MEET THE STAFF

MEET THE STAFF

For ABB's 2005 Fast America Ride

Office Personnel

President: Douglas Torosian

Has had a love of long distance cycling from a very young age.
First rode cross country self contained in 1982. And in the last 23 years has helped 1000’s of cyclists achieve their goal of riding across the United States.
AbB was founded by cyclists for cyclists as a full service long distance touring alternative for bicyclists who want to cycle across the USA. “Our philosophy is to create a level of support for our cyclists that includes; great routes, motel lodging, meals, friendly experienced cycling staff, compressive mechanical and sag support, luggage transportation, daily maps and cue sheets, etc., allowing you the cyclist to ride your bike at your own pace and truly see America from the seat of your bicycle. No worries, ride your bike!” We continually update our current tours to find the best roads, lodging, logistics, etc. while continuing to develop new and interesting events to give cyclists a real choice of touring options to see this great country. We hope to see you ride with us someday.

Associate Director of Operations:
Bill Lannon

Came to ABB in 2001. The voice on the other end of the line. Responsible for marketing, advertising, and all materials sent out to the riders. Coordinates motels, meals, and other tour logistics.

Office Manager: Karen Bagshaw

Been with the organization since '93. Responsible for accounting and creating all documentation that leaves the office. Not to be confused with Karen Bauer.

On Road Personnel

Mike Munk, Tour Leader/Mechanic Age: 57 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, you can rest tomorrow!" 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 24 times and has led a total of 29 tours with ABB as of 1 Jan 2005. Started riding in 1989 at 42 years old and started racing at 45. Since '89, has amassed over 125,000 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; Lodging, Food, and Finance Coordinator; MOM Age: 54 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 6 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 most 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 33 and Niki 30) and grandma to her 4 grandkids Michael (8), Noah (5), Annaleise (2), and new granddaughter, Rebekah Joy (1). She enjoys reading, working in the yard, travel, movies, and her grandkids (and keeping Mike out of trouble).
Josh Stratton, Mechanic Age: 28 Home: East Grand Rapids, MI Single: Yes, but I have a lead on a good one Occupation: Bike Mechanic Bike: Kestrel Favorite Quote: "The shortest distance between two points is the easiest." Ned Overend Hobbies: Biking, Frisbee, Soccer Josh began cycling after his senior year of college after a friend convinced him to start riding to overcome boredom. Several years and several thousand miles later, Josh is here to assist with the mechanics duties. In the fall of 2003, Josh rode ABB fast South and so impressed Mike that he was asked to join the ABB staff. He attended UBI's (United Bicycle Institute's) Pro Course in Oregon that winter to learn bike mechanics and has since staffed 2004 and 2005 Fast South and last year's Across America North. The 2005 AAN will be his fourth tour with ABB. He left an interesting job in bone model making to be with us this year . . . hopefully we won't have to use that expertise on this ride.	Karen Bauer, Ride Leader/Support Staff Age: 51 Single Home: Eugene Oregon Experience: Cycling since 4, touring since '89...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 with that?" Karen comes to us with 7 years staff experience. She has been involved with numerous state and local rides and 14 cross country rides. She has been with ABB for 5 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. Qualified for the '05 National Senior Olympics by winning the Alabama State 40k and 20k road races and by placing second in the 5k time trial. Most recently, placed 6th and 8th in the time trials and won the SILVER medal in the 20k road race at the National Senior Olympics in Pittsburg PA. Her hobbies include: cycling, reading, working out, traveling, and meeting new people.
Susan Walker, SAG support and website editor Age: 63 Married: to Jeff Walker, an English professor at Oklahoma State University; 2 daughters Hometown: Stillwater, OK Experience: ABB Mississippi River, '98, self-supported west coast, '00; self-supported Alaska, '02, Across America North, 04; Katy Trail; Oklahoma FreeWheel, etc. Susan has been riding since the mid 80s and is an active member of her local road bike club the Red Dirt Pedalers; her state advocacy group, the Oklahoma Bicycle Coalition; and is a LAB cycling instructor (LCI#1067). She is also the editor of her bicycle club newsletter, Wheel Issues, and her local Audubon Chapter newsletter, Feathers. Occupation: Retired fire service curriculum developer/editor/English teacher. Susan is also a certified firefighter, fire instructor, and SCUBA diver Bike: Specialized Roubaix Elite Favorite Quote: "Coast when ya kin"- advice from an awed Southern teen I met on the Mississippi River ride. Favorite Second Quote: "Any day above ground is a good day." (stolen from one of last year's riders) Hobbies: Susan's hobbies include all things "B"--birding, botanizing, beekeeping, butterflies, and, of course, bicycling (sigh . . . she's too old to add boys to this list). Susan's SAG table on last year's tour was most often adorned with a discarded pop can of wildflowers, and she often shared her binoculars with others who wanted to view anything distant . . . from osprey nests to incoming riders.