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DailyBicycle.com by Oliver Carbonell Quick Q&A with Jenny Kallista of the Appalachian Bicycle Institute Ever hear of bicycle mechanics training schools like United Bicycle Institute and Barnett Bicycle Institute? Bike shop mechanics and cycling enthusiasts can enroll in these schools, located in Oregon and Colorado, respectively, to learn just about all things relating to bicycles and the business of bikes. While the above mentioned institutions have been around a while and have a good reputation among those in the cycling industry, those of you looking to get trained on bike mechanics now have another option. An enterprising bike shop mechanic by the name of Jenny Kallista has founded the Appalachian Bicycle Institute (ABI), located in the scenic and ride-rich Asheville, NC. DailyBicycle caught up with Jenny for a Quick Q&A. Here’s what she has to say about her new venture… DailyBicycle: Tell us a little about your history with bicycles. Jenny Kallista: I had a dream one morning when I was four, that I was ripping around on my sister’s new Schwinn, and I woke up with a most incredible feeling! I jumped out of bed, ran to my parents and exclaimed that because of this dream, I knew I could ride a bike! Despite the fact that I had not yet ridden a two-wheeler (I loved my tricycle!), I was sure that I could, because my dream was so vivid and felt so real. After breakfast, I went out to my sister’s bike, and began my attempts (contrary to the certainty I had, I could not ride!). By the end of that week (or maybe the next, I don’t remember that well), however, I was indeed riding around. That began my life-long love of bicycles. I always liked tinkering as a kid, and learned to fix a flat from my dad very early (8 years old). I got my first really nice bike-shop bike when I was 13. I rode that bike into college! After that came one after another of new steeds, each one leaps and bounds beyond the last. I started to learn mechanics at 19, and took on some bike-shop jobs in college. After a rather long hiatus (during which I learned and practiced the art of furnace-glass blowing, as well as steel welding/sculpture), I returned to bicycle mechanics in 2003 and have stayed with it ever since.   DailyBicycle: What compelled you to start ABI?   Jenny Kallista: At the bike shop I worked at for 6 1/2 years here in Asheville (Liberty Bicycles), I taught maintenance classes. Every class I taught was a lot of fun, and I started to realize I had a real talent for teaching (from what people told me!). I also enjoyed the experience of demystifying bikes for people… seeing people have those AHA! moments was so satisfying! So then the little synapses in my brain started to rub together, and I had an idea… It probably helped that my best friend was the head instructor at Barnett Bicycle Institute for 14 years, to spark some of those synapses….   DailyBicycle: What classes do you currently offer?   Jenny Kallista: Right now there is a wheel building class coming up, which I expect to be a popular class. Otherwise, there will be basic maintenance classes this fall, with more classes to come in the spring. One of the main classes will be the essential overhaul class, a two-day tear-down and rebuild. Other classes will include hydraulic brake systems, suspension, drivetrain systems, and many, many others. The school will be enjoying a “soft start”, as I work out bugs and firm up curricula. This is a very unique venture!   DailyBicycle: For those of us who aren’t familiar with the Asheville, NC area, tell us a little something about the riding there.   Jenny Kallista: Well, where do I begin? Our area is so fortunate in the wealth of riding venues. If one is a mountain biker, this is heaven. Pisgah National Forest has more trails than you can shake a fist at… you could go out every day for weeks and not hit the same trail twice! From the smooth, buffed singletrack to the gnarliest technical climbs and descents, we have it all out there. Then there’s DuPont State Forest, where the waterfalls, stream crossings, slickrock, and soft forest trails are some of my absolute favorite places to ride. Head a little eastward and we have Black Mountain, home to legendary Heartbreak trail and Kitsuma. Super fun. Go west and you get to Panthertown, a little-travelled but incredible trail system that’s got a little bit of everything in between huge gneiss formations. And right in town, our well-worn trails at Bent Creek Experimental Forest are just minutes away, and have so many fun routes to choose from, you’ll think you’re in bigger woods. Road riders? Think beautiful, scenic roads through pastoral areas with mountain climbs wherever you want them. Blue Ridge Parkway lovers will find scenic overlooks and satisfying ascents to either Mount Mitchell, highest point east of the rockies, or Mt. Pisgah, a lovely mountain top with overlooks and an Inn to refuel at. We have tons of options, with very challenging riding as well as riverside flats. A mecca for anyone with a bike!   DailyBicycle: The riding there, for roadies and mtb’ers sounds varied and epic! How does anyone interested in your classes get more information?Jenny Kallista: Visit my website, appalachianbicycleinstitute.com ! I have contact info listed there, I am easy to reach. DailyBicycle: Thanks Jenny! Here are links to the bike mechanic schools mentioned in this Quick Q&A: Jenny Kallista’s Appalachian Bicycle Institute - http://appalachianbicycleinstitute.com/ Barnett Bicycle Institute - http://www.bbinstitute.com/United Bicycle Institute - http://www.bikeschool.com/ United Bicycle Institute - http://www.bikeschool.com/ Copyright 2010 DailyBicycle

DailyBicycle.com

by Oliver Carbonell

Quick Q&A with Jenny Kallista of the Appalachian Bicycle Institute

Ever hear of bicycle mechanics training schools like United Bicycle Institute and Barnett Bicycle Institute? Bike shop mechanics and cycling enthusiasts can enroll in these schools, located in Oregon and Colorado, respectively, to learn just about all things relating to bicycles and the business of bikes.

