Women on Bikes SoCal August/September 2013

Bicycles are a huge part of my life.  As an advocate, I pride myself on being part of the change that is happening in my native city of Long Beach and also on a national level.  As a cyclist, I enjoy being part of the culture, and I thrive on the healthy lifestyle it provides.  As a teacher of all things bicycle related, it comes naturally to me, and I thoroughly enjoy it.

Growing up here along the waterfront in Long Beach, I was naturally attracted to the ocean and what it provides.  When I was 12 years old I started sailing, competing by the time I was 15, cruising offshore when I was 18, instructing by the time I was 22 and have enjoyed every minute!  On Saturday mornings, you will find me dockside at Leeway Sailing Center, instructing adults from my beach chair. Stop by for a visit!  

Locally I am a member of Long Beach Cyclists.  I have been a volunteer with this organization for 6 years, and President for the last 4 years.  Nationally, I am an active member of Adventure Cycling Association. 

A lot of people are surprised by the fact that I’m a President of a highly regarded “vehicular” bicycling advocacy organization, and have not had “formal” road safety cyclist training.  When people ask me why I haven’t taken the courses, I tell them the truth, that I haven’t had time, and (as a 20-30 hr a week VOLUNTEER for LB Cyclists) it’s too expensive.  More importantly, I have had the time to befriend many “trained” cycling friends and members of our organization.  Having spent many hours on the road with these individuals, I have learned enough to feel like I can still be a great leader by example.  

Recently, I decided that I want to learn even more about local and national bicycling safety and standards, and I want to grow as a teacher.  In order to achieve those goals, I think completing both the Traffic Skills 101 and the LCI courses will be essential.  The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) is an important advocacy group in our nation.  The men and woman representing the LAB are highly respected among cyclists, and if becoming part of “The League” is a way for me to grow in advocacy, then I would love the opportunity to be part of the process. 



I have always been passionate about fitness and helping others achieve life their life goals through fitness. I am very interested in starting a non-profit group that will assist underserved communities in the areas of fitness and making better choices when it comes to health.

I love riding my bike and running as far as my legs can take me.

I fell in love with cycling the moment I road my bike 50 miles in December of 2004. Since then, I’ve increased my love for cycling and have accomplished many goals. In October of 2009, I completed the Triple Crown (3 double centuries in one year), in 2010, I road my bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles.  Today, I share my passion with others helping them to reach their fitness goals by advocating cycling, running, and other fitness activities through my facebook page. I also had the privilege of participating in the Women on Bikes movement by assisting Elizabeth Williams of Cali Bike Tours teach women about bicycle road safety.  I want to continue efforts like these.  I believe my strong desire to help people and passion about exercise will help spread this movement.

Additionally, as a student of University of Phoenix and a member of Toastmasters International, I have developed strong speaking and teaching skills. I am very comfortable in front of people and my smile puts all around me at ease. 

Although I am not a member any bicycle advocacy groups, I am a member of two cycling clubs, Crankin’ Time and Major Motion, which both have a strong presence in the cities of Los Angeles and Compton. 

Like many 20-somethings I’ve met recently, I got back on a bicycle again for the first time since childhood. Bicycles were part of our youth, and sadly, we outgrew them. I stopped playing outside and traded grass stains and scraped knees for shopping malls, movie theaters, internet access, and my first car. I relied heavily on parents and friends to drive me around until I could finally get behind the wheel. Public transit was not an option due to my parents’ concerns about safety and walking around alone, and frankly, riding buses weren’t appealing. For years, I held on to the belief that public transit was not for me.

My mindset began to change as I got older. The long drive to work on the west side of Los Angeles from my San Gabriel Valley neighborhood 40 miles away was unpleasant and costly. Even with carpools, smartphone traffic apps, mastering several alternate routes, and fellow commuters encouraging me to accept this lifestyle, being in traffic for four hours each day was not the urban adventure I wanted.

I eventually replaced the unpredictable rush hour drive with a mellow Metrolink ride connecting me to the frenzied Metro system to take me across town. This transition wasn’t easy, and it took a while for me to get into a rhythm—or simply to get to work on time without feeling too stressed or flustered by the trek to the office. Using transit became simpler and more enjoyable. It changed my life, and I want to pass that on, so I created my walking events. The event combines different modes of transit for visiting local landmarks to help women become more familiar with Metro and walking more in different parts of L.A. I want to educate women about transit and make it enjoyable at the same time in order to shift their way of thinking about buses, trains, walking, and soon, biking. If women can adapt alternative forms of travel occasionally or regularly, they can positively impact their health, families, and communities. A little bit of empowerment goes a long way. This is the kind of message I’m sharing through Women on Bikes SoCal.

Thanks to the scholarship, I have the opportunity to help myself and others to increase their confidence, knowledge, and skills on the road, through bike rides, social media and blogs. If this San Gabriel Valley girl can get back on her bike again and take these wheels beyond my cul-de-sac at my own pace, with my own style, and on my own terms, I know many others can, too!