AT THE BIKE ZOO
“When man invented
the bicycle, he reached the peak of his attainments.
Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience
of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man’s
convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body
became. Here, for once, was a product of man’s
brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used
it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress
should have stopped when man invented the bicycle.” -Elizabeth
West, The Sun, July 2006
Whenever it was decided that the name Philip meant ‘lover of horses’ someone
got it wrong. What I believe my name really should mean is ‘lover of bicycles’.
My love for the bicycle stems from it being an ideal tool to induce change. By
relying on a bicycle in your life for utility or recreation you open yourself
up to change. Riding a bike will improve your level of physical fitness. Commuting
by bike will change how you interact with the community you live in. Tour or
travel with a bike and it will change your perceptions of the world around you.
My friend Jeff at the Bike Zoo captured perfectly the motivation to work here
when he stated that everyday he has the opportunity to help someone change their
life. This may seem a lofty ideal for a bike shop employee, but it is what being
a ‘lover of bicycles’ is all about.
I have been working in professional bike shops since
1995, while also pursuing an academic interest in art,
completing my MFA degree in 2006. I ride single speed,
fixed-gear and multi-geared bikes on and off trails.
My wife and I also enjoy our sweet custom tandem road
bike. I have toured on the road with full panniers,
and on single track trails using a B.O.B. trailer (and
with the tandem too!). I have traveled with my bicycle
to the trails and back roads of central Mexico, as
well as to the hills, streets, and World Cup downhill
mountain bike course in Scotland. I have ridden in
some of the greatest Mecca’s for mountain
biking such as Moab, and the North Shore of Vancouver,
B.C., and traveled to participate in the spectacle
known as the Sea Otter Classic in Scottsdale, AZ.
As a transplant from Washington State, and recent addition
the Bike Zoo in 2007, I am finding a lot to be excited
about in this area of the country: a new town, new
roads, new trails, and lots of great people. Change
is good. Bikes are good. Cheers!
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