Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance

The CCBA Board is truly a cross-section of Connecticut Cyclists!

Here's a short bio of each board member. Feel free to contact a board member and ask questions.

Name: Anne I. Hayes CCBA Title: President Employer: Director of Parking & Mass Transit for The Travelers Companies Inc. Home City: West Hartford Why I'm involved with the CCBA: I oversee parking and mass transit programs in St. Paul, Hartford, and numerous field offices nationwide. Since parking is an issue for its employees in Hartford and St. Paul, the company encourages alternate methods of transportation like riding the bus, vanpooling, biking, and walking. Travelers consistently has had the largest number of employees participating in the monthly Bike to Work event in Hartford for the past few years. They provide on-site showers and bike racks, and regularly post information about Bike to Work on the company intranet. Travelers has also sponsored the monthly events for the past three years by providing breakfast and employees to volunteer at the event. Bike(s) I ride the most: When I ride: Why I ride:
Name: Martha Page CCBA Title: Treasurer & 2008 Tour Committee Chair Age: 54 Employer: City of Hartofrd Dept. of Health ad Human Services Home City: Hartford Bike I ride the most: Terry Classic (road bike) When I ride: As often as I can and wherever I can (including bike tour trips to Europe) Why I ride: I ride because it's a wonderful way to be outdoors with friends, to see things in a way that you can't when you're in a car, and to stay in good shape. Biking is the best way I know to keep "a healthy mind in a healthy body."
Name: Alan Blasenstein CCBA Title: Publicity Chair Age: 50 Employer: Phoenix Home City: West Hartford Bike I ride the most: Rivendell Atlantis (touring bike) When I ride: Most of the year Why I ride: First, because I really enjoy riding. I did my first bike tour when I was 16 and I have enjoyed seeing things by bicycle ever since. In addition to doing something I love, I get the benefit of helping the environment, improving my fitness, and even saving commuting costs.
Name: David Westcott CCBA Title: Member at Large Age: 53 Employer: Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection Home City: Tariffville Bike I ride the most: Trek 520 (vintage 1984) When I ride: Above 32 degrees F Why I ride: Because it feels good. I try to commute 3 days a week, which lets me get in an aerobic workout without having to find extra time for it. I also like to eat whatever I want but not gain weight.
Name: John Duval CCBA Title: Board Member Age: Employer: Photographer & Newington Bike Shop Home City: Newington Bike I ride the most: When I ride: All year 'round. Why I ride:	WIP Stay Tuned for Updates
Name: Charlie Beristain CCBA Title: Vice President Age: 71 Employer: Retired Home City: West Hartford Bikes I ride the most: Cannondale - System Six or a Caad6 road bike or one of my 5 mountain bikes( Cannondale Scalpel,Jekyll,Hardtail with studded tires, Pugsley with 4" balloon tires, and a 29'er unsuspended single speed) or the Trials bike. When I ride: Year-round, ice-biking in the winter. I ride 7 days a week 365 days a year. I also am addicted to racing - road bike racing, hill-climb racing, cross country mountain bike racing and SuperD mountain bike racing. Why I ride: Riding is just part of my healthy living lifestyle.
Name: Deb Dauphinais CCBA Title: Advocacy Chair Age: 43 Employer: Bicycles East Home City: Glastonbury Bikes I ride the most: Trek 7500 FX When I ride: Spring through Fall (on a stationary trainer indoors in the winter - maybe outside next Winter!) Why I ride: I ride for a lot of reasons. It's one of the few activities where you can be outside enjoying nature, spend time with your family, and get exercise all at the same time - and in an environmentally-friendly way! I use my bike for commuting and doing errands when I can. It feels great to ride my bike to the fruit and vegetable stand, buy locally grown produce, and ride home.
Name: Karen Pasquale CCBA Title: Secretary and Fundraising/Grants Chair Age: 38 Employer: ProHealth Physicians and the non-profit affiliate, CT Center for Primary Care Home City: New Britain Why involved with CCBA: I love being involved with a group who helps spread their love of cycling for recreation and as alternate transportation. In addition, I like to work toward developing more community-based safe cycling programs for kids and families Bike I ride the most:Women’s Cannondale – roadie When I ride: Whenever I can (coming off a knee injury) Why I ride:There is nothing to compare with the feeling of the wind in your face as your racing down Route 179 through Collinsville; or, your heart pumping, as your biking buddy kicks it up a notch and challenges you to keep up or catch up! Cycling is a great way to experience the outdoors, whether cycling through the hills of New England via road or trail. I am also a sprint distance triathlete. At some point in my life, I hope to complete an Olympic distance triathlon, even if I have to have a knee replaced to do it! I will also have to refer to Dave Ringquist’s quote from Dave McCoy.
Name: Jim Ray CCBA Title: Member at Large & Membership Chair Age: Employer: Robinson & Cole LLP Home City: South Windsor Bike(s) I ride the most: When I ride: I try to commute in from South Windsor about once per week during the spring and summer. I am fortunate in that much of my commute can be done on paths or less crowded routes. I have also been somewhat successful encouraging some of my co-workers to join me. I have also recently gotten involved in a South Windsor committee called the South Windsor Walk and Wheel Ways with the goal of promoting cycling in our community. Why I ride:I have a passion for all types of cycling, including road biking, mountain biking and commuting.	WIP stay tuned for updates

