Trek Bike Competition

Trek bikes had a Women Who Ride competition this past month. If chosen, you'd review their new line of women's bikes and gear. To enter, you had to write an essay of 500 words. Below is mine. Cross your fingers, I'd really love to win!

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I wasn't always a cyclist. Sure, I rode a lot when I was a kid, and I loved the freedom it gave me: freedom from the responsibilities of being class president, volunteering as a mentor to disabled youth and working menial teenage jobs. In college, the bike began to collect dust as I experimented with other sports, ran a marathon and backpacked in the Appalachians.

I rediscovered my love for cycling about three years ago. Tired of a packed Washington, D.C. metro, I wanted to try biking to work. After a brief test ride in a local bike shop, I was hooked again.

Arriving to work never felt so good. Using my own energy, I did not have to rely on a train, bus or another person. I gained a new sense of independence. I began to notice that on the days I rode to work, I had a more positive attitude. I breathed a little deeper, felt more alive and looked forward to the commute home. Coworkers looked at me in awe and were inspired to get out there themselves.

From bike commuting grew countless long weekend rides with friends, a charity ride and a week long bike vacation at RAGBRAI. I loved being part of a cycling community that welcomed me with open arms, despite bruised knees due to my clumsy attempts to adjust to my clip-in pedals. Everyone was eager to share training tips, new routes and gear advice.

My training rides are reflections of my daily life, with its obstacles and triumphs. Bad day at work, one stroke for stress relief. Bad news about Mom's health, one stroke to give her strength. Dad's cancer ratings down finally, one stroke for relief. Close friend moving away, one stroke for good luck.

I love to ride because it gives me more than I give it. I like to train hard, but in the end, it's not the speed I remember but the sense of adventure that comes from a bike ride. The same often traveled road looks very different from behind handlebars. New routes are always waiting to be unearthed and the more you ride, the more you gain.

An adventurous girl raised in New Jersey, I resided in the Washington, D.C. area for 7 years, taking advantage of the extensive D.C. trail network and biking throughout the hills of Virginia. Last year, seeking new possibilities and a change of scenery, I decided to quit my job and move out West. After a two month road trip, blogging regularly to family, friends and strangers about experiencing America from a different vantage point, I decided to move to Denver.

Living in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, the variety of trails and the challenges of biking in the Rockies have inspired me to expand my cycling horizons. As an avid cycling enthusiast and professional writer, I can clearly communicate my passion for biking in a compelling and fun style. My love and enthusiasm for cycling is contagious. I would be perfect for the Trek Women Who Ride program.