MEET THE AMERICA BY BICYCLE STAFF

MIKE MUNK, Tour Leader/Mechanic

Age: 58
Married:  (To Barbara)
Home:  Prattville, Alabama (Transplanted Yankee...originally from Indiana)
Occupation:  Retired Air Force Navigator, Cross Country Bicycle Ride Leader, Bicycle Mechanic
Experience:  Cycling since 1989
Bike:  Custom Roark Titanium
Favorite Quote:  "Your worst day on a bicycle is better than your best day at the office."
Second favorite quote: "Put the hammer down now, I can rest when they put me underground!"
Third favorite quote:  "Life's too short to ride in the small ring."

Experience: First rode across the country as staff with Cycle America in 1996 upon retiring from the Air Force.  First rode with ABB in '97 and began serving as head mechanic and leading ABB tours in '98.  Has crossed the US 27 times and has led a total of 34 tours with ABB as of 1 Jan 2006.  

Started riding in 1989 at 42 years old and started racing at 45.  Since '89, has amassed over 135,000 miles and has medaled at district, regional, and national levels in Armed Forces Masters, USCF Masters, and Senior Olympics competitions.  Training includes:  LABs Effective Cycling Instructor Certification, United Bicycle Institute's Bicycle Mechanic Certification, and is a Walden School of Cycling graduate.  Four time National Senior Olympics Gold medalist; currently, the 5K time trial Bronze Medalist (55-59 age group).  Holder of the 50-54 National Senior Olympics record for the 5K time trial (6:29/29.0 MPH at Orlando FL, '99)   

Although cycling is a passion, other interests include golf, traveling, meeting new people, and playing with this web site.

BARBARA MUNK--Assistant Ride Leader, Logistics Coordinator: Lodging, Food, Finance, and MOM

Age: 56
Married: To Mikie
Home:  Prattville, Alabama
Occupation:  Keeping Mike out of trouble is her full time job, but her grandkids (4) call her "Super Nena!"
Favorite Quote:  "Being happy is a personal responsibility."

Heard saying to a motel desk clerk:  "Do you want to talk to the man in charge, or the woman who knows what's going on?"
Experience:  Barbara began supporting bicycle tours so she could see Mike in the summer time.  After he returned from his third summer on the road while she stayed home, she told him if he went again, he had to take her or stay home himself.  She has been a wonderful addition to the ABB staff as she comes to us with 7 years experience supporting and developing bike tours.  Her basic duties include taking care of the luggage, meals, motels, and general support of the riders (but mostly, as said before, she spends the majority of her time keeping Mike in check).  You'll see her smiling face at the SAG stops and while preparing lunches on the road. 

She spends most of her time, when away from bicycle tours, being the perfect mother to her two daughters (Krystal 34 and Niki 31) and grandma to her 4 grandkids Michael (9), Noah (6), Annaleise (3), and Rebekah Joy (2).  She enjoys reading, working in the yard, travel, movies, and her grandkids (and keeping Mike out of trouble). 

KAREN BAUER, Ride Leader/Senior SAG Support Specialist, Level 3
 

Age: 52
Single
Home:  Eugene Oregon
Experience:  Cycling since 4, touring since '89 (she was a bit older than 4 by then).  I asked her if she'd been riding all her life and she replied, "Not yet."
Bike:  Roark Custom TI
Occupation:  Working out and eating bagels and broccoli.
Favorite Quotes:  "Life's too short to not be riding your bike and following your dreams."  "Can I have broccoli with cheese on the side?"

Karen comes to us with 8 years staff experience.  She has been involved with numerous state and local rides and 17 cross country rides.  She has been with ABB for 6 years and we are proud to have her experience and personality on our staff.  Smile when you see her...She'll have a camera in hand at the SAG stops or in the support van when she is not riding.

She holds a MS degree in Physical Education and has coached US disabled cycling team at the Paralympics in Atlanta and Sydney Australia.  She has raced tandem at the northwest Burley events and captained a tandem during the '95 US ABA Masters Disabled Nationals to the gold medal (Set national record) in the 40K women's tandem team event with a blind stoker.  Placed 6th and 8th in the time trials and was the SILVER medalist in the 20k road race at the 2005 National Senior Olympics in Pittsburg PA.  Most recently, qualified for the '07 National Senior Olympics by placing 2nd overall in the Alabama State 40k road race and 5k time trial.

Her hobbies include: cycling, reading, working out, traveling, and meeting new people (and she plays a big role helping Barbara keeping Mike our of trouble).