Beyond the Ride

Bicycles Were Always Part of My Life

Ever since I was little, bicycles have been there. I remember learning to ride on my little red Radio Flyer bike—the one that started it all for me. By elementary school, I had a black Schwinn Stingray with a fat slick tire on the back. I painted it, made it my own, and proudly rode it everywhere. I still remember buying it from a used bike shed on Route 663 in Pennsburg, just one town over from where Bike and Sol now stands.

Then came the Murray 10-speed, black and purple. That bike went everywhere with me. One summer, I even rode alongside a friend training for the velodrome. He was a U18 racer, and while I didn’t understand his passion for racing back then, I just loved to ride.

Fast forward 30 years, and here I am, racing bicycles myself. Funny how life works. Reflecting on those early memories, I realize how much bicycles have come and gone in my life, but racing has brought a new perspective.

Racing into Transformation

When I started this journey in November of 2023, I knew a lot was at stake. My health was front and center. At 310 pounds, climbing hills on a bike was brutal. Sure, downhills were fun, but uphills? They were killing me. Slowly but surely, as I trained and rode more, the weight began to shed. By Memorial Day weekend of 2024, I found myself at the Easton Twilight Criterium, my first USA Cycling-sanctioned race. It was fast, furious, and filled with crashes all around me. I made it a few laps before the official kindly asked me to exit—I was too slow. But I raced. I showed up.

Today, I’m preparing to return to that same race. I’m 65 pounds lighter and aiming to drop another 40. This past year of training has been a game-changer, and I couldn’t have done it alone. The transformation wasn’t just physical; it was mental and emotional, made possible through the support of a community that kept me going when I wanted to give up.

The Power of Community

Cycling has taught me something beautiful about life: we’re not meant to journey alone. Racing, especially, has created opportunities for me to grow with others.

Take my coach, Ethan Hendricks. At just 21 years old, he’s a professional racer and the director of TeamBSR. His coaching has been top-notch, pushing me beyond what I thought I could handle. Nutrition, exercise, bike handling, rest—Ethan guided me through it all. And then there’s the riding itself—hours upon hours of building endurance, learning to handle the bike, and training my body to crave the ride. Yes, crave it. After being off the bike for three weeks due to sickness, I can’t wait to get back in the saddle tomorrow.

Then there’s the team. TeamBSR is a mix of ages, genders, and skills. We come from all walks of life but share a common goal: to support each other as we rocket down the track, the course, and through life. We push, encourage, and celebrate together. This is what life should look like—a community that builds you up and helps you push toward the finish line.

Reflection and Gratitude

So often, I see people trying to do life solo. But we weren’t designed for that. It takes all of us to move forward. Looking back, I’m overwhelmed by the number of people who have poured into me over the years. The lessons I’ve learned and the skills I’ve gained come from a community of people who believed in me and invested in my journey.

Who’s your community? Who’s pushing you toward your goals? Who’s helping you set them?

Life is a fascinating journey, and I know mine wouldn’t be the same without the people who have supported me along the way. I’m grateful for every one of them. So let me leave you with this: Who are you grateful for? And how can you let them know today?

Let’s keep riding—together.