Officers

I began mountain biking about 11 years ago with my husband Ed. We started at Rum Village with Ed riding his college BMX bike and me riding a half road/half trail bike. We both fell in love with it immediately. We love the woods and are active, so mountain biking fit right in. Ed began racing in 2000 and I followed him in 2002. He told me I would be hooked if I raced, and he was right. My first race was a Tailwind Race at TK Lawless in 2002. We have been doing the Michigan Tailwind Series every year ever since. We have also both done the last 8 Iceman races in a row.

I am a very proud grandmother of a future mountain biker (I hope). Joey is 6 now and is very charged up about riding. One day soon I am sure, he will beat me on the trail. It will take him a bit longer to beat Ed.

This is my 3rd year as President of NIMBA, and I can honestly say that I have never worked with a nicer and harder working group of people. Everyone from our members and friends, to our bike shop partners and property managers have made these trails possible.

We look forward to a phenominal race series in 2010 and the construction of another NIMBA trail at Bendix Woods County Park!

After being introduced to NIMBA in 2007, my mountain biking career soon began. Beginning on a cheap-o Schwinn from Walmart, my first few rides were pretty rough (just ask Russ!) and by the middle of that riding season I didn’t know if mountain biking was for me. I was quick to give up mountain biking soon after that.

After the birth of our son, Ayden, Russ & I talked about it and he decided I needed a REAL mountain bike. So he set out to find me the perfect bike. And that he did…a 29 inch Felt, which I fell in love with on my first ride. I’ll never forget the look on Kathy’s face the first time I pulled up with my new bike for our weekly women’s ride at Potato Creek. It was priceless! Now don’t get me wrong, my new bike doesn’t make me invincible. I am still a very cautious rider. In fact, I have yet to fall. This year will be a test as I will be riding with clipless pedals.

So with my new bike, one year of solid riding under my belt, and clipless pedals, I’ve decided that 2010 will be my first year of racing. Oh, this year will be interesting to say the least!

Outside of mountain biking, I have been blessed to stay at home with Ayden. In addition to being a mom, I maintain a medical transcription business. In my spare time, I enjoy photography, knitting, cooking, selling Gold Canyon candles, taking care of my family, and, of course, riding my bike.

“The secret to mountain biking is pretty simple. The slower you go the more likely it is you'll crash.” ~Julie Furtado