Board Candidates

The 2021 GEARs Board Candidates are listed below with short biographies for each. Please attend the December 8 Annual General Meeting via Zoom to elect and welcome the new board. The Zoom meeting details will be announced soon.

Voting for the board candidates is now open. You can enter your vote HERE.


Dave Anolik – New Board Candidate

How long have you been a GEARs member? Around 5 minutes – my wife Gabe and I just moved to Eugene.

How have you been involved in GEARs? One group ride

What is your biking experience? Extensive – from ultra-endurance multi-day, gravel and fondo sanctioned racing to long solo and group touring and (a lot of) bikepacking, mountain biking, wrenching and all that to chasing racers and enthusiasts on a bike with cameras as a marketer/ filmmaker for the cycling industry. I currently am a filmmaker/marketing consultant for the cycling industry.

Tell about the ways you would support the GEARs mission as a Board Member. I feel that my strongest contribution to GEARs will be as a marketing-communications expert with the knowledge and experience to make the articulated goals of the strategic plan a reality.

What is your vision for GEARs? 1. Growth, growth growth. 2. I’d replace “2019” to “2021” in the strategic plan, and add the words “inclusive”, “diverse” and “youth” in a few places – then execute with those attributes as it’s True North.

Please include any family information or personal interests you would like to share. Family: I am a descendant of Isakas Anolikas, Lithuania’s first Olympian, a velodrome Time Trial specialist in the ’24 and ’28 Olympics. Personal Interests: I think owls are really, really cool.

Any other comments you would like to make? I strongly believe that the adoption of bikes and human-powered vehicles on a massive, global scale for transportation and recreation is a mandatory, primary step in addressing and reversing climate change. I think bicycle mechanics should be taught in every high school, with advanced placement classes in frame and wheel building with naturally-sourced, recycled or found materials. I think wheelchairs and bikes are in the same industrial category, and should be manufactured with that in mind. I believe that the Bike was discovered, not invented.


Tim Halstead – New Board Candidate

How long have you been a GEARs member? 3 Months

How have you been involved in GEARs? We recently relocated here from the Seattle area. I started riding some of the routes I found on the web site to learn the area. I recently started joining in the group rides and meeting a few of the regulars.

What is your biking experience? I’ve ridden about 3 to 5000 miles most years for about the last 20 years. I commuted to my job for many years by bike.I’ve done Cycle Oregon and RAMROD a few times and STP more times than I remember, at least 6 times with family members on our tandem. The highlight of my cycling life was crossing the USA In 2011. I rode the Northern Tier route from Anacortes WA. to Bar Harbor Maine solo with my wife along in our support van.

Tell about the ways you would support the GEARs mission as a Board  Member. I’m looking forward to volunteering where needed to promote safety and education. I like to promote cycling among fellow middle agers that don’t enjoy running so much any more. I often tell friends that when I run I’m 65 years old but when I’m on my bike feel like I’m 10 years old.

What is your vision for GEARs? No profound vision. I’ve just been very impressed so far with the club and the members I’ve been meeting. And would like to help any way I can.

Please include any family information or personal interests you would like  to share. Besides cycling I enjoy hiking up steep hills, backpacking, kayaking, fishing and exploring the great northwest. And most of all spending time with my family and two young grandsons.


John Reidy – New Board Candidate

How long have you been a GEARs member? 4 years

What is your biking experience? I’ve been riding for over 30 years, mostly on the road and quite a bit of mountain biking, too.

Tell about the ways you would support the GEARs mission as a Board Member. I hope to foster an inclusive invironment in which experienced riders as well as
those new to the sport will find activites and destinations they will enjoy. Oregon
has many beautiful rides and GEARs should facilitate our members getting to see them!

Please include any family information or personal interests you would like to share. I am a woodworker. I used to ski.


Kim Russell – New Board Candidate

How long have you been a GEARs member? Almost 1 year

How have you been involved in GEARs? I am a Business Member (I own MTN FIT) and I have participated in the BlackBerry bRamble twice!

What is your biking experience? I started my cycling “adventures” later in life…I decided to pursue a Half Ironman August 2014 so I bought my first road bike in 2013. I immediately fell in love and have continued the fun. I have endured other triathlon distances and since moving to Oregon, I have had the pleasure of biking around Crater Lake and doing McKenzie Pass twice- as well as my first century ride in 2018 with the Blackberry Bramble.

Tell about the ways you would support the GEARs mission as a Board Member. As a local small business owner of a fitness studio that includes indoor cycling, I believe I have a unique position to help with promoting GEARs for my members and clients. I am advocate of outdoor fitness first and foremost. Cycling is a wonderful way to connect with nature and friends (community), while getting a great workout.

What is your vision for GEARs? To assist with growing the club, idea-building and helping folks get interested in riding a bike – whether it be for the first time or to get reacquainted.

Please include any family information or personal interests you would like to share. Originally from Columbus, Ohio and moved to Eugene in 2017. I am married and have two “fur-sons” – Rory and Newman who are rescue dogs. I love weekend adventuring with my family on trail runs. I am an avid blood and platelet donor – looking to reach 100 donations before the good Lord takes me. I love a good, nasty climb on the bike.

Any other comments you would like to make? I have never been on a board before but I have common sense and like to think I have good ideas. I do well at communicating and work nicely and respectfully with others. As long as I can make meetings, I am interested! Currently, I am operating my fitness studio alone as I do not have the business to bring back my independent contractor so that ‘may’ be an issue.