I’m sure many of you have heard about GObike, and if you haven’t, it’s time to find out by paying attention to all the new bike lanes and trails in the city of Buffalo. But this post isn’t about GObike; it’s about Kevin Heffernan, the Communication Director at GObike, and the main reason I still maintain my JCC gym membership.
I know, I know, I’m jumping from GObike to JCC. So let me go back in time to 2013, where Kevin’s story begins.
That year, he was on the lookout for a physical activity to prepare for a marathon. However, he was looking for something other than running because, oddly for someone who participates in marathons, he doesn’t enjoy running! No judgment here; I’m not a fan of running either, and I rarely participate in marathons.
That’s why he started spinning at JCC. He would wake up every morning at 6 a.m. to attend the early morning class. Only that the instructor’s style was a bit slow for him, which is why he decided to become an instructor himself. He obtained his spinning certification at the (now defunct) BikeorBar and began substituting for other instructors at JCC until he secured his own class.
Just like Kevin, in 2012, I was searching for a physical activity to get in better shape for my art performances. I signed up for a gym membership with Buffalo Athletic Club (LA Fitness), discovered spinning and got hooked on it. However, it wasn’t until this year that our paths crossed.
After Covid I decided to join JCC and began attending all of their spin classes, searching for “the one” instructor. If you’ve ever tried spinning, you understand that it’s all about matching the instructor’s energy and their choice of music. After several months of trying different spin classes and instructors, all of whom were good in their own ways but didn’t quite match the level of energy I was seeking, there was only one class left to try – the Monday evening class run by Kevin.
I can’t express the joy I felt after his class. I had finally found the spin class and instructor I had been searching for!
Kevin on his bike at JCC
After I started my blog, I told Kevin that I was a fan and curious to learn more about him and share his story with my readers. So, one Friday, we’ve met and talked a lot about spinning and more…
That’s how I found out about his commitment to GObike and riding his bike, about the marathons (he is part of the Buffalo Run Club), and about his own venture, Rise Collaborative, a news and entertainment platform.
Speaking of Rise Collaborative, he is inviting you all to the 90s Rise Again Halloween party!
And to top it all off, I also learned that he and his wife do a lot of international travel and even spent three weeks in Romania!