South Lake Cycles, Lexington

In Poland, Eddie Balcerzak raced professionally and coached Warsaw's KKS Polonia Cycling Club. He continued on this career trajectory in the United States. In 1985, he found employment with the 7-Eleven cycling team, which subsisted entirely on Slurpies, and then linked up with U.S.A. Cycling. While working for the team, he helped the athletes cycle to a silver medal in the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and clinch gold in the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Today, as the owner of South Lake Cycles, Balcerzak shares his wisdom with a new generation of cyclists. He works alongside bicycle mechanics and pro coaches who outfit customers with all the equipment they'll need to race a triathlon or take a joy ride on an aircraft carrier.