Karen Schkolnick Photo Gallery by sdukes at pbase.com

Karen Schkolnick

My story is that I used to ride my bike for transportation as a student in Ohio, but that was 10+ years ago. Back then I rode with Birkinstocks, a huge heavy kryptonite lock, and no helmet. Although I went everywhere on my bike, I would hardly have considered myself a "cyclist". After graduation, I pretty much never rode my bike again, except for the occasional icecream trip. My poor bike, neglected, became rusty, with unidentifyable mushroom species using the saddle as substrate from which to prosper and blosom. Eventually, on my way back from one of those ice cream trips, the chain snapped, and that was the end of my cycling days... or, so I thought.

Then, 3 years ago, I decided to replace my old beloved '89 specialized hardrock with something more befitting the 30 year-old I had become, like a cruiser or hybrid. Since I had no idea what I was doing, I brought along my 40 year old cyclist pal to the Aquarian bike shop in Monterey. While I browsed around the hybrids, Shane looked elsewhere and finally settled on a particular "cruiser" that he felt everyone my age should be riding. I fnally gave into his insiting that I purchase the cruiser that would later be known as "Lu", a Gary Fisher Kaitai.

Lu pretty much collected dust for another 2 years, until I met Justine Heaton, a velobella (actually, then she rode with Santa Cruz County Cycling Team, but thats a different story...). Anywhoo, thanks to her encouragement I've now been riding weekly or more often and look forward to entering in my first race this Spring.

I'm excited about joining velobellas and continuing with my cycling education!