Category Archives: Profile

Profile: Jose Noe Valdez

Name: Jose Noe Valdez

I’ve been riding since:  Since I was a kid.  I stopped riding in my early 20′s;  I now wish I never stopped riding.  I started riding again a few years ago, mostly for fun.  I have recently tried long distance randoneuring and I loved it.  I hope to continue to do more of that type of riding.

About my bike:  I ride a folding bike.  It’s not for everyone, but I like it.  I found it in New York, and I thought it was the coolest thing.  It’s made in Brooklyn and torture tested on New York’s toughest streets. It’s a great commuter, and with a few mods and inginuety it can be an everything bike.  I rode my first 200k (128 miles) rando ride on it.

Why I ride:  It is just plain fun. It is healthy, eco-friendly, great sport – all that, but for me it boils down to just plain fun. Riding a bike should be, above all, fun.  Whether you race, tour, mountain bike, whatever, it should be fun for you. If you are not having fun you are on the wrong bike.

Places I go on my bike:  Anywhere I feel like it.  Because its a folding bike, I have even taken it inside office buildings and stores (when I have forgotten my lock), and no one has ever asked me to leave it outside.

 

david moreno’s profile

Name:  David Moreno

I’ve been riding since:  Like most everybody, I rode when I was a kid.  I stopped riding as I got older, but I wish I hadn’t.  I started riding again in May of 2010 – by far, one of the smartest things I’ve done.

About my bike:  I wanted a bike that was comfortable, dependable, and was capable of doing whatever I wanted it to.  My bike was almost all the way there, but I added a few things.  Now I can do everything I want to on this bike:  commuting, long rides, and  light touring.  I have a plethora of bags for my rack and a trailer to haul my goods.  This bike is a beast.

Places I go on my bike:  I commute daily to UTPA, and I’ve been places far and wide in the valley.  I’ve even ventured all the way to SPI.

Why I ride:  I started riding to get healthy;  now I ride because it’s fun.  Who knew kicking the car habit would be healthy for me, my wallet, and the environment?

jamee cole’s profile

Name:  Jamee Cole.

I’ve been riding since:  Jimmy Carter was president.

About my bike:  I’m a bi-cyclist and split my time between an Xtracycle modification of a Trek 4000 and a Surly Long Haul Trucker.  They both get plenty of lovin’.

Places I go on my bike:  HEB, UTPA, SPI, Pizza Rustica, Roosevelt’s, Sal Del Rey, the southern side of the border wall…

Why I ride:  Because if Jamee doesn’t ride, Jamee goes crazy.

deby g moreno’s profile

Name: Deby G Moreno

I’ve been riding since:  July 2010.  My husband, David, taught me how to ride.

About my bike:  Ramona was a Silver Trek step-through frame with fenders and collapsible baskets.  She is currently wrecked.

Places I go on my bike:  Anywhere and everywhere:  City Hall, restaurants, other towns, and of course to the homes of dear friends.  Since I learned to ride, I have commuted daily to UTPA.

Why I ride:  Why not?  I wanted to learn how to ride for so long.  Now it is more than just riding a bike, it is a lifestyle.

jorge trujillo’s profile

Jorge's Bike

Name: Jorge Trujillo

I’ve been riding since: My first memories of riding a bicycle are in the Morelos Plaza in Morelia at the age of 5. I remember the hardest thing about learning to ride was actually looking up. I’ve only recently started commuting to school on my bike.

About my bike: I found my Cannondale Bad Boy at a local bike shop in McAllen (Bike World). I didn’t know exactly what I was looking for, but when I saw this black beauty I knew it was love at first sight. I usually ride a pair of Schwalbes and a very fashionable red crate to carry my payload.

Places I go on my bike: The versatility of this bike has served me well in social night rides downtown, morning canal cruises, long distance rides, and swerving through students at UTPA.

Why I ride: Because of all the beautiful people : ) Never have I felt so happy and in tune with my own spirit and persona than when I ride with all my friends (whom you’ll get to meet on here too!).  Thank you, amigos y amigas.

debbie cole’s profile


Name: Debbie Cole

I’ve been riding since:  I learned to ride when I was 11 or 12 years old. I’ve commuted by bike to school and/or work since 1992.

About my bike:  In the late 90′s, my husband found us a pair of matching Trek mountain bikes for sale at a local bike shop in Tucson. It’s still the bike I ride most, loaded with an Arkel backpack and briefcase. I also love riding our yellow Schwinn Twinn and our Batavus Intercycle Dutch bike.

Places I go on my bike:  Mostly, I commute between home and UTPA. It’s only a 10-15 minute ride…but I don’t have to worry about finding parking, and I feel so zen when I arrive. I also go grocery shopping and do other errands with my family by bike.

Why I ride:  I ride because it feels good – because it’s great to be outside and feel the wind and smell the air, because my body is grateful every time I make it get me where I’m going on its own energy, and because I see people, creatures, and places I wouldn’t see if I was in my car.