What I love about riding my bike is being able to walk out the door and ride away, for an hour, or 4 hours, through pastoral rolling hills and past awe inspiring views of Lake Michigan. My bike is my freedom and peace. I also love that it brings me into contact with people from all different walks of life who have one big thing in common, their passion for bikes.
When it comes to racing, I love the process of preparing, planning a season's schedule, setting up a training plan, and getting out there with my teammates to execute. There's a great sense of accomplishment from setting a goal, be it for one race or a whole season, and reaching it. Or not reaching it and learning from that how to be better, faster, stronger the next time. It's a great way to role model for my kids what you can achieve once you set your mind to it.
Being on the Hagerty team has been vital to improving my cycling skills. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience to tap into, with so many great cyclists on the team. From skills clinics to race day carpooling, there is a sense of camaraderie and openness that can't be replaced. Go Blue!!
My biggest accomplishment on my bike was coming close to winning the State Road Championship in my first season of racing. My next big accomplishment will be completing a gravel race and turning in a good performance after two crashes on gravel last season. Exercising mind over matter takes a lot of energy and commitment, but I'm up for the challenge!
When I'm not on my bike, I like to write, and I have a poem being published in an upcoming anthology titled Ride 3. I also like to read fiction, spend time with my family on the beach or on the snow, and nordic ski race. I have worked for a mortgage insurance company in underwriting operations management for the past thirteen years.
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