The Amazing Apex Cycle Education RiderCoaches

All RiderCoaches at Apex Cycle Education are seasoned riders and have been hand-selected for their experience, attitude, ability and dedication to excellence in training. Every Apex RiderCoach has been certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) and Virginia Rider Training Program (VRTP). This involves an intensive process which includes 75+ hours of hands-on training. All RiderCoaches are regularly evaluated, and re-certified. They attend annual professional development workshops presented by the VRTP and MSF.
	Loretta Bell lbell@apexcycleeducation.com I've been riding for a little over 5 yrs with about 45K miles under my belt. I ride an 01 Softail Standard that I love. I became a RiderCoach this year because I wanted to share my enthusiasm for biking and enjoy helping students learn. It's a rewarding experience knowing that you all have achieved a basic knowledge of motorcycling safety and will carry that on when you move forward in your new addiction. :) Ride Safe & we'll see you on the road!
	Dave Best dbest@apexcycleeducation.com In 2002, Dave bought a new VRSCA Harley Davidson V-Rod, the first year they came out, and took the Basic Rider Course (BRC) as a refresher to get back into biking. After being away for over 15 years he also took the ERC (Experienced Rider Course) at Fort Belvoir VA in 2004. He had over 42,000 miles on his 02 V-Rod before he sold it and purchased an ‘05 Screamin’ Eagle, V-Rod. Dave leads numerous group rides each year and is involved with Fairfax H.O.G, maintaining their “Other Biker Events” Calendar. He also puts on Group Rider training for various motorcycle clubs in the area. Dave has been a RiderCoach since the spring of 2006 and enthusiastically enjoys teaching with Apex Cycle Education.
	Dave "Cal" Calahan dcalahan@apexcycleeducation.com I began riding in 1963 (Honda “50”) . I have owned / ridden at least one model of almost every European, British and Japanese bike maker out there; and yes, I’ve even had a few Harleys! I raced motocross (amateur) from 1968 – 1973 (Yamaha’s and Maico’s). I became a RiderCoach in April of 2000. Since July of 1998 I have been commuting from Fredericksburg to DC everyday, year ‘round (except those nasty snow / ice days) and average +/- 35,000 miles per year on my bikes. I’m on my 3rd Honda Gold Wing. The 1st was a Martini Beige 1988 GL1500(I put 158,000 miles on it before I sold it); the second one was a Burgundy 1989 GL1500 (I put 110,000 miles on it); and now I’ve got a White 2004 GL1800 that currently has nearly 98,000 miles on it. Not only do I ride daily for the sheer fun of it, but it also keeps my skills razor sharp and allows me to teach from the practical perspective.
	Paul Conn pconn@apexcycleeducation.com I first fell in love with motorcycles when I was about 11 years old when the paperboy in our neighborhood got a Honda 90. Wow! What a machine! It was so cool! After about a 14 year hiatus I decided to take it up again in 2002. Even though I was an "experienced rider", I knew that I needed a refresher; so I took the BRC. That was a terrific experience. Not only did I learn to correct my bad riding habits, but I also learned about things I was doing well. Since then I ride a lot. I have a 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad, and a 2008 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic anniversary edition. Taking the BRC was a memorable experience. It convinced me that I wanted to help other new and returning riders experience the fun and excitement. So in 2005 I became an MSF and VRTP certified RiderCoach. By signing up for a BRC you've taken the most important first step toward becoming a safe and responsible motorcyclist. I look forward to having you in one of my classes.
	Brad Convis bconvis@apexcycleeducation.com What can I say? I like bikes! And I like helping people get into the sport. I consider it an honor and a responsibility to be a part of the early development of a new rider's motorcycling experience. I have been dirt biking since 1972 (age 10), street riding (a lot of that time dual sporting) since 1979. I have ridden all over the east coast and some of the mid-west. I successfully raced the Baja 500 and the Baja 1000 in 2006 and would consider that experience a lifetime achievement on a bike (so far!). Currently have a Kawasaki Concours, Yamaha WR450F and others. I've been coaching since March 2004.
