Local pastor, cyclist combines passions to help other people
By Stephanie Mlot Frederick News-Post Staff Every day, Roger Rinker indulges his passion for helping people, be it on a bicycle or in a church pew.
Since childhood, Rinker has been interested in bikes and has created a family business and career out of it, working part time at his son and daughter-in-law's Frederick shop, The Bicycle Escape.
"(I do) just about anything that needs to be done," he said of his managerial position at the store.
Repairing bikes, doing inventory or selling equipment, Rinker particularly enjoys watching customers' transformations from cycling novice to excited rider.
The store began as a joint effort between Rinker and his son, Tom, who often discussed shop plans on bike rides together.
When The Bicycle Escape opened almost five years ago, Rinker initially volunteered his time to help support his son. As time progressed, he settled into his current position as a part-time employee.
The shop workers often receive gifts from satisfied clients -- baked goods, coffee and other treats.
"That kind of gratitude, that's pretty cool," Rinker said. "We're not just selling things, we're meeting needs."
As the founding chairman of the Frederick Bicycle Coalition, Rinker is helping to meet the needs of the city and county, too.
Almost a year old, the nonprofit group was formed when the father-and-son duo were frustrated by the need for Frederick to have a more organized approach to improve cycling.
"We began to pursue something that would last," Rinker said.
Continuing to progress and grow, the coalition has been active in seeking League of American Bicyclists' bicycle friendly community and encouraging the mayor's Bicycle Ad Hoc Committee, of which Rinker is a member.
"Everybody was waiting for someone to do something," Rinker said about the FBC's creation. "Now it has a life of its own."
Proud of the group, Rinker said he is glad it's not a Bicycle Escape entity, but rather belongs to the community as a whole.
The 56-year-old wants to bring more cycling to his second job as a part-time ordained Lutheran pastor at the Light of Christ church in New Market.
"I like being a pastor with hands-on experience in the real world," Rinker said. "I go to church with dirty hands, because I work."
Balancing his time at the church and the store is tough, but Rinker stays flexible.
"Either job could be way more than full time," he said. "That just wouldn't work out."
Rinker keeps a tight focus on his passions for bicycling, helping people and his church, which he said work well together. <a href="http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyid=111944">http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyid=111944</a>;
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