BARB- bad a** recovery bike

A story of service, family and healing. Told by a retired police officer and one of my biggest supporters, my father.

"During my career as a police officer, I sustained countless injuries. While these have largely healed, the emotional burden of this career will forever linger; because of this, I worked tirelessly to separate “work life” from “home life,” for obvious reasons. As I worked to divide these two very different worlds I found that being involved in family activities with my wife and daughters played a big part in being able to forget about the job for a while. One of my daughters, Hannah, became interested in racing bicycles. I became a USA cycling coach and built several bikes for her to compete with. We traveled across the nation for years attending local and national level cycling events for road, mountain and cyclocross racing. During this same time frame, I had many ideas and thoughts of building my own bike… a single speed mountain bike."

"After talking with numerous doctors regarding these injuries, my legs were measured and the docs detected significant muscle shrinkage; it was then that the docs advised low impact cycling to help keep my knees in shape. As the days went on, it became almost impossible to jog, let alone sprint, which hindered by ability to serve and protect. The safety of myself and fellow officers was becoming an issue and it was then that I knew something had to change, and fast."

"In November of 2017, I responded to a call involving a man threatening people with a gun. I was the first on scene and a scuffle ensued; it was then that I fractured both tibial plateaus, partially tore my left ACL, completely tore my right ACL and right shoulder rotator cuff. I was still able to arrest the bad guy and he is currently in prison. This was the call that ended my career as an active-duty police officer. Unlike many police officers, protecting our community 24/7/365, I was able to leave the scene alive and return home that night. After assessing my injuries sustained from the fight, doctors confirmed that my career as a police officer was coming to a quick end. Surgeries, therapies and rehab appointments were scheduled; I knew my life was going to become messy for the next year as I worked tirelessly to regain my physical health and return to the job."

"While enduring these surgeries, therapy appointments and lengthy rehab period, I was able to collect some bike parts and with the help of Spoken Bikes in Middletown, OH, and the owner, Otto’s expertise, I was able to build BARB [my Bad A** Recovery Bike]- a single speed mountain bike. After all, it was what the doctor ordered (kind of)."

"Two years later, I am now retired, still recovering and thankful for this cool build by Otto at Spoken Bicycles."

parts & vendors

  • Build Shop- Spoken Bicycles in Middletown, OH
  • Surly- Karate Monkey Frameset - Rigid Fork - Thru Axles - Tuggnut Chain Tensioner
  • Cane Creek- Headset (Forty)
  • Brooks- Cambium Saddle
  • Thomson Elite- Seatback and Seatpost- X4 Stem
  • Paul Components- Quick Release Seatpost Collar - Disk Word Boost 32H Rear Hub - Disk FHUB 32H Front Hub - Klamper Long Pull Calipers (Front and Rear) - Love Levers (Compact 2 1/2" Front and Rear Brake Levers)
  • MAGURA- Storm HC 203 Front Rotor- HC 180 Rear Rotor
  • Jagwire- CGX-SL cables
  • Crank Brothers- Iodine 2 Downhill Handlebars - Stamp Pedals
  • White Industries- ENOS DOS 16/18 Cog
  • KMC- 1/2" X 3/32" X1 Chain
  • Sram- GXP Team Bottom Bracket - GX Eagle Crank (170)
  • WOLF TOOTH- Drop Stop Power Trac Eliptical 28T Chain Ring
  • WTB Scraper 27.5 Rims (Front & Rear) - 27.5 Trail Boss 3.0" TCS Light Tires (Front & Rear)
  • Lizard Skins Northshore Grips
  • CATEYE Padrone & Computer - VOLT 700 Headlight
  • Duluth Pack- Banana Bike Bag