I started working with renowned sports psychologist Roger Friesen this year and have worked really hard at my mental toughness. Roger likes to say that “mental toughness is our ability to overcome human nature”.
In races, I repeat positive self-talk over and over. It is amazing how effective that is. I use self-talk, mental imagery, and practice different breathing techniques to stay calm and focused. I also try to appreciate what’s happening around me. I draw energy from the environment I am in and from the other athletes. I try to notice everything I can (the landscape, the scenery, the people on the roadside).
I think in order to be ultimately successful in life you have to bring passion to everything you do. That's the authentic part that resonates deeply with me. Owning a road bike shop is a dream come true. My passion for the sport of cycling plays into everything we do at the shop and I get to ride and race my bike all over the world. I am fortunate to have my sporting passion also be my livelihood. When I was younger I thought I wanted to be a professional cyclist but I think this way is easier and more fun!
I think consistency and determination are the secrets to a long and successful athletic career and the same for business. Our shop, Bicicletta, was founded in 1989 and I’ve been involved since 2010. I know that the work we do today will likely have an impact in 3-6 months. It’s the same thing in training.
Having clearly defined goals is another key. I write down everything I want to accomplish in sports and business and review it constantly. I also know that I cannot do everything and that I need a team of high performers around me in order to be successful. Same goes for my cycling team. We recruit and retain the best riders we can in order to build a sustainable, high performing squad.
“I use my afternoon commute to reflect and unwind. That is almost always the best part of my day.”
Over the years I have been fortunate to work with some amazing coaches including Peggy Maas, Garth Thomson, Cam Evans, and Assaf Yogev. All of them have taught me how to balance life and training and as I have gotten older I’ve placed much more emphasis on recovery and sleep. Because I own my own business I can set my schedule and be very flexible when I need to be.
During the more intense training weeks, I try to work a little less or work from home as much as possible. I also try to get a massage weekly and see my chiropractor once a month. Bodywork for Masters athletes is crucial to longevity. I try to keep my training to 10-12 hours a week on the bike and I commute to work, year-round which also helps as I live 25km from work. My morning commute is often my training ride.
In terms of achievements, my 2017 Masters Provincial Criterium Championship is top of the pile. I made that race a massive focus and was as prepared and focused for it as I have ever been. My teammates worked tirelessly for me in that race and I felt super compelled to win it for them. It stands as the biggest win we’ve had as a team. That's the cool thing about competitive cycling, one person wins but it takes a team to get there.
I also won bronze in the crit at the 2017 Canadian National Masters - the week after my provincial win. The Nationals race was the hardest crit I have ever done. I had to fight for position the entire race and never felt like I could rest. With five laps to go a solo rider attacked and got out to a 17-second lead. My team went to the front and chased flat-out for four laps to bring him back. On the final two laps, I had to battle and scrap to stay in the front and into the final corner I was 4th. I was so determined to grab a result and I managed to sprint into 3rd. That bronze felt like a win and means a lot. That was the first time I raced a National Championship so I am very proud to have raced all the way to the finish line and get a good result.
A sports team is definitely more difficult to manage than a business team. In business, I think the nuances are less and the objectives more overt. In cycling, it's all nuance and each individual needs to be 100% committed to their role in order for the team to be successful. In Masters cycling that can be very tricky. No one gets paid and in most cases, they are paying their own way to the races. Asking someone to forgo their own success for someone else is the ultimate sporting sacrifice. When the team sacrifices for me in order to win I feel incredibly honoured.
“I have always benefitted mentally from being really fit and active. Whenever my work performance is lacking I always check in with my fitness and training to see if there is a gap.”
Losing my dad has been one of my biggest challenges so far, no question. He was my biggest supporter in sport and business and sadly passed in 2015. We used to train and race and travel together since I was a teenager. I like to think that he is still with me on my training rides and I definitely think about him in my races. I placed a decal on my bike this year with his initials to remind me to have fun and race hard, the two things he liked to tell me.
I’ve learned that I am much more mentally tough than I thought I was. I have learned to harness that mental toughness and to keep battling in races even when I am feeling terrible. I just tell myself that the other guys must be hurting even more. It really helps to stay focused and positive - the mind is so powerful. If you can think it, you can do it.
Balancing everything has made me appreciate my family more and to really cherish the time we have together. Some of my best friends in life have come from my cycling experiences and travel. My business partner Jon and I started off racing and training together, we then built a team and started travelling. Now in business, we are both following our passion for sport and people and trying to inspire others to challenge themselves, have fun and share experiences.
Most of the staff at Bicicletta are bike racers and triathletes so they all appreciate the balance between life, work, and sport. We try and give them all a flexible enough schedule to train and still be focused and productive at work.
Jon and I are fully committed to making Bicicletta the best bike shop in the world. To do that we have to continue to improve our client experience and strive towards being better tomorrow than we are today.
We started our weekday group rides back in in 2007 with 8 riders and now get upwards of 150 each week. Our ride is different - it's social. We aren't using it as a training ride, but rather as a place to meet up with friends and make new ones. We actually tried a ladies only group one year but the feedback was "where are all the guys?!".
Our race team and shop ambassadors lead the ride each Wednesday night from May through September, and we break it into smaller groups to keep things safe but also to encourage conversation. Most weeks after the ride there is an informal gathering at a local brewery to end the night. There is such a strong connection in road cycling with food and drink and our ride aims to honour that every week.
When Jon and I formed our team a few years ago it was based on two goals:
1. Bring the National Masters Cycling Championship to Vancouver and
2. Win a National Championship!
In 2017 in our second season as a team, we are able to help bring the National Championships to Vancouver along with NTSQ Sports and Cycling BC. For me, this is the reason I keep racing. I want to help make the local Masters racing scene the best in Canada.
I feel strongly that by building the competitive Masters racing scene we can create more opportunities and events for all ages and categories. Just like in running and triathlon, Masters athletes are the biggest demographic. To that end, we have supported Escape Velocity's Devo program and helped to add more Masters races to the local racing calendar this year. Hopefully, this inspires more teams and cyclists to get involved and help create a legacy here in BC.
© 2026 InnerVoice
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