	Bruce Dimon bdimon@apexcycleeducation.com I started riding at the age of twelve in the desert around Albuquerque, NM. A year later NM issued me a street license for a five-horsepower motorcycle. When I took my skills test at the DMV in 1972, they told me to ride around the block. Preparation for riding on the street (both mentally and physically) is so important today. I promise to do my best to help you learn a process that will assist with managing those risks – so much better than my initiation! In the 35 years since I first wobbled into the desert, I have ridden about a half-million miles on motorcycles. Almost half that mileage has been on the 1989 Honda Gold Wing that I bought new. It still takes me to work via the HOV lanes.
	Isaac Encarnacion iencarnacion@apexcycleeducation.com I've been riding for many years now. The joy of seeing happy people on the road enjoying the passion of riding motorcycles just like me when I'm on my '02 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 is a great feeling. I'm retired from the US Coast Guard and served a short period with the Army Reserve prior to going active duty. I have met many good friends and have taught new students how to ride during the last three years. I hope to have the privilege of teaching you as my students in the near future. Keep the shiny side up and the rubber on the ground. Welcome to the ride!!
	John Finity jfinity@apexcycleeducation.com I started riding as a teenager on a Honda 65cc that my brother donated as he left for Vietnam; rode off and on for several years. I started taking riding more seriously several years ago after taking the MSF Basic Rider course. An inexpensive bike from e-bay allowed me to work on my street riding skills without a large financial risk of equipment; currently riding a ’98 Honda Valkyrie Tourer……a 6-cyl, smooth riding beast. Because I enjoy people, in particular encouraging and assisting fellow riders, I became a RiderCoach. I look forward to meeting you.
	Reed Graham rgraham@apexcycleeducation.com I started riding motorcycles early 70's, my first bike was a Triumph 250, then KZ400's and a KZ650 and now own a Honda VT1100 Sabre. I got certified as an MSF Rider Coach in April 2007and look forward to teaching for many years to come. I have a wide variety of past experience teaching and really enjoy helping people learn new things. It's a great feeling to see someone's face light-up and the confidence level increase when they have mastered what you taught.
	Brad Hancock bhancock@apexcycleeducation.com Brad was certified as a MSF Instructor in 1997. Since then he has coached more than 300 riders in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Florida, Guam, and Alabama. Brad is new to APEX in 2007, but has been riding since 1992 and has logged more than 100,000 miles. He has owned many styles and brand of motorcycles, including his current ride, which is a 2005 BMW R1200GS.
	Raymond Harris rharris@apexcycleeducation.com I'm really excited to see new and experienced riders successfully complete the class and have fun while doing it! I completed the BRC in the fall 2005 and was so enthused about the program that I became a certified MSF Rider Coach in the spring 2006. You might see me out commuting daily on my Suzuki Hayabusa which really makes the commute quite fun! Riding is certainly a joy for me, but again, its also a real treat to witness those like yourself become safer and more proficient in your riding skills.
	Rick Hayes rhayes@apexcycleeducation.com I started riding in the spring of 2002. My first bike was an '02 Yamaha R6. In the Spring of 2003 I upgraded to an '03 Harley FXST Softail Standard which currently has over 31K miles. My longest trip was to Sturgis, SD in 2004 and I have taken numerous trips to Canada as well as Myrtle Beach. I became a certified RiderCoach in the Fall 0f 2006.
	Ray Hitt rhitt@apexcycleeducation.com I ride a 2008 1800cc Honda Goldwing, and have over 40 years of riding experience. This includes more than 500,000 incident free miles on a motorcycle. I have ridden across the USA 4 times, and enjoy riding in Canada also. The best job I have ever had is teaching motorcycle classes. It gives one great pride to have a student come up after class and say " I can't believe I learned to ride a motorcycle in one weekend!" So welcome to the world of motorcycle riding. It's an "endless ride"; there is always another ride to go on!
	Bob Hohn bhohn@apexcycleeducation.com I have been riding motorcycles since the early 1990’s and have owned and ridden a variety of bikes. I currently ride a 2007 GL-1800 Honda ABS Goldwing. I became a certified RiderCoach in 2002 and thoroughly enjoy helping others fulfill their dreams of riding a motorcycle. I am a proud member of the Iron Butt Association, have completed 2 Saddle-sore 1000’s, and have slayed the Dragon in NC. I have a wide variety of riding experience and look forward to watching new riders eyes light up as they gain confidence in their ability to ride a motorcycle.
