About James
James grew up in a small town in western Massachusetts, where his bike quickly became his ticket to adventure beyond the driveway. From cutting his first trail in his mother’s garden to exploring Brimfield State Forest and Dean Pond, cycling was woven into his life from the start—even if it sometimes took him farther than his young legs could handle.
In his mid-twenties, James rediscovered cycling as a way to stay fit, get outside, and escape the demands of adult life. Immersing himself in the Pioneer Valley mountain biking scene, he became part of special trail networks and learned the craft of riding and trail building from a tight-knit community of riders. Endurance racing soon became his outlet, offering both fitness and freedom for hours on end.
In 2017, life transitions brought James to the Upper Valley, where he found not only some of the strongest riders he’d ever pedaled with but also a vibrant cycling culture across singletrack, gravel, and secluded pavement. He quickly became part of the community through stewardship and advocacy with Norwich Trails, contributing to the region’s trail networks and future plans.
After gaining valuable experience working in a prominent local bike shop, James branched out to open Upper Valley Bike Company. His vision is to create a space built on personalized service—specializing in bike fitting, customer-centric builds, and offering a welcoming environment where riders can talk about riding, new products and of course, bikes.
Today, James manages the day to day operations at the shop taking special interest in high-end cycling builds at Upper Valley Bike Company, ensuring seamless customer experiences across platforms. His detail-oriented approach and passion for cycling make him a trusted resource for riders of all disciplines.
Outside the shop, James is a full-time Dad, most of the time singlespeeder, recovering trail runner, carrot aficionado, and self-proclaimed ski catastrophe. He has tested himself in endurance events ranging from 100-mile mountain bike races and 6 to 24hr MTB challenges to half marathons, Tough Mudders with old Army pals, and even a Ragnar Relay. Since 2019, James has been a perennial entrant in the Vermont 50 MTB race, competing in the singlespeed category year after year—a testament to his love for riding one gear. Through it all, his passion for cycling and community remains the constant.
