the bike industry was in 1996 with prestige delivery in Cleveland, Ohio.  Ted managed their fleet of bicycle delivery vehicles.  From 2002-2010, Ted worked for Green Gear Cycling in Eugene (better known as Bike Friday).  He worked on the production line building wheels, TIG welding, and assembling.  Retailing is new for Ted, but he is taking to it like a duck to water.

 

 

Anna Brenneman, Sales/Service/Space Surgery

After a brief career as a NASA space surgeon, during which she seriously ruptured the space time continuum. Anna returned to earth to accept a position as shop kid at Bicycle Way of  Life.  She was subsequently promoted to grease monkey. Anna loves bicycles so much that she declined an offer to replace D.S.K.  as head of the IMF in order to stay at Paul’s. Anna’s hobbies include bicycling (with helmet), rugby (without helmet), running, eating Mexican food, eating sandwiches, eating legos, drumming, and designing nuclear fusion power plants (in her spare time). Anna’s favorite musical group is Menomena, she likes to read short stories, she drinks way too much coffee for her age, and she likes to talk with her chicken Harriet. Anna has a twin sister who is a foot taller than she – “she got all the altitude, and I got all the attitude,” Anna reports.

Michael Boggs, Mechanic

Dog is my co-pilot.

My co-pilot is dog.

I am co-piloted by dog.

I will be dogged by my co-pilot

 

 

 

 

John Rutman, Mechanic

John Rutman’s  joined Paul’s in  with a variety of interesting experience.  In addition to working as a bicycle mechanic at Genesis Bicycles in Easton, Penssylvania, John worked  with youth teaching survival  and back country camping as well as wildlife and plant identification and life skills.  In addition, he is was a whitewater rafting trip leader for five years.   Like so many  Bicycle Way of Life employees,  in addition to being a bicycle retailing and service professional,.  John has a wide array of  other interests as well.

 

 

Cody Enright, Mechanic