Tell us a little about yourself. What do you do, where do you live? How old were you when you first started cycling and how did you get started
My name is Adam and I live in New York City. I work in banking and enjoy cycling, cooking and traveling in my free time.
I’ve loved riding a bike ever since I can remember, but I didn’t get serious about road cycling until I was about 38 years old, in 2017. I had been thinking about it for a while and finally forced myself by signing up to a 100 mile race before I even bought my first road bike. At that point, there was no turning back!
What was/is the most challenging thing about cycling for you?
The discipline. Taking on a challenge like a long distance bike race requires a lot of planning and training. You have to stick to a schedule and commit yourself to the work in order to ensure you have the best experience possible on race day. Rain or shine, hot or cold, you have to be ready to go out there and stick to your plan.
Of course, just getting out on the road with no agenda, but to enjoy the wind in your hair and the world around you is also special. Not everything needs to be a race.
What is it about cycling that connects/inspires you?
I love to travel, to see and learn about the world. Cycling is an extension of that. Whether it’s gearing up for an adventure on another continent or going for a ride out your front door on your local roads, cycling lets me see more of the world and appreciate all the little things along the way that you just miss when you’re driving or commuting.
How does cycling impact your life?
It helps me take on challenges in life with more confidence. Once you prove to yourself that you can climb that mountain or ride a distance that you previously thought was impossible, you know you can be ready for other things life throws at you if you have the right preparation and mindset.
Cycling has also introduced me to a lot of amazing like minded people from all over the world. I’ve made lifelong friends by bonding over our shared love for the bike!
Where has been your favorite place to ride?
Cycling in different places shows you the incredible diversity of roads and landscapes out there to experience. I’m not sure how I can pick just one!
Experiencing the gravel “Strade Bianche” roads in Tuscany was a treat, along with the beautiful coastal roads and long inland climbs on the Côte d’Azur of France. There’s also something to be said about waking up at dawn at home in New York and riding out to Central Park to do laps alongside other cyclists before the rest of the city gets going for the day. Wherever you are, being out on the bike just lets you experience your place in ways that you normally wouldn’t.
What 3 words would you use to describe cycling?
Freedom, Discovery, Friendship