Nelson Vails - Inducted 2005

From Harlem, New York, Nelson “The Cheetah” Vails was a Manhattan bicycle messenger who hooked up with the Toga Bike Shop cycling team, got invited to a U.S. Cycling Federation development camp in Colorado in 1981 and wound up an Olympian and a media personality. At the U.S. Championships her was crowned sprint champion in 1984, plus tandem champion in 1984, 1985 and 1986. He was also the 1983 Pan-American sprint champion. His crowning moment came in 1984 where he won a silver medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. In 1985, he turned professional and competed on the prestigious keirin circuit in Japan. During his racing career he was a regular at T-town and was truly a crowd pleaser for his outgoing personality. Now based in Colorado, he’s a television cycling commentator while also making appearance at a variety of charity events.