Our Team
MELVIN BRADLEY
Head coach
Mel’s passion for building community through cycling began in 2006 as a way to honor his late wife Nancy, who passed away from Leukemia in late 2005 while being treated at Stanford. Mel spent the next 6 years driving to train with the Sacramento “Team In Training” cycle team – before founding his own TNT cycle team right here in the 209. Mel gives countless hours to this program and has been recognized as the TNT Coach of the Year.
LINDA LINDENBERG & DEBBIE SOMMERFELD
Co-Captains
Linda & Debbie are not only founding members of the cycle program, but they are the heart of our team community. Together, these amazing women serve as the team cheerleaders, motivators and social glue all season. Linda was recognized as the Team Captain of the year for all of her efforts over the past several seasons.
TEAM COACHES
Top Row (L-R): Cheryl Tanis, Bob Holmes Bottom Row (Left): Troy Lindenberg
Top Square (L-R): Larry Graser, Leif Barkhousen
Bottom Square (L-R): Ray Craig, Tom McGuire
Not Pictured: Mel Bradley
For 8 of the last 10 years, Team209 has been the TOP FUNDRAISING TEAM in the NATION! With over $3.8 million raised, we’ve outpaced every other TNT Friends & Family Team in the 33-year history of Team In Training. And with your help, 2026 can be our biggest year yet—with a bold goal of raising $4 million to support patients and families fighting blood cancers.
Our journey began in 2012 with just 12 riders training for a Las Vegas event, raising $43,324. In 2013, we made Lake Tahoe our home for the annual America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, and every year since, our team and impact have grown thanks to the support of our incredible community. With your participation in 2025, we aim to reclaim our spot as the Top Fundraising Team in the Nation—and raise $4 MILLION along the way!
Since our founding, Team209 has trained hundreds of riders of all levels, raising funds that directly support Blood Cancer United – formerly The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Our leadership has been nationally recognized: in 2018, Coach Mel Bradley and Captain Linda Lindenberg were named Coach and Captain of the Year for all Team In Training programs across the country. In 2019, Coach Mel earned Team In Training Coach of the Year, and in 2023, he set a record by raising more money than any other rider in the history of the Lake Tahoe ride.
Our team is made up of everyone from first-time riders to experienced road and mountain cyclists. We are passionate about helping you learn to ride, challenge yourself, and enjoy the journey. If you already ride, we’ll help you reach your next big goal—on the bike and in life.
Join us, ride with purpose, and become part of a team that is changing lives and riding toward a cure.
