Michael Keel

In order to provide information on my past and background, I have included the text from an article that was written about me back in 2005. This article was featured in the Phast Times News, a local fitness publication for the Dallas metro area. Since I have been a fitness educator since 1974, I have a long and varied history including gymnastics, general fitness, racquetball, squash, indoor cycling and outdoor cycling.

I closed my training center in 2018 and retired from full time training in 2020. Since that time, I have spent most of my time cycling, marketing cycling events in North Texas, producing a bike ride in Granbury, TX and being part of the Hotter'N Hell in Wichita Falls.

Please note that this article was written in 2005.

Quick: Who won the Sports Pulse magazine Readers Poll for the Top Fitness Personality in 1991?

It’s a clear, cold, weekday night. The moon is a half crescent surrounded by stars. The cold stings with each breath, that is visible on the exhale of every living thing.

But the windows of what looks like a small business in a small strip center off Central Expressway in Plano are beating like a heart to the music inside. Fog covers the glass so one can’t see inside, but one can definitely hear the music. It sounds like a party is going on inside with someone shouting commands joyfully. Sing a joyful song? There is also the constant whirling of machinery.

People enter and exit with enthusiasm as if entering a club, and those coming out have steam rising from their bodies, and smiles willing to share.

A dance club? Not quite, but there is a dance step being learned that Lance Armstrong taught his competitors through all six of his record Tour d’France victories.

A revival? No, but some treat it like a religion.

WHO IS HE?

At the helm of 18 athletes inside north Texas’ only bike studio is Mike Keel, other wise known as Bikin’ Mike. He’s a DJ, a dance instructor with cyclists, an athlete in his own right, a writer, speaker, and a commander of a loyal, two-wheeled army. His title, you ask? “Toilet cleaner, secretary, marketing director, development director, educator, repair man, errand boy and, oh yea, I am also the boss…until I go home,” Keel offers with a grin that belies him. Officially, he’s been a Fitness Educator since 1974 when he began working at the Park Cities YMCA and then at Ray & Clare Stern's Health Center.

Although 5’ 4” he has a measured power outage of 1,275 watts in a sprint, one of the highest in Texas. He’s a proponent of cyclist rights and safety, and a supporter of the nation-wide Ride Of Silence. But Keel is also an advocate of biker’s responsibilities to follow the laws of the road. Blow through a stop sign with Keel in sight and you’ll hear about it, loud and clear.

On more than one occasion Keel has been unfairly targeted because he stood up for the motorist in an altercation, who was in the right, and against the cyclist who was in the wrong. He has sat in on administrative meetings with bike advocates, with city and state officials and leaders, and in law cases to weigh in on cyclists rights. But he also realizes that the 21^st century American likes his motor vehicle and isn’t about to give it up. He sees both groups, natural adversaries, as co-existing and striving for a balance.

Keel is one of Dallas’ rare natives, born April 6, 1954, to a lawyer and an administrative assistant. He has an older brother, Patrick. He admits that while growing up he was “much smaller and much more hyper.”  But he was also very active, taking part in golf, horseback riding, band, skating, debate, choir and drama, eventually paring that down to golf “and business.” As a kid, he feared his dad most of all. His mom divorced when he was five. She re-married when he was 10.

EDUCATION

Growing up between Dallas and Richardson, he attended Texas Military Institute (1968 -1970), St. Marks (1970), and finished at J. J. Pearce (1971 – 1972). After attending Richland College, San Antonio College, and Southwest Texas State University, Keel graduated from Houston Baptist University in 1978. He had to talk his advisors in to the pairing of two degrees: Athletic Training and Business Management, for a vision only he had. “This was not a ‘normal’ degree, as the Athletic Trainer degree was generally paired with PE, Health Ed, etc. Business Management was normally paired with Finance, Economics etc. I had to apply to the powers that be to award the degree and convince them that there was a ‘market’ for my degree. I used my interest in working in the health club field as a professional as my justification for awarding the degree.” It should be noted that he was denied the first two times he applied. Still, he persevered with the studies. It was finally approved two months before he graduated!

As a student senator at Southwest, he started the movement for students to gain control of the allocations of Associated Student Services fees within the Texas State University system. This same change was later adopted by the UT and A&M campuses.

While at Richland College in 1974, he started pursuing gymnastics. His small, powerful frame was suited for the sport. But, he say it, “was not quite that stellar.” As a member of the club program, he participated in competitions as specialist on the parallel bars, rings, and high bar “I was not an all-around athlete on all six apparatus.” After transferring to the more talented and higher level Houston Baptist University, he was not able to score high enough to compete. Nevertheless, he stayed on training with the team “working with them as their team trainer, handling some of their re-hab from injuries and assisting with the development and implementation of their conditioning program.” After being seriously injured on a dismount from the parallel bars in 1977, Keel was forced to leave the sport.

