My hopes started in 1993, when I bought Tiffany a new—but dented—Specialized Allez lugged steel frameset from a Specialized rep in the avenues. She never rode it, and a neighbor still has that bike. Probably about 2009 Tiffany was given a decent carbon bike with a fit; that’s really when things started rolling. She had to get comfortable on the bike first. There were some “Hobble Creek moms” that would ride a few days a week in the summer. 

One thing you have to understand about Tiffany is that she can’t really do things halfway, and she’s more competitive than she can admit. Valedictorian, summa cum laude, basketball MVP…she can’t just show up. So quickly the women’s rides were unsatisfying. Soon I was suggesting intervals to try instead of her using hills as intervals. We had some failures riding together at first for sure…she could talk about going up Timber Trail the first time and how mad she could get when I would just suggest one more climb that she was not ready to do. Now, however, she doesn’t blink. She drops men all the time and takes criticism from the kids for checking her Strava. 

Now we’re a good decade into real riding for Tiffany, with race wins, Zwift notariety, successful lotoja races (some sacrificed to help friends old and new) and many unforgettable rides, bike tours, joys, pains, QOMs, and friendships experienced while exploring the land on a bike. Funny thing, too, is that she has completely forgotten about the lecture she gave me about riding too much.