Local athlete becomes elite US "Bike Fitter"
Wilmington, N.C. ... Local athlete and bike course coordinator for the Annual Beach to Battleship Triathlon, Shawn Spencer, was recently certified as one of two master bike fitters in North Carolina. There are only 48 in the United States.
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| Shawn Spencer |
Bike enthusiasts and serious cycling in southeastern North Carolina increased dramatically in recent years, primarily a result of fostering by Cape Fear Cyclists, a non-profit started in 1971 by a GE staffer. The love of cycling, competition and major races created a demand for the highly trained and specialized services of bike fitting.
Addressing this growing need in the cycling community, a nationwide certification program was developed by Specialized Bicycle Component University and Dr. Andy Pruitt, founder of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine. Shawn Spencer, a veteran of marathons, biathlons, triathlons and bike races from Vermont to Brazil, enrolled in the rigorous, pass or fail program in 2007. Five years and three cross country trips later, Spencer received the coveted Master BG Fit certification. Final exams, written and practical, take place in Morgan Hill, CA.
Spencer said, "Certification takes dedication to the art and science of bicycle and human anatomy and how they work together to make the human as efficient on the bicycle as they can be. It is a specialty very much needed in a community as active as ours." Shawn Spencer is owner of Bike Cycles, the official shipping location for racers competing in the Annual Beach to Battleship Iron and Half Iron Triathlon. Spencer works with cyclists from around the United States and other countries to set up and fit their equipment.
Bike fitting is acknowledged and in demand in the U.S. and abroad. "As a certified Master BG Fitter I may be called to assist the SBCU Fit Professors when they travel out of the country to fit professional cycling teams during their spring training camps."
Shawn and Melanie Spencer opened Bike Cycles in 2006. Shawn "enjoys the smile of riders when they find the perfect bicycle for their lifestyle, casual or competitive". Spencer was born at Wrightsville Beach, served as student body President at Laney High, and is a graduate of UNCW. Spencer received an honorable discharge after 8 years of service in the US Army Reserves. His passion is spending time with his wife, Melanie, daughter and son, Lilly and Tag.
For more information, click:
Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, Andy Pruitt Ed.D., PA-C,
Specialized Bicycle Component University
Shawn Spencer, Bike Cycles
Cape Fear Cyclists, www.capefearcyclists.org