About the same time, he had been playing racquetball. “I began playing in 1974 and was hired for my first full time teaching position in 1979 at Chancellor's Racquet Club in Houston.” After being certified as a professional in 1980, he worked in clubs in Houston, Tyler, Boulder, and Dallas as a racquetball pro. For eight years, his life revolved around the in door sport that has lightening fast balls hit against a white wall and court. “I taught and coached several juniors who went on to win state, regional and national titles. Two of my junior protégés went on to become playing racquetball professionals. At the time, I was one of the regional leaders in the sport.” Indeed, he had several instructional articles published in local, regional and national racquetball/fitness publications, as well as hosting several tournaments. This would be the first time he would produce a fund raising event. Keel has been on the national advisory staff member for Head Racquet Sports (1979-84), Voit (1980-84), Ektelon (1984-86), Dunlop (1996) and Wilson (1996-2000). He still plays racquetball and squash several times early on weekday mornings.

A CURVY ROAD

Becoming a biking guru however, takes twisted turns. But it does have to start some where. Keel’s start was a little auspicious, using training wheels on his bike until he was nine years of age. Arguably, that’s a little late. Even then, it wasn’t by his choice that he stopped riding with the extra set of back wheels that doesn’t allow one to tip over. (Keel and a neighborhood friend had gone on a long and arduous journey over trails and paths. At the end of the ride, the friend notified Keel his wheels were missing. Keel instantly deducted he must have ridden the entire route that way, and that he no longer needed training wheels.)

But, he says, “I quit biking at age 13. Not cool any more.” He resumed riding at 19 for fitness and did his first bike rally at the 1987 MS150.

Keel married Aleda Hope Salzman, October 20, 1990. Aleda grew up in Levitown, L.I., New York, graduating the same year as Mike (“We say that we went to different high schools together.”). Mike has a daughter, Paula, 22, from a previous marriage, and a grandson, Connor, 7 months.

Influenced by Dr. Kenneth Cooper, and Bill Neal and Tom McLaughlin of Richland College, Keel took cycling to greater heights than he expected, or that the area had previously seen. He made cycling a full time career.

For the last two years, he has ridden in 40 organized rallies, and organized another 12. No one person puts together more rallies than Keel. After years of riding throughout most of the country and all of Texas (he rides about 5,000 miles every year, with a yearly high of 8,000 in 1996, “due to riding across Texas and riding to the Olympics in Atlanta.”), his favorite event is August’s Hotter ‘n’ Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls, “Because of all the people.” But his favorite ride is from the Basin at Big Bend National Park to Santa Elena Canyon, within Big Bend National Park. His office shows pictures of him on this ride over the years. His other favorite rides include Acadia National Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. This past year, for his 50^th birthday, he led a dozen people on a ride THROUGH Texas, from NORTH Padre to the Oklahoma BORDER/RED River, 700 miles in SEVEN days. He did this for fun! As for the other willing victims of his contagious enthusiasm, most finished, a few were able to ride every day. In the finish photo, Keel has the biggest smile. “Two thousand four was a great riding season. I had a great time riding in places like Monterey [CA], Asheville [NC] and in Death Valley [CA]. I celebrated 50 years on the planet with a SEVEN-day, 700-mile ride across Texas. I also enjoyed participating in the MS150, Hotter Hell Hundred and the Ride for the Roses, among many other rides in our area.” And he feels the effects of all these rides. “The best part is the level of health and fitness I enjoy as a result of the miles of cycling. As you know, I don't set the world on fire with my speed. But I do enjoy good health and vitality.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Keel is definitely at home on, or around, bikes. “It’s a great way to stay healthy, enjoy good people and see the countryside.” Whether pulling his 50 lb music loud speaker/stereo/battery contraption attached to his rear wheel through every rally he enters to entertain himself and the people riding next to him, leading his spin classes, organizing a rally, or stopping for a Flat Fixing Party (or other mechanical problem – witnessing this it really does look like he and his followers are having the time of their lives fixing a flat!), Keel enjoys each day of his life. “I enjoy the journey and live for the moment, reflect on life and think about challenges and blessings,” he answered when asked what he does while riding. “I think that I am very fortunate to be who I am and to get to do the things that I do.” And when asked a follow up question about what he does for inspiration to get on the bike and get out side each day, he smiled, “I need inspiration?” Favorite moments while riding? “Any time I am going downhill and, or, with a tailwind; any time I am on smooth pavement.” Simple enough.

