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See what others have said about us on Yelp!  We've also been reviewd on the Slowtwitch Retailer database so take a look or add your own ratings of the store at Slowtwitch.com . Front of the Pack was started in 2003 by Darrell Eng. Frustrated with bike shops who didn't carry or understand what he wanted, he decided that there was a need in the Bay Area for great triathlon store. From the humble beginings the goal has been to stock only items that would be reliable enough for everyday use and also good enough to race on. Today the store has grown to encompass a complete retail environmnet with a full bike repair department, FIST certified bike fitters, fit area, cycling apparel, triathlon clothing, wetsuits and a host of other items not found in other stores. The staff at Front of the Pack continues to learn about nuances associated with triathlons to help educate you, the consumer. You should never feel intimidated at our store as we strive to make it the place where your grandmother could come in to buy you a gift. From pro triathletes to people who haven't been on a bike since age five, we treat everyone with the same level of respect and professionalism. Why buy from us? Because we want to make sure that you are happy with your bike. Each bike sold in our store includes a FIST bike fit which can take from 2 -4.5 hours before we even build up a bike for you. During that time we'll ask you questions about your riding preferences, style, goals, past injuries, etc. to help make recommendations on components for your bike. In short, we care about you as the customer and think of our store as a buying experience. We race, train, and can relate to your concerns about road cycling/racing, triathlons, mountain bikes, almost everything except unicycles or recumbents. STAFF | Darrell Eng, Owner/Head Fitter/Mechanic The guy who does everything from sales to bike fits and most likely to be in the store. Darrell's background is as a road cyclist who even raced as a pro for one season. Currently he holds a USA Cycling Cat 1 license but has switched his focus over to triathlons, specifically long course. Darrell has completed 8 Ironman distances races to date with a PR of 10:01:11 at the 2005 IM Hawaii. He has been training with power (SRM ) for 6 years, giving him a thorough understanding of how to install them and how to interpret the information generated by them. Darrell is also a former Team in Training traithlon coach. Darrell learned to build wheels from Ric Hjertberg (currently head of R&D for FSA, founder of both the Wheelsmith spoke and former bike shop in Palo Alto) when they lived a block apart in Menlo Park. Ric taught him the intricacies of wheelbuilding. At race expos you can tyipcally find Darrell working on bikes for everyone from age groupers to pros. For the 2007 Pacific Grove triathlon he managed to fix Victor Plata's rear wheel just 30 minutes before the start of the race which Victor proceeded to win. Darrell owns a rabbit and, of course, several bikes. | | David "Jasper" Gostisha, Sales/Mechanic Involved with triathlons for over 20 years, Jasper has brought his mechanical skills to Front of the Pack. As a former water polo player Jasper can be found swimming in the fastest lane at Santa Clara Swim Center during his free time. His other hobbies include restoring his '58 Town Wagon and other vehicles. Want to know if the big size bikes will flex or fit you? Ask Jasper as he stands 6'4. Jasper has also been FIST certified by Dan Empfield. | | Ron Kao, Mechanic aka, the Kid. Ron is a junior at UCSD majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Officially he was the first person Darrell hired when the retail location opened on El Camino Real. Ron helps out in the store when home during school breaks and during the summer months. He is the quintessential mechanic, geeking out over new, light parts. When not working in the store or at school, Ron enjoys jumping his 26" mountain bike, playing paintball and working on his car. |
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