Who We Are MCBC Welcomes Kevin Gammon to the Board

We are excited to welcome Kevin Gammon to the MCBC Board of Directors. We asked Kevin to tell us a little more about himself and why he rides.

Tell us about yourself

I’m a father of two amazing now-grown children, live in San Anselmo, and spend a small part of the year in Chicago (my son and I are Chicago Cubs season ticket holders). My wife and I love to travel and spend time outdoors with friends.

I run a small creative advertising/branding agency in San Francisco called Teak. Prior to starting my own agency, I worked as a Creative Director for large global ad agencies in San Francisco and Chicago. I’ve been fortunate to have some incredible experiences working on great brands such as Coors, Gatorade, amazon.com, Levi’s, and Microsoft over the years. However, I’m still holding out hope that I will make a career out of playing music. I’ve been playing piano and guitar since I was about 6.

I grew up just south of Denver, Colorado, and went to college at the University of Colorado in Boulder. I was lucky to grow up in a time and place that gave me the freedom to ride my bike almost anywhere from a crazy young age. My first obsession was BMX bikes, though I always had a cheap knockoff– I was so jealous of my friends who rode Mongooses, Red Lines, and GTs.

I bought my first mountain bike in 1990 when I graduated from CU– a Bridgestone MB-5. I still have that bike today.

What kind of bicycle(s) do you ride?

I have what some might call a bike problem. I love working on them, building them up, and riding all kinds of them.

My primary mountain bike is an Ibis Ripley. I also have a Santa Cruz Highball hardtail. And a Yeti SB115 (for sale if anyone is interested!). During Covid, I built up a 1990 Bridgestone MB-1 frame I bought on eBay into a 21 lb. gravel bike.

I get around town on either my Cowboy e-bike or my old Bridgestone MB-5 that I built up as a cruiser. The Cowboy is an amazing bike- they’re built in Brussels and you can buy them online. It’s a class 1 and doesn’t have that much boost, but it’s perfect for riding to the city and back, especially in Crissy Field headwinds. I also have a Litespeed road bike, but I don’t really ride it much anymore. It’s sitting on a trainer in my garage for the winter when I’m not in the mood to ride in the rain.

What do you like best about riding?

The freedom to go places- whether it’s to the grocery store, to an office, or escape to some of my favorite places on a mountain.

What do you like best about the benefits of riding your bike?

The biggest benefit to me is how it positively impacts my mental health. The physical health part is great, but I get motivated for long mountain rides because I know I’ll be happier once I’m out there.

Societally there are so many benefits. I’m one less car on the road. To me, it’s a community builder. I see people I know all the time when I’m out. I also love seeing people I don’t know – a passing smile is something we don’t give each other when we’re in our cars.

What would you have liked someone to tell you when you started?

I don’t even remember how I started or who taught me to ride, it’s been so long. There really isn’t much I’d change in my experience, I was so fortunate to be able to spend my childhood on my bike all the time. For anyone starting now, I just want to encourage them to think about riding a bike not as exercise, or as training, or as a sport- but as a daily routine just as most people think of driving or walking. It’s of course great for exercise and training, but I dream that someday we can normalize riding as a daily part of life.

Where is your favorite place to ride your bike?

I have so many favorites. On Mt. Tam. Around San Anselmo and Fairfax. To and from SF or to and from the Larkspur Ferry. Betasso Preserve near Boulder, CO. Along Lake Michigan in Chicago. I honestly don’t have one place that is a favorite.

What is your favorite ride/route in Marin County?

680 Trail is the closest to my house. Painful climbs are rewarding to me, so getting to the single-track trailhead for 680 is something I weirdly enjoy. I love the section in Tamarancho from B-17 up to the extension out back to Porcupine. And the ride up Eldridge to the top of Tam. 

What part of riding would you most like to improve?

Hands down making it safer so that more people ride. I’m so excited about the potential of e-bikes and how we can draw more people into riding, but we need to have the infrastructure that makes them feel safe.

What is your vision of bicycling in the future?

A world where most people consider a bike as their primary means of transportation.

Welcome Kevin to the MCBC Board of Directors!