If you run in central Iowa, you should come into the store and meet Bill in person. With video gait analysis, years of experience, and a commitment to helping people meet their fitness goals, he helps everyone find the right running shoes for them.
Bill “Guru of Shoe” Lorenz has worked at Kyle’s Bikes since April 2011 when he was hired to open the running department.
Hometown
St. Paul, MN
Educational Background
Studied Commercial Photography Worked as a commercial photographer for 30 years at Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara California (not related to the running shoe brand)
Current Position
Guru of Shoe (self-appointed title)
Hobbies
Travel, reading, cooking (and eating)
Family
Girlfriend, Saraleigh Monroe, founder of the Gaggle of Girls Running Group
Do you consider yourself a triathlete, a cyclist, a runner, a swimmer, more than one, something else?
All of the above, just not very good at any of them.
What got you interested in endurance sports?
I’ve had a bike almost continually since I was about five years old. Never get tired of being on my bike. My favorite types of riding are long distance, night riding, my 30-mile daily commute, and any ride with my girlfriend Saraleigh. This year will be my 8th RAGBRAI, her 10th. I started running 20 years ago at age 45 to compete in a inline skate/bike/run triathlon. Since then I’ve run 19 marathons and hundreds of other races. Not being able to swim kept me out of triathlon for 10 years. I watched the first Hy-Vee Triathlon and vowed that day to be out there the following year (2009). And I was! Teaching myself to swim was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, and the most satisfying. I’m living proof that anybody can do what they aspire to. I’ve done 8 Olympic-distance tris and 6 or 8 sprints. [In 2013, Bill did the Cyman Triathlon as part of a relay and wrote a race report.]
If you could have any bike in the store, which one would it be?
The one I ride: Specialized Carbon Crux. And I'm demoing a Specialized Roubaix this season.
What bike accessory couldn’t you live without?
My awesome headlight: Serfas TSL-1500 True Lumen. Powerful enough to summon ALL the superheros.
What do you like best about working at Kyle's Bikes?
I enjoy helping people achieve their fitness goals. Having the right shoes makes a huge difference in their success.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Helping my 10,000th person achieve their fitness goals. Still bike commuting.
Is there anything else people might want to know about you?
I try to make the shoe fitting and buying process as non-intimidating as possible. I like giving people secret nicknames.
Bill has written many running articles on our website.
