When did you first start riding road bikes?

I first got on a road bike in my late 20s. I started as a Spinning Class instructor. A friend invited me to ride because he saw me pretty sad on a pretty bad week, and land me his old bike he was trying to sell, which I immediately bought after my first ride. 

When did you get “serious” about riding road bikes?

I’d say I started getting “serious” a few days later, once I realized that cycling wasn’t just something I did — it was something that moved my life. That makes me go as long as my mind allows me. That shift happened when training became more structured, I started to study and use my background to also create my small coaching business. Got more serious about recovery, progression, and when racing entered the picture. Around that time, cycling stopped being casual recreation and became a long-term practice.

What does “serious” mean to you?

It means intentional. It means showing up consistently, respecting the process, learning from setbacks, and being curious about improvement — physically, mentally, and technically. Being serious also means understanding balance: knowing when to push, when to rest, and when cycling should serve your life rather than consume it. To me, “serious” doesn’t mean “obsessive” or “rigid”. 

In what ways does road biking impact your life?

Road biking shapes my daily routine, my friendships, my travel, and even how I think. It gives structure to my weeks, clarity to my mind, and perspective when things feel overwhelming. It’s also been a gateway to community — many of my closest relationships exist because of cycling. On a creative level, cycling has influenced how I build projects, brands, and teams. Thursdays.cc is a direct extension of that impact.

Have you ever felt like it is negatively impacting your life?

Not really. There have been moments where fatigue, pressure, or expectations crept in, especially when balancing training with work and leadership responsibilities. Like anything meaningful, cycling can become draining if boundaries aren’t respected. Those moments were important, though — they forced me to reassess why I ride and how I want cycling to fit into my life long term.

Net-net, do you think road biking is positive or negative?

Is that even a question? Haha, Overwhelmingly positive. The challenges are real, but they’re also part of the growth. Cycling has given me far more than it has ever taken — physically, mentally, socially, and creatively.

Do you have any goals for yourself regarding road biking?

Yes, but they’ve evolved. Performance still matters — racing well, being fit, and feeling sharp are important to me. But equally important are longevity, community, and impact. That is one of the reasons I've been so deep involved in creating something meaningful for the cycling community. I want to keep riding at a high level for a long time, help others grow through the sport, and continue building spaces where cycling feels inclusive, intentional, and meaningful.

What are some things you absolutely love about cycling?

The feeling of flow, being able to go as far as you can by yourself or in a group ride, enjoying every mile on the way. The long climbs, the moment to push yourself with your peers. The early mornings where you commit to be there with yourself but also with your group. The coffee after, the best way to connect with people. The way effort simplifies everything. At the last, the quiet moments alone on the bike and the loud ones with friends. I love that cycling is both deeply personal and inherently social — you can ride for yourself, but you rarely ride alone for long.

If you had zero constraints on your time, how many hours a week do you think you’d ride?

Don’t give me hope, let’s just say. Enough volume to explore, train, recover properly, and still enjoy it — not just chase fatigue for the sake of it. Let’s not talk about numbers.

How many hours a week do you ride now?

On average, 14 hours a week, depending on the season and workload. Some weeks more, some less — consistency matters more to me than peaks.

What is something you wish a non-cyclist could experience about cycling?

How time slows down on the bike. How effort brings clarity. How conversations flow differently when you’re riding side by side. Cycling isn’t just exercise — it’s a way of being present, of engaging with  people, and yourself in a very honest way. Like Albert Einstein famously used the analogy, "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving," in a letter to his son, Eduard, to emphasize that progress and stability require continuous forward motion. Everyone should experience that in life.

This made me remember one afternoon when I was coming back home and stopped at a red light. I still see the whole family crossing the streets with their son on a wheelchair and his shining eyes looking at my bike. I will never forget that moment and I wish I could share with that kid how I feel while I am riding. We are privileged

Have you ever taken a total break from cycling? if so, why?

Yes. Due to a surgery, shoulder separation which took me a couple of months to be able to return riding outside. That break was not easy, but it taught me a lot. But, it helped reset my relationship, my mindset, and make me realize how valuable all those miles were important to me.