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Good vibes – it’s something we’re all searching for these days! Keeping a positive attitude can be challenging when life presents us with tough news and heartbreaking moments. A rosy outlook doesn’t mean ignoring the bad days – it’s about persevering through them, finding the good, and continuing to grow. This month’s Rider of the Month is a great example of just that. Working through grief and health struggles, he is always ready to share a big smile and some of those good vibes with our community. Put up the Bat Signal – our September 2022 Rider of the Month is Jorge Lee!

Jorge was born in the Philippines and has lived in San Diego for more than 40 years! He served in the U.S. Navy for 24 years, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. Much of Jorge’s health and fitness routines were built during his time in the Navy, where he was running, working out in the gym, and eating healthy.

When Jorge completed his service and entered civilian life, challenging times followed. His beloved wife, who had been battling a long-term illness, passed away. He discovered he had a chronic illness – hypothyroidism – and gained weight as a result. Grief, health issues, and loss of his routines left him feeling unlike himself.

That’s when he saw an ElliptiGO bike on TV.

“I was amazed when I first saw it on TV, and felt like it pointed me to the right direction of what I wanted at that moment,” Jorge told us. “I decided to continue to take a break from work and made a serious plan to take care of my physical and mental health issues as a priority. I never enjoyed running and couldn’t imagine myself riding a bike again due to neck and lower back issues, so discovering ElliptiGO was a blessing for me.”

And those blessings kept coming! Jorge saw big results, both mentally and physically.

“I lost 25 pounds after only riding for 6 months, and continue to maintain my target weight of 150 pounds. I also got stronger and healthier,” Jorge said. “I personally considered ElliptiGO as very therapeutic, especially when dealing with my own mental health. After losing my wife to long-term illness, I also lost my eldest brother the following year, then my mother a year after – both to cancer. So for the first three years of riding ElliptiGO, I was able to cope with my depression.”

Jorge now has a fleet of ElliptiGO bikes, including elliptical and stand up bike models. He tries to get out and ride three to four times a week. During the Global ElliptiGO Riders Club’s GOGO Challenge, he admits that you can find him riding more often, for longer distances and climbing more elevation!

Jorge is an active member of the GERC and can be found engaging with other riders in our customer-run Facebook Group. He told us that our vibrant community is a big part of why he continues to ride. 

“Being part of this unique community keeps me GOing. My original AmiGOs, John Pilkington and Bill Pinnell, were very instrumental in getting me stronger and building my stamina to a higher level during my early years of riding. They made me more confident in riding longer distances and riding up higher elevations while at the same time healing me mentally without them knowing it,” Jorge noted. “As a retiree and living alone, the ElliptiGO community gave me an opportunity to engage more socially while having fun doing what I enjoy physically.”

Jorge has conquered some epic rides on his bike. He is #41 in the ElliptiGO Century Club. He’s completed the ElliptiGO World Championships, joined in John Pilkington’s Oregon-California border to California-Mexico border ride, the Campagnolo Grand Fondo San Diego, Giro di San Diego Grand Fondo, Fiesta Metric Century Ride, SD Bike the Coast, Bike the Bay and local community bike rides organized by SD County Bicycle Coalition. 

Jorge has taken on serious events and achieved stellar fitness goals – but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know how to have a little fun! You can find Jorge giving tours of San Diego on his ElliptiGO bike to out of town visitors. During one of the city’s most iconic events, Jorge upgrades the good vibes to SUPER vibes.

When Comic Con comes to the San Diego Convention Center, Jorge puts on a Batman cosplay with an ElliptiGO GO twist.

“My ‘Batman on ElliptiGO-mobile’ cosplay started when I first moved to downtown San Diego in 2014. I just thought of a fun costume that I could wear while riding an ElliptiGO bike…and Batman was the first thing that came to my mind,” Jorge told us. “I liked the idea of having the cape flying while riding on ElliptiGO, and also riding during dusk and dawn added some dramatic effects, and also the temperature is cooler, making the ride more comfortable.” 

“I really enjoy my Batman-costumed rides, and getting good reactions from the crowd keeps me GOing – especially from the kids!  I’ve been doing it for 8 years now, that includes the 2 years when comic con was canceled.”

Jorge, we’re so glad that you found ElliptiGO and the community to help you navigate tough times. You share your infectious positive energy with everyone in the ElliptiGO community. Thanks for always reminding us that, even when we’re chasing big goals, we can have a ton of fun and spread good vibes along the way!

Contact ElliptiGO with nominations to Rider of the Month or share your own story. It may just be the next feature!