GILA HIKE & BIKE
MORE THAN A BIKE SHOP
Gila Hike and Bike has been serving the Silver City community for over 25 years. Our expert staff can help you with any cycling or hiking need.
Meet Our Staff
Chris - A weather refugee from Niagara Falls NY, Chris found Silver City 6 years ago. Following his wanderlust to warmer, drier places in the winter of 2009, and spending several months in AZ and NM, the Gila Wilderness area became his favorite spot.
He lives on Spring St, walking distance from Jalisco’s Mexican restaurant, loves woodworking, trees and mildly interesting literature.
Working the typical mountain town minimum, he got hooked on mountain and road bike racing. Four years later, he devotes every spare minute and dollar to carbon fiber, power meters and skinsuits.
When presented with the opportunity to become a partner of Gila Hike and Bike in 2013, he jumped for it. After two years, he’s still laughing that he gets to call his favorite hobby “work”.
He lives on Spring St, walking distance from Jalisco’s Mexican restaurant, loves woodworking, trees and mildly interesting literature.
Working the typical mountain town minimum, he got hooked on mountain and road bike racing. Four years later, he devotes every spare minute and dollar to carbon fiber, power meters and skinsuits.
When presented with the opportunity to become a partner of Gila Hike and Bike in 2013, he jumped for it. After two years, he’s still laughing that he gets to call his favorite hobby “work”.
Martyn - Born in Norfolk, England, Martyn spent his youth living in the small rural village of Horsey. One of only 80 people there, he developed a love for golf and spent his youth competing across Southern England. In 2002 he traveled to America to play golf while attending University, and completed a Bachelors degree in English at WNMU in Silver City while playing golf for the Mustangs. During his time at Western he purchased a mountain bike for commuting to-and-from the golf course. Quite by accident he discovered Boston Hill, Jeff Reese and Jamie Thompson. The rest is history.
Martyn's grandfather worked at Raleigh Bikes in Nottingham England, so the opportunity to work closely with Head Mechanic Bill Schum helped unearth a passion for cycling and bicycle repair that only compounded with time. A die hard Norwich City soccer fan, Martyn feels at home in Silver City and is proud to be a part of the local cycling community. He enjoys playing and listening to music, formula one, and is happiest pedaling along side his two children, Addison and Zeyah.
Martyn's grandfather worked at Raleigh Bikes in Nottingham England, so the opportunity to work closely with Head Mechanic Bill Schum helped unearth a passion for cycling and bicycle repair that only compounded with time. A die hard Norwich City soccer fan, Martyn feels at home in Silver City and is proud to be a part of the local cycling community. He enjoys playing and listening to music, formula one, and is happiest pedaling along side his two children, Addison and Zeyah.
Bill - Born in Waterbury Connecticut, Bill Schum graduated from his local high school and joined the Navy. Specializing in ejector seat repair, he spent 4 years of organizing the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation. Post service, he traveled across Canada and the United States in a school bus. While moving through the Pacific Northwest cycling found him.
For 15 years Bill lived, worked and raced bikes in Northern California. A love for the cycling lifestyle would see him compete in centuries and races, while working in Bike shops and having a hand in the early development of mountain biking. In 2005 he moved from California to Silver City with his good lady Marguerite, and shortly after arriving he was hired by the Gila Hike and Bike. A master wheel builder and resource for determining what is hip, Bill finds enjoyment in downtempo electronica, lugged steel frames and his three Jack Russell Terriers.
For 15 years Bill lived, worked and raced bikes in Northern California. A love for the cycling lifestyle would see him compete in centuries and races, while working in Bike shops and having a hand in the early development of mountain biking. In 2005 he moved from California to Silver City with his good lady Marguerite, and shortly after arriving he was hired by the Gila Hike and Bike. A master wheel builder and resource for determining what is hip, Bill finds enjoyment in downtempo electronica, lugged steel frames and his three Jack Russell Terriers.
Dave - Born in Dallas Texas, Dave Baker remembers a youth spent outdoors, flying kites and riding around on his Schwinn Stingray. After graduating from West Plano Senior High, he moved to Austin and began a BA in Geography. During his time in college he apprenticed at the 'Bikes not Bombs' bicycle shop. After college he managed the shop for a year, before helping to found the Austin Yellow Bike Project in 1996. A phenomenal success, the program would take used bicycles, paint them yellow and distribute them around the city of Austin for the public to find and use for commuting around town.
Dave would play a key role in the program for over seven years, and would use the Gila Wilderness as a getaway from the big City. As Austin continued to grow, he decided to permanently move to Grant County. In 2004 they purchased land close to Pinos Altos off Highway 15 and began work on a hand built straw bale home off the grid. Around the same, Dave began working for the Gila Hike and Bike.
In 2005, after helping Jamie Thompson with the Safe Routes to Schools 'after school' bike program, Dave began the Silver City Bikeworks. A community bike store for people to learn about and work on their own bicycles, the nonprofit organization has grown to include a second outreach location in Downtown Silver CIty.
For the past two years Dave has worked as a neutral race support mechanic at the coveted IronMan Triathalons. A level 3 certified USA Cycling Race Mechanic, Dave has the pleasure of returning home to his two pedaling sons, Bodhi and Charan.
Dave would play a key role in the program for over seven years, and would use the Gila Wilderness as a getaway from the big City. As Austin continued to grow, he decided to permanently move to Grant County. In 2004 they purchased land close to Pinos Altos off Highway 15 and began work on a hand built straw bale home off the grid. Around the same, Dave began working for the Gila Hike and Bike.
In 2005, after helping Jamie Thompson with the Safe Routes to Schools 'after school' bike program, Dave began the Silver City Bikeworks. A community bike store for people to learn about and work on their own bicycles, the nonprofit organization has grown to include a second outreach location in Downtown Silver CIty.
For the past two years Dave has worked as a neutral race support mechanic at the coveted IronMan Triathalons. A level 3 certified USA Cycling Race Mechanic, Dave has the pleasure of returning home to his two pedaling sons, Bodhi and Charan.