Press
Xplorer: Shawn P. Brooks Age: 37 Family: Wife of 14 years, Jennifer; son Lennon, 5; daughter Lily, 4; a dog and two cats Occupation: Owner of The Cycologist, a Fort Collins bicycle boutique Born/raised: Born in Iowa City, Iowa, and raised in Ames, Iowa, moved to Fort Collins in 1997 Current residence: America's best town Outdoor passions/adventures: Mountain and road cycling - doesn't matter if it is sunny, raining or snowing. Also mountain unicycling, snowboarding and snowshoeing Wildest outdoors experience: I was new to Colorado and hadn't yet learned the hard lesson that you can freeze your butt off in July. Some friends and I set out for a peak outside of Colorado Springs in a light rain. My testosterone-addled brain insisted that we make it to the top in spite of the fact that my friends were out of shape and the weather was getting worse. We had about two minutes to enjoy the view from the top before the skies opened up and begin pounding us with golf-ball sized hail and rain that turned the trail into a whitewater torrent. It was hard to decide whether to seek shelter or get ourselves down as fast as possible. In the end we ran for it with me hollering to my friends, "Don't hurt yourselves! Whatever you do don't hurt yourselves!" When we got down I couldn't even tie my shoes because my fingers were so cold. The hail was pummeling! Valuable lesson learned. Most memorable outdoors experience: Getting married at Palisades State Park on a gorgeous June day in Iowa. Worst job: Detasseling corn in Iowa. It's hot, muddy, buggy and I'm pretty sure it's what happens to you if you go to Hell. Childhood ambition: I wanted to be a garbage man. I thought it was really neat that those guys got to ride around on the outside of a truck. If you could invite someone to dinner, who would it be? Robin Williams before he went to rehab Something about you that most people don't know: Jennifer and I took a three month cross-country camping trip in our VW Van looking for the perfect place to start our business and our family. We saw every state west of the Mississippi and didn't find even a close second place to Fort Collins. Something you'd like to do before you die: Parachute out of an airplane, scuba dive and see more of the world. One outdoor activity you'd like to take up: Telemark skiing is next on my list. One outdoor activity that doesn't interest you in the least: Anything that involves a lot of noise and air pollution. Originally published April 22, 2007
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