Chris kegel always helping
 

The Man Behind the Mission

Chris Kegel was a legend. Father, brother, husband, friend to thousands and one of the nation’s leading bicycle advocates.

For over 30 years, Chris was the face, the spirit and the innovator behind Wheel & Sprocket, a Wisconsin-based bicycle chain and one of the country’s leading bicycle retailers. Chris was a founding member of Bikes Belong (now People for Bikes) and the Bicycle PAC (Political Action Committee). He was a past president of the League of American Bicyclists, a long-standing board member of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) and a key driving force on the board of the National Bicycle Dealership Association (NBDA).

 

Chris devoted his life to improving bicycling in his beloved home state of Wisconsin. He was a long-serving board member and past president of the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, and a board member of the Wisconsin Off Road Bicycle Association (WORBA). Chris devoted decades to improving the trail networks in Southeast Wisconsin including Milwaukee Country’s Oak Leaf Trail and Ozaukee Country’s Interurban Trail. Chris was lauded for his selfless leadership by many organizations including the United Performing Arts Fund and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). On Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 Governor Scott Walker declared Chris Kegel Day throughout Wisconsin. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Mayor Dan Devine, of Chris’ hometown of West Allis, declared Chris Kegel Day in their respective cities.

Honoring a lifetime commitment to continual education and improvement, in 2016 Chris was bestowed an honorary doctor of business degree by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

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Chris lived by these values:

  • Enthusiasm is Contagious

  • Bring the Energy and the Fun

  • Be a Humble Leader

  • Do the Right Thing

  • Bring People Together

  • Persistence

  • Good Work is Never Wasted

  • Balance Passion and Discipline

The Chris Kegel Foundation continues the work, the spirit, the passion and the love of Chris Kegel, who always worked to make everyone’s ride, and life, better and better.