Chris grew up on cul-de-sac in Northern California with some of the best cyclists in the country, so riding bikes was a given. He started racing the track at the local velodrome in San Jose at 13 years old but the road was his true love. By age 18, he was lining up with his childhood idol, 2-time Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon, in Paris, France as a member of the US National team.  Chris raced as a professional for the Saturn Cycling Team which brought him to North Carolina when he competed in the 1993 Tour DuPont.  He met the owner of DeFeet socks and would later accept a full-time job for the company after graduating from University of Colorado, Boulder, with a degree in finance.  In 2008, he opened Uptown Cycles in Charlotte. 

Nowadays, you are likely to find Chris helping customers, teaching CompuTrainer classes, or doing bicycle fittings. Not only is he the only certified Retul fitter in the Charlotte area, he is the only Level 2 fitter in North Carolina.  With experience on the track, road, TT, and mountain bikes Chris can help take your riding to the next level.

Matthew has always been near a bike, if not on one, and since an early age he has been riding in some form or fashion. This fascination with bicycles continued throughout his high school life where he competed in local events. While obtaining his Arts Degree in Asheville, Matt started seeing his hobby become more of a passion. Learning the ropes in the wrenching world at the campus bike shop as well as experiencing all the amazing mountain riding the area had to offer, he knew that this was something special for him and his future. Since college Matt has ridden downhill, enduro, road, gravel, tandem, recumbent, BMX, and so forth. If it has two wheels and pedals, Matt wants to give it a go.

Nowadays Matt has been working on honing his professional skill set in a quest to be the best mechanic he can be. Each day is an opportunity to learn something new, or to "plus" the previous day’s efforts. When he is not wrenching or in the shop, he can be found in one of his many hobbies. From guitar, to repairing arcade machines, or streaming video games he’s always trying to keep himself busy and active. Oh and sometimes he finds the time to ride his bike. If you see his trademark curly mustache while out on the trail, give him a friendly shout and he’s always game to talk.

Having grown up on a ranch in western South Dakota, Shawna got her start on a bike riding rural gravel roads before gravel riding really became a thing. She has loved being on a bike ever since.  These days you are most likely to find her on a road bike, enjoying a group ride with friends or on the way to the shop, although she's easily talked into riding mtb trails and gravel, too! Her other outdoor loves are trail running, backpacking/camping, and climbing.

Shawna's background is in biomechanics and sports medicine and is a certified athletic trainer with experience in both the university and clinic setting. She also has seven years experience in the outdoor/bike retail industry. She is grateful that working in a bike shop allows her to combine her love for health and wellness with her love for cycling. One of her favorite things about shop life is connecting with people. So whether you are brand new to biking and looking for someone to show you the ropes or you are gearing up for your next cycling adventure stop by and say hello, Shawna would love to meet you and help you!