YOUR BICYCLE GUIDE
on SeacoastNH.com

We’re proud to introduce this exclusive new series by bicycle expert David Balkin. An avid recreational biker, the author has been a racer, manager and bike shop owner. "The Great Balkini" has developed his own unique philosophy of biking that will appear occasionally in this online series.

GO TO Dave’s Seacoast Biking column

David Balkin -- aka The Great Balkini -- is a 25-year resident of Kittery Point Maine. He averages over 5000 miles a year on a road bike strictly for recreational purposes. Dave rides mostly on local roads that he describes as "the best anywhere". His love for riding brings with it a passion to teach others the simple secrets to successful cycling. The SeacoastNH.com cycling series is the beginning of that quest.

Dave began his cycling career in Miami as a racer, team manager and bike shop owner. Throughout the 1970’s his shop Dade Cycle was the winter headquarters for the elite riders of the day. The shop was also a focal point for community-wide bicycle awareness and rider education for which it received numerous awards. 20^th Century Fox hired Dave to promote the cult classic bicycle movie "Breaking Away." The shop also founded and promoted the Tour of Coconut Grove -- the biggest single day race of its time in the United States. It is still a major event on the American professional race calendar.

Upon moving to the Seacoast Dave became the Director of Development for the YMCA in Portsmouth, NH. In the middle of the group’s successful building campaign he built a BMX racing track on YMCA property "for the fun of it". Dave ran a program that attracted over 200 riders weekly. Dave has also worked as a newspaper columnist, radio talk show host, public relations executive and retail consultant.

"The Great Balkini" artowork is by Seacoast artist and music performer Dan Blakeslee who lives in Portsmouth, NH. Visit his official web site