Lance Armstrong and Greg Lemond– these names are synonymous with professional bike racing. Phil Cable, 41, of West Pittston, can say he shared the same field with both of these men during his professional cycling career in the mid-1990s.
    Cable’s adventure is one that few people would attempt. Raised in Bethlehem, he developed a love for biking at a young age, riding with friends and gradually developing a desire to compete. His life changed the day he saw a sign posted at his high school touting a bicycle racing program at the Velodrome, in nearby Trexlertown. He soon discovered that the Velodrome was a hotbed for bicycle racing in the United States, drawing riders from all over the world. It was there that Cable tried racing for the first time, and subsequently joined a local racing team in Allentown.
    During his college years, Cable rode for the Dutch Wheelman team at Bloomsburg University and the Sickler’s Team at Penn State Wilkes-Barre. His results got him recognized by a new start-up pro team. Four years into an evolving race career, Cable took ill after a 12-day stage race in Venezuela. A bout with hepatitis caused by bad drinking water took him off the pro circuit for the year and, subsequently, he lost his promised contract. He then decided to shift gears, so he finished school and got engaged.
    “There were some rough moments in the following years, like watching the Tour (de France) on TV and seeing guys I’d beaten having their moment in the lime light,” Cable said. “Not jealousy, more frustration- like, I should’ve been there, too. But you know what? As I look back, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was an amazing experience.”
    For the past decade, Cable and his wife, Melissa, have resided in the Wyoming Valley while raising three children. Until recently, he was a fixture at Rayco Eurospec Motorcars, in Kingston. About a year ago, he had an epiphany. A little voice kept saying, “There is something more for you.” He thought, “What else can I do? I haven’t used my engineering degree in nine years and I’m doing fine in the car business. Besides, I have three children, a beautiful wife, and a hefty mortgage.”
    Gradually, the message and picture became clear. A constant gnawing told him that his God-given talents and passions needed to focus on cycling. Still, the leap seemed far fetched. His fear kept saying, “God, I just can’t do it!” But, as fate would have it, the auto industry fell victim to the recession and Phil’s income sustained a major blow. He knew that God had taken him off the high dive, stood him at the edge of the pool and said, “OK, how about now?”
    Last year, Phil started Facet Cycling, coaching, and promoting events.
    “My goal was to help riders improve and offer an outlet for the local cyclist to step into racing and to generate new interest from our youth,” he explained. “I also wanted to give the Wyoming Valley a taste of these high-energy events.”
    The timing was perfect–– the towns he approached were enthusiastically receptive. Phil now has an ambitious schedule of events ahead: the Pride Mobility Thursday Night Summer Training Series, a Bike-a-Thon at Pocono Raceway (benefiting Make-A-Wish, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and the Shriner’s Hospitals), and the NEPA Cycling Pro-Am Tour. The Tour consists of five events: Pocono Raceway, held May 9, Clarks Summit, held May 29, Nanticoke, July 3 (with fireworks); Downtown Scranton, July 24; and the finale in Wilkes-Barre on September 4. He feels that “it’s a bit nerve wracking but I can’t wait to watch it unfold.”
    Jack Williams Tire will sponsor the Youth Challenge Series for kids, for ages 18 and under. Entrants will receive medals and t-shirts for participating, and points leaders in the 7-18 age group will be recognized with yellow Jack Williams Leaders Jerseys.
    “I wanted a way to encourage the kids to keep participating all summer,” he added. “A one-evening event has spawned an entire weekend, including a health and fitness expo, live music, a half marathon and 10k run (both benefiting Wendy’s Wonderful Kids adoption programs), kayaking on the river, The Main Street Mile run, the Jack Williams Tire Youth Challenge Series finals, and the Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania State Championship bike races.
    Information about these and other cycling events in NEPA is available at local bike shops or online at www.nepacycling.com. Once registered, enthusiasts can receive updates on local cycling events and group rides.