Staff

Chainwheel's secret formula? It has to be our amazing staff.

We have employed some great people over our 40 year history, but it is clear that we routinely out kick our coverage when it comes to attracting and retaining a very professional staff. Our current staff members all exemplify the main 2 positive traits we expect here at The Wheel - a commitment to excellent service and a broad sense of humor.


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bill2Bill Yager
Service Writer

Three things you couldn't live without? Family, faith and my Leatherman.
Interests outside of cycling? Brewing beer and metal/wood working.
Favorite superhero? Hellboy. Can't think of another superhero that would be better to have a beer with... and the Right Hand of Doom is pretty awesome too.
Best meal ever? Chowder and beer at Ivars.
Earliest bicycle related memory? Age 6, spending all day riding around our ranch imagining I was Mert Lawwill at Castle Rock.
Current bike(s)? Cannondale F5, Standard Race, Gack 24, handmade custom, and a 1988 Bianchi road.
Bicycle related skills? MTN, BMX, touring, mécanicien vélo, Chris King hub service, and breaking pedals loose without using my hands.


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altBruce Thalheimer
Co-Owner

Three things you couldn't live without? Family, Friends and my remote. Scratch the remote, I meant my bike.
Interests outside of cycling? Readin writin’ and rithmatic’
Favorite superhero? "the Greatest American Hero" from the TV series. He flies like I ride.
Best meal ever? In Italy with Barbara, Ellee and friends is tied with the "Country Kitchen" in Poland with Barbara Andrew Lech and his Dad.
Earliest bicycle related memory? Can't remember doing much as a kid but remember teaching my kids.
Current bike(s)? "Grail" touring bike and Project One Domane.
Bicycle related skills? Love touring but not touring AND camping. Being on a bike is its own reward and it's what I like.

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chris2Chris Koenig
SALES STAFF

Three things you couldn't live without? Music, Power tools and Steak, Cookies came in a close fourth.
Interests outside of cycling? Woodworking, home renovation projects and exploring the natural state with my beautiful wife Jennifer.
Favorite superhero? Captain America, I like his outfit and the fact that he earned his powers by being a good person.
Best meal ever? I have a lot of great ones that I cooked up on the grill on the back deck but the most memorable would be eating Shrimp and Ceviche on the beach in Cozumel.
Earliest bicycle related memory? My first bike was a hand me down from my sister. it was a yellow huffy with a banana seat and tassels. My first ride ever, my mom balanced me at the top of the hill and I was going to ride to the bottom where my dad was going to catch me, I got going so fast that my dad missed me and I ended up crashing into the wood pile. I was bleeding but had a huge smile on my face, I ran the bike back to the top of the hill and went again.
Current bike? 2009 Trek Madone 4.7, 1985 Skyway Streetbeat, and a 2013 Trek 7.5 hybrid for riding the river trail with my wife.
Bicycle related skills? In 2008, my sister challenged me to complete a sprint triathlon. I had been riding mountain bikes since college and thought I was a decent rider. I did the bike leg of the triathlon on my 1995 Gary Fischer mountain bike, I was working my butt off and everyone was cruising right past me. I bought my first road bike for the next triathlon and love the feeling of going fast on the pavement. I still enjoy mountain biking and triathlons, but road riding is my passion.


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erik2Erik Blaty
Logistics Manager

Three things you couldn't live without? My beautiful wife and kids, Good Beer and Hair Metal Band Ballads.
Interests outside of cycling? Being a great husband and role model for my sons. Would love to learn to tap dance before I die.
Favorite superhero? Captain America, Defending the Red White and Blue and doing the right thing never goes out of style.
Best meal ever? First T-Bone steak I had after returning home from a 14 month tour in Iraq.
Earliest bicycle related memory? Riding around the neighborhood doing "sweet jumps" on homemade ramps and riding down hill with no hands while leaning against the handlebars.
Current bike(s)? Waterford S-22 custom steel fixed gear (a.k.a. "the velvet hammer"), 2012 Pinarello Paris with DI2 electronic, product testing 2013 Cannondale Scalpel 29er.
Bicycle related skills? Have completed 24 hour MTB races, 48 hour MTB race (48 hour MTB single speed world champion), Sprint distance Triathlons, 24 hour Adventure Race, annual BDB 100 mile ride 6 times on a fixed gear with best time of 4:59. Most fun and rewarding yet has been taking our oldest son to pre-school in a Burley trailer and doing the Saturday morning coffee ride with him in tow in the trailer. Looking forward to getting to do that again with our youngest.


