On Friday, May 30th, I’ll embark on my biggest ride yet: Unbound XL in Emporia, Kansas. At 21 years old, I’ll be the youngest woman in history to take on the 360-mile course.
I estimate the ride will take me between 24–34 hours, including stops to refuel, reflect, and reset. It will be the longest, most demanding ride I’ve ever attempted—and also the most meaningful. As the race draws closer, I’m feeling a huge mix of nerves and excitement—but more than anything, I feel incredibly grounded in the reason I’m doing this. I’m not just riding to finish a race; I’m riding to represent something bigger.
Recently, I signed with Easton Overland, where I’ll proudly represent Easton, Fox, Race Face, and more as I enter my first year on this incredible team. Riding for Easton Overland is a dream come true, and it’s also a chance to speak more openly about the pressure many athletes feel and the importance of remembering why we truly ride.
Throughout my time as a cyclist, I’ve battled with tying my worth as a person to my performance on the bike. It’s something I think a lot of athletes quietly struggle with—the unspoken belief that performance defines value.
That pressure is exactly what led me to seek something deeper—a space within the sport where meaning isn’t dictated by numbers or comparison. Over time I’ve found peace and purpose in ultra-endurance cycling where, rather than power and podiums, success is defined by grit, curiosity, and the willingness to explore the edges of what’s possible. I’ve found solace in the kind of distances that make people tilt their head and ask, “Are you serious?”
On top of the struggles I’ve dealt with around performance and self-worth, I’ve also faced other mental health challenges. At 12 years old, I was diagnosed with anxiety, OCD, depression, and anorexia. While I proudly can say that I overcame an eating disorder; the other diagnoses are things I still deal with and most likely always will. There have been days where it felt nearly impossible to feel strong, confident, or at peace in my own body. But cycling has consistently given me that space—it’s where I’ve felt most grounded, most alive, and most connected to something bigger than myself. It’s helped me heal, reconnect, and believe in my ability to endure.
Cycling has shown me that I am capable, that I can belong, and that joy, strength, and freedom are all possible—even when my mind tries to tell me they are not.
However, I believe the un-inclusivity creeping into the cycling world—gatekeeping, judgment, the obsession with speed and status—threatens the very things that made cycling so meaningful to me in the first place. When performance becomes the only story we tell, we lose sight of what really matters. This message is at the heart of why I’m taking on Unbound XL, and why I’m committed to being more than just a racer: I want to be an advocate, I want to protect and promote the parts of cycling that filled my life with so much joy, and I want to help foster a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities feel welcome. A community where the goal isn’t just to be fast, but to be kind and happy.
“When performance becomes the only story we tell, we lose sight of what really matters.”
Cycling is a gift. It’s freedom, connection, self-expression, and healing… and I believe everyone deserves access to that, regardless of what kind of bike they ride or how fast they go.
This season, my goal is to show up as my fullest, most balanced self. I want to race hard—but also laugh harder. I want to uplift others, celebrate their wins, and remind people that cycling is for everyone and community and kindness are at the heart of what makes this sport so special.
At the end of the day, the most meaningful moment I’ve had on a bike wasn’t a race win but rather seeing the joy in my dad’s eyes when he finished a ride and proudly showed me his Strava map that he carefully designed to look like a critter . That joy, that pride, that pure love of riding—that’s what I chase, and that’s what I hope to spread.
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