For Cindy Geyer, a life spent on a dairy farm in Botkins, Ohio, taught her early that hard work and resilience go hand in hand. A lifelong commitment to staying active has carried her through a breast cancer diagnosis, a hip replacement and more than 24,000 miles on her ElliptiGO bikes. Meet Cindy Geyer, our July 2026 Rider of the Month!
Roots on the Farm
Cindy has lived in Ohio her entire life. She grew up on a dairy farm, and farming has always been part of who she is. Her husband recently retired from his career owning and milking cows.
Today the couple still lives on their farm in Botkins, Ohio, a small town of fewer than 1,200 people. “It’s been such a wonderful place to live and raise our family,” Cindy says.
Cindy became a veterinary technician in 1984 and worked full time at a large and small animal hospital. For the past eight years, she has taught in the veterinary science program at a career technical school, working with high school juniors and seniors who are considering the profession.
Cindy and her husband have two adult children who live nearby and five grandchildren. Cindy says, “They keep me busy and remind me what truly matters.”
Running Through Life’s Challenges
Long before she discovered ElliptiGO bikes, Cindy found her passion for fitness through running. “I’ve always believed that staying active is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself,” she says.
In 2016, everything changed when Cindy was diagnosed with breast cancer. But even through chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, she was determined to continue her normal routine. “I ran sixteen 5Ks that year,” she says. “I wasn’t close to my personal records, but I did it.”
As difficult as that time was, Cindy believes that being physically active before her diagnosis played a huge role in her recovery. But the following year, Cindy had a hip replacement, which brought her running days to an end.
A New Way to Move
“I knew I needed something that would motivate me to stay moving,” Cindy recalls. Her good friends Kaye Lengerich and Becky Hoelscher introduced Cindy to ElliptiGO bikes. “One ride was all it took — I was hooked!” she says.
Cindy bought her first ElliptiGO bike in 2020. After mastering it on the country roads of Botkins, she and her husband attended their first organized ride in Virginia. There, Cindy met ElliptiGO riders from across the country, including Lewis “Lefty” Leftwich and Jim Stahlman. She came home with something new, too: an ElliptiGO Stand Up Bike.
The following weekend, Cindy signed up for a ride in Michigan, where she met even more ElliptiGO owners, many of whom she still gets together with today. The next season, she signed up for the Global ElliptiGO Riders Club, GERC, and kept on riding.
Cindy quickly realized that the ElliptiGO community is unlike any other. “Everyone is welcoming, encouraging and genuinely happy to see each other succeed,” she says.
“The friendships I have made are just as meaningful as the rides themselves,” she adds.
In fact, Cindy wants to send a special shoutout to a fellow rider going through a tough time. “Gary, you are going up that hill — and still beating me — with the wind in your face,” she says. “You’ve got this, and the ElliptiGO community is praying for you. We all need you back GOing again!”
More Bikes, More Miles, More Memories
Over the past few years, Cindy’s ElliptiGO bike collection has grown. She purchased an 8C, followed by an 11R, then an 8S. On her elliptical bikes, Cindy says, “I feel like I am running again, although much faster!”
She enjoys participating in GERC’s Get Out and GO (GOGO) program of individual and community rides, as well as in bike rides around the country. Some of her favorite rides include the Five Boro Bike Tour in New York City, riding down Lake Shore Drive in Chicago in Bike the Drive and doing the Bourbon Burn in Kentucky.
Cindy says, “Coming from a dairy farm, traveling and seeing new cities and landscapes and meeting people from all walks of life has been an incredible gift.”
One experience holds a particularly special place in her heart. During the Tour de Donut ride in Ohio, Cindy’s fellow ElliptiGO riders took the time to stop by her farm to milk a cow and feed the calves. “I got to share our way of life with them. What a special experience that was,” says Cindy.
The Joy of Staying Active
At 66 years old, Cindy no longer worries about speed, records or how many miles she can ride. “My goal is simple: to keep moving for as long as I possibly can,” she says.
She believes that staying physically and mentally active prepares her for life’s unexpected challenges. Cindy adds, “I hope my story encourages others to do the same.”
After all, life doesn’t always go according to plan. Cindy notes, “I hope I never have to face another battle with cancer. But if I do, I know I’ll be stronger because I’ve chosen to stay active. Exercise hasn’t just improved my physical health. It’s also given me confidence, resilience, purpose and lifelong friendships.”
Cindy shares that her family has always supported her. “Most importantly,” she says, “they’ve seen how much healing and happiness ElliptiGO bikes have brought me. My family knows that when I’m out riding, I’m doing something that brings me joy.”
Most importantly, Cindy says, “Don’t wait until tomorrow. Find something you love, keep moving and never let age define what you are capable of!”
Congratulations to Cindy Geyer, our July 2026 Rider of the Month! From battling breast cancer to conquering new roads across the country, Cindy’s story shows just how far a lifetime of staying active can carry you. Thank you, Cindy, for sharing your journey, your friendships and your farm with the ElliptiGO community. Here’s to many more joyful miles ahead!
You can contact ElliptiGO with nominations to Rider of the Month or share your own story. It may just be the next feature!
