Community Stories
Bikes are changing lives! For nearly 50 years, Wheel & Sprocket has helped people of all ages, sizes and backgrounds reach their goals, stay active, keep healthy, and have a great time. That's why we're so excited to share these inspiring customer stories.
Riding to Honor In honor of Memorial day, may we introduce Chris Kolenda.
Chris is a former Colonel who served from 1987 to 2011. He is an internationally respected leader, an author of 2 books, husband and father, and an entrepreneur with a warm heart and a kind demeanor. Chris came into Fox Point for the first time with an idea– he wanted to do something to honor the 6 paratroopers who were killed in action during his time in Afghanistan, now 15 years ago.
EBike Propels Lifetime Biker
Liette Brisebois, Evanston, IL
Meet Liette Brisebois of Evanston, Illinois. The retired French teacher has been an avid cyclist since the days in her native Montreal. She rode her bike to work at New Trier High School and hit trails in Illinois and Wisconsin with her late husband, William Kinsella. Today, she’s still hitting the trails, beating it around town running errands on two wheels. Only now she’s battery propelled on her new Townie Go electric bike.
Randy Schneider and Andy Haas Schneider
Like most of us, Randy Schneider and Andy Haas Schneider have tackled some pretty big hills in their life raising a family and working busy jobs. But the one next to their house in Delafield, Wisconsin almost got the best of them until they bought their Trek Verve+ 2 electric bikes.
Lucy Flanagan
Lucy Flanagan was a hiker who worked at an indoor cycling studio but didn’t really ride outside before deciding to do her first ever bike tour through Overland: a coast-to-coast trip going 3,248 miles from Savannah, Georgia to LA. Now she loves biking and is planning to ride through the Canadian Rockies this summer!
Bruce Pezewski
Bruce Pezewski, who is legally blind, gives new meaning to bikes as lifechanging.
His purchase of a Riese & Muller Supercharger has allowed him the freedom to go anywhere, and as he says, “take the burden off my wife” who has been his main form of transportation. After 3,600 miles of biking last year, Bruce provides perspective on eBikes and the new freedoms they provide.
Anthony Carfang
Anthony Carfang was a Chicago bike racer for years. Nowadays, he’s focusing on how bikes as transportation can do good in the world, from climate change to social equity to happiness and building community. With his Riese & Muller Load 75 e-cargo bike, he and his family are spending even more time riding and encouraging their neighbors in Oklahoma City to join them.
Rob Curran
Rob Curran’s bike has become a vehicle to experience new places, people and terrain. This Ripon, Wisconsin US Postal Service mail carrier walks more miles than most during his workday. Yet, Rob has adventured far from the paved streets of Ripon and into the wilds of a variety of states with his Mountain Bike ranging from Wisconsin to North Carolina to Colorado.
Tricia McBride
Six years ago, Tricia McBride dragged her old and dusty 1989 Trek bike out of the garage to begin riding again. She had no idea even how to shift but was determined to ride. Fast forward to 2020 and meet the new Tricia, an avid biker, breast cancer survivor, and major inspiration to us all. As she trains for her third bike vacation, Tricia imparts her wisdom and advice on how biking changes your life.
Clare McDermott
We sat down with Clare McDermott, Managing Director of Events and Marketing for Chicago’s Active Transportation Alliance, to talk about the organization’s mission and how she got involved.
Commuting with Barry Mainwood
Barry Mainwood, the owner of Mainly Editing, is very active in the bike community, including volunteering and being one of the co-founders of Bublr Bikes, a bike share program in the Milwaukee area. Once a casual rider, Barry evolved his lifestyle to include daily bike commuting and road riding for charity and pleasure. He shares his experiences and how you can get started commuting to work.
Senja Alden Beaman - Commuting in the Windy City
Senja Alden Beaman is a former organic farmer turned accountant. It may be a very different work environment, but they found a great way to still spend time outside every day - riding their bike to work!
From 0 to 10,000+
Claire is a Milwaukee based teacher who had dreams of riding across the country since she got her first road bike in high school... Now she's toured over 10,000 miles.
