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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 Schwinn's with banana seats (yellow
Stingray with a sparkly seat and a low sissy bar)
to the park and school, but wresting 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. |
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