Dave Cole

Dave is new convert and lives the Big Ring as often as possible. He tries to avoid the small ring on the road at all costs, and only has one ring up front for the real racing that is ‘cross.

Originally from So.Cal., he left the surfing behind to start a brine shrimping and aquaculture feeds company called Salt Creek, Inc. in 1992 on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. Salt Creek, was named after a Laguna Beach break that gave a very memorable tube ride back before the Ritz put in a hotel.

He decided that running a business and traveling internationally (eating and drinking) about 60% of the time was not good for the body. Dave decided to sell the business early this decade but not before the scales tipped to 230 pounds and he started to wonder when if was going to die in his sleep.

So, Dave started riding. Small ring stuff in the beginning. First mountain bike with lots of push-a-bike on stuff most people could ride. As he got some fitness he moved to Tri’s and Xterra’s and then ‘cross. Then road to train for ‘cross. He purchased a Ridley Break-a-way cross bike and road it on business trips in Europe and Asia (working for new owners left him more free time). That bike traveled to Tanner Park in 2006 because some guy had a clinic to show you the basics of cross. That person was Ali G, who was super willing to help a sad newbie. Ali gave him some easy but sound scriptures and then Dave raced UTCX in the C’s and got hooked, taking third in the series as a C in his first year.

Since then he learned from people like Ali, Bart Gillespie, Kathy Sherwin, and tried to watch and dissect what other outstanding riders were doing to win and train right. In 2008, he managed to win the 35+B Masters UTCX series and take second at State Championships. This year on the Road he also managed to win the Cat 4 State Championship for 2009. Dave believes cycling saved his life and cannot get enough of it. This year the plan is to drill the 35A hard, but drilling the collarbone is this year’s first race was the result. Cannot wait until 2010 cross season.

Dave lives in Salt Lake City with his wonderful wife Susan and two kids, Josh and Jade (who also love to race cross). It is a great family unit; they tolerate the bike racing/riding addiction and support his new crazy venture into brewing high-octane beer here in the beehive, Epic Brewing Company, LLC.

Blog: epicbrewing.blogspot.com