Kevin Buchholz
Born and raised in Ohio, Kevin's first "real" job out of college was working for PG&E in their HR department. Working in a cubicle in the financial district of San Francisco had it's perks, but a couple of years into it, he realized that it just wasn't the right fit. Coming from a very active childhood of multiple sports, sitting behind a desk was not his idea of what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Kevin just so happened to have some friends who were doing a sprint distance triathlon down in Monterey, and asked him if he want to come. Three sports at once? YES!! And a few weeks later, there he was, old mountain bike with knobby tires, helmet on crooked no doubt, and silly grin on his face, Kevin did his very first triathlon. If only we had a photo for evidence!! Since then, he has spent the last seven years participating in triathlons all over California and the U.S., has been working in the industry for the past 6 years, and has become somewhat of an expert on all things swim, bike, and run. He loves to race and the lifestyle of working, training, and racing suits him very well.
So, after working in a bike shop for the past 6 years, he finally answered the nagging call in the back of his mind (and from multiple customers) to fulfill the unmet need of a multisport shop in Sonoma County. "Everything under one roof" was the founding mantra. Too many times he had sent people away saying, "Unfortunately you can't get that up here, you'll have to go to San Francisco, or order it online and hope it's the right size."
As an athlete, Kevin is well decorated with over a hundred finishing medals, and consistently high placings in his age group. He loves to share his knowledge with anyone who asks, and will happily spend hours talking about anything from how many seconds or minutes an aero helmet will shave off your PR, to what it takes to upgrade through the ranks of USA Cycling's categories in road racing.
Born and raised in Ohio, Kevin's first "real" job out of college was working for PG&E in their HR department. Working in a cubicle in the financial district of San Francisco had it's perks, but a couple of years into it, he realized that it just wasn't the right fit. Coming from a very active childhood of multiple sports, sitting behind a desk was not his idea of what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Kevin just so happened to have some friends who were doing a sprint distance triathlon down in Monterey, and asked him if he want to come. Three sports at once? YES!! And a few weeks later, there he was, old mountain bike with knobby tires, helmet on crooked no doubt, and silly grin on his face, Kevin did his very first triathlon. If only we had a photo for evidence!! Since then, he has spent the last seven years participating in triathlons all over California and the U.S., has been working in the industry for the past 6 years, and has become somewhat of an expert on all things swim, bike, and run. He loves to race and the lifestyle of working, training, and racing suits him very well.
So, after working in a bike shop for the past 6 years, he finally answered the nagging call in the back of his mind (and from multiple customers) to fulfill the unmet need of a multisport shop in Sonoma County. "Everything under one roof" was the founding mantra. Too many times he had sent people away saying, "Unfortunately you can't get that up here, you'll have to go to San Francisco, or order it online and hope it's the right size."
As an athlete, Kevin is well decorated with over a hundred finishing medals, and consistently high placings in his age group. He loves to share his knowledge with anyone who asks, and will happily spend hours talking about anything from how many seconds or minutes an aero helmet will shave off your PR, to what it takes to upgrade through the ranks of USA Cycling's categories in road racing.
Mariko Fischer
Coming from a childhood of ranching and horseback riding, the cycling and triathlon industry were not the most obvious of choices when it came to a career path, but then again, neither were fashion and finance. After growing up between Japan and Hawaii, Mariko ultimately chose California as the state to settle down in and continue her education. Starting out in the big city of San Francisco, she studied fashion merchandizing, and upon realizing that fashion was not the most fulfilling gig out there, settled for something a little "more practical," and changed her major to finance and business administration. After two years of doing more addition and subtraction on balance sheets than any one person should ever be expected to do, she redirected yet again after finishing up a certification in massage in her down time. The new direction was medicine, with a concentration on athletics and physiology. Thrilled by the challenge of science, she dove into her third and final major change, ultimately graduating with a BS in sports medicine, and a minor in business administration.
During Mariko's senior year at Sonoma State University, she decided to take up cycling. She found a bike that was almost short enough, and seemed like it would get the job done, one Craig's List ad, and $500 later, a skinny tire bike was hers! After doing a handful of rather humbling rides by herself, she felt confident enough to step out and find others like her, surely there had to be someone she knew that rode these things as they were so much fun! A few Google searches later she found NorCal Velo, led by Claire House. It took over a month for her to work up the courage to go on a ride with the all women's team, but after the very first team ride, she was a member for life.
Racing is now a part of Mariko's natural routine, and triathlon became a logical choice after running and swimming were integrating as cross training for cycling. The thrill of open water swimming and racing against the clock are her favorite parts of the sport. As far as working at Echelon is concerned, ironically enough, she handles the apparel purchasing and back office business of running the store.
Coming from a childhood of ranching and horseback riding, the cycling and triathlon industry were not the most obvious of choices when it came to a career path, but then again, neither were fashion and finance. After growing up between Japan and Hawaii, Mariko ultimately chose California as the state to settle down in and continue her education. Starting out in the big city of San Francisco, she studied fashion merchandizing, and upon realizing that fashion was not the most fulfilling gig out there, settled for something a little "more practical," and changed her major to finance and business administration. After two years of doing more addition and subtraction on balance sheets than any one person should ever be expected to do, she redirected yet again after finishing up a certification in massage in her down time. The new direction was medicine, with a concentration on athletics and physiology. Thrilled by the challenge of science, she dove into her third and final major change, ultimately graduating with a BS in sports medicine, and a minor in business administration.
During Mariko's senior year at Sonoma State University, she decided to take up cycling. She found a bike that was almost short enough, and seemed like it would get the job done, one Craig's List ad, and $500 later, a skinny tire bike was hers! After doing a handful of rather humbling rides by herself, she felt confident enough to step out and find others like her, surely there had to be someone she knew that rode these things as they were so much fun! A few Google searches later she found NorCal Velo, led by Claire House. It took over a month for her to work up the courage to go on a ride with the all women's team, but after the very first team ride, she was a member for life.
Racing is now a part of Mariko's natural routine, and triathlon became a logical choice after running and swimming were integrating as cross training for cycling. The thrill of open water swimming and racing against the clock are her favorite parts of the sport. As far as working at Echelon is concerned, ironically enough, she handles the apparel purchasing and back office business of running the store.
Photo Credit: Through My Eyes Photography, Veronika Lenzi
Photo Credit: Brightroom Photography
