Folino is the son of Lou and Mary Folino, co-owners and operators of Travel Leaders previously Carlson Wagonlit Travel in downtown Centerville.
Father and son used to ride matching bikes along the bike path from West Carrollton to downtown Dayton. When Michael Folino attended Ohio State, the men began attending football games.
“I love OSU football like no other, but cycling brings out a certain sportsmanship that you don’t always get to see with a game like football. In football, there is one game against your rival and you win or lose ... period. In cycling (especially a grand tour), there are multiple competitions going on for multiple days. So if your team doesn’t take the stage they are still in competition for other awards,” Michael Folino said.
Mary Folino discovered her passion for biking by accident.
Her husband was channel surfing and came across a mountain stage in the 2000 Tour de France. Lou Folino called his wife to watch and she found herself hooked.
“Cycling really is like a soap. So much drama,” Mary Folino said.
She also appreciates that bikers have a code of honor. Although not a Tour de France enthusiast, Lou Folino has learned to play by some house rules.
“When the phone rings at my parents’ house in July my dad automatically hands it to my mom because he knows it’s about bike racing,” Michael Folino said.
Mary and Michael Folino took their passion on the road in February. The mother-son pair attended two stages of the Tour de California.
“Cycling is something that my mom and I can talk about all the time so it was really neat to be at the race with someone who has equal knowledge and excitement for the sport,” Michael Folino said.
Mary Folino said she’d love to find enough interest in the Dayton area to take a group next February to watch the Tour de California. Even better would be to go to Paris for the 2010 Tour de France finale.
Now she is focusing on her son, who will ride in the Pelotonia Aug. 29-30 in Columbus alongside Lance Armstrong.
“The purpose of Pelotonia is to raise $45 million over five years for the James Comprehensive Cancer Center at The Ohio State University Medical Center,” said Michael Folino, assistant director of nutrition services at the medical center.
“I would love for everybody who’s been touched by this disease to donate even $5 apiece.”
To donate to Pelotonia, call Mary Folino at (937) 428-9770 or visit www.pelotonia.org.
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