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eric_grimmetEric Grimmett
service technician

Three things you couldn't live without? Electronica music, all wheel drive and Buffalo Sweat Stout from Tall Grass Brewery.
Interests outside of cycling? Rock climbing.
Favorite superhero? T1000 liquid metal dude from Terminator 2.
Best meal ever? Burritos from California taco stands.
Current bike(s)? Cysco Cycles road, HiFi Pro Trek MTB, Grail steel single speed MTB, Knoxx Sky2 trials bike.
Bicycle related skills? Wheelies, Manuals, Gaps, Drops, Ups, Bunny hops, Bump jumps, Side hops and Skinnys.


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cw_img_staff_ernieErnie Lechuga
SALES STAFF

Three things you couldn't live without? Coffee, friends, and an occasional Latin dance.
Interests outside of cycling? Coaching athletes...going to bike races with my wife, Scotti...yeah, pretty much everything I do outside of cycling revolves around cycling.
Favorite superhero? Speedy Gonzalez.
Best meal ever? My parent's taco truck in L.A. - Ceviche and Fish tacos!
Earliest bicycle related memory? My dad waking me up at 5:30 am to take my mom to work, drop her off, then ride 30 miles back home 4x/week before school. I was 10.
Current bike(s)? Trek Madone 7 Series.
Bicycle related skills? I've been riding bikes for 27 years. I was teammates with some of the best riders in the world at one time in my life. Now I try and give back what I've learned from my experiences, from personalized coaching (racers and recreational riders) to learning how to clip into a bike, to coaching a kid who wants to be a professional triathlete. Cycling is all I've known.


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ian2Ian Hope
SALES STAFF

Things you couldn't live without? My family, water and Dexter.
Interests outside of cycling? Guitars, SCUBA diving, Dexter.
Favorite superhero? Dexter. Why? He takes care of the bad men, downtown style.
Best meal ever? The latest.
Earliest bicycle related memory?Racing home on my Schwinn and getting garroted by a guy wire from a telephone pole at night (Dexter was not involved).
Current bike(s)? TREK Madone 5.9 with Shimano Ultegra Di2. Hand built MEECH.
Bicycle related skills? I am primarily a roadie but I have made a commitment to race some mountain bike events soon.


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jeremiah2Jeremiah Johnson
Service Technician

Three things you couldn't live without? If I were suddenly swept into the ocean while cycling in Arkansas, and washed up onto a remote, tropical island and by pure luck the three things I couldn't live without washed up to shore with me, I'd be happy knowing I'd still have my All-Clad pots and pans for all those crabs and lobsters I'd be chowing down on; my magical bottomless pineapple of rum, and my ukulele on which I would serenade all the native ladies.
Interests outside of cycling? I'm a cyclist sure, but I'm also a power-lifter with a dramatic flare for heavy epic melody, Metallica delivers what I need to feel like a titan under a bar or churning a heavy 85rmp. Now, at all other times I'm pretty lazy and easily impressed, and the Gorillaz represent the very ideal of "being awesome" so those are my two votes... Metallica and the Gorillaz... and I'm Jeremiah Johnson, so I get two votes. We can arm wrestle about it if you disagree.
Favorite superhero? While he's not a super-hero, or even still alive in the comic book since he was executed, I'd have to say Marv from the Sin City series would be my favorite hero... well not a hero... an inspiring, idyllic figure. While he has no powers whatsoever, he is seemingly immune to his own adrenaline and is an abrasive, gritty unstoppable force... well, until he got the chair.
Best ride ever? There was no particular day that pleased me more than others, but a route in Bedford PA known as the Rainsburgh Loop was always a great pleasure for me. I remember the trees along the smooth roads and cover from the sun and the sound of springs trickling from the cliff walls... and the burn in my legs and lungs up the 18% grade and the cold relief of a thousand foot, winding decent through treetops into the valley farmlands... I'll always love that pain
Best meal ever? If you ever go to St. Maarten, go to Rosemary's and order the creole conch with red beans and rice. Incapacitatingly delicious
Earliest bicycle related memory? I remember our home in New Jersey when I was 5 or 6 years old. There was a slight decline coming out of the garage and that led to the long dirt driveway. I hopped onto my sisters ten speed without being able to reach the pedals or breaks, not thinking about what could have (and did) happen on my first bike ride without training wheels. I had fantastic balance coming down that hill! I had enough speed and anticipated the turn ahead! I needed though to slow down slightly to make that turn safely. I did not make the turn safely. That was my first slow-motion trip to the gravel and first bicycle related memory.
Current bike(s)? Right now I'm riding a Cannondale Super Six EVO with the Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 series on it. The bike is incredible and simply wants to keep rolling. I also have a Cannondale Tandem that my wife and I ride occasionally. My Cannondale touring bike has been with me for many car-free years and still looks and rides like new.
Bicycle related skills? As far as bike-related skills are concerned, I'd like to think I'm a pretty good mechanic... although as far as the noteworthy go; patching, sewing, and otherwise repairing tubular tires (not too many guys who do that these days)... Lefty repair... I've also been known to use my 53x11 for entire rides at a time.