Name: Ben Bare

CCBA Title: Member at Large

Employer: City of Hartford - Assistant Corporation Counsel

Home City: Wethersfield

Why I'm involved with the CCBA: I believe organized bike advocacy is key to make the use of bicycles as an alternative to cars viable. The more we do as individuals and as an organization to show the public that bikes can be used for everyday transport, errands and recreation the better the chance we have as a society of actually moving away from car dependent attitudes. I also became involved with the CCBA to meet people with similar interests in the area when Katie and I moved here from Nebraska a few years ago. I can thank the CCBA for many new friends!

Bike(s) I ride the most:For commuting, my fixie Univega and my single speed Bridgestone (for icy weather), for utility and for long rides, my Schwinn Homegrown and for recreational riding, spinning and off road use my Empella Bonfire

When I ride: I have always been a recreational biker and started biking into work a few days a week just to give it a try before Katie and I moved here from Omaha a few years ago. The commuting and use of the bike as a utility vehicle has increased to the point where Katie and I sold our second car in the summer of 2007. I ride every day to commute to work, run errands, etc. The switch to a one car family has gone off without a hitch. Both Katie and I also enjoy recreational riding together, spinning and the occasional organized event. I am hoping to get more involved in long distance self-supported touring.

Why I ride:I love to pedal. It is truly amazing how much more you see and how much more familiar you can become with your community by cycling rather than driving. Biking is a great way to fight car dependence, to exercise, to meet people and to feel good in general.

Ben is on the left

Name: Alice Shea

CCBA Title: Member at Large

Employer: The Travelers Companies Inc.

Home City: East Windsor

Why I'm involved with the CCBA: It's my contribution to help improve the viability and visibility of bicycling in Connecticut

Bike(s) I ride the most:Specialized Globe (commuting), Specialized Ruby (recreational road riding)

When I ride:Began commuting in late spring and continued into the summer months 2 years ago. Thanks in part to the advocacy efforts of CCBA, the addition of bike racks to CT Transit buses extended my commuting to 3 out of 4 seasons. Recreational road riding is as schedule (I'm a golfer too) and road conditions permit.

Why I ride:Commuting by bike promotes a healthy, environmentally friendly lifestyle; all the while supporting a greater connection to the community and appreciation for the natural beauty of New England. Road riding on the other hand offers the exhilaration of a fast downhill or the challenges of surpassing physical limits. I'm fortunate to also be part of a terrific women's cycling group whose primary goal is expand women's exposure to and participation in all aspects of the sport. The level of participation is as unique as each of our riders; it could equate to a beginner social ride for busy moms, a venue in which to prepare for a "destination" multi-day tour, or the indoctrination into the competitive racing circuit. The group supports and encourages all of it which makes riding with them a true pleasure.

WIP Stay Tuned for updates

Name: David Ringquist

CCBA Title: Member at Large & Previous President

Age: 53

Employer: Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

Home City: West Hartford

Bikes I ride the most: Trek 930 with skinny tires (summer) and Specialized Mtn bike with studded front tire (winter).

When I ride: Year-round, it can be done

Why I ride: Dave McCoy, 89 years old, avid skier and biker says it best: "Skiing and biking are both needs. Not wants, needs. Because active people are happy people. You need a terrific body to house this incredible mind we all have".

Name: Gerry Lafleur

Hometown: Enfield

Occupation: CT DOC; musician

CCBA Title: Board member

Bikes I ride: Kona Kula mountain bike; Cannondale Caad 5 road bike; Giant Simple cruiser. (there will be more!)

When/Why I ride: I try to ride as much as I can. Currently, my riding is mostly for recreation/health/fitness/sanity, but at some point in time I would like it to be my main mode of transportation. I am addicted to mountain bike racing. I love all forms of cycling and feel that the bicycle is the tool that can save the world. Cycling reaffirms the fact that I am alive.

Name: Jason Hamilton

CCBA Title: Board Member

Age:

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WIP Stay Tuned for Updates