Off-Road Wyatt Miceli – I Like to Ride My Bicycle 2016
“I like to ride my bicycle!” is the theme for the 2016 Bike To Work Day – emphasizing how much the original idea of bicycling “to work” has evolved in recent years. With many people working from home or local offices, using a bicycle means more than just a morning and evening commute. Often, it’s quicker to use a bicycle for local errands than to choose a car. As many MCBC members have learned, it’s much simpler to roll up to where you need to be and lock your bike than to fight traffic and circle a crowded parking lot.
As everyone gears up for this year’s Bay Area Bike to Work Day on Thursday, May 12 – part of National Bike Month – we spoke with a variety of MCBC members who use the bicycle as an integral part of their everyday life…
Another MCBC Member who “Likes to Ride Their Bicycle”:
- Name: Wyatt Miceli
- Occupation: Student Athlete at Sir Francis Drake High School
- Years Riding: Found his way to mountain bikes in 5th grade
“Whether I am riding on road bikes, cyclocross bikes or mountain bikes, I embrace being totally connected with my bike,” he said.
What bicycle do you like the best?
My daily training bike is definitely one of my favorite bikes. My family and I purchased it last year when I decided to do competitive cycling as my Spring sport. It is a 2015 Ibis Tranny 29 with an X01 one by eleven drivetrain system. This bike has brought me pure pleasure since we bought it and I’m looking forward to putting many more miles and smiles on it.
As nice as a new bike can be, there is also something about old bikes that I find very alluring. To me it’s very interesting to discover how bikes and equipment have evolved over the generations – with the 22 pound carbon fiber super bikes we ride today. Riding older bikes makes me feel like I’m back in the 80’s doing this for the first time, just like many of the Founders of mountain biking had to do when they first started cycling.
What part of the ride do you like best?
The best part of the ride for me is the mental and physical challenge. For example, when there’s a killer uphill section that you or your buddies have never fully cleared before or a technical section that everyone manages to fall on, it can really cause you to doubt your skills and your ability while riding.
For me, being able to overcome these mental and physical barriers is a huge lift in your state of mind and can help bring you to the next level on the bicycle. I also really enjoy easy rides after many days of training. These rides are fun because everyone respects and understands the point of not always being the first to the top of the hill. It also allows for relaxation and social times when a group of riders can talk freely about their lives.
What do you like best about the benefits of riding your bike?
Riding my bike has lots of benefits. Whether I’m trying to clear my head from a long day at school, or just getting in a good workout. It allows for social time with friends, exploration of local and foreign places, it is a good source of exercise, causes you to use critical thinking and can teach the overall understanding of how a bicycle works mechanically. All these aspects bring me joy and allow me to enjoy this activity even more.
What would you have liked someone to tell you when you first started cycling?
When I first started cycling I wish people told me not to over think the sport.
When mountain biking, it is easy to overthink what your bike is doing and can cause the rider to panic. Now I’m not saying to space out when riding, but I have found that when you are worrying about everything, you have a tendency to have less fun, be more panicked and this can ultimately be dangerous for many beginner cyclists.
Another piece of advice that would have enhanced the beginning years of my bicycle riding would have been to not worry about what your competitors or friends are doing. By this I mean , that if you ask your friend to go a ride and they decline, don’t skip the ride you would have done. Though it may be hard to ride alone, it is one of the only ways you can get better than your friends and competitors. (Make sure you have a phone or something when you ride alone for safety purposes.)
Where do you most like to ride your bike?
My favorite place to ride my bike is “The Valley”. The San Geronimo Valley was where I first learned to ride and it feels very familiar and like I am at home when I ride the trails. The lush landscape is beautiful at all times of years and provides all sorts of adventures and fun to ride on. Along with riding in “The Valley” I also enjoy riding near the coast toward Bolinas Ridge and other beautiful areas such as Mt. Vision and Mt. Tamalpais. I also enjoy riding my road bike and cyclocross bike, these are also fun to ride in this area due to endless back road routes and with the combination of beauty and adventure is so easy to find a place you have never seen or been before. For these reasons I love to ride here, locally, rather than anywhere else.
Why would others like to ride in Marin?
I think that other people would like to visit and ride in Marin due to its unique qualities. These qualities can be anything from beginner to more advanced trail riding, beautiful landscapes, the usually respectful people, to things like the great local food that you can eat after a ride. Also many of the local riders are respectful of the environment they ride in, so with great sustainable trails to ride on, people want to give them a try.
What is your favorite ride/route?
I love to ride almost anywhere, as long as I’m riding. Though some trails might be a little less adventurous and less fun than others, being out on the bike is still being out of the bike!
As of now one of my favorite routes is right out my own front door. It consists of a Mt Barnabe loop, which causes you to end up in Samuel P Taylor Park, so from there I like to ride up the Kent Lake fire road to the San Geronimo Ridge Trail, after riding across the ridge towards Woodacre we ride to the top of “Whites Hill” where you can look out and see the Bay – a great view to see. Once at the top we go do either reverse Wagon Wheel or B17 to the Flow Trail. No matter which way we go, we usually go up Loma Alta to 680 into Sleepy Hollow. Once in Sleepy Hollow we can ride home to Forest Knolls or go into Deer Park and find something else to climb.
What part of riding would you most like to improve?
Personally I would like to improve my own cycling by perfecting my endurance leg speed. I have found that I can go for miles and miles and miles, but when it comes to a shorter sprint oriented style of riding I can fall behind. I think with the proper work ethic I can improve these skills and be ready for the up and coming race season.
Overall I would like to improve riding by having more trails and SINGLETRACK open to everyone.
What is your favorite vision of cycling in the future?
Mutual respect is necessary for the users of these trails to work together and not against each other, trying to push each other out.
Thanks Wyatt!
If you have wanted to be a part of the Bike to Work movement – running errands, ferrying kids or simply commuting to and from your office – it’s easy to start! You Can Bike There provides a number of resources, and we have Employer Toolkits to help others in your office or workplace leave their car behind. On Thursday, May 12, we’ll be out in force, with Energizer Stations on routes throughout Marin County.
Look for more profiles of MCBC members who Like to Ride Their Bicycle!
Editor’s Note: These interviews represent the words and opinions of the featured rider. As such, the views expressed in this profile do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.
