Rider Profile: Eric McKeegan

By Karl Rosengarth

Eric is the "new guy" at Dirt Rag HQ, and I figured he deserved a bit of an introduction. If you caught Eric's recent Brain Fart, then you already know that he's a die-hard bike commuter, having driven to work only 4 times in the past 2 years. In order to give loyal readers a bit more insight into what makes the new guy tick, I grilled Eric with my patented Rider Profile interrogation.

Name: Eric McKeegan

Occupation: Dirt Rag New Guy

Hometown: Williamsport, PA

Current location: Pittsburgh, PA

Number of years biking: Since age 5

First bike: Yellow with solid tires

Number of years mountain biking: 14

First mountain bike: 1992 Giant Iguana with Suntour drivetrain.

Current main bike: Karate Monkey—rigid and SS. My commuter sees the most use, and the Xtracyle has been out and about a bunch lately.

Dream bike: Hmmm, probably a Ti drop bar mountain bike built for ultra long self-supported events, namely the GDR. Wouldn't mind a Lenz Lunchbox either.

Riding style: Phlegmatic

Favorite trail food: Scones

How did you get started mountain biking?

Bought my first shop quality mountain bike my freshman year of college.

Favorite trail or place to ride?

I like long rides on mixed terrain.

Best mountain bike vacation spot?

Can't say I've ever vacationed just to mountain bike. I would like to visit Europe, ride the Trans Alps and then do my own version of the Hans Ray/Steve Peat Ireland pub crawl (see issue 129).

Any hobbies, or something you do to relax?

Reading, tinkering with drop bar designs.

What did you do before you joined Dirt Rag?

Bicycle Mechanic on and off for over 10 years, guide, coffee slinger, traveling quality control for a major fast food chain, construction, operating room orderly, paperboy.

Describe your duties at Dirt Rag.

Fulfillment and Distribution. If you order some merchandise I'm packing and shipping it to you, I also handle bike shop sales. Product testing and some writing also. And data entry, can't forget the exciting data entry.

What's your worst experience on a mountain bike?

The only race I DNF'ed.

What's the longest you've ever ridden in one day?

About 220 miles.

What's the best thing about bike commuting?

Ground scores!

What's the worst thing about bike commuting?

Cleaning your bike, crashing on black ice. I've got studded tires now, should help.

Any hot tips or commuting advice to share?

The more you ride the easier it gets, and take pride in it, hold your head high.