I love bikes. Not just a little bit, but a whole lot. Everything from cycle commuting, casual canal riding to mountain biking. I dream of single track. My Ford Focus has no back seats, instead it has fork mounts for my bikes.

I wasn’t always this way. Growing up I was the fat tomboy. The girl who wore her big brother’s t-shirts to school. I was uncoordinated and terrible at sports. I can’t even remember how many things I tried and just gave up on.

I lost the baby weight around age 20, but still held on to a terrible body image and fear of trying new things. Then I bought a bike. A former road racer had a roadside shop where you could buy fixed up bikes for cheap. A $50 1996 Fila Pepsi bike caught my eye. I started just riding around the neighborhood, but it wasn’t enough. Soon, I was riding to my art studio, the post office, the grocery store – anywhere I needed to go. I had found something special.

I moved to Arizona shortly after, in 2011, leaving my beloved Pepsi bike behind. But I soon found a new love, mountain biking. I bought a beginner mountain bike on a whim and started riding some local trails. I had never smiled so much in my life. The wind whipping by my ears, the adrenaline rush when you almost tank it on a corner but somehow recover, all of it meant freedom.

I am so excited to be able to share my enthusiasm with other women riders, beginner and experienced. In a sports culture dominated by males, we need to speak up and share our vulnerability, be honest and also kick ass. I am honored to contribute to all of those aspects.