Mountain Biking and NICA

When it comes to my passion for cycling some of you who may know me are aware that not only do I ride road bikes and track (velodrome) but I have a long history of riding and racing mountain bikes. A quick shout-out to all of my former team mates on the three years in a row, four out of five year run State Champion Team Sho-Air, Simple Green, VeloSport, Rock-n-Road! We certainly had a blast training (those Saturday morning canyon loops on the road bikes were wicked VO2 Max efforts), doing practice days/pre-rides, social events, and hanging out around the podium after the races. 

As much as I enjoy the racing side of mountain biking, where my high VO2 max and sprint capabilities really shine, I have focused my time in the dirt more on maintaining balance (critical as we age), general fitness, technical skills, and am shifting now towards community building, trail work/maintenance, videos, and starting very soon – helping the next generation of young riders hit the trails. Enter NICA and the Golden State South MTB league. See image, URL, and QR code below. 

NICA, National Interscholastic Cycling Association https://nationalmtb.org is all about getting kids into healthy cycling sports, riding, adventure not just racing. For me, the not just racing is perhaps the most important part. Because quite frankly I have much more fun now just getting out on the trails to ride. Saying hi to my neighbors who may be out walking their dogs, jogging, enjoying nature, or cruising along on their bikes (well it looks like a cruise pace to me). 

Introducing kids to an activity / sport that can last a lifetime, while also building self-confidence, situational awareness, some technical skills (fixing a flat, finding one’s bearings in the woods), and a little team building / interpersonal skills along with way are all a plus. Racing, oh sure if that’s something they want to pursue I am 100% ready to help with training, skills, techniques, and strategies to do their best. Winning? Oh that is way overrated. I remember the fun and comradery far more than the wins.

Yes, this website is about my planned Ride Across America 2 Cure Cancer, but along the way and certainly after I plan to use my bicycles, fitness, health, training, skills, etc. to grow our cycling community and hopefully pass along my passion to a few others. 

For those in my SoCal area – we could use a little more help.