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When the universe knocks you down.
When the universe knocks you down.

While I've learned plenty from Rose Grant about overcoming setbacks with grace and sense of purpose, I'm now doing my best to take a page from Erin Huck's latest comeback book on just accepting whatever the universe has in store. (It worked well for her since she just defended her Short Track national championship title)! 

We made it to Greece! 🇬🇷 And good thing our flights were (mostly) on time as we begin racing today with a point -to-point time trial. The event is a 3-day UCI S2 race promoted by @alterbiketours and we're here with @julbike racing for @usacycling. Then we're doing the same thing next weekend. I'm excited to race somewhere new and look forward to exploring the area around Marathonas. (And yes, this is where the marathon gets it's name from). #atticastagerace #marathonas #assosofswitzerland
The Sierra Prieta Overlook inspires me to ride. It's hard work to pedal to the spot, but the views and trails back to Prescott make it well worth the work. Thanks for letting me tag along that day @mtbshu! @guenergylabs #placesweplay #GUforit #GUgives #sierraprieta ✨GU Energy is actually running giveaways this week to celebrate public lands (and they've already given $60,000 to the cause). To enter, just post your own photo of a place that inspires you. Use the hashtag #placesweplay. Tag @guenergylabs. Tag a friend. That's all. ✨
The investment in trails, bike paths, bike facilities, public spaces, and greenways in Bentonville is simply incredible. There are so many fun, safe, and inspiring places to introduce kids to the wonders of riding bikes. And these girls love to ride, have so many great questions, and really inspire US. So awesome to meet some @littlebellasmtb and their mentors this past weekend. Thanks for organizing @kelseymiller2059! ♀️🚴🏼‍♀️❤️ #moregirlsonbikes #visitbentonville #littlebellasmtb #bikebentonville #littlebellasambassador
Racing bikes is ridiculous, fun, heartbreaking at times and full of surprises. I experienced the full spectrum yesterday at the #oztrailsoffroad. I DNF'd the race, my first "not a finisher" badge in awhile. But honestly I haven't given myself a hard time about it because life has just been crazy lately. After two hours of racing, I suffered from an inch-long sidewall tear to my front tire in what seemed to be a smooth section of singletrack (turns out there were small sharp rocks hiding among the leaves). At the time, I was racing in the chase group of four behind @eehuck. Then I wasn't. I couldn't remove the nut on my tubeless valve stem and so I got back on my bike, with a front flat, and rolled about 10 feet down the hill and there's Erin! We spent a very quick moment evaluating the situation (like both of us were going to be there for awhile). It always sucks to flat out of contention. And I wasn't in the right headspace to even believe I had a shot at that point. So I gave Erin my rear wheel, she gave me hers and her tube and I was like, "go get it!" And she did. Sometimes luck is on our side. Sometimes it isn't. And sometimes there's a karmic reshuffling of the stars and two inch-long sidewall tears turn into something pretty cool. So my wheel not only finished, but won. I DNF'd but @keegels99 took home the big win for @stanspivot, and @sofithevilla finished 4th! It was also very special to have @rosekgrant at the race as well. Thank you @epicrides and @visitbentonville and our wonderful host family. 📷: @notubesmaster #stanspivot #oztrailsoffroad
Well the Fat Tire Crit hurt, thanks to a charging @eehuck and @katkanash! I really like racing these short, tactical races in front of some spectators and the new @maxxisbike Velocita's added to the fun. 📷: @notubesmaster #oztrailsoffroad #bentonville #stanspivot
I've been enjoying a bit of down time today here in Bentonville. So I spent the morning cruising bike paths, checking out the Crystal Bridges Museum gardens, and sipping fancy coffees with @evelynd11. There's a lot to see and do in this little town, and doing it all on two wheels seems to be the way to go. 📷: @evelynd11 #stanspivot #oztrailsoffroad #bentonville
On my way to Bentonville for the inaugural Oz Trails Off-Road! I'm excited to reunite with the @epicrides tribe, and of course, ride and experience someplace new. I had a very tough end to the regular mountain bike season, but I'm healthy, training, and filled with gratitude for all the support. Let me know who's going to be in Bentonville below! #oztrailsoffroad #stanspivot
Have you all heard of Little Bellas? Well I am now a Little Bellas Ambassador and am really excited to be a part of an amazing program that helps young women realize their potential through cycling. Little Bellas is all about empowerment, goal-setting, promoting healthy life styles, and recognizing the positive effects of strong female bonds. I'm humbled to join a pretty all-star team of ambassadors. What we want is simple: more girls on bikes. There's a link in my bio for more info. Ride on. 🚴‍♀️♥️ #littlebellasmtb #moregirlsonbikes #littlebellasambassador
I didn't expect to cheer on my teammates from the sidelines today, but a crash in training this week left me with a concussion. As an athlete, I want to push through to make the start line and fight with whatever I have on course today. But my brain needs more rest, and we know that through testing. I'm off my cognitive baseline tests and my balance and neuro-vestibular function are not normal. Subjectively, I haven't felt normal either but I held onto some optimism for today. But I decided I'd need the doctors recommendation, and that was a "no" on racing today. . . I want to thank everyone at @usacycling for the support and the amazing staff who helped us make an objective (and tough) decision. I also want to thank my teammates @eehuck and @leaeatsalot for their understanding, as points are particularly important for #TeamUSA right now. . . It's a hard thing to be here in Lenzerheide, in the best shape of my life, with custom 🇺🇲 gear from @stansnotubes and @pivot_cyclesusa, and to simply watch the biggest race of the year. But I'd like to have another shot in the future where I can give 110%, and I need to take care of my brain to do that (and do other things too!). . . Looking forward to cheering on all of my teammates racing today. Let's go Lea, Erin, @kateplusfate, @lukevrouwenvelder and @keegels99 !
Raced a Swiss Cup yesterday in downtown Basel with #TeamUSA. The course started on a horse racing track, weaved it's way through some grass, then sent us up a crazy steep climb and little flow trail descent. It was fast, tactical, and full-throttle. I finished in 3rd behind a charging @eehuck and @mtbgunnrita. This was my first urban mountain bike race and it was cool to see all the families and kids attending, and the festival-like atmosphere. Huge thanks to @usacycling @thebajo78, @notubesmaster, @julbike for the support! 📷: @notubesmaster
From crowded start boxes, to tech zone chaos, to schlepping bottles and wheels, to the finish line duties...race support staff don't have it easy. Huge thanks to @thebajo78 and @notubesmaster for the support in La Bresse. (Nobody would have known it was Kenny's first World Cup!) 📷: @polphe
With the crazy course conditions and wild French fans, we definitely had quite the race yesterday! I finished in 12th place...for the 4th time this season 😂. But you know what? I'm really proud of my consistency on the World Cup this year. Thank you all for the support, and a special thank you to @thebajo78 @notubesmaster and @usacycling for this weekend.