Imagine a community connected
through cycling
Bike Cochrane’s mission is to serve Cochrane through the promotion of, and advocacy for, Cycling in our community.
Our vision is to develop a cycling-friendly culture in Cochrane through the implementation of safe infrastructure for transportation, recreation and competition. We will participate regularly as a recognized stakeholder group in road and community planning, park (re)development, construction projects and area transportation plans, work with public and private land owners and managers to allow public cycling trails and assist in providing and maintaining access to cycle pathways, trails and facilities, for use by the public.
MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Robert and his family moved to Cochrane in 2004 after visiting the area several years before that and for its opportunities and great outdoors. Robert has been a competitive road and cyclo cross cyclist since 1984 and raced in Europe from 1984 till 1996.
He is currently working in the sports clothing industry with Rogelli Sportwear and continues to enjoy the great outdoors and is always trying to find new gravel roads in the area. Working with the other members of Bike Cochrane, Robert’s passion lies in sharing his experiences pursuing a culture of cycling and safe cycling community with the objective to increase the connectivity in and around Cochrane in collaboration with all stakeholders.
Robert martens
President
Erin first moved to Cochrane in 2011 for work and instantly fell in love with the town vibe, pathways and proximity to the mountains and the adventures that awaited. After living 'out of town' for a few years and having two kids, she moved back to town in 2020 so she could swap out her car for her bike. Being able to commute by bike to school and work was a priority when choosing where she wanted to live in town. What drew her to support Bike Cochrane? Besides the amazing merch, the passion of its members and great initiatives to make Cochrane a safe biking community jives with what she wants for her kids growing up here. She looks forward to being part of the future of Bike Cochrane!
Erin Vandermarel
Secretary
Paul and his young family moved to the Cochrane area 7 years ago for the proximity to the mountains and the outdoors, along with all of the services available here. Through mountain biking, road biking, scrambling, hiking, back-country skiing, resort skiing, and pretty much anything else outside, Paul values being able to recreate close to home and wants to bring more possibilities to Cochranites for bike-mounted adventures. Through Bike Cochrane, Paul is passionate about being able to connect safely within Cochrane using two wheels and is committed to using data-driven decision-making to prioritize, plan, fund, maintain, and implement cycling infrastructure in our town and area. Our community only gets better when passionate, energetic people decide to invest themselves in the community, and Paul looks forward to all that Bike Cochrane and our community can produce! Volunteer with us and help improve cycling for all of Cochrane!
Paul Perrault
Director of Operations
Ryan started racing mountain bikes and working in bike shops at 13 years old and that experience shaped the rest of his life. Since then he has spent time racing every discipline possible on two wheels.
When Ryan and his wife Tanya started a family he began coaching youth mountain bike programs. "I want to do this now so when my kids are old enough someone cool will help coach them too." This passion is what ultimately led to the first Bike Cochrane Kids mountain bike camp in 2021.
Ryan and his family moved to Cochrane in 2015 and saw a huge potential for cycling culture. Ryan is proud to call Cochrane home, raise his family here, and excited to be part of Bike Cochrane to make our beautiful town a better place to ride a bicycle.
Ryan hopping
Member at Large
Jim has always loved being in the outdoors and the freedom that biking brings from a young age, when he saved up for and bought his own first bike. He moved to the Cochrane area over 20 years ago and has set down roots as one of the founders and now Managing Director of Garmin Canada. He has built his life around making products and then getting out and using them. You might see him around town swimming, running or riding.
As part of Bike Cochrane, Jim wants to be part of a team that helps build a bike friendly community that encourages people of all ages to get out on their bikes and help facilitate a network of multi-use pathways, trails in our amazing surrounding terrain and safe connectivity to get out and explore our amazing surrounding areas – all without getting in a car.
jim rooney
Treasurer
Andra moved to Cochrane with her husband 6 years ago because of the proximity to the mountains as well as everything the Town of Cochrane had to offer. Andra is an avid mountain biker and enjoys many outdoor pursuits. When she’s not teaching others how to ride their bikes and find the stoke, you can often find her on the mountain bike trails at Moose Mountain and Prairie Mountain as well as in Canmore and Banff.
Having the ability to bike close to home, to safely commute to work on a bicycle and to create a greater sense of bike culture and community is what inspired Andra to serve on the Bike Cochrane board. Andra sees the potential that Cochrane has to become a desirable destination for safe road biking and trail riding instead of just a town to pass through on the way to the mountains. She is excited to be a part of a small team with big ideas and can’t wait to see what Bike Cochrane can do for this amazing town we call home.
Andra Andrew
Vice President
our awesome volunteers
Kendra Gowdy - Book Keeper
Travis Agar - Trail Building
Colin Yates - Trail Building
Jennifer Rooney - Bike Shop Liaison
Tim Lomenda - Bike Park Maintenance
Jeremy Waddell - Community Engagement
Andrea Marchand - Membership Coordinator
Rex Windsor - Bike Park Maintenance
Ryan Sheehan - Trail Building
Jennifer Bouwsema - Active Transportation