Christopher “Topher” Delamarter grew up the son of an army brat with a wanderlust for travel and adventure. Born in Washington, D.C., they moved to Brooklyn when he was 7 years old.

His parents first noticed his symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease when he was about 10, but fortunately his love of cycling had already taken root. And as he became less agile on his feet, the bike became his salvation. On a backpacking trip with his dad around the United Kingdom in his early teens, he quickly realized that riding bikes gave him his freedom and reduced the negative impacts of CMT.

From Topher’s background as a bike messenger and founding member of “Team Brooklyn,” to collegiate racing and pro-am circuit racing, as well as a passion for skiing and whitewater paddling, he is now working tirelessly to inspire others to get outside and ride bikes, especially those affected with CMT.

Returning to competitive cycling in 2011, finishing 5th in the West Virginia Road Race Championships and 3rd in the Point Series, Topher began racing again in 2015 in Pittsburgh, where he is currently based. Topher is the founder of Shark Tooth Cycling, working with the CMTRF to host and promote events that raise awareness and funds for the treatment and finding a cure for CMT.