Mike Garcia
Mike is no stranger to the world of cycling. Mike’s fascination with cycling began at the age of 12 after he landed his first job in a bike shop. This job grew into a lifelong hobby, and he completed his first century within twelve months. His motivation to ride was simple – for pleasure and to enjoy his fellow cyclists' camaraderie. Since childhood, his passion for cycling has never waned, firmly taking hold during his high school and college years, when he cross-trained for ski racing. From 2012 to 2016, he competed in and completed the Gran Fondo New York. Since 2019 he has averaged between 12-15000 miles a year while training 15-17 hours a week concentrating on Ultra Cycling 12 and 24-hour races. The highlight of 2021 was the World Time Trial Championships. Mike and his teammate, Philippe May, competed as a relay team completing 234 miles in 447.6 miles in 24 hours, earning a 3rd place finish. The 2022 season was also filled with Local NY and NJ time trial races, and several Gravel races including Big Horn Gravel in Gypsum Colorado, and SBT GRVL. The Highlights of 2022 were the last two ultra races, the 444 and the 12-Hour World Time Trial Championships. Mike and Philippe completed the race in 20h 49m, earning second place in the team category. In the 12-Hour World Time Trial Championships Mike rode 234.2 miles earning a 2nd place finish in his age group and 6th place among all the solo riders. We aren't sure how but Mike does find time to do other things besides ride his bikes.😊 With a degree in business administration, he has owned and managed multiple businesses over the years. In 1995 Mike founded Alpine Marketing Inc. concentrating in sales and marketing in the grocery industry. He is the proud father of 3 young adults Andrew, Matthew, and Natalia.
Jennifer Paras-Tan
Meet Jenni, an avid cyclist whose passion for riding began in 2015 in NYC through a serendipitous connection with her (now) husband. Seeking solace and healing after the loss of her mother in 2019, she turned to road cycling as a means to improve her mental health. As Jenni discovered the therapeutic power of cycling, she felt compelled to share this experience with her friends and loved ones. Encouraging her 2 sisters to join their brother, who already cycles, she fostered a sense of camaraderie and support within her family, solidifying their bond through the shared joy of cycling. Jenni participated in CRCA race clinics, the Bear Mountain Classic, then embarked on longer rides alongside her friends, including the GFNY, Twin lights ride, and city ride events like TD Five Boro Bike tour. Beyond casual outings, she and her husband organize group excursions to out-of-town destinations, nurturing a community of fellow cycling enthusiasts. Fuelled by an insatiable desire to explore new places and meet like-minded individuals, Jenni broadened her horizons beyond the borders of New York City. She has ridden across California's stunning landscapes and rediscovered the enchantment of her home country, the Philippines. These experiences have enriched her understanding of diverse cycling cultures and connected her with fellow riders worldwide. As Jenni’s cycling journey continues to evolve, she has recently ventured into the captivating realm of gravel riding. From the moment she rode the Jena gravel bike during gravel races like Rapha Prestige and Grinduro PA, her passion for promoting the Wilier bike brand ignited. The distinctive style of Jena, perfectly matching her personality, instantly captivated her. Its uniqueness and extraordinary design made it stand out from the crowd, and she recognized that this brand had something special to offer. With every pedal stroke, she aims to showcase the unparalleled quality, craftsmanship, and innovation that Wilier brings to the cycling world, inspiring others to discover the joy of riding a bike that is truly extraordinary. Not only an avid cyclist, but Jenni is also dedicated to her role as a physical therapist. Leveraging her expertise, she focuses on her career as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Her ambition is to establish a cyclist-focused physical therapy and wellness practice, providing tailored care to her cycling community and help fellow cyclists recover from common cycling-related injuries. For Jenni, cycling is not just about personal growth and physical fitness; it's a means to connect with people and create lasting memories. Every ride presents an opportunity to meet fellow cyclists, exchange stories, and forge new friendships. The bike has become her vehicle for exploration, both within herself and the world around her.
