List past racing accomplishments in any sport you’ve competed in
My first ever MTB race was in July 2014.
Looking forward to reaching the podium during the 2015 season!
What is your first memory of riding a bicycle?
Building BMX ramps in the alley out of plywood and anything else we could find around the neighborhood.
Why do you ride a bicycle?
My wife bought me my first MTB in May of 2014 and I instantly fell in love with riding. Nothing beats hitting the trails first thing in the morning, and once I discovered racing, there was no turning back!
2010 Gary Fisher Rig Single Speed (32×18), white
2013 Specialized S-Works Epic (Kulhavy Edition), orange
2011 Specialized Tarmac (roadie)
List past racing accomplishments in any sport you’ve competed in
6th place overall, 2014 SmurfBoy Summer Endurance Series, Male 40+ Solo
What is your first memory of riding a bicycle?
I didn’t use any training wheels. At 5 years old, I decided I wanted to ride a bike so I just hopped on. My mom gave me a shove and off I went. She was a little worried, because I just kept on going – I went all the way around the block!
Why do you ride a bicycle?
I ride first for fitness, second for socializing, and third for mental health (it’s good to get the frustrations out).
What does Bearded Women mean to you?
To me, the Bearded Women Racing Team means a chance to hang out with like-minded individuals that are all willing to help out for the common good of the team. It’s an opportunity to leverage skills and expertise from someone who’s been through {insert situation here} before.
List past racing accomplishments in any sport you’ve competed in
I competed in my first mountain bike race last year. I finished 5th in the Clydesdale group, but I had a blast overall.
I have also been power lifting since high school. I hold numerous records in Texas and have received numerous invitations to national competitions.
What is your first memory of riding a bicycle?
Honestly, I remember learning the power of brakes. I was 11-years-old with no riding experience. I ended up doing an endo, busting my bike up, and walking it home. Luckily, I’ve gotten a tad better.
Why do you ride a bicycle?
I started for weight loss. At my heaviest, I weighed 464 pounds. Now, I’m hovering around 290-295 pounds. My end goal is to be in the 240s. I still ride to aid in my weight loss, but I also ride to spend time with family and friends.
What does Bearded Women mean to you?
A group of individuals that share a common interest, with the goal of promoting riding and a team atmosphere while giving back to the community.
The fourth race of the DORBA Fall Series has proven to be the most challenging race thus far. The race course started directly with the “red loop,” which is quite rocky with numerous rock gardens, technical climbs, and some short, steep drops. After enduring 2 miles of the “red loop,” the course continued onto a jeep road and curved through trees up and down wooded hillsides which created plenty of elevation change. Not only did Mike D’Aurelio, Phil Hollings, and Brandon Schrader survive two laps of this brutal course, they also made the podium. Shout out to Brandon for completing this on his single speed. In addition to those members, Keith McDonald, Brittany Smith, and Melissa Dalton, also made the podium.
Brandon receiving 2nd place in Cat 2 SS. That 14-year-old was fast!
After hitting the trail, racers got to enjoy the carnival festivities hosted by the Big Pigs. I must say it was quite entertaining seeing some of our fellow riders being dunked into a tub of water! Thank you again for putting on such a great event!
From delicious grilled cheeses to great comradery to some awesome trails, the Smurf Boy Summer Endurance Series was a blast. Smurf Boy is a 4 hour endurance series. The goal is to see how many laps you can complete in the allotted time. Smurf Boy took place at Rowlett Creek Preserve, Johnson Branch, River Legacy, and Cedar Hill State Park.
Many of our members committed to each race in the series and made the podium for overall standings. Dan Smith and Braden Barnett made an exciting finish to take 2nd overall in the team category. Dan Smith states, “We will be coming for first place next year.” Other members who made the podium for the overall series include Melissa Dalton, Dana Cobb, Jonathan Braddick, and Marcus Gillespie.
Here are the full team results and photos from the Smurf Boy Summer Endurance Series:
The first Saturday of October every year is the official Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day (TKMBD), as decreed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). This event is celebrated around the world including: Italy, Australia, South Africa, Canada, Malaysia, and Mexico. TKMBD celebrates the joy of riding in the dirt.
