Michael

Michael Cleveland – American Ex-Pat

Just me… Wunnspeed

City Bike Marathon ’08

My motto for life

Me closing in on the finish of the 2012 Munich City Bike Marathon

 

After 33 days/10 hours I finished my first attempt at the Tour Divide Race. I rode a rigid singlespeed and made 1/2 of my bags (the yellow ones) under my brand SpoK.

 

Born in 1962 in Minnesota. Lived throughout the U.S. until finally landing in the Kansas City area where I stayed until we moved here to München in 2005. In the States I worked in the Engineering/Architecture fields for most of my life and last I worked as a land surveyor. Here in Germany I’m an English teacher and work primarily with Germans teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). I live here with my lovely wife and fat cat.

I started mountain biking in 1994 with a 1993 model Haro Impulse Comp. I’ve never stopped riding since. I switched to 29’ers in about 2002 when I got tired of bikes that never felt long enough for me. I had Doug Curtis at Curtlo build me my first 29’er. See the top photo for a pic of it. In the summer of 2012 I completed the Tour Divide Race on a rigid singlespeed in my first bikepacking ride ever. We only have 29″ mountain bikes at home and it’s been that way, for me, for over 10 years. I currently ride/race the Independent Fabrications Ti Deluxe 29’er and a Retrotec Triple. My primary mode of riding is on a rigid singlespeed. For me, it just works.