I began my long introduction to cycling at the beginning of my freshman year of high school. To this day, I credit my schools three-day beginning and end of year bicycle trips for igniting my passion of the sport. Back then, I had a lot of fun riding to new places I'd never been before, reaching destinations that used to be accessable only by car. Bikes were my exclusive mode of transportation throughout high school.
At the beginning of last summer, I saved up and bought a used steel road bike off craigslist. That marked the start of my commitment to cycling as a sport. Every weekend that summer, I'd wake up, catch the highlight reel of the 09 Tour, then go out on three hour rides aquainting myself with the familiar network of country roads that make the backbone of Contra Costa county. For a month or so, I joined the evening rides of some Grizzly Peak Cyclists while I contemplated racing as a junior. I heard of Tieni Duro at the start of sophmore year by a friend and former member of the team. Unfortunatly, extracurriculars had to take a backseat to a few advanced courses I was taking, so membership was delayed until may 2010.
In just a few group rides, Tieni Duro gave me a supporting net of teamates and coaches and allowed me to cast my eye down the road towards the various goals and achievement that all of us, as cyclists strive to work towards.
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