His smile is the first thing you’ll notice. Then you’ll notice his hands; they never stop adjusting, working, tightening, cleaning. He’s a former pro racer who left the European peloton for better job security as a wrench. He learned his trade in East Berlin, before the wall came down, when instructors with stopwatches timed wheel building class. Picture the second hand ticking, the spokes being laced, the pupils fighting for rank. After Communism collapsed Ralf found work on pro teams around the world, where blistering speed and flawless precision are minimum requirements. Ralf was a professional ballroom dancer, too, though now he’d rather dwell on fencing and baseball, two of his 11-year-old son’s passions. Now, as Above Category’s service center manager, he’s the one holding the stopwatch, smiling all the way. And you can’t help but smile with him; Ralf is a man who understands that every day is a good day to be alive.