Vail cyclist remembered on Web

AVON , Colorado — People who attended Mike Janelle’s memorial service said it was flooded with friends from all over the world, many of whom asked how they could help.

In response, friends and supporters can visit a new Web site, www.livelikemike.org, to honor Janelle and raise money to support his wife, Maribel, and baby son, Mike Jr.

Janelle, 40, a professional mountain biker and elite road cyclist, died suddenly of a heart attack in his sleep last November.

The site was set up by Larry Leith, owner and founder of Janelle’s Tokyo Joe’s professional squad.

“The goal of the site is simple — to pick up financially where Mike left off, to give Maribel and little Mike the push-start they need now and the help they will need later on,” Leith wrote on the site’s opening page.

A way to help

Supporters can donate $40 for a Mike Gift Pak, which includes a Live Like Mike T-shirt, dog tag, Tokyo Joe’s gift card, and stickers. A 2008 Tokyo Joe’s jersey, which sports the Live Like Mike logo, is $70. Individual donations can also be made.

Living like Mike Part of the Web site has a place to post memories and thoughts about Mike Janelle. The question was posed to several of Janelle’s friends and supporters: What does it mean to “Live Like Mike”? • “To live a healthy, happy life. He was always smiling, and he had a great attitude.” - Mike Kloser, professional mountain biker, Vail resident • “Live life to it’s fullest 24/7. Push the envelope. Have a great time. Always be positive. That’s definitely Mike.” - Charlie Brown, co-owner of Mountain Pedaler in Eagle • “To not worry about things that are not worth worrying about. To love, respect, and take joy in the people close to you. To live life like it is short. And most of all, to find fun and laughter in everything you do.” - Jay Henry, Janelle’s teammate, Avon resident

All the profits from the site will go directly to the Mike Janelle Children’s Trust, the fund set up for his family. The goal is to raise enough to support Maribel Janelle and little Mike, now 2 months old, for the next five years.

Janelle’s teammate, training partner and friend, Jay Henry, said many of the people who knew Janelle wanted to help the family after his death.

“I think a lot of people who knew Mike were just devastated by his death. There’s a general helpless feeling,” Henry said. “This kind of allows everyone to help.”

And there is a need, Henry said — Maribel Janelle is originally from Colombia and had been applying for citizenship when her husband died. Now, immigration authorities say she may not be able to stay in the state.

She is applying for citizenship in Arizona, but the legal fees are costly, Henry said.

“Mike was the breadwinner and now Maribel’s got a baby to take care of,” he said. “It’s very difficult struggle for her to get back on her feet right now. I think that’s a pretty universal thing that people can relate to.”

Charlie Brown, co-owner of Mountain Pedaler in Eagle, said he plans on donating to the fund, and he hopes efforts like this will continue.

“It’s hard to ride and not think of him,” Brown said.

He said he remembers Janelle coming into his shop once after Brown had just unloaded some tires.

“He said, ‘Yeah, this is a real bike shop. None of that latte stuff,’” Brown remembers. “That was just him. Real hardcore.” If donations exceed the family’s need, the money will go to another charity in honor of Janelle.

Not the only tribute

Others in the Vail valley and bike racing community are finding other ways to honor Janelle.

As part of this year’s Teva Mountain Games festivities, Samana and Vail PM hosted the Mike Janelle Family Fundraiser with a “Secret Agent Party.”

Fittingly, several races have been named after Janelle. The second race in this year’s Vail and Beaver Creek Mountain Bike Race Series, of which Janelle was a longtime presence, will be known as the Mike Janelle Memorial. Each year, a race in the series will be named after Janelle.

After the race, which will be next Wednesday, there will be an after-party starting at 6 p.m. at E-Town in Edwards. Water bottles, raffle tickets, bike headset caps and proceeds from a dunk tank will all go to Janelle’s family.

Beaver Creek Resort, where Janelle was a ski instructor, is putting up a memorial plaque on the mountain’s bike path in memory of Janelle and his regular commute up to work, even in the dead of winter.

Vail resident and pro mountain biker Mike Kloser, who knew Janelle through racing, said it is great to see all the support for Janelle’s family.

“It’s putting money toward a good cause,” Kloser said. “There’s not a more deserving person out there, and this benefits his son and wife.”

On the Web

www.livelikemike.org



Staff Writer Melanie Wong can be reached at 748-2928 or mwong@vaildaily.com.