My Bike Was My Horse

I grew up in North Long Beach in the 1960’s when freeways were expanding and the fast-food industry was exploding. The widening of the 710 freeway took a large section of our neighborhood park along with four of my friends houses off our block on Cambridge Street near the L.A. flood control.  As concrete and cars increased their dominance over the suburban landscape, we used our bikes to escape the incessant hum and rumble of trucks working their way from the port to interstate commerce on I-5.

It was gritty, and it was smoggy living near the 710 and the flood control. But along the miles of smooth white cement that served as the riverbed for the L.A River was a narrow dirt trail used for horseback riding -- from Old Atlantic Avenue to the nicer homes in Virginia Country Club. I’d ride my bike from Cambridge Street to the bridge over the 710 on Long Beach Boulevard and look down on that little trail, watching the horses and their riders’ stop for a spell at Shady Acres for a cool drink.

As a seven-year old, having a horse was out of the question for me, so I took one of my dad’s old leather belts and tied it to the handlebars of the 3-speed bike I got from Cal’s Department Store on Del Amo for Christmas. How I loved that bike. It was light blue and too big for me to sit on the seat, so I peddled standing up until I grew tall enough to sit in the saddle. With my cowgirl outfit on (including black boots with reverse stitching) and the “reins” in my hand, I was finally free.

My love for cycling progressed from an imaginary horse to extreme sports including the Death Ride (Tour of the California Alps), Ironman Canada, Ironman Australia, and several other century rides. I even managed a bike shop while going through college and can fix a flat in less than 30 seconds!

After finishing college and beginning a career in corporate product marketing, I didn’t imagine the bicycle would later become my livelihood. After many years of product launches, business plans, and IPO’s, I launched my own company, Noble Pursuit, Inc., which is designed to show women how to get healthy using the simple elegance of the bicycle.

I now produce cycling events for women that are fun, non-competitive, recreational and unique –- just so we can get out and ride, laugh, and reconnect. I also personally coach and serve as a professional fitness trainer to those women who desire an individualized program and training philosophy. My passion is to help women who have never been successful in physical fitness and who need a trusty, educated guide.

“The SoCal scene is so perfect for an explosion of women’s cycling. Living in Huntington Beach and connecting to the neighboring towns of Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, and Long Beach allows us to take back the streets, stay fit, and help the air just by trading out the car for the bike. Watch for a host of classes and clinics coming to the area this spring.”

Noble Pursuit is the largest producer of recreational cycling events for women in the US. Our three brands; the Beach Babe Bicycling Classic (Long Beach, CA), Senorita Century (San Diego area), and Princess Promenade (Sacramento, CA) bring together women of all ages and abilities to ride for fun, fitness, and to revolutionize what it means to be a cyclist.