December 21, 2012 (Bend, OR) – There is this tall guy who always wears glasses with interesting frames – sometimes polka dots, sometimes like the side of a fish. He is funny, he writes a lot and is very knowledgeable about bikes, skis, trout fishing and city government (he was once the mayor of Bend, Ore., running on the “men without ties” ticket). Some know him as the Reverend Lester Polyester, some as Art Deco, most just call him Woody.

Bob Woodward, a man of levity, is, in truth, a very serious contributor to both the cross-country-ski and mountain-bike communities. A columnist for SkiTrax for almost 20 years, Woody even had a ski named after him. Many in the cross-country-ski world may not know about his other passion, but his induction this year to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame during the annual Interbike trade in Vegas recognizes that fact.

Woody has been an integral part of mountain biking since the beginnings of the sport. His articles and photographs helped energize the new sport in the 1980’s. He wrote the Mountain Biking book for Sports Illustrated in 1991. The book is still considered to contain the most accurate history of the bike and the sport.

Woodward competed for 10 years (1983-1993) as a NORBA-licensed racer, and two silver medals at the World Championships in 1987 at Mammoth Lakes, Calif. capped a successful racing career.

When serving as the mayor of Bend, Ore. from 1997 to 1999, he was called “America’s only mountain-biking mayor.”

But Woodward’s contributions go beyond writing and racing. He gave back to the sport through trail-building, organizing and he founded the Central Oregon Trail Alliance. Woody continues to build, maintain and promote trails on the dirt that some say is as old as he is. – Don Portman