How it all got started?

I get asked all the time "how did you start cycling?" So, I thought I would just tell my story!

My mom was working out with a personal trainer in 2007 when she tore her knee up...torn ACL, torn menicus & bruised the bone really bad. So, she had to have surgery. This is cool, her surgeon was Dr. Rober Hines at the OSSO and he was an Olympic doctor for the USA Wrestling team. He went to Beijing and I saw him in the parade. Ok...back to my story! Six weeks after the first surgery she was back in for a second one because she couldn't move her knee.  Her body produced too much scar tissue and it completely locked her knee...no movement. Mom's doctor, Dr. Hines, told her the best rehab would be for her to start riding a bike. So, in June of 2008 she purchased a bike. Dad and I started riding with her to keep her company. We started going further and further. The bike I had was a Trek Jet (single speed) and the guys at Al's Bicycles in Edmond showed me a Trek Hybrid 7.2. I loved it and asked my parents if I could have it for my birthday and I'd pay half if they would get it for me! They agreed! And, we kept riding!

In January 2009, I asked my mom "do you think dad would be mad if I quit baseball?" "No" she said, "but what do you want to do?" "I only want to focus on cycling and find a team." Well, she didn't know of any teams for Jr.'s but she started questioning friends, bike shops and sending emails. It wasn't long before she received an email about a new Junior cycling team that had just been started. She talked to the coach of Team Rad Racing, Rob Green. Well, he said I was still too young to be "on the team" but he would help us and when I was racing age 13 I could become an official member.

Well, I rode all of 2009 so I could start racing this year. I really never lost the fire it only grew as I thought about the chance of getting to race someday soon! There's a quote that goes something like...many want to win but few want to prepare to win. Well, I decided I would prepare to win!

Christmas was AWESOME because I got my first pair of clipless pedals (Speedplay) and a pair of cycling shoes. I could hardly wait to get them put on my bike and start clipping in!!

I entered my first race March 2010 and was very nervous but super excited! I was still on my Trek Hybrid 7.2 and raced against a boy on a Felt road bike! I came in 2nd but it left me wanting more and not being very happy that I had not won! I knew we would meet again at another race and I would not let him beat me again! I knew I would have had a better chance if I had been on my road bike but I hadn't gotten it out of layway yet!  I really wanted to pay for it myself. I did not want my mom and dad to buy it! It was important to me to save my money and work towards this goal! I was finally able to get it out the day after my first race and LOVE IT!

So, I have now participated in Criteriums, Time Trials and a Road Race. I have two second place finishes and have finished 1st in every other race including OK State Crit Championships against the boy who beat me in my first race! It has already been an fabulous year and I still have several more races. I know I won't win them all but I sure will try! My passion...my desire...is to be a professional/elite cyclist. I would love to ride internationally and see the world on a bike!