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HomeMeet Your Ride Leaders

MEET YOUR RIDE LEADERS


Get to know your ride leaders




Pat Sweeney - Board Member

Typical Rides:  Beginners and casual cyclists, 10-12 MPH, rider safety training and basic bike handling skills. Wednesday Evening Casual ride leader.

Background:  I have been riding over 50 years and am passionate about rider and bicycle safety. 

Favorite Cycling Destinations:  Just about any place I want to get to!

Fun Facts:  I enjoy cooking via food chemistry (for example, a sweet and savory cookie!).

 

 

Jeff Lotito - Board Member (Out for 2023 Season Due to Injury)

 

Typical Rides: I will be leading an intermediate-level evening trail ride (Wed). I enjoy a variety of rides, including road, trail, and gravel. My favorite ride is a spirited metric century on open country roads.

Background: I have enjoyed cycling all my life. Sparked by a new bike purchase in 2014, my cycling interest began evolving into a cycling passion and now may be considered a cycling addiction to some people.

Favorite Cycling Destinations: Anywhere with warm sunshine and a nice tailwind.

Fun Facts: I also enjoy hiking, kayaking, music, cooking, and home improvement projects.

 

 



Wally Moran



Background: Upgraded from a Schwinn Super Sport to building up a custom Ron Cooper framed bike (including wheels) in high school. Then college, work and family happened. Started getting back into cycling in 2013 and joined FVBSC in 2014. I try to get out 3 times a week weather permitting and enjoy riding outside all year long.

Best Cycling Achievements:
  • Finished at the top of the bottom third for my age group at the 2019 Barry Roubaix gravel race.
  • One of the last 10 riders to finish the 178 mile RAW (Ride Across Wisconsin Ride-2016). Dubuque to Kenosha in one day: 6:00am-9:14pm. The beer trailer was running out of beer when I finished in the dark.
  • Just trying to get better ride by ride and having fun.

Favorite Cycling Destinations: RAGBRAI

Fun Facts: Wally has 3 children that all live in Colorado, so he gets plenty of opportunities to mountain bike and downhill ski out west.


Casey Cordon

 

Typical Rides: Late Spring, Summer, Early Fall: Road rides of 50+ miles and avg speeds of 15+ MPH. Mostly Sunday rides with gas station/brunch stops covering routes throughout the Western Suburbs. Also support out-of town Club events. Target at least one century (100 mile) ride each year. Early Spring, Late Fall, Winter: trail (paved, limestone), neighborhood rides throughout the area. Slower pace, sometimes in colder temps (25°F+).

Background: Joined FVBSC in 1994. Started leading rides ~10 years ago and enjoy trying out new routes and destinations. Participated in the Tour de Cure for American Diabetes Assoc for 20 years.

Why Lead Rides? Passionate about riding safely, enjoying the great outdoors and continuing to exercise to slow the aging process.

Casey Cordon 


Dave Schaefers

Typical Rides:  Saturday intermediate ride leader

Background: I returned to cycling 5 years ago after a long break, raising three great kids with my wife Marie in Aurora. I had forgotten that cycling was my passion and that I just love getting out on the roads – the active lifestyle is a plus.

Favorite Cycling Destinations: I’ve had some great experiences riding in the U.S. Northwest / Canadian Rockies, northeast in the New England states, and week-long rides through Wisconsin along the Wisconsin River and in Georgia. Love an early morning ride on a quiet 2-lane rural road.

Fun Facts: Still working full-time at AT&T (25 years now), and active with kids who are all now in their 20s, out of school & working! Their Millennial and Gen-Z perspectives never cease to amaze me.

 



Bonnie Gillespie

 

Typical Rides: Intermediate, MPH 12-16, distance 30 - 45 miles

Background: Casual cyclist most of my life. In the year 2010, became an "empty nester" and decided to get back into cycling. Traded in the 23-year old Trek for a Trek Madone 5. I have been a ride leader for four years with Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club.

Favorite Cycling Destinations: San Juan Islands, Washington State and Vancouver B.C.

Fun Facts: Aspiring drummer and play in the Geneva School of Rock Adult Band. Certified Yoga Teacher. Retired from a career in Information Technology.




Dave Sciabarus

 

Typical Rides: Sunrise Intermediate/High Intermediate Wed & Fri


 

Michelle Chambers

 

Typical Rides: Intermediate, 15-18 MPH, 50-100+ miles, Sunrise Road Ride (Saturday).

Background: I have been cycling for 10+years and found cycling to be a great way to help deal with the challenges of Fibromyalgia. Cycling has been a godsend in helping me to maintain an active lifestyle and has allowed me to prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to.

Favorite Cycling Destinations: A few of my favorite regular rides are the Arthritis Foundation’s California Coast Classic and Team Evergreen’s Triple Bypass in Colorado. I have had the opportunity to travel abroad cycling through Provence, France including the iconic Tour De France Mont Ventoux climb and I participated in the Ride the Rockies 6-day tour in Durango, Colorado. I enjoy road and gravel riding and pretty much any ride that ends with food and craft beer.

Fun Facts: Work full-time in Human Resources, love to cook and travel and spend time with my husband and high-school aged daughter.

Michelle Chambers

Jack Brandli

 

Typical Rides: Please join my Saturday AM rides 18+ MPH out of The Bike Rack.

Background: I have been cycling for 50+years both recreationally and racing with USCF Category 3 and Masters at a high level  I enjoy riding with advanced cyclists and together we work on techniques such as single and double pace lines, drafting, speed, endurance and racing techniques.

Favorite Cycling Destinations: Driftless area of Wisconsin where the glaciers did not go. I love the hills and valleys and wide open expanses ... it's challenging and beautiful.

Fun Facts: Retired only to work full-time at The Bike Rack. I'm an avid XC skier both skate and classic styles. And, have a new puppy.


Rob Ruda

 

Typical Rides: Weekdays 25-35 miles at 18-19mph average. Sundays start out in early spring around 35 miles reaching 50-70 miles most of the summer, pacing 16-18 mph. Typically try to get in at least 1 century ride (100 miles) before winter sets in. Winter is spent mostly dry and warm riding throughout Watopia (Zwift world). Sprinkled though-out will be casual trail rides on mountain bike of 30 – 40 miles at 14 mph.

Background: Was a cyclist with FVBSC back in the late 80’s (Sorry, still love ‘Tears for Fears’) then moved to Lincoln Park where cycling is near life threatening so switched to running on the beautiful lakefront path. After 12 years and 23 marathons, moved back to Fox Valley and rejoined FVBSC. Aspiring triathlete so cycling is mixed with running and swimming …though cycling is by far my favorite..

Favorite Cycling Destinations: Moab (endless trail system for all level mountain bikers), Tuscany (do you need to ask why?) and any ride/route that ends with proper adult rehydration.

Fun Facts: My favorite bike of all time was my Schwinn Orange Krate with the Hurst shifter, rear slick, chopper high rise handle bars and the banana seat…sweet!

Rob Ruda Ride Leader pic

Mark Neubauer

 

Typical Rides: I'm leading the low intermediate rides for now on Wednesday evenings.

Background: I have been cycling for 10 years. I have led rides for the Arlington Heights Bicycle Club prior to moving to North Aurora last year.

Favorite Cycling Destinations: I am excited to ride in Montana any time I can.

Fun Facts: I am retiring from a General Contractor position, and looking forward to the next phase of my life.

Mark Neubauer

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