BLAST OFF

The studio that blasts music to keep Keel’s Army motivated and entertained (it also sets the pace and workout of the class, “three choruses and a break to do hills or go fast”), was opened in November of 2000. It has an individual sound system and TV video/CD all hung from the ceiling, not be in the way for the cyclists. Several fans with four foot blades are also suspended. Under each bike is a rubber black mat to help with odors and sweat. The studio is well brightly lit with a bathroom, and separate shower. There’s even a bike storage room for repeat spin class patrons. But the best part is the room itself. During the day, it is an empty room, vacant of whirling trainers, and sweating bikers. But empty, it allows one the opportunity to see the walls covered in biking memorabilia. There are posters of bi-gone rallies, and sign posts from some of the biggest rides in Texas and the country. Of course there are the obligatory posters of Lance Armstrong, and Greg LeMond. There are pictures of Keel the day the studio opened, as a gymnast, and with Mr. Peppermint. There are rider bid numbers. There are medals, plaques, and biking hats from prestigious rallies. It’s almost embarrassing, as if looking through the personal photos of someone.

Meticulously tidy, Keel has the trainers stacked and cleaned, and the bikes hung safely and securely locked. This by could be a gym with its requisite smells and dankness. But not here. It’s a fresh, and brightly colorful environment that other training facilities can only dream of having.

The deeply spiritual man who has a concern for all of humanity, is also very concerned with each individual he meets. “So, what are your cycling plans? Can I help you get ready for some miles of smiles? Want to lose weight, improve your performance or train for your first exotic century? I can help.” This is a regular line when he meets someone new, immediately trying to pass his enthusiasm on.

His bike studio offers 10 spin classes each week, “performance training for cyclists of all levels,” with the help of two other instructors, Max Miley and AJ O’Neil.

The studio helps Keel get others ready to ride and provides a place to put on clinics. He says thousands have been the product of his classes or events. It’s a place people can learn to “have more power for climbing hills or how to adjust your bike fit for maximum comfort and performance;” how to get ready for and ride in a century (100 mile) ride. His next one day clinic starts March 5 and go through April 21.Cost is $15 per person per clinic. To reserve a spot call 972-578-5719 or e-mail [email protected]

A BUSY YEAR

This will be another busy year for Keel. For 2005, besides the Happy New Rear Ride on January 1 held each year, Keel will direct Tour Dallas, April 9; Ride to Cure Diabetes Monterey, CA, MAY 18 - 22; COLLIN CLASSIC JUNE 11, Heart of Texas Tour JUNE 25 - JULY 2 (a new event); Bikin' Mike's Big Bend Adventure, October 8 – 15; Ride to Cure Diabetes, Death Valley, CA, October 20 – 23; and several Share the Road Rallies benefiting the Texas Bicycle Coalition (dates and locations to be determined). In addition, he’s planning on riding the Ride for Heroes in Aledo, April 2; CROSSTIMBERS CLASSIC MAY 7, MS150 RED RIVER CHALLENGE MAY 14 & 15, Mesquite Rotary Rodeo Ride JUNE 7, The Hotter ‘n’ Hell Hundred AUGUST 27, and The Ride to Cure Diabetes, Asheville, NC, September.

Then there is his outside project. A community wide baby shower called the Shower of Love, which has helped more than 8,000 newborns and their families. It’s an event that is both applauded and criticized. Keel doesn’t worry, so long as he is helping some one out, he says, how can that be bad?

BUT WHAT ABOUT MOM?

When putting together a rally or one of his own bike projects, Keel likes to include his mom, Joyce Lee, 77. To his faithful followers, she’s a “supporting cast member” who can pop anywhere, doing anything. She is Keel’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, of Shakespeare fame. You may see the tiny white haired women smiling at registration, or out on the course at an aid station. She, too, is just happy to be there.

Keel keeps his future and goals simple. “Ride till I die, hopefully somewhere past 100,” he says. Other than that? “Create more rides, keep paying the bills, and find more great places to take people to ride.” He has tried running, but is not thinking of multi-sports any time soon. “I tried running, but I did not enjoy being alone with my pain. Cycling has all the solitude of running, but the "WHEEE" factor is much greater.”

The answer to the question, “Who was the Sports Pulse magazine Readers Poll for the Top Fitness Personality in 1991?” at the beginning of the story was…Mike Keel. He beat out Larry North that year. It was also the same year an unknown 17 year old Lance Armstrong was voted the Top DFW Male Athlete.

[SEPARATE BOX]

KEELING TIME

During the cycling season (April through October) I teach and ride an average of two spin classes of intervals each week, do one or two short easy base miles rides during the week of 25 miles and one longer ride on the weekends of 40 to 100 miles. During the off season (November through March), I teach six spin classes each week.”

Other than cycling, Keel enjoys racquetball, squash and golf.