CHRIS MADISON lost his leg in a boating accident at the age of 10 but that hasn’t kept him from riding more than 3,000 miles since April 2013. A few of his cycling adventures include completing his first Sprint Triathlon in May of 2013 while riding a borrowed bike that didn’t fit. He then completed the Tour de Rock 100, the Big Dam Bridge 25 and the Miami Man Half Iron Triathlon and his first full Ironman in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
GEORGE RHODE In 2009, George Rhode began a lifestyle change by eating healthier and cycling—loosing 180 pounds! He started road racing in February 2013. Four months and five first-place wins later, he was promoted to a Category 3 USA Cycling amateur racer. Later that year, Rhode became the Central Arkansas Velo (CARVE) road captain. In 2014 he began coaching his wife Angela’s group, Ladies of CARVE. One of his wildest bike experiences was joining Matt Runge’s Mount Magazine hill repeat birthday ride. Starting in the dark, he climbed through sunrise and sunset. Climbing more than 16,000 feet and covering just over 112 miles, Rhode traveled up the mountain eight times.
BASIL HICKS The Central Arkansas Trail Alliance (CATA) was founded in 2014 by a group of outdoor trail enthusiasts, and is often described as an alliance of outdoor conservationists passionate about recreational trails and environmental stewardship with mountain bike, hiking and trail running problems! Among its active stewards, nobody “walks the talk” more than CATA director of stewardship Basil Hicks, Jr. Hicks can do it all—he plans Trail Love work days, inspires members to invest their time and talents in continuously improving trails, rides his mountain bike accompanied by Blake and Waldo, his beloved Irish setters and trail companions, plus he can outwork gals and guys half his age! You’ll never see him too tired to bend over and pick up any litter he spies along the path, leaving a better trail for the next rider.
RICHARD MACHYCEK grew up racing and riding BMX. As a child, he dreamed of working in a bike shop. In 1992 he opened Arkansas Cycling and Fitness in Sherwood. A mountain biker, Machycek loves riding anywhere on the Ouachita Trail because it is very rocky and technical yet still has a great “flow” along with plenty of change in elevation. Finishing the Colorado Leadville 100 mountain bike race in under nine hours to claim the “Under 9 Hour Gold Belt Buckle” is his most rewarding race experience.
STEPHEN SCHNEIDER has volunteered in the Arkansas mountain biking community for 20 years. In 2013, Schneider followed his passion and took a position with the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) as the South Central regional director covering Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and parts of Texas. In Arkansas, he works with IMBA associate chapters in Mountain View [FOST], Little Rock [CATA], Bentonville [FAST], and Fayetteville [OORC], as well as Four Arkansas Epic® Trails and two ride centers. Schneider is enthusiastic about trail development and tourism opportunities in Arkansas and continues to help create more memorable mountain biking experiences in the region.
TANNER STOLT is a 17-year-old competitive mountain biker from Bentonville. Tanner credits cycling for allowing him to grow and to enjoy everything life has to offer. It has created amazing opportunities for travel and adventure to amazing places. He enjoys living in Arkansas because the state offers terrain that supports almost every cycling discipline and is a community made of good people who work hard to keep the sport growing. Tanner’s “must-do” Arkansas ride is the Eureka Springs Fat Tire Festival downhill race. It’s a high-speed trail in a unique atmosphere, and he loves competing with his friends.
SCOTTI WILBORNE-LECHUGA met Ernie Lechuga in 2009. Lechuga convinced her to try cycling and began coaching her. Together, they successfully balanced her racing career with raising their 3-year-old twin boys and operating a coaching business. Wilborne-Lechuga raced with the U.S. National Team in 2013. In 2014, she joined the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team and competed in the Giro Rosa and the inaugural women’s Tour de France, La Course. Her long-term goal is to be selected for the world championship team and the Olympics. One of her most memorable rides dates back to early riding and coaching days with Lechuga. During a long, hot ride she bonked and Lechuga gave her a Coke. She didn’t drink Cokes but took it anyway. She bounced back and was able to make it home. She now drinks Cokes regularly after hard rides and races.
HUNTER EAST AND EVAN EAST In 1998, Hunter East founded Central Arkansas Velo (CARVE), currently one of the largest cycling clubs in Arkansas. Hunter is ranked #2 in Arkansas out of all licensed racers. Cycling has allowed him to see the country from a very intimate and up close perspective. He considers cycling a social platform where lifelong friendships have been forged in the saddle. His “must do” Arkansas ride is the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville. The criterion around the town square in downtown Fayetteville is one of the most difficult on the national race calendar. The short, steep climb to the finish makes for exciting spectating. East shares a passion for cycling with his son, Evan, currently ranked #1 in Arkansas out of all licensed racers. Nowhere else is an 18-year-old ranked #1 while a 51-year-old holds the #2 spot. Even more unique, they are father and son! Evan East was recently invited to represent the United States on the U.S. National Junior Cycling Team. He is one of six 17- to 18-year-old men that will go to Europe in May 2015 to race. He will be based at the USA Cycling facility in Sittard, Netherlands.
D A N L Y S K & A D D I E T E O Dan starting racing BMX at the age of 10, while Addie started riding 11 years ago. This bicycle-obsessed duo enjoys helping, promoting and leading various cycling events in Arkansas. Both have competed in mountain biking and cyclecross events across the state. They enjoy teaching new cyclists mountain biking skills, and with support from Chainwheel bike shop they lead group road and mountain bike rides and skills clinics throughout the state. Addie is instrumental with organizing and leading women’s mountain bike rides and helping to grow the sport in Arkansas.