While the above mentioned institutions have been around a while and have a good reputation among those in the cycling industry, those of you looking to get trained on bike mechanics now have another option. An enterprising bike shop mechanic by the name of Jenny Kallista has founded the Appalachian Bicycle Institute (ABI), located in the scenic and ride-rich Asheville, NC.

DailyBicycle caught up with Jenny for a Quick Q&A. Here’s what she has to say about her new venture…

DailyBicycle: Tell us a little about your history with bicycles.

Jenny Kallista: I had a dream one morning when I was four, that I was ripping around on my sister’s new Schwinn, and I woke up with a most incredible feeling! I jumped out of bed, ran to my parents and exclaimed that because of this dream, I knew I could ride a bike! Despite the fact that I had not yet ridden a two-wheeler (I loved my tricycle!), I was sure that I could, because my dream was so vivid and felt so real. After breakfast, I went out to my sister’s bike, and began my attempts (contrary to the certainty I had, I could not ride!). By the end of that week (or maybe the next, I don’t remember that well), however, I was indeed riding around. That began my life-long love of bicycles. I always liked tinkering as a kid, and learned to fix a flat from my dad very early (8 years old). I got my first really nice bike-shop bike when I was 13. I rode that bike into college! After that came one after another of new steeds, each one leaps and bounds beyond the last. I started to learn mechanics at 19, and took on some bike-shop jobs in college. After a rather long hiatus (during which I learned and practiced the art of furnace-glass blowing, as well as steel welding/sculpture), I returned to bicycle mechanics in 2003 and have stayed with it ever since.  

DailyBicycle: What compelled you to start ABI?  

Jenny Kallista: At the bike shop I worked at for 6 1/2 years here in Asheville (Liberty Bicycles), I taught maintenance classes. Every class I taught was a lot of fun, and I started to realize I had a real talent for teaching (from what people told me!). I also enjoyed the experience of demystifying bikes for people… seeing people have those AHA! moments was so satisfying! So then the little synapses in my brain started to rub together, and I had an idea… It probably helped that my best friend was the head instructor at Barnett Bicycle Institute for 14 years, to spark some of those synapses….  

DailyBicycle: What classes do you currently offer?  

Jenny Kallista: Right now there is a wheel building class coming up, which I expect to be a popular class. Otherwise, there will be basic maintenance classes this fall, with more classes to come in the spring. One of the main classes will be the essential overhaul class, a two-day tear-down and rebuild. Other classes will include hydraulic brake systems, suspension, drivetrain systems, and many, many others. The school will be enjoying a “soft start”, as I work out bugs and firm up curricula. This is a very unique venture!  

DailyBicycle: For those of us who aren’t familiar with the Asheville, NC area, tell us a little something about the riding there.  

Jenny Kallista: Well, where do I begin? Our area is so fortunate in the wealth of riding venues. If one is a mountain biker, this is heaven. Pisgah National Forest has more trails than you can shake a fist at… you could go out every day for weeks and not hit the same trail twice! From the smooth, buffed singletrack to the gnarliest technical climbs and descents, we have it all out there. Then there’s DuPont State Forest, where the waterfalls, stream crossings, slickrock, and soft forest trails are some of my absolute favorite places to ride. Head a little eastward and we have Black Mountain, home to legendary Heartbreak trail and Kitsuma. Super fun. Go west and you get to Panthertown, a little-travelled but incredible trail system that’s got a little bit of everything in between huge gneiss formations. And right in town, our well-worn trails at Bent Creek Experimental Forest are just minutes away, and have so many fun routes to choose from, you’ll think you’re in bigger woods.
Road riders? Think beautiful, scenic roads through pastoral areas with mountain climbs wherever you want them. Blue Ridge Parkway lovers will find scenic overlooks and satisfying ascents to either Mount Mitchell, highest point east of the rockies, or Mt. Pisgah, a lovely mountain top with overlooks and an Inn to refuel at. We have tons of options, with very challenging riding as well as riverside flats. A mecca for anyone with a bike!  

DailyBicycle: The riding there, for roadies and mtb’ers sounds varied and epic! How does anyone interested in your classes get more information?

Jenny Kallista: Visit my website, appalachianbicycleinstitute.com ! I have contact info listed there, I am easy to reach.

DailyBicycle: Thanks Jenny!

Here are links to the bike mechanic schools mentioned in this Quick Q&A:

Jenny Kallista’s Appalachian Bicycle Institute - http://appalachianbicycleinstitute.com/


Barnett Bicycle Institute - http://www.bbinstitute.com/United Bicycle Institute - http://www.bikeschool.com/

United Bicycle Institute - http://www.bikeschool.com/

Copyright 2010 DailyBicycle

Posted 1 year ago
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