Kim Pandy
Kim Pandy has been finding freedom on bikes her whole life. She talked to us about riding as a form of meditation, and how she’s found ways to work that into her everyday life.
Amy Andrews
Amy Andrews has been riding all sorts of bikes for 35 years, but her greatest love is mountain biking. In addition to enjoying mountain and fat bike riding in all seasons, she’s worked to create and protect trail systems that everyone can enjoy. We chatted with her about how people can join her in this super fun and engaging kind of riding.
Jennifer and Grace Conigliaro
Biking has brought Jennifer Conigliaro and her daughters together in ways they never could have imagined. Jennifer's biking started as a personal mission to help her mom and quickly became a passion.
Jessy Mueller gets back in the saddle with a used bike from Wheel & Sprocket
Jessy Mueller is a Wisconsin native currently living in Stanley, Idaho. She works as a back country wilderness ranger in Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
Bob & Robb Koebert
To this day, Bob Koebert and Robb Koebert, MD have enjoyed many years of biking events and skiing the Birkebeiner (“Birkie”), North America’s largest cross country ski race, together.
Annie White
Second-grade teacher Annie White is continually teaching her students to try new things and be brave. The 43-year-old mother of four put her lessons to the test after buying an electric bike and challenging herself to ride in the Trek 100 with her husband. What’s remarkable, is that Annie has only 40% lung capacity and never thought she could ever ride a bike, let alone go the 17 mile distance.
Women Industry Leaders on Capitol Hill
Tessa Kegel of Wheel & Sprocket talks about her recent experience in DC, lobbying with PeopleForBikes and other women leaders in the bike industry.
Trying to Keep Up with Jared Johnson
Jared has always loved riding bikes. It was his first Trek 1500 bought in 1989 that got him hooked. Thirty years later, Jared owns 8 bikes, has ridden 26 states, is a member of numerous clubs, and has converted over 50 friends and family to his passion
Ride Around the World or Around the Block
Beth talks about how her love for cycling has grown from "newbie" to solo touring around Southeast Asia. Now, she's joined the Wheel & Sprocket team to tell you to "just get out there!"
Rachel and Chris Keil
Several years ago Chicagoans Rachel and Chris Keil chose bikes to replace a car with a broken transmission. Rachel’s cancer diagnosis and treatment last year led them to purchase an electric cargo bike.
Lynne and Dan Mapes-Riordan
Lynne and Dan Mapes-Riordan didn’t start riding together until just a few years ago, when they bought their first new road bikes. Dan has been riding consistently all his life, whereas Lynne describes herself as a later-in-life biking enthusiast. They now ride together all year, taking indoor cycling classes with Training Hub in the winter and doing supported touring with Trek Travel in the summer.
Pam Powoznki
Twin Lakes, WI
After retiring as a field engineering coordinator, Pam wanted to find an exercise that helped her stay healthy and engaged in her neighborhood. She read an article about eBikes, gave it a try and was hooked. Now Pam and her iZip Vibe are having great fun on the hills in Twin Lakes. We love that she bought a cute new Electra Cool Cat helmet to match!
Lai King and Family
This full-time mom of two busy girls, biking advocate, and self-proclaimed “serial volunteer” has sage advice about how to bring bikes into all aspects of your life. |
Fat Bike Love & Happiness
Brad and Rachel Flament found true love through biking. This Fat Bike couple credit these fun, versatile bikes with creating new friendships and a sense of community. "We have met so many great and different people through biking," said Rachel. |
Andrea and Bill Koehnlein
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Andrea has a new found love of commuting to and from her home to the family-owned interior design business. Her Felt Tote'm electric cargo bike helps her relax, notice her surroundings, and save gas. Husband Bill led the way when he bought the Trek Powerfly and now rides weekly with a group. Together, they're enjoying the ride and helping the environment!
Terry Hackett
Greendale, Wisconsin
Terry was considering his options after knee, hip, and shoulder replacements. This former athlete and retired restoration business owner felt uncertain about his balance on a regular bike. Then he discovered the electric Terra Trike recumbent bike. Now he averages over 30 mile rides per day on the beautiful trails around Milwaukee. We have a hard time keeping up with him!