When did you first start riding road bikes?

That’s hard to say, but I raced MTBs in high school, and would sometimes steal my dad’s road bike just to change it up. So probably freshman / sophomore year of HS.

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

I bought my own carbon bike when I started commuting into work in 2017. I bought it as a commuter, but soon started to go on longer rides. I worked at a company that rewarded every trip you biked into the office, so I’d bike in every single day rain or shine. In 2019 my dad started talking about gravel bikes to me, so I planned a bikepacking trip to Oregon and picked up my first gravel bike (tax free). This bike pushed me into “serious” biking. I just kept wanting to get faster and spending all my free weekend time biking. 

What does “serious” mean to you?

good question! Serious to me, means you plan your life around cycling. For example, any time I RSVP to a party, plan a date, or after work event, the priority will always go to cycling. The only exception for me is family events. 

In what ways does road biking impact your life?

Most recently it has been the main source of my social life. I recently got divorced, and my whole world turned upside down. Cycling in general was a great distraction from that life event, and something I could pour my energy into. I think it helped me mentally heal faster and meet new friends. 

Outside of my social life, it just lifts my energy levels and my soul. If I’m feeling the 3 o'clock lull in the afternoon, or if my body feels out of whack (like a hangover), cycling is the energy I need to pull out of that funk! Biking is life.

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

Maybe my financial decisions 😬. The only thing I actually regret purchasing are a set of Enve gravel wheels. They were amazing! But I think I could have gone with the middle tier and saved $1500. Everything else I think is worth the purchase. 

Secondly crashes have been / are pretty bad. But I’m still alive, still biking, and walking. I do believe what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. 

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

Definitely a positive, regardless of all the pain lol

Do you have any goals for yourself in regards to road biking?

Currently as part of the race team, I’d like to just keep up with the guys in the front on a team ride (not even talking about a race, just the ride).

In general I just want to keep getting faster / stronger.

What are some things you absolutely love about cycling?

I love the feeling of flying. I think it’s that same feeling we all had as little kids first learning how to ride a bike, and feeling like you’re gliding through the air. I also just love the competition. I love pushing my body and the feeling of climbing to the top of a mountain. 

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

I think i’d aim for 25hrs 

How many hours a week do you ride now?

~10 - 15hrs (lately 15hrs)

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

They should all experience the fear of cycling next to traffic.

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

College, mainly because of what my friends were into. Cycling just wasn’t a priority for me. I just wanted to be a college kid.