About Us
Matt and Kevin met through a business engagement and quickly discovered that they both had a love for cycling. As they began to do some club and training rides together they decided to set some goals. One goal was to train for and complete the RAIN Ride in 2004. The RAIN Ride is a one-day event in July that covers 160 miles of Indiana from the Illinois border to the Ohio border.
After several years of combined racing, club and recreational riding Matt and Kevin decided to start a venture to help those new to the sport or looking to get to the next level. Our training philosophy is simply to help you achieve the goals you desire with our experience, support, and passion for cycling.
Matt Tanner is a certified USA Cycling coach.
About Matt
How many years have you been into cycling?
I've been riding bikes as long as I can remember, but I've been focused and training on a bicycle since my college days in the early 90's.
What kind of bikes do you ride?
I'll try to ride anything with two wheels. My current road bike is a brand new Roark Custom Ti Full Aero. I have an aluminum Trek 2300 for rainy days and catching dust in my garage. I also have a 1993 Cannondale M500 mountain bike for hitting the trails (it's purple!) and a Giant Simple Single for pulling our son down the Monon in his Burley.
What kind of riding do you enjoy the most?
Hrrm... that depends what kind of mood I'm in and what my goals are. If I'm training for a certain event I'll go solo and really focus. If I'm looking to have fun or get in some base miles I like going out with friends or in a really large group.
Where is your favorite place to ride?
Hamilton County has lots of well paved roads. Traffic is getting heavier, but in general it's pretty nice.
I also enjoy riding the hills down in Brown County near Sweetwater Lake.
What are some of your other interests?
Running, snowboarding, camping, hiking, rafting.
What is your best tip for new riders?
Set goals that are realistic and buy a good pair of shorts and shoes. Then get fitted for your bike and ride!
Kevin Koval is a certified USA Cycling coach.
About Kevin
How did you get involved in cycling?
As a cross-country runner in High School I suffered from Achilles tendonitis, to help rehabilitate the injury and stay fit for wrestling season, cycling was the best option available. The rest, as they say, is history and I have kept riding consistently for the past 20 years.
Road or Mountain?
Definitely the road here in Indiana. My current bike is an eight year old Waterford 2200 in chameleon green. Yes it's steel and weighs about 19 lbs., heavy by todays standards but rides like butta! My bright red Kestrel mountain bike gets ridden a few times a year (it still has red dirt on it from a trip to AZ in 2003) and is a strange mix of high and low-tech parts. If you hear a loud creaking noise coming from behind you on the Monon, it's just me putting off getting a new crankset.
What is your favorite racing story?
In a small race at Deming park in Terre Haute, IN, I was off the front with another rider who was clearly stronger than me on that fine Saturday. I was having a hard time just sitting on his wheel. I somehow managed to convince him there was no need to go so hard since the rest of the field was never going to catch us. This gave me a few minutes to catch my wind, just in time to attack going into the tricky turn with a lap to go. I got the gap I needed, put my head down and cruised in for the win.
Moral: If someone is asking you to slow down, they are not doing it for your benefit. ATTACK!
Cycling sob story…
Back in 1994, my good friend Ed Messer and I drove to the Tour DuPont. The first stage we attended was the time trial in Roanoke, VA. This attractive young woman in a Motorola jersey comes over and asks if she can borrow Ed's Look pedals. After telling us she was Phil Anderson's new wife Kristin, we gladly obliged with the promise of meeting the Motorola guys later. As we stroll around the parking lot we see Phil Liggett in his Motorola kit getting ready for a ride. We strike up a conversation and Phil invites us on a ride of the course with him and some friends, which we can't do since we just gave up some pedals so Kristin could ride with Phil.
Moral: Beware pretty girls (or guys) asking for your pedals.
What else do you do besides coach?
During the winter, I teach Spinning at the Five Seasons, Healthplex and the Workout Centre. I try to bring the outdoor cycling experience indoors. I do run here and there but nothing more than just a mile or so at a time, usually some sprints with my dog Pilot. My day job is running SOLARIS (www.solarisfilm.com), making sure to leave time for afternoon rides on beautiful days. There's plenty more but it's the usual active lifestyle stuff.