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justin2Justin Slarks
Special Ops

Three things you couldn't live without? That's easy - sanity, family and fun.
Interests outside of cycling? Music, blogging and adventure.
Favorite superhero? Wolverine. Must I explain?
Best meal ever? No question, Harry Singh's Caribbean Soul - Order Pelou and Soursop to drink. I've been eating there for 25 years and it is the best, simplest food imaginable. Total dive, but greatness abounds.
Earliest bicycle related memory? I can remember riding down the short set of stairs at the end of our sidewalk on my trike. This resulted in the scar I have on my chin today and why I don't ride with steel fenders!
Current bike(s)? Trek Domane and a secret one I have in the works.
Bicycle related skills? I am mostly a road biker, but am trying to get back to my roots of mountain biking. I love the mechanical side of bicycles, the engineering side, the artisan side and the fitting / biomechanical side. Oh, I love riding too.


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lance2Lance Paoli
Service Technician

Three things you couldn't live without? Metal, drums and skinny jeans.
Interests outside of cycling? Overcoming great odds that are against you
Best meal ever? Tortellini alfredo
Earliest bicycle related memory? Finally getting training wheels taken off
Current bike(s)? Cannondale CAAD9 converted to single speed, freestyle fixed gear and a belt drive VanDessel WTF
Bicycle related skills? Single speeding, fixed gear riding and skidding like a BOSS


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marianne2Marianne Park
SALES STAFF

Three things you couldn't live without? Coffee and lip gloss, but in all seriousness - my kids. (four boys, one girl)
Interests outside of cycling?
Gardening, photography, DIY crafts, travel, relationship with God.
Favorite superhero? (somebody help me! I am surrounded by coworkers who have favorite superheroes!!) okay, I am gonna say "John Wayne" and not a Marvel/DC comics superhero... While growing up, my Dad would let me stay up to watch old westerns, drink Coke and eat Fritos and cheese. John Wayne movies were our favorites with "True Grit" at the top of my list! And yes, I still love Coke and Fritos!
Best meal ever? The one that is cooked for me! I appreciate the work and effort.
Earliest bicyle related memory?I remember as a preschooler/early elementary riding my three wheeled blue bike out in the neighborhood with pink foam rollers in my hair! I always wanted to be outside but with long hair rolled for church... (not too much has changed!).
Current bike(s)? Speed concept 9.6 with Zipp 404 wheels. This bike "feels fast"! ( even when I don't)
Bicycle related skills? Triathlon (sprint-Ironman), endurance road cycling. I rode all the time as a kid through college, took a big break having children and resumed cycling in 2005. I know what it is like to be a beginner with lofty goals so there are no "dumb questions"!