	Josh Houser jhouser@apexcycleeducation.com I got my first motorcycle when I was 5 yrs old. It was a little Suzuki 50cc with training wheels. From there my love for motorcycles grew. I rode dirt bikes for the next 13 yrs then took a 5 year break while attending college. Along came my first street bike in September of ’05 -- a 2005 Victory Vegas. This started my love for riding on the street. I was certified by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and became a member of the Virginia Rider Training Program as a RiderCoach in November, 2008.
	Kip Johnson kjohnson@apexcycleeducation.com Kip has been riding motorcycles continuously since 1972, when his first bike was a gold metallic, Honda 175. He first took a motorcycle safety course in 2000 and became an MSF instructor/coach in April 2001. Most of his train has been to military members at the Quantico Marine Corps Base. He started teaching with Apex in June of 2006. He currently rides a Kawasaki cruising bike.
	Tyrone Julian tjulian@apexcycleeducation.com I have been in the Air Force for 18 years. Transplanted to this area in 2002. I am from a small farm town in Ohio. I currently ride a 1987 Honda 1100 Shadow. I have been riding for 30+ years. I became a R/C in the fall of 2006. What I like most about coaching is seeing someone that has never riden before smiling as they walk out of class.
	Greg Kestner gkestner@apexcycleeducation.com Karen Kestner kkestner@apexcycleeducation.com I have been a rider coach since 2001. I ride a 2000 1100 Honda Shadow Tourer. I love teaching for many reasons. Some are, meeting people that love to ride motorcycles, watching people come from never riding a motorcycle to seeing a smile on their faces by the last day, and being able to teach them to be safer on the road.
	Andy Kirkner akirkner@apexcycleeducation.com I ride a 2003 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic and a 1995 Harley Davidson Springer Softail. I became a rider coach in OCT 2003 in Kitzigen Germany through the Military Motorcycle Safety Program. Motorcycling is one of my favorite hobbies. Learning how to ride a motorcycle is one thing. Learning how to ride a motorcycle safely is a completely different issue. Safety is a big part of any military mission, and as a Military Leader it is required to conduct safety/risk assessments and briefings prior to every mission. A lot of folks today who ride motorcycles know that it is a risky sport but do not know how to manage that risk safely. Teaching the BRC and ERC come naturally to me as I get to combine what I do for a living with what I do for fun.
	Dave Krek dkrek@apexcycleeducation.com I have been riding since 1999. I currently ride a 2001 Honda Goldwing. I have been an instructor since 2002.
	Steven Longstreet slongstreet@apexcycleeducation.com I ride my motorcycle everywhere. Last year alone I rode over 20,000 miles through rain, snow, heat, cold, DC rush hour traffic and some very aggressive sprinkler systems. It sounds excessive but simply put, riding is among the most enjoyable things that I do. Thus one day it struck me that the natural progression demanded that I become a Motorcycle Instructor to help others discover the scintillating joys of the two wheeled world. It's truly a pleasure to introduce students to riding, get a rider back on the bike after years apart, or help a current rider become a safer rider. Look for me when you come out to the range; I'm the most striking gent in the lot... in some part due to my day glow Instructor Shirt.
	Matt McCormick mmccormick@apexcycleeducation.com I have been riding on the street since 2005. I have successfully graduated both the Basic and Experienced Rider Course. I got certified as a Rider Coach in 2008. I currently ride a Yamaha FZ6. See you out on the range!
	Tim McCormick tmccormick@apexcycleeducation.com I have been street riding since 2004, and my current ride is a Honda 919 -- a great daily commuter with the heart of a sportbike. I'm a graduate of both the Basic Rider and Experienced Rider courses, and I've been a RiderCoach since 2006.
	Jeff Miller jmiller@apexcycleeducation.com I've been riding motorcycles since I was12 years old. When I joined the military they required an MSF course. This helped me realize that I didn't know everything about motorcycling like I thought I did. After 21 years in the military (18 of those overseas) with limited time to ride during that period, I enrolled in the MSF Basic RiderCourse, and now have well over 45,000 miles of riding (29,000 on my 2003 Ultra-Classic as of this posting). With many, many more miles to go before hanging up my helmet, I wanted to become a RiderCoach. Now that I'm retired from the military and not moving around as much, I've attained that goal I’ve had for years -- became a Motorcycle Safety Foundation, Certified RiderCoach in the fall of 2008. I want to help everyone learn to ride safely while they fully enjoy the experience of two-wheel riding. See you on the range!
