Why We Ride — Presented by SRAM

Thank you to SRAM for powering the stories behind the racing.

Why We Ride is a monthly spotlight series celebrating the riders who define Chicago Grit’s cycling community – from world-tour level pros to weekend warrior local amateurs. We explore not just why they ride, but how: the training they grind through, the tech they trust, the nutrition that fuels them, and the mental grit it takes to show up, month after month, year after year. 

This blog will reveal the insider intel riders rarely publicize: their crit setups, tire and gearing choices, warm-up habits, course breakdowns, pre-race nerves, and the personal stories that brought them into this sport (and why they stay).