Meet the Coaches
Head Coach Ben HOCO Bike Likes: The exercise and the gratification of a great ride. Bike Dislikes: Falling while riding. Riding MTB since: My son joined the team. Favorite trail: anything fast and flowing while getting a little wet and dirty. Why I got Involved: to support my son, but realized I wanted to be a role model for him and others, but also the friendships that have evolved. |
Coach Chris Ellicott City Bike Likes: New challenges, overcoming a tough climb and nice downhill runs. Bike Dislikes: None really... except for litter on the trail. Riding MTB since: Started riding I was a kid until I started driving. Resumed riding MTB when my kids could ride. Favorite trail: The one I am about to ride. Why I got involved: To spend more time with my kids and be involved with MTB community. |
Coach Bryan West hoco Bike Likes: The freedom of human powered movement while exploring new trails and roads. Bike Dislikes: Riders who don’t respect Mother Nature or the rules of the road/trail. Riding MTB since: Rode when Apple was still just a fruit, and now back to MTB – have been riding road/tri since I was a kid. Favorite trail: Whiteface Mountain, Lake Placid, NY Why I got involved: To spend more time with my son and continue to support active lifestyles for kids. |
Coach Jesse Laurel Bike Likes: Exploring new trails and experiencing the sense of flying through the woods. Bike Dislikes: Getting a flat. Riding MTB since: 2007 Favorite trail: Whichever trail I happen to be on at that moment. Why I got involved: Wanting to foster the love of outdoors and biking with my son. |
Coach David Columbia Bike Likes: Flying (at a safe speed) through the woods. Bike Dislikes: Crashing 😊 and trail users who don’t respect the environment and leave their trash on the trails. Riding MTB since: Newbie. Started riding in 2017. Favorite trail: Long flowing ones. Still exploring. Why I got involved: My daughter loves to ride, and we found MICL. Fell in love with MTB and wanted to do and learn more. A bonus is I get to ride with my daughter and see her grown into an amazing rider and young woman. |
Coach Bill ELLICOTT CITY Bike Likes: A quiet bike is a good bike. O-Dark Hundred starts to watch the dawn roll in. Bike Dislikes: Weird noises, worst thing ever, something is wrong with the bike. Really bugs me. Riding MTB since: Late 80s MTB, yeah I'm old. ;-) Favorite Trail: That long dangerous rocky one Why I got involved: Love to see people on bikes and learning about bikes. I've coached Cyclocross and Triathlon. I love to help people learn and be active. And Crazy Karl asked me to very nicely so I said yes. Just say yes, works every time. |
Coach Brad Bike Likes: The technical and physical challenge, and being in the woods. Bike Dislikes: Pedal strikes. Riding MTB since: 1988 Favorite trail: I love exploring new trails. I like the challenging terrain at the Frederick Watershed, but mostly ride around the Woodstock area. Why I got involved: To instill the love of riding and being in nature, and to ride with my son. |
Coach Dennis mt. hebron Bike Likes: Blasting downhill. Fixing and custom building bikes. Bike Dislikes: Flat tires Riding MTB since: Been riding since 1994. Started on a Gary Fisher Cronus. I love the lifetime sport of mountain biking! Favorite trail: Keep em coming, still in search of the perfect trail! Mother nature always keeps us guessing while being pleased. Why I got involved: As a high schooler I always wished I could race for my school. |
Coach David Ellicott City Bike Likes: Rocky climbs and flowy downhill. Bike Dislikes: Out of index gears, I can't stand that grinding and clicking. Riding MTB since: Started riding as a kid, my first MTB was a fully rigid bike. Got back into MTB when my kids got interested. Favorite trail: A trail I haven't ridden before, I always like a new challenge. Why I got involved: THe NICA community is great! I wanted to help support the league, team, and my kids. |