John Gershenson
Age: 40
Disciplines: Cross country, endurance, and maybe a road race
Experience: I started riding as an occasional Trekker in summer 2001, by 2002 I entered a race and started riding once or twice a week, by 2003 it was 3 times a week and 3-4 races, 2004 saw the obsession begin and it was solidified with a year of racing in Puerto Rico in 2006/2007.
Occupation: Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Tech, part time consultant, and aspiring bagel man.
Professional and personal:
I am from the suburbs of New York (Great Neck) where we all rode Schwinns with banana seats (yellow Stingray with a sparkly seat and a low sissy bar) to the park and school, but wrestling was my main sport. After four years as a Physics major at Cornell on the rowing team, an old Cilo road bike was my graduation present. Some uncoordinated riding through four years in Columbus, Ohio did not yield much besides an MS in Mechanical Engineering and some cheap riding clothes. I moved to Moscow, Idaho to finish my PhD, bringing Debbie from Brooklyn, and fell in love with/became obsessed with rock climbing. The academic track began with two and a half unremarkable years in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (except for the birth of Daniel and southern sandstone) and two and a half years in beautiful Logan, Utah (where Noah was born) spent snowboarding on powder days and climbing whenever I could find good partners. Work opportunities and small town life prompted a move to Houghton. The riding history is above; thanks to the Trekkers (especially Mike Young and Bill Marlor) for getting me hooked. After a year on sabbatical in Puerto Rico, I seem to have lost my taste for snowboarding, but I have learned how to speak horrible Spanish.
Racing goals:
See how fast I can really get and cat up to expert (how many people cat up in their mid forties?)
2008 Schedule:
I don’t know yet – Chain Drive, Deer Chase, and Fat Tire of course, a couple of MCPS or WORS races, maybe some east cost NMBS races in July, hopefully a 24 hour race (but they kill the rest of the season). Maybe the Michigan Endurance Series. I’m looking for something adventurous and different. I am hoping to race 12-15 races and stay healthy.
2007 Highlights:
The most fun I’ve ever had on a bike. I trained year round, fell in love with riding my road bike in the mountains, and I learned to race with some speed in shorter events. I raced with the JJC/SAP team in Puerto Rico. I left before the season ended but I was the 3rd ranked person in my age group, I won the national 24 hour race, I won the Olympic festival race, and I placed in a couple of other races.
2006 Highlights:
A tough season as we moved in the middle to PR.
