[3] He raced bicycles in his 20's, and at the apex of his career edged out fellow racer and Olympian Norman Alvis at the Mt.

[4] In 1984, Petersen began working for the U.S. bicycle division of Bridgestone Tires in San Leandro, California[4] in data entry and customer support.

[2] In 1994 after leaving Bridgestone, Petersen turned down job offers from bike companies, Specialized and Trek,[4] to found Rivendell Bicycle Works out of his garage.

[5] The first, Roads to Ride - A Bicyclist's Topographic Guide to Alameda, Contra Costa and Marin Counties, written in collaboration with Mary Anderson, his future wife,[4] was published in 1984[7] (the dedication reads "Dedicated to B.F. Skinner - who must be the most misunderstood person of all time - and Bob Dylan.

[9] Petersen is a regular bike commuter to his shop located in Walnut Creek, California.