36; Leasing Manager for Mid South Best Rentals
I LOVE CYCLING: I love going fast. I love the community of supportive and accepting people who just love bikes. I love that it can be done alone or with others, with or without goals or ambitions.
BUCKET LIST: I want to ride 100 miles someday. I picked up cycling during the pandemic, so I haven’t been at it all my life like some folks who ride ultra-long distances, but it would be cool to say I did it at least once.
UP NEXT: I plan to race everyone on the coffee ride back to the shop so I can be the first to order an iced matcha latte.
FAVE FITNESS ACCOMPLISHMENT: Aside from the overall fact that cycling has transformed me from an inactive smoker into someone who rides 100 miles a week and hasn’t smoked in six years, it would have to be winning the QOM on a Strava segment called, “I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie.”
HOMETOWN: Memphis, TN
SPEED BUMPS: I’m fortunate never to have had a serious crash, especially since I’m a road cyclist and often share the space with distracted drivers. My biggest setback was getting pneumonia this January. I was off my feet for two months.
MY GROUP: I love a group ride! My boyfriend, Jackson, is a mechanic at Latting, so I usually find myself in any event they organize.
FAVORITE JAMS: “Bunny is a Rider” by Caroline Polachek
RECENT RACES: The Midsummer Challenge in July — 275 cyclists riding together was really awesome.
MOST MEMORABLE FITNESS EVENT: This spring, I went on a bike retreat to Paris, TN, and we rode through some beautiful countryside. It reminded me of how flat Memphis is. I actually had to get off my bike and walk it up a hill at one point.
BEST EATS: It’s a toss-up between a veggie sushi roll from Sakura and the tofu phô from Ryu.
DREAM DINNER COMPANY: Ram Dass. He would bring a good mix of humor, story-telling, and wisdom — and probably call me out for not chewing mindfully.
GO-TO GEAR: Favorite luxury: electronic shifters. Must-have: a helmet. I wouldn’t ride to the mailbox without wearing a helmet.
INSPIRATION TO BE FIT: I’ve struggled all my life with anxiety, depression, and a negative body image. Riding bikes is just plain fun, so it’s easy to stay motivated, but even when I ride for fitness, the mental health benefits are immediate.
