Home place

Eastern North Carolina, USA, a tiny little town called Bayboro.

Why I Ride

This is always such a difficult question for me to answer. Riding gives me deep and immeasurable joy. I can’t explain it and at times it seems plain silly to me but being a loner and an introvert, riding seems to match my personality to a tee; unlike anything I’ve ever done. I am happiest when I am on my bike whether just cruising around my home, racing short or ultra or whatever.

What I Ride

Storck Aerfast, Cervelo R3, Argon18 e-119+ TT, Felt IA-FRD TT

Favourite Race so far

Well, The Psycho 48, of course! Oh, my personal as a participant favorite? Gosh, I love them all but probably the NT444 if I had to pick only one. Relative organizational simplicity, terrain, always an interesting field and more challenging than it should be.

An endurance highlight

Everesting. Twice, both solo. First time up Thunder Ridge and second time up Mt. Mitchell. I was the first to Everest Mt. Mitchell. My annual mileage keeps me busy as well, running about 17,000 miles last year and heading in that direction this year. I used to be happy with 10k/year. Yawn.

My most challenging moment

Ahhh that rascally “Knight of Sufferlandria”. (KoS) An utterly ridiculous pretty much non-stop ~12 hour ordeal… on the trainer. Long story, my god it was hard.

But what I really want to mention is how incredibly sick I became in 2020 requiring open heart surgery and all kinds of craziness. I became ill from a saddle sore and was within days of dying. People ask me why would I even go back to riding after this?? Why wouldn’t I? You might as well ask me to stop breathing. I don’t like to dwell too much on this one, however, as it’s so negative. I view the comeback as being massively bigger than the setback.

What I tell myself to keep the bike moving forward

I don’t tell myself anything but I make myself smile when I’m in endurance hell. Fabulous endorphin release, and things always seem better. I do have some mental tricks as well but too many to list here and dependent upon the situation.

Racing or Riding Goals

I have come so close to 400 in 24 hours. Yep, must do that. Oh, and RAAM 2024. 2X mixed. Record expected. Oh boy… These goals have high influence on why I am here with Barr Ultra. If this group can’t give me all the tools I need, no one can. I 100% believe that. (No pressure, guys!)

What endurance teaches me

Endurance and the encompassing suffering teaches me that I really can do this or just about anything I put my mind to. Endurance teaches me that to succeed I must stay positive. So many facets that reciprocate between life and riding.

Favourite treat-food on the bike

All the foodz. Anything “real” – a cheeseburger, pizza, a biscuit or donut, anything but bike food.