Jason Sickels
Jason was a runner that wandered into Green Lizard Cycling with his dog Daisy in Herdon Virginia right off the W&OD Bike Trail. He was amazed at the local community of cyclist, runners, triathletes enjoying coffee, drinking a beer or just gathering after a ride. In the market for a new road bike, Jason was sold on the story of unification that Wilier Triestina represented dating back to Italy in 1906 and purchased his first Wilier GTR Disk. Realizing the need for more competition, Dave Meyer, owner of Green Lizard, brought in Wilier USA to give his customers an option from the big brands. Dave and Jason worked together to create the Commonwealth Wilier Club to give our cycling enthusiasts a way to connect with the brand. In 2019 Dave and Jason shared our story with the Vice President of Marketing for Wilier Triestina at the Philadelphia Bike Show and our plan for growth and a creating a sense of community with this niche, premier cycling brand. Several years later the Commonwealth Wilier Club is a thriving sales channel for the Green Lizard and brings over 350 cyclist together for group rides, custom Giordana kits, new bike reveals, trunk shows with cycling clothing, new cycling technology products and the CWC Gran Fondo, the only recognized Wilier event in North America. Jason has a passion for cycling and bringing people together to enjoy the camaraderie the Club brings for so many diverse cyclists. He can be seen on social media riding his Zero SLR or off the beaten path on his Rave SL. This winter the Club will be working on their third custom cycling kit with the theme of “To the Stars” signifying the limitlessness of our accomplishments that only the Wilier Triestina brand can deliver. For a good chuckle follow Jason on Instagram at commonwealth_wilier_club!
Michelle Araque
In 2021, what began as a simple fascination with cycling transformed into a full-fledged lifestyle that enriched Michelle's physical and emotional well-being. Michelle encountered the true essence of the cycling world in just two months and quickly realized that transmitting positive, good energy to every person around her meant everything. Michelle discovered that the cycling community wasn't just about bikes and gear; it was a niche where good people with a shared love for the outdoors converged seamlessly. As she pedaled weekly through various unknown scenic landscapes and challenging climbs, Michelle formed deep bonds with fellow cycling groups and individuals who shared her passion. The cycling community became her second family where all members thrived, and the joy of the open road was complemented by the warmth of genuine friendships. As a first-generation American-Colombian with a Masters in Biology, Michelle’s goal in the community is to empower individuals from all walks of life by simply motivating them. Michelle’s social media provides daily inspiration to ride a bike, try a yoga class, and prioritize overall health. Three years of commitment to the sport through consistent discipline and grit has led Michelle to take on many fondos and race events that have inspired growth at the competitive level. Michelle plans on attending some of the best and fun race events in the area this year such as the GFNY NYC, Suarez Highlands and Maryland Gran Fondo, Tour of Catskills, and many more. She also plans to take on criterium races such as the Tour of Somerville, Floyd Bennett, and Bear Mountain Classic. Michelle will be a rider to watch in 2024 on her new Wilier 0SL!
Victor Barris
Victor was born and raised in New York City and has been passionate about cycling since his early teenage years. He rode his bike everywhere, whether it was to visit friends in the various boroughs of the city or to get from the Bronx to Union Square for work. Victor's passion for cycling has only grown stronger over the years. He continues to cycle regularly for various reasons, including "finding his balanced head space and tapping into an endless supply of dopamine!" But most importantly, he rides for the pure joy of feeling the freedom of being on a bike. His favorite discipline is road cycling, which he loves for the speed, distance, and solitude it provides. In recent years, he has taken his passion for cycling to another level by building his own bikes. He has also tried his hand at criterium racing and participated in numerous Fondos from GFNY, Sea Otter, La Vuelta in Puerto Rico (2020, 2023) and this year he will be taking part in L'Etape in San Antonio, GFNY, and the Gran Fondo Hincapie. "I am very particular about my cycling and when I came across the Wilier brand it was a perfect match. Wilier is not a mainstream brand, which I like, and their long cycling heritage along with the elegance of the brand struck an emotion for me and I knew this was the brand for me. I have built four bikes in the past two years, all Wiliers from the Cento10NDR to two ZeroSLRs, and now my latest masterpiece a beautiful matte black Filante SLR." "My cycling journey would not be this fulfilling if it wasn't for the great relationship I have with the Velo Star Team. Having access to the Wilier brand and the great ecosystem of local sellers in the tri-state area has made this journey over the recent year very satisfying. My goal is to continue to influence others to ride and to find the balance I have discovered every time I'm on the saddle riding my Wilier! I look forward to crossing paths with other cyclists and hopefully striking a positive emotion when they see me on my Wilier!"