Kayna Robison, President

From an early age, cycling has represented independence and adventure. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve riding around the neighborhood with my friends, sometimes even cramming two or three kids onto one bike to reach our next destination. These days, you won’t be seeing more than one person on my bike, but I still enjoy the freedom and excitement of riding just as I did growing up.

In my late-twenties, I started riding with folks at work who regularly went on rides together. My partner’s mother generously gifted me her old road bike and suggested I check out GEARs. I was loving the challenge and empowerment that cycling was bringing to my life at the time. I wasn’t sure what to expect when joining GEARs, but was happy to discover a welcoming community full of dedicated cyclists, many of whom have become deeply valued friends. I am very grateful for everything that GEARs has offered me and our community.

As a board member, I am dedicated to promoting a strong sense of community and inclusiveness among our membership. Through group rides, social events, and outreach efforts, I aim to promote cycling as a welcoming and inclusive sport for everyone.

Jose Zarate, Vice President

Peter Dedman, Secretary

I grew up in Connecticut loving to ride bikes, whether it was up and down the driveway on a Schwinn, around the neighborhood on a Raleigh BMX, and later, across town on a Panasonic 10-speed. Bikes were the only vehicle I owned for the decades I resided in the Bay Area after college, then NYC after that. However, I’ve only discovered the joy of riding with groups of cyclists in the past few years. This has exponentially deepened my love for the activity and relationship with the bike, bringing me further than I’d ever imagined for myself.

When I moved to Eugene in 2022 with my family, a group like GEARs was one of the first things I looked for — and gratefully, found. The diversity of routes, paces, and personalities contribute to this organization’s specialness, a wonderful representation of the vibrant Eugene cycling community. I’m honored to serve on the board and hope to help create more opportunities for us to make a positive impact. (Peter on his first bike below).

Howard Hesterberg, Treasurer

I bought my first “10 Speed” right after graduating college. I never saw myself as an athlete but that is one way the bike has opened up my world. It was about ten years before I started riding in a group, but that eventually led to fifteen years of racing, on road and off. I have done centuries and such in six states and a week cycling camp in Italy. Cycling clubs have been a big part of my life for thirty years, so I have seen a lot of variety. Cycling is good medicine too.
PS – I am also a long time indoor cycling instructor.

Eric Healy, Member at Large

I grew up riding bikes in Montana and bought a Raleigh cyclocross bike in place of a car to get around the valley. Heading to college, I continued my love for cycling and really got hooked when I graduated and began spending my free time exploring the gravel roads around Bozeman. Since then, I’ve tried my hand at almost every bike event in and around Montana, scratching that competitive itch while finding new friends and riding in beautiful places. I moved to Eugene in the summer of 2024, partially because the cycling infrastructure and culture here are so strong. I’ve joined the GEARs rides to make friends and find a sense of community here in Eugene before eventually joining the board. As a board member, I am an advocate for bicycles as both a means of transportation and recreation. I would like to support the continued expansion of the cycling path/lane network around Eugene.

Daniel Padilla, Member at Large