Meet Our Shaker Heights Staff

Matt S.

Store Manager

Matthew joined Century Cycles in mid-2022 as our Shaker Heights store manager and has been in the industry since 2012. The moment the training wheels came off when Matthew was five years old, he was hooked. Matthew and his friends would build trails in the woods, constructing jumps, berms, and the like. He got further into road riding when his grandfather took it up and fostered Matthew's interest. Matthew started racing a few years ago, falling in love with cyclocross in particular. However, after a few injuries he refers to himself as a commuter now … even though his commute is usually a 50-mile round trip ride to the Shaker Heights store!

Matthew has been together with Helen, a Landscape Architect for a local engineering firm, for 5 years now. She loves plants, animals (especially their own), jam bands, and Matthew's scrambled eggs :). They have two ginger cats, Atlas and Leo, as well as Ladybug, their 1-year-old Golden Retriever.

Matthew recently got back into music, playing drums on Brian Bacon’s debut record "Twigs" of which he is fiercely proud. When he is not working, riding, playing, or practicing, you can usually find him behind a crossword puzzle.

Matthew's favorite bike was probably his 2015 Giant TCR Advanced Pro 1. It was the first real high-end bike he owned.

Chris V.

Service Associate

Q. How did you get interested in cycling?
A. As a young kid, bikes were my way of meeting my friends, getting to school, and getting around. I watched my grandpa work and fix his bike, patch his tires, and bend the frame, and this helped my interest grow.

Q. How long have you worked in the industry?
A. I started volunteering at the Ohio City Bicycle Co-op in Spring of 2020 and took introductory classes on repair and overhaul and started working full time for Century Cycles in April 2022 after leaving teaching.

Q. Tell us a little about your family – significant other, kids, one or two of their activities or hobbies.
A. I have three children: two sons (Garrett and Harry) and one daughter (Chip). All three have included the performing arts as a part of their upbringing, playing in orchestra, performing theater, and singing in the vocal music department at Cleveland Heights High School. Harry enjoys working with his hands in the auto tech program and creating web-based content of his own.

Q. Do you have other hobbies outside of work and cycling?
A. Music was a big part of my upbringing, and I continue to teach privately and play with the Cleveland Winds. I also love crossword puzzles, board games, hiking, and camping in state and national parks.

Q. Do you have any pets?
A. My apartment does not allow pets, but I have had both cats and dogs growing up, and out of the 52 years I’ve lived, I have had pets for 40 of those years.

Q. What was or is one of your favorite bikes you have even owned or ridden?
A. My 1985 Ross Supreme was the very first bike I bought with my own money. I rode it all through high school and college, sold it to my college roommate in 1993, and bought it back from him in 2020 and have recently started to restore it.

Don C.

Sales Associate

Q. How did you get interested in cycling?
A. Like most kids growing up in the 60’s, bikes were everything. Everyone rode a bike; to school; to the beach; to the baseball field. It was really the only way to get around because parents didn’t chauffeur you around like they do today; one car families were still the norm in my NY neighborhood. If you missed the bus to school, you either walked the 5 miles (uphill both ways) or rode your bike; plain and simple. My love for cycling continues to this day.

Q. How long have you worked in the industry?
A. I’m a newbie to the cycling industry. I recently retired from a 40+ year career in aviation as both a pilot and an air traffic controller. Now, I want to do something fun, and working in a bike shop seemed like the perfect fit.

Q. Tell us a little about your family – significant other, kids, one or two of their activities or hobbies.
A. My wife and I are both yoga practitioners and instructors. When not at work, if we’re not out biking, hiking, or kayaking, we’re probably doing something in the yoga world; it’s a big part of our lives. My wife and I also just recently became grandparents with the birth of our first grandson, Everett.

Q. Do you have other hobbies outside of work and cycling?
A. I play both the guitar and piano. Back in “the day” I was actually pretty good and played in several bands. Now, I just play for me … and the dogs. I’m a master tinkerer around the house, and pretty much try my hand at almost anything that needs fixing or updating … haven’t burnt any houses down … yet.

Q. Do you have any pets?
A. YES!! I have a precious teacup shih tzu, Faith, who’s the love of my life. In 2019, we rescued a beautiful tortoise cat, Shanti. And, just recently, we rescued Savannah, a sweetheart golden doodle puppy.

Q. What was or is one of your favorite bikes you have even owned or ridden?
A. I’ve owned a lot of bikes, and still have four of them hanging in my garage. But my favorite has to be the one I purchased in high school with lawn mowing money; an early ‘70’s Peugeot 10-speed road bike with suicide shifters on the down tube. The bomb.

Megan

Sales Associate

Q. How did you get interested in cycling?
A. I got Interested in cycling when I got my first job ever working at Bicycle Boulevard and used my first paycheck to buy a Sky Blue Jamis Citizen.

Q. How long have you worked in the industry?
A. I have worked in the industry and at the same Shaker Heights location since I was 16 years old, and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon!

Q. Tell us a little about your family – significant other, kids, one or two of their activities or hobbies.
A. My family is all Ohio locals and I've lived in Cleveland my entire life. I have a twin sister who works in the fashion industry. We are total opposites, but I was lucky enough to grow up with a built-in best friend. My partner is an engineer and is extremely engaged in the disc golf community.

Q. Do you have other hobbies outside of work and cycling?
A. I am an avid reader, podcast listener, part-time nanny, and a full-time student.

Q. Do you have any pets?
A. My family has two cats named Callie and Bae and two dogs named Renia and Triscut.

Q. What was or is one of your favorite bikes you have even owned or ridden?
A. My favorite/coolest bike I own is a vintage 1980 Lotus Classique Touring Bike which I acquired from the original owner, who did a customized fit and altered it to his preference. My current favorite bike is my Electra Townie Go electric bike that I have had for about 50 days and have already passed the 150-mile mark. I am also very passionate about my Jamis Renegade.