HOW'S MY DRIVING: (800)COM-PLAIN

I am a cyclist.  I race and ride my bike because I like to eat, I crave the competition, I love the friendships and camaraderie of my team and community.  I'm not in this for freebies or entitlement.

I race with Team Specialized Racing Masters because it is about developing the next generation of cyclists.  It is helping a cyclist grow through the ranks as they not only become better cyclists, but better people as well.  I can only do this by leading by example, and the rewards come from seeing riders I have worked with line up at international professional races, or receive their high school and college diplomas.  Development extends beyond the boundaries of bike racing, and is most importantly an education of character.  I sacrifice my time and my results in order to assist, but it is for the spirit of the sport.  We build friendships and bonds, as well as some great bike racers.  

Recently, I was humbly reminded how much your actions speak much louder than any words or wins.  This is a valuable lesson that I felt the need to remind my teammates, and the cycling community.  I challenge myself, and I challenge you to remember why we do this.  We race bikes and ride bikes, all for the love of the sport and spirit of competition.  Think twice about your actions on the bike, both in and out of competition.  We are all a part of a huge family and every day we represent our sport, our sponsors, and our community.  We have a big billboard on our backs, and we should always try to race and ride above reproach.  Similar to the 1-800-COM-PLAIN number on the bumper of a truck, we have responsibility to honor and uphold our dedication to the sport while maintaining the integrity of our sponsors.  Although, I have struggled with this, I challenge you to remember we all represent a bigger entity.  Let our legs do the talking, and show good character on and off the bike.   

I once had a negative encounter with a motorist while riding my bike to work. It turned out the driver was my scheduled meetingthat morning. Rather than confront the situation with anger, I completely ignored the matter even though the gentleman knew I was the cyclist from the morning interaction. Ultimately, the meeting proved to be very business worthy, we became friends, and I brought about cyclist into our realm.  You never know who is watching, or who you will meet.  

Embrace the community of cycling by respecting your sponsors, fostering development, and living with character.