Athlete Discipline (sport & event):
Ultra Distance Gravel cycling
What do you love about your sport?:
When I'm riding for 24ish hours, I go through so many waves of perspectives. One hour, I can feel on top of the world and indomitable. The next hour, I could be struggling to stay positive and letting my demons get the best of me. It's really about perseverance and pushing my own envelope.
What events are you most looking forward to for 2024 and why?:
I'm looking forward to aiming for the top step at Unbound XL and taking a stab at the Oregon Outback FKT
What sponsors are supporting you in 2024?:
Carbs Fuel, Rodeo Labs, Hunt Wheels, Chamois Butt'r, Challenge Tires, Voler Apparel, PDL Cycling
Why did you decide to be sponsored by Carbs?:
I appreciate the mission: bring more efficient, more cost effective fueling to athletes everywhere. That's something I've always struggled with and so it's rad to see a company take that on as their focus.
Tell us about your first experience consuming a Carbs Fuel product:
I was given 100g of the prototype gel and threw it in about 3 hours into a 5 hour ride. My palette immediately agreed with it's mild flavor and I noticed that the energy it gave me wasn't a huge spike. The fact that I only had two packets to accomplish 100g was fantastic. It always feels crazy to grab 20-25 gels for a five hour ride.
Why should others give Carbs Fuel a try?:
I think athletes should always be tinkering with their fueling strategy. Find out what parameter works (flavor, texture, carbs/hr, timing, logistics, etc.) and then slowly refine a strategy. Fueling takes experimentation, so I always encourage folks to switch it up and try something new--you may find that it unlocks a whole new strategy.
What's the craziest thing you've consumed as fuel during sport that's non-traditional?:
It's not crazy, but I was chugging apple juice at every gas station we hit during the 2023 Unbound XL.
What are your 3 favorite sources of carbs? (Other than Carbs Fuel products). Doesn't have to be sport nutrition related:
Tater tots, croissants, and pizza
What would your hobby be if you didn't have your sport and why?:
I would probably be putting a lot more time into digital art!
What's your worst B.C era (Before Carbs Fuel) bonk story?:
I think it was my first real bonk after riding consistently for about a year. I was riding my 87 Schwinn Circuit in South Kansas City when I felt someone drafting behind me. My ego was offended and I thought I would ride hard to drop him. He stuck to my wheel for about an hour and I completely hit a wall. I think he recognized just how zapped I was and offered to grab me a Pro Bar back at his house. My first bonk was such a shock and made me realize how much I didn't know about cycling.
