My bike journey kicked off with a love-at-first-ride moment on a 20” Stingray that I was completely obsessed with. That tiny two-wheeled wonder sparked a lifelong passion, taking me through a carousel of bikes during my childhood. But the real star of the show was that same Stingray—transformed into a late 70’s BMX beast by my dad, who added motorcycle handlebars, knobby tires, and a slick metallic flake blue paint job. It was a rolling masterpiece!

From that trusty steel companion, I graduated to my first BMX race bike and later, to a flashy chrome Diamond Back adorned with gold anodized accents. Every Friday night, I’d dive into the ritual of tearing down and rebuilding my Diamond Back, getting it race-ready for Saturday’s big event.

But then high school hit, and my love for biking took a backseat. It wasn’t until my early 20s, during the summer of 1987, that I felt the 2 wheel desires again, this time on an Mountain Bike. That ride reignited my passion, and here I am, almost 40 years later, still deeply in love with everything cycling.

In 2017, a health scare forced me off the bike for two years, but I was determined to make a comeback. I vowed to "get serious" in 2020, only to have my plans temporarily derailed by endless indoor trainer sessions. But 2021? That was the year things really kicked off with a new coach, more intense training, and my first taste of gravel racing.

Despite three years of dedicated effort, I kept finding myself at the tail end of my age group in races. That’s when it hit me: "Hey, it's all about having fun!" I said goodbye to 5 day a week training and last place finishes and came back to mountain biking with a shiny new 2023 full-sus bike. The joy of the ride came rushing back.

Whether I’m training, racing, or just cruising, I’ve learned that the true magic of cycling is in the fun of it all, not where you finish.