About

Sue Commanda’s love for cycling began in childhood, when her bike was her ticket to freedom, letting her roam the neighborhood with friends and later pedal to work as a teenager. After rediscovering cycling in 2019, Sue transformed into an avid road cyclist, captivated by the speed and challenge of the sport. As a ADK 46R, she’s no stranger to pushing her limits, having tackled the grueling Battenkill race and diving into triathlons in 2024. As co-president of the Saratoga Cycling Club, Sue is passionate about sharing the thrill and adventure of cycling with riders of all abilities. She finds joy in leading the club and showcasing the stunning beauty of Saratoga’s cycling routes, inspiring others to embrace the ride.

Co-founder of the Saratoga Cycling Club and founder of the Saratoga Mountain Bike Association, Chris has been immersed in the world of cycling for nearly 45 years. While his roots are in mountain biking, these days you’ll find him mostly on the road—often chasing good miles and better coffee (or beer). He’s also the founder and owner of Elevate Cycles, where he’s spent the past 30 years wrenching bikes and building a community around the love of two wheels. Whether we’re climbing hills or kicking back at a brewery, his goal has always been to bring cyclists together in a fun, nurturing, and engaging environment.

Dieter’s passion for cycling began at age 13 when he received his very first racing bike and he’s been hooked ever since. Since then, his love has only grown for the sport, whether it’s the comradery of fellow cyclists, the thrill of competition, or the obligatory after ride beverage with friends. He also enjoys encouraging others to join the world of cycling.

As the founder of 53-12 Group Rides Saratoga over 12 years ago, Dieter has helped foster a community of enthusiastic riders who respectfully embrace the sport.

For many years, Dieter and his wife Michele spent their winters in Lake Placid, where you could often find him skate skiing the pristine trails of Mt Van Hovenberg, speed skating at the Olympic Oval, or carving the slopes at Whiteface Mountain. His passion for outdoor sports is enhanced by his admiration for the beauty of upstate NY and the Adirondacks.

Kern is a retired NY State Trooper and security manager at River’s Casino and Resort. Kern is married to his beautiful wife, Christine, and they have three adult children. They enjoy traveling, home projects, each other, and dining with friends!

Kern started riding in 2014 to participate in the annual Tour de Force Memorial Bike Ride to honor police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice and raise money for their families. He has participated in 10 Tour de Force rides, having ridden from Boston to New York City, New York City to Boston, Washington DC to New York City, and in Florida from Miami to Daytona. Kern also participates in the annual Valcour Brewery Century ride each year in support of the TDF.

Kern is also a member of the Adirondack Garda Cycling Club, a group of active and retired first responders who ride to support various charitable causes. Kern has been riding with SCC for about 10 years and took on the role of ride leader in 2018. Kern is a bicycle safety advocate and enjoys the social aspect of riding, especially a good post-ride gathering. Kern rides a custom built Masi MMR; enjoys time on his “old ghost”: a 2014 Giant Comp 1; and the occasional trail, beach, or snow ride on his Trek Farly fatty.

Lincoln has been cycling since 2015. You’ll usually find him sweeping for the Unified and Saturday Breakfast rides. He enjoys hill climbs and time trial style rides. His favorite cycling event is the Great North gravel fondo in Cambridge, NY. He also enjoys running and hiking with a few half marathons and 46ers under his belt, as well as singing and playing percussion in local community groups.

Lisa Joyce discovered early on that biking was by far the most fun of the three triathlon events. She prefers to suffer alone on runs (only psychopaths want to talk during runs) and it’s nearly impossible to chat while swimming, but she loves the camaraderie of group cycling. As a new cyclist many moons ago, Lisa benefited from the experience of older cyclists who kindly shared their knowledge of how to ride nicely with others. She enjoys giving back to the cycling community by leading rides for more novice riders. Lisa continues to participate in short and long course triathlons both for the challenge and for the after parties and has ridden her bike in South Africa, Spain, and Australia.