Tom Davis, Brandon Lyons and Will Groulx pose on the podium at the 2019 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships.
We asked the members of the U.S. Paralympics Cycling team one piece of advice they’d give to someone looking to get into cycling. Here were some of their answers for those of you looking to get inspired today :
“I can’t decide, so here’s three :)
Invest in a proper bike fit - it will change your life!
Always stay a sponge - be willing to listen and learn no matter how experienced at the sport you are.
Cycling shorts are your best friend, but not cycling shorts and underwear together” - Sam Bosco
Sam Bosco poses with her bronze medal at Day 1 of the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in 2019.
“Train like every day is your last.” - Ryan Boyle
“Connecting with other local riders is an invaluable way to learn safe places to ride, work on skills, and gain confidence on the bike.” - Clara Brown
“Self belief goes a long way” - Shawn Cheshire
“Consistent effort over time will get you there!” - Alicia Dana
“Ask questions and ride your bike. You can never do too much of either.” - Tom Davis
“Dive in! Get fit, get structured, work hard, and ask a lot of questions. Test your limits and find new ones.” - Travis Gaertner
“Stick to it. It takes a lot of time, effort, and disappointment to achieve success. The reward will come when you least expect it, and it will be all worth the sacrifice.” - Jason Kimball
“Consistency, consistency, consistency. The most important piece of advice is to show up each and every day. It’s the days when you don’t want to get on the bike and train in your sport that feel the most gratifying and make the difference.” - Brandon Lyons
Tom Davis, Brandon Lyons and Will Groulx pose on the podium at the 2019 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships.
“The advice I would give to someone looking to get into Paralympic Cycling is to reach out to the athletes. There is a huge diverse group of us that are overcoming many different obstacles to race our bikes. If that someone cannot help you, I bet they will put you in touch with someone who could.” - Jason Macom
“All great accomplishments start with the small details. Be patient and deliberate in practice.” - Oz Sanchez
“The one piece of advice I would give anyone looking to get into Paracycling, is learn as much as you can about the process, classification, qualification, etc. Ask a lot of questions and seek out a mentor.” - Monica Sereda
“Keep the rubber side down :) “ - Jill Walsh
“Enjoy the ride!! Even on my hardest workouts, I make sure to take in the scenery and the smells around me on my warm up and cool down, appreciating the fact that I get to ride my bike every day!” - Jamie Whitmore
“Listen to your coach, trust the process, and believe in yourself even when others dont.” - Justin Widhalm
