Member Mirror: Mark Klein
Submitted by Peter Schmidt
When did you begin biking and why? When did you join the PWTC and why?
Mark Klein and his new Breadwinner B-Road bike
Aside from various tot and kiddie bikes, I got my first bike, a Schwinn coaster brake bike when I was 9 years old. Growing up in a western suburb of Philadelphia, the bike provided me with means to ride far and wide in the neighborhood and surrounding burbs. Once I got my drivers license, I stepped off the bike. I became reacquainted with the bike in Maui while on my honeymoon in 1994. The tour company drove us to the top of Mt. Haleakala and then we proceeded to descend 10,000 to the bottom. What a rush that was. Returning from my honeymoon, I purchased a mountain bike and proceeded to explore the mountains surrounding Los Angeles for the next several years. I purchased my first road bike in 1999; the rest they say is “history.” As for PWTC, I joined in October 2017 shortly after relocating from Huntington Beach, CA. In researching the various riding clubs in Portland, the PWTC was the only club that rides all year round; the other clubs stop in November and wait to April to start up. I decided that if I was going to live in Portland, that I would embrace cycling all year round, and PWTC afforded that opportunity.
How many miles do you typically ride in a year? Club rides, or independent rides?
In Southern California, I was a weekend warrior, mainly due to work getting in the way of being able to do weekday rides. With my riding buds, I logged 2,500-3,000 per year. I was club averse because the clubs in the area were too interested in paceline and speed, and that was not for me. I rode consistently with 5 friends for many years. Our small group would participate in 2-3 century rides a year in So. Cal.
You must have a favorite bike in your “stable.” What bike is it, and how many others do you have?
I own 5 bikes – a city bike; mountain bike; a Specialized Roubaix (my summer road bike); a Specialized Diverge (my winter bike) and a Breadwinner B-Road cross bike. It’s difficult to select a favorite, as each bike has specific characteristics for the type of ride, but I must say that my custom fit Breadwinner B-Road is my favorite. It was custom built in Portland by Breadwinner and it is equipped with SRAM e-Tap wireless groupo. Weighing in at 22 lbs. (with wheels, pedals and fenders), it is a really sweet ride.
What do you find most enjoyable about biking? Is there anything about the activity that you don’t like?
The physical fitness benefit of cycling aside, I find the most enjoyable thing being the social aspect of riding with a group, meeting people, and having coffee. Another enjoyable benefit is exploring Portland and surrounding areas from the vantage of 2 wheels vs. a car.
In addition to cycling, are there other “hobbies,” interests or pursuits, that you engage in?
Cycling 3-4 days a week in my book qualifies as a “hobby.” As I have no passionate interests in other hobby like pursuits, it fills my time. I am teaching myself to adjust, and service my bikes as opposed to going to a bike shop for maintenance. I have to say that at times, I screw up so bad that I must go to a shop to have the bike fixed.
While we would all like to be biking full-time, unfortunately, we have to work to support this and other “habits.” What kind of work did you do, or what do you currently do, in your “day job?”
My day job is being fully retired. During my career, I was involved in running two apparel companies in Los Angeles, worked in New York City in the 1970’s as a CPA and finished my career in Southern California as a Tax CPA.
What is a surprising fact about you that your fellow Club members might find interesting?
I played high school baseball against Reggie Jackson. Even in high school he had a reputation as a stellar player. He was the only person I ever saw put the ball over the left field fence at our school ball field. Another obscure fact is that I was at the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania in 1970 when Donald Trump was there. I never saw him and did not know at the time he was there.