Here in North Texas, three trails celebrated TKMBD on Saturday, October 4, 2014. Bearded Women Racing (BWR) volunteered at two of those events: Horseshoe (Grapevine, TX), and the NW Community Trail (Frisco, TX).
Horseshoe jointly conducted a DORBA (dorba.org) Beginner’s Clinic on Saturday, and they drew a total of 44 adults and 10 kids to the event. Eight BWR members were on-hand to assist with set-up, the clinic, leading/sweeping rides, encouraging the kids, and grilling up some grub to wrap up the day’s festivities.
In Frisco, seven BWR members came out to help check fit on the kids’ bikes and helmets, change flats, lead/sweep rides and cheer the kids on. Frisco drew 15 smiling, happy kids to their event and many laps around the trail were taken by all.
BWR is not just about racing, we also give back to the community through events like this. In addition, team members have participated in Cub Scout bike safety rodeos, Children’s Red Balloon Ride, Ride 2 Recovery, Carry the Load, and other fundraising and community service events.
Biketoberfest, our Team’s theme for the DORBA Fall Series at Rowlett Creek Preserve, was a huge success! Bearded Women Racing went above and beyond, setting up a show down with Big Pig at Johnson Branch next week. Many of our team members came dressed in their best German attire, especially Benjamin Leach who looked gorgeous as Hilda, Hans’ froulien from Hamburg. Hans and Mando stepped it up a notch and raced in their lederhosens. Our members also donated food, swag, and time to make this event fun for all.
Brittany Smith (3rd) and Katie Shaw (2nd) receiving their awards!
Between bike tossing, arm wrestling, and eating delicious bratwursts, many of the BWR members raced as well. About half of Rowlett Creek Preserve passes through trees with some areas that are tight and twisty. The rest is out in the open with some fast, straight field sections. Most of the trail is flat with only a few relatively short climbs, which made for a very quick race! Some of our members who made the podium in their categories include: Keith McDonald, Phil Hollings, James Henson, Brandon Schrader, Mike D’Aurelio, Melissa Dalton, and Brittany Smith.
After such an amazing weekend, it’s time to sell the remaining t-shirts, and other team merchandise until supplies last! You can purchase them at the remaining DORBA Fall Series races. See below for the details:
Biketoberfest dry-wick t-shirt
Sizes: Adult SM – 3XL, Youth SM – XL
Discount and Price: $5 off, $15 per shirt plus shipping
Available at the Johnson Branch and Frisco DORBA Fall Series races
Bearded Women Racing dry-wick t-shirt
Sizes: Adult SM – 3XL, Youth SM – XL (limited supply)
Discount and Price: $5 off; $15 per shirt plus shipping
Available at the Johnson Branch and Frisco DORBA Fall Series races
Bearded Women Racing Koozy
Price: 2 for $5 or 1 for $3
Available at the Johnson Branch and Frisco DORBA Fall Series races
Team membership is now open to the public for application submissions for our Racing and Riding rosters until October 21st. Applications will be reviewed by November 5th, and notification sent on November 6th.
*Space is limited on our rosters for the 2015 season.
If you’re interested in learning more, click above on Become a Bearded Women or go directly to our Membership page BEFORE submitting your applications.
Bearded Women Racing continued its successes in the DORBA Fall Series on September 21st at the Northshore Trail on Lake Grapevine. Our members spent many hours at Northshore leading up to the race to pre-ride the course, which was definitely evident when it came to the awards! The trail consists of several miles of challenging terrain guaranteed to challenge any rider.
I think it is safe to say that Bearded Women Racing was well represented on the podium. Phil Hollings won 1st place in Cat 2. Brandon Schrader took home a well-derved 2nd place in Cat 2 (Single Speed). Mike D’Aurelio placed 2nd in Cat 1. Melissa Dalton, Brittany Smith, and Keith McDonald all made the podium in their age groups for Cat 3. Our members are continuing to train hard and are looking forward to the next race, Biketoberfest at Rowlett Creek Preserve!
Here are the full team results and photos from the day: