Cut from a Different Cloth

They Said I Wouldn't Be Ready. I Proved Them Wrong.

They said I wouldn't be ready.

That I'd be lucky to ride a bike again in six weeks. That it would be months before I could train the way I used to. That chasing a 24-hour ride just a few months after a total knee replacement was unrealistic. That riding from Lubbock to Albuquerque two months after the canyon ride? Out of the question.

But here's the thing about me: I've never accepted the limits others set for me.

Twelve years ago, after my knee replacement, I told my doctor I planned to ride 200 miles in 24 Hours in the Canyon. I told him I'd be ready to take on a five-day, cross-state ride not long after. He said it wouldn't hurt to try—but warned me not to be disappointed if I couldn't.

Two days post-surgery, I was in physical therapy. I spotted a stationary bike in the corner and asked to ride it. The therapist told me no. Not because it would hurt me—but because he was sure I wouldn't even be able to pedal a full rotation. He said the pain and lack of motion would stop me cold. That it would crush my spirit.

I asked again. Could I try?

Reluctantly, he agreed.

It took effort—more grit than strength. But I got that pedal around. One revolution. Then another. Fifteen minutes later, I got off the bike and looked him in the eye.

I needed him to know: I wasn't just another patient. I was cut from a different cloth.

That therapist pushed me harder after that. And I pushed back, every step of the way.

A few months later, I rode 203 miles in Palo Duro Canyon in 24 hours. Two months later, I pedaled into Albuquerque, New Mexico, from Lubbock, Texas. And to make it even more of a challenge, I took the much more difficult route up through Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Santa Fe.

I wasn't supposed to.

But I did.

The lesson? You are more capable than you think.

Even more than others say you are.

The boundaries people set for you are often reflections of their own limits—not yours.

Push past them.

Prove them wrong.

Prove yourself right.

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The Cycling Gear I Trust Today

Those rides weren't about having expensive equipment. They were about determination. But after thousands of miles on a bicycle, I've learned the value of good, dependable gear. Here are two products I personally use today.

HTZPLOO Cycling Gloves — These are the gloves I personally wear. They're inexpensive, comfortable, and the padding helps make long days on the handlebars easier.

Check HTZPLOO Cycling Gloves on Amazon

Giro MIPS Bicycle Helmets — I never ride without a helmet. I personally wear the Giro Fixture MIPS II, which includes MIPS technology designed to help reduce rotational forces in certain impacts.

Browse Giro MIPS Helmets on Amazon

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