In 2013, I watched the Tour De France for the first time while spending countless hours rocking my infant son to sleep. I thought, “hm ... maybe I should get a road bike.”
After spending most of my 20’s being basically idle, I had rediscovered my love of athletics, first through rec. league soccer, then later through running. Cycling seemed like something I would enjoy.
Fast forward 4 months and I’m at Jingle Cross staring up in awe at Mount Krumpit, dumbstruck by how riders can make it down the steep twisting descent. It was right there that I decided that this is what I wanted to do.
After spending most of my 20’s being basically idle, I had rediscovered my love of athletics, first through rec. league soccer, then later through running. Cycling seemed like something I would enjoy.
Fast forward 4 months and I’m at Jingle Cross staring up in awe at Mount Krumpit, dumbstruck by how riders can make it down the steep twisting descent. It was right there that I decided that this is what I wanted to do.
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A year later I’m toeing the line for the Jingle Cross Cat 5 race on a frigid Friday Night. I was woefully unprepared for cold weather cycling, but even though I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes by the end of the race, I still had a blast. I’ve been hooked ever since.
Cyclocross remains my first love and I try to race at least 20 times a year. Recently, I’ve branched out into road cycling, and have become enamoured with crit racing. I love cycling because it fulfills me on so many levels. I love the thrill of racing, and the motivation it gives me to push myself further. I love the long training rides through the beautiful Iowa countryside. I love that it satisfies my mechanical curiosities, allowing me to get my hands dirty by figuring out how to make things work. |
Also, cycling satisfies my obsessive nature, because once you get hooked on bikes, you realize there really is no end to the amount of reading, research, and straight up gawking you can do related to cycling. I’m happy to be on a team with a lot of great people, who share my passion. Keep Pedaling.
My next big race: Jingle Cross September 28-30, Iowa City, IA.