	Rod Newman rnewman@apexcycleeducation.com I began riding, self-taught--trial & error, off-road about age 10 (early seventies). I took my first mandatory MSF course @ NAS Pensacola circa 1991, and was first certified MSF Instructor 1995; Re-Certified MSF Rider-Coach 2004. I currently ride a 2006 Triumph Sprint ST and also own a 1992 Honda 250 Nighthawk & 2002 Fourtrax 4 wheeler. The most rewarding part of instructing is seeing the leaps and bounds of someone who comes into the course barely knowing what a motorcycle is, and leaves a basically trained rider capable enjoying years of riding ahead. I enjoy the smiles and genuine surprise students show when they succeed in the course…I enjoy knowing that because they came to this course, they will leave enriched by the experience of the cadre of coaches / staff Apex has to offer.
	Mick Shaw mshaw@apexcycleeducation.com I've been riding for 40+ years in Europe and the US. Guess I qualify as an "old guy", but riding keeps me young My first ride was a 1956 Lambretta scooter. Since then I've ridden many European, Asian and American brands. My current ride is a 2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200s. It's the best bike I've owned.....so far. I ride/commute year-round, rain or shine, freezing or blistering and only use four wheels when absolutely necessary. I’m a graduate of both the BRC and ERC courses and have been coaching with Apex for 4 years. Riding is just terrific but I see so many people on the road who don’t know how to be safe or get the full enjoyment out of what motorcycling has to offer. Rider Education is THE best way to correct both of these. It is the single best investment one can make when thinking about entering the world of motorcycling. If you’re not sure if motorcycling is for you this is the way to find out -- in a low-risk, low- speed environment. I enjoy coaching and am eager to share what I know. I really love it when students have the “AHA” moment, especially when it occurs more than once. Those moments occur for coaches as well. Constantly honing my skills by practicing what I coach not only makes motorcycling way more fun, but I’m also much better prepared for those “uh oh” moments on the highway. I want my students to be prepared in the same manner. See you on the range.
	Bob Weiss bweiss@apexcycleeducation.com There is really nothing I would rather do than go out and spend some time riding my Gold Wing, whereever I end up. Riding since 1973, I started teaching in 1981 while in the Coast Guard. That career made it possible to teach all over the US. There is nothing better than seeing the progression of a new rider from the most basic of skills to feeling comfortable going out and getting their first motorcycle. I look forward to seeing you in one of our courses this year.
	Rodney Wells rwells@apexcycleeducation.com Hi folks, Smoothie here. I’ve been riding since '93, and have been on many different bikes, ranging from the Honda Rebel 250 to the Honda Goldwing 1800. Riding is my passion! I simply cannot imagine life without motorcycles. Because I have gotten such enjoyment from this avocation, what better way to give back than by coaching new and returning riders?! Whether you have never even seen a bike up close or you’re returning from an extended hiatus, it is my goal to equip you with the skill and confidence to set out safely. I am honored to have been entrusted the charge of Rider Coach and look forward to seeing you out there on the range, and on the road!
	Tom Williams twilliams@apexcycleeducation.com I’ve been riding on and off since about 1970 when I learned how to ride on a trail bike as a kid. When I was in my twenties, I rode a Yamaha Maxim 550 and in early 2000, I bought my first Harley-Davidson - a 2000 Fatboy. I currently ride a 2007 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide. I didn’t take my first motorcycle class until shortly after I bought my Fatboy in 2000. I was surprised at how much more fun riding was after taking that class simply because I knew so much more about what I was doing. I became a certified MSF RiderCoach in early 2004. Since then, I have taught more than 80 Basic and Experienced Rider Courses. I love riding and helping people become safer, more proficient riders. Whether you’re learning to ride for the first time or have been riding for 30 or 40 years, I am confident you’ll get something out of one of our classes and will have some fun in the process. I always do.
If you have ever thought of becoming a RiderCoach, click on the employment tab for more information or send an email to us: mailto:info@apexcycleeducation.com?subject=RiderCoach Information Request