Eric Hansen – profile and introduction
our family blog (which we are pathetic at maintaining): www.kajriis.blogspot.com/
Athletic resume/profile:
Current Race Category: MTB: Exp VET, Road: Cat3 Master, CX: Master A 35+
Current Residence: Herzogenaurach, Germany (Deutschland)–relocated 2years ago for a job at adidas where I design running apparel product.
Cycling Résumé:
1989 – started racing road while living in NYC – lots of laps in Central Park chasing a teenager named George Hincapie.
1994 – relocated to Minnesota – started MTB racing because the road scene was limited.
1995 – state champion Sport VET class – upgrade to Expert
1996 – 2nd EXP VET class
1996 – relocate to Colorado – raced C.O.R.S. Exp VET, CX + road…very marginal results (the old dudes are fast in Colorado!)
1998 – relocate to Oregon – shifted to racing karts (4 wheels + a motor…seemed amusing at the time)
2002 – back to racing bikes…focused on MTB with occasional road races + met my wife (on a ride)
2003 – proposed to my wife (on a ride). Mixed results in Sport VET MTB, CX + Road
2004 – 1st Ski Bowl series Sport VET…upgrade back to Exp VET
2005 – 3rd State Championship race Exp VET, 1st Ski Bowl series Exp VET
2006 – 3rd in Exp VET class Creampuff 100mile MTB race
2007 – several podium results in Exp Vet- Oregon Off-Road series prior to relocation to Germany
2008 – mixed/marginal results riding snglspeed in Germany – met the Schweinfurt wrecking crew!
Bikes:
custom 29” sngl-speed by Tony Pereira (50th birthday present to myself)
Gary Fischer Rig-29” sngl-speed
Van Dessel Gin & Trombones CX bike
Specialized Roubaix road bike
other misc. things on hooks in the basement
A short list of some things I find engaging about riding bikes (and maybe the reason I’m still at it…)
1. The universal bond I share with the people I meet in the saddle. Never met a person on a bike I didn’t share something in common. (refer to 2002/wife)
2. Understanding and self-discovery that comes from athletics and the experience of going beyond my own perceived limitations.
3. Places I’ve visited, sights I’ve seen, priorities I’ve developed as a result of being part of the cycling fraternity.
4. Satisfies my inherent need to tinker, build things, clean stuff, etc.
5. Aligns with my sustainability consciousness.
6. Consistent with the Midwestern Depression Ethic I inherited from my father…re: cheap
