Back to training and preparing for 2026
After taking a full week off the bike, I’m finally back into training mode and easing into the rhythm again. I’ve been mixing in other activities—mainly the gym—which is something I usually skip during the season. But lifting is great for building strength, improving stability, and reducing injury risk, so it feels good to bring it back into the routine. Plus, with the weather pretty rough in the PNW this time of year, the gym lets me break up my training and spend a little less time battling the rain. Right now, my weeks are settling into about three gym sessions and around 20 hours on the bike.
During the off‑season, I’ve also been planning out my 2026 race calendar and working on equipment upgrades. I’ll be racing many of the same events as in 2025, but the goal is to apply everything I learned this past season and come back stronger. On the equipment side, I’ve been sorting out a new road bike and making some important changes to my TT setup after a failure at the World Championships. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned recently is to look at equipment more holistically. In the past, I made decisions almost entirely based on aero data. Aero matters a lot, but if something handles poorly or has reliability issues, the “fast” choice can end up being much slower—and more dangerous. I learned that the hard way, and I don’t plan to repeat it.
The biggest upgrade so far is a new front wheel for my TT bike. I had been running a very narrow, super‑aero wheel, but it was undersized, which allowed the tire to come off, and the handling was sketchy because I had to run such a narrow tire to keep the aero benefits. Now I’m on a more traditional wheel that lets me run a wider tire, is better manufactured, and should keep the tire locked in place. It’s a huge improvement in both confidence and safety.
Carbon manufacturing
This past year, I’ve also gone deep into carbon manufacturing—something I never expected to get into. After struggling with back issues on a standard road handlebar in Paris, I began working with overseas manufacturers to create custom bars. While it was reassuring to know the bars were professionally made, each one cost around $2,000 and took months to revise. Even then, they didn’t fit my arm shape perfectly. After two rounds of that, I knew I needed a different approach.
So I asked myself: How hard could it be to make my own carbon bar? That question sent me down a rabbit hole of researching composites, layup techniques, and mold design. I made a few early prototypes to see if I could build something strong enough. The first version definitely wasn’t pretty, but it worked—and it wasn’t expensive.
Once I realized this was actually possible, I started ordering higher‑end materials and experimenting with better molding, curing, and finishing techniques. The first bars I used in real training were heavy and still imperfect, but they were a massive improvement over what I had before. Then I made a set for my TT bike. After a couple of months of riding them, I built a second set with refinements.
One of the biggest confidence boosts came at Unbound. I crashed hard into a rock and cracked the bottom of the bar—but the section I made was completely fine. I was honestly amazed by how strong it was. That same set is still in use today, after the drops were repaired.
Now I’m working on the next evolution: a bar that fits me even better, is aerodynamic, and is significantly lighter. My first custom set weighed about 800 grams, much like the bars I made myself. The new set I’m building for next year looks like it will be around 500 grams, with fully internal hydraulic routing. So far, I’ve made five handlebars, fixed a cracked wheel, and repaired a broken frame. It’s been a huge success, and I’m excited to keep improving my techniques.
Moving to Nice
I’m incredibly fortunate to have opportunities that could take me far in cycling, and with LA on the horizon, I want to give myself every possible chance to perform at my best. That’s why I’ve decided to leave my family and move across the world to Nice, France. It’s a massive change, but living in Nice will dramatically improve my training—better weather, better terrain, more racing, and a much stronger environment for high‑level development.
The PNW is beautiful, but it’s honestly a tough place to train consistently, and it held me back this past season. This move is both exciting and nerve‑wracking, but it feels like the right step toward becoming the best athlete I can be. I’ll be leaving on January 1st with just my bikes and some clothes. There’s still a lot to figure out, but I’m committed to doing everything I can to reach my potential. While I have never been to Nice, France, I have ridden in a few European countries. This photo is from the 2025 Para World Championships in Belgium.
