From Shy Beginner to Confident Leader: Anna’s Journey on Two Wheels
When I first met Anna three years ago, she was soft-spoken and reserved. But there was something in her eyes that hinted at a quiet determination. She joined The Cycle Effect mountain biking program, showing up to practice each week. She wasn’t the fastest rider, and she certainly didn’t call attention to herself, but Anna had one quality that stood out above all: consistency.
At first, she arrived at practice without much fanfare, just steadily putting in the time. She worked on her technique, often in the background, letting her quiet persistence do the talking. Week by week, she got a little bit faster, a little more confident, even if she didn’t quite see it in herself yet. It’s easy to overlook that kind of gradual growth, the type that happens over months and years.
By her sophomore year, that consistency began to pay off. She decided to try out for the high school racing team again. She was ready. She poured herself into the training, giving it everything she had. She rode with more focus and determination, pushing herself beyond what she thought she could do. And in a testament to her hard work, she not only made the team but pushed herself all the way to the state competition.
This past summer, Anna reached another milestone that showed just how far she had come. She signed up to race the 60-mile course at the SBT GRVL, a daunting challenge for any rider, let alone one just beginning to find her footing in the competitive scene. True to form, she trained hard, showing up to ride early in the mornings and testing her limits on the long and tough trails. She crossed the finish line with a mix of exhaustion and pride on her face, a testament to how far she had come since those early practices. In addition, Anna showed up weekly to train at the Steamboat Resort to improve her confidence and downhill riding skills.
But what truly stands out about Anna isn’t just her accomplishments on the course. It’s the way she gives back to others. This year, she started coaching with The Cycle Effect as a Junior Coach, eager to share her love for riding with the younger girls in our program. One day, while the girls were working on an activity, I glanced over and saw Anna off to the side, quietly practicing her wheelie skills. There she was, focused and determined, lifting her front wheel off the ground and getting it higher with each attempt. It was such a classic Anna moment—constantly striving for improvement, even when no one is watching.
Now, her sights are set on something even bigger: next year, she hopes to join the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club enduro team, where she’ll tackle rocks and big drops, pushing her limits in new ways. Her work at the Steamboat Resort has paid off.
Watching Anna’s progression over these three short years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my time coaching. She lights up when she talks about riding, her enthusiasm contagious as she dreams of new trails and challenges. And I can’t wait to see where her journey takes her next, knowing that whatever the path, she’ll take it on with the same quiet tenacity that’s gotten her this far.
Anna’s story is a reminder that sometimes, the most remarkable transformations don’t happen overnight. They happen through showing up, day after day, for the love of the ride. And if the past few years are any indication, the best is still yet to come.
Article by Helen Beall, Routt County Manager for The Cycle Effect
