Melissa Joy

I have been on the Hagerty team for 5 years now, and I love being a part of this team. The women that I have met on the team, as well as women I have met across the state while racing are a unique set of women. They are strong, independent, know what they want and aren't afraid to ask for it. That is what I love about racing the most-the people that I have met along the way. People who race are committed, passionate, and just a great group of people to know. Beyond the people-riding my bike is just plain fun! I love speed-so racing crits on my road bike or zooming through the trails on my mountain bike are my favorite activities. The best part of racing crits is that every race is unique-even though we are basically racing in a circle. It is always a game of cat and mouse and requires your full concentration.  

One of the highlights of my 2015 season was my first race-Kings Day Crit in Holland. I didn't race much in 2014 (after racing A LOT in 2013) and I was afraid that I may have forgotten how to race altogether. I also had major fears about my fitness level and was afraid that I might get dropped immediately. As I held on to the group and weaved around the corners, the feel of the road, the turns, the women close around me came back. Surging when I need to hold on, hiding in a windbreak when I am almost at my limit...all of a sudden I realized I did remember! The feeling was so awesome, tears came to my eyes out of the pure excitement of racing again. 

This season I hope to focus on staying in shape and entering a race or two as I can. I work full time as a social worker,  am going back to school in the fall to get my master's degree, and am a mom of two awesome kids, so I don't have as much time to spend on my bike to train for racing as I used to. But, to everything there is a season and a time to every purpose-so I am sure there will be another time in life to refocus my energies on my bike. For now, it is more about fitting it in when I can in a fun, non stressful way. 

 

 
Hagerty Cycling Team

141 Rivers Edge Dr, #200
Traverse City, MI   49684