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pat2Patrick Barron
Co-Owner

Three things you couldn't live without? Trick question? In this context - a bike to ride, the time to ride it, and a cold Dr. Pepper.
Interests outside of cycling? I have two kids. Are you kidding? I used to keep up with pop culture, but the internet has made it too easy. I miss old school wrestling here in Barton Coliseum and Kung Fu theatre on Cable.
Favorite superhero? Dark Knight. I like that he's just a dude who likes to wear a costume - just like my cycling friends...hey, wait a minute!
Best meal ever? Tough call, I'm gonna stay away from family meals entirely. With regard to restaurants I gotta say Trios used to do this El Diablo Ravioli and it was divine - partly because I doubt I could ever make it even if Capi was threatening me with some type of rolling pin or something. I have asked to be notified if it ever is back on the menu. Nada.
Earliest bicycle related memory? My brothers were disgusted that I was unable to ride a bike by the time I was 8 and took it upon themselves to push me down our hill until I quit crashing. The County had just cut back all the privet and whatnot making the ditches scarier than a Greek phalanx. I often think about them not giving me an out. There I was wobbling down a paved road with no exit plan instead of all the grass fields around us. Looking back, these are the same guys that proved that you can push your little brother over the top of a swing set, so I should really just count myself lucky.
Current bike(s)? I ride a Project One Domane with Campy, a Scalpel 29, and of course, the Green Destiny - the greatest singlespeed of all time.
Bicycle related skills? Since I've been here I've kind of evolved into a bicycle fit specialist. I really enjoy solving problems that a good fit can fix. I am familiar with fit protocols from Serotta, Fit Kit, Bike Fit, Trek, Slowtwitch and Retul.I have a good ear and eye for what can be improved upon and like demystifying this black art area of cycling. I use a Muve dynamic fit bike and feel like we continue to evolve in this area as new approaches become available. I sincerely think our store is very competitive in this very specialized area, and like our tech area, our approach really separates us from our competition.


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scott2Scott Penrod
SALES STAFF

Three things you couldn't live without? Without a doubt, Chamois Cream.
Interests outside of cycling? I still don’t understand the question… Seriously though, I love Sci-Fi movies and books. I’m a nerd and not afraid to admit it.
Favorite superhero? Nick Fury. No superpowers. Just a bad@$$!
Best meal ever? Pizza chain in Colorado called Beau Jo’s. The Supreme Mountain Pie Rocks!
Earliest bicycle related memory? I was about 5 years old when my Father removed the training wheels from my bike. Pretty sure he figured that faster was more stable. It wasn’t that day. I High-sided going downhill and experienced my first case of road rash. I’ve been trying to avoid a replay of that day for years with mixed results.
Current bike(s)? Cannondale X3! Scalpel 29r, Flash 29r and my “antique”, a 3 year old CAAD 9 road bike.
Bicycle related skills? I consider myself very good at fitting smaller riders, probably because my wife is “Fun size” and my daughter started riding very young. My goal is to remove every hindrance to comfort and good handling, which can be a challenge for smaller riders.


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trevor2Trevor Edwards
Service technician

Three things you couldn't live without? My wife, daughter, and my cross bike.
Interests outside of cycling? Rock climbing, and camping out with family.
Favorite superhero? Jeremiah Johnson! No explanation needed.
Best meal ever? I don't have a best meal ever, but my Mom's cooking is impossible to beat.
Earliest bicycle related memory? Teaching myself how to ride in a grassy field in my backyard on my oldest sister’s single speed coaster brake bike.
Current bike? Cannondale Super X Disc (setup single speed), Lynskey 29er Single Speed, and a Trek Ion road bike.
Bicycle related skills? I am an avid single speed rider, and mechanic, that loves racing cyclocross, commuting, and occasionally racing mountain bikes. I also promote cyclocross events in Little Rock.


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winter2Winter Bisbee
LOGISTICS

Three things you couldn't live without? Kids, husband and chocolate
Interests outside of cycling? My kids, my kid's schools, dog rescue and cross stitching
Favorite superhero? Spider-Man because my house is covered in Spider-Man stuff
Best meal ever? Fried deer meat with pan gravy and mashed potatoes
Earliest bicycle related memory? My older sister and I were coming down a steep hill - I was on my dad's bike and she had stopped at the bottom. I ran into her and popped my dad's tire. I was so afraid I was going to get in trouble.
Current bike? Lots of children's bikes
Bicycle related skills? I've taught a lot of kids to ride bikes.


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zachZach Noble
Staff Member

Three things you couldn't live without? Bicycles, good beer, and most importantly, Arkansas Razorback athletics.
Interests outside of cycling? Sports. Mainly NCAA Football, but my TV is almost always on ESPN.
Favorite superhero? Matt Jones!
Best meal ever? I'm always down to eat some chicken wings.
Earliest bicycle related memory? I'm gonna change this one to 'Favorite Bicycle Related Memory' - Riding outside of San Jose, California for a week with my Shredtards!
Current bike(s)? Specialized Venge Pro, Niner One9 singlespeed, GT Peace 9r set up for beatin' around town, Raleigh Technium set up fixed.
Bicycle related skills? I can kind of track stand with no hands. I guess thats cool.


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