Biography

I grew up on the mean streets of Huntington Beach in Southern California. My best memories are of roving the neighborhood on wheels, be it on a skateboard or bicycle, and going surfing. Life was tough. My first stage of bicycle obsession came from riding dirt trails in the wetlands on my way home from school. I credit my parents for instilling a sense of freedom in me through bicycles and always making sure I had a nice bike to ride.

I was always studious and went to college in Los Angeles and studied Neuroscience, which left me pretty discouraged. I got a job at Helen's Cycles as a way to pass the summer away getting discounts on bike parts. What started as a weekend gig turned into four days a week plus most of my free time hanging out in a bike shop that was very much like the record store in that movie High Fidelity. I developed a liking for vintage road bikes and aggressive city riding.

I finally graduated, made a half-hearted attempt at finding a 'real' job, and went on to stay in the bike industry to manage bike shops in Orange County. I started to feel burned out by retail and found an opening as a designer at Seven. It sounded like my dream job. One thing led to another, and soon I was moving to the East Coast. I still miss CA for many reasons (mostly the weather, the beach, and smooth pavement), but this is the place to be if you’re into handmade bikes. New Belgium is the motherland for bike geeks. It is also the mother that destroys bicycles with its incessant potholes, salt, snow, and oblivious drivers.

Today, I draw inspiration from other artisan builders, road racing equipment, and the idea of the bicycle as smart, elegant urban transport. I ride daily, regardless of the weather, even if it’s just my 10-mile commute.

My other interests include eating at diners, reading, and watching terrible movies and old TV shows. The latest hilarious movie I saw was Step Brothers which left me laughing so hard I thought I was going to lose control of my bodily functions. I’ve also just discovered In Living Color, which I was too young to appreciate the first time around.

Why I work with Seven

Seven is a high integrity company with a deep pedigree in the modern bike industry. It is professional, cutting edge, and filled with smart people. Seven provides a healthy environment where I can freely do my job well.

My Role at Seven

I’m a member of the Performance Design Team—I study Custom Kits, interview clients, and design their bikes as collaboration between Seven, the client, and the retailer. Other than that, I take on a revolving list of miscellaneous projects. Oh, and I try to make the first pot of coffee in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions about my job at Seven

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My Sevens

Elium steel/carbon road bike

Ultra plush and very fast. Painted maroon. This could be my only bike and I’d be happy.

Sola Ti

Fully rigid and very light, with a mix of funky parts. I’ll be updating it for long distance MTB racing and riding this summer.

Elium SG Ti/carbon road bike

A loaner being built with nice parts.

Whatever fantasy Seven is in my brain on a given day

Right now it’s a steel tandem mountain bike painted in 80’s neon fades and equipped with Tiberius bars. Yesterday it was a sleek Axiom Race track bike.