What’s Not to Love About Riding a Bike? My Journey to the Whaka50

What's not to love about riding a bike? The wind in your hair, the adrenaline as you drop into a descent, and the total freedom from life’s struggles and dramas. I’m Sophia, I’m 16, and I’m proud to be a Silversky Ambassador.

I’ve been riding since I was three. My little brother Wilbur who has always been a daredevil and still is pushed me out of my comfort zone from the start. He was riding without training wheels at two years old, and by the next day I was determined to catch up. Growing up, family time meant bikes, skis, and the outdoors. Tackling new tracks and trying to keep up with my brother made me a stronger, braver rider.

Cross-country racing was a natural progression. When you have a dad who’s always pushing himself, it’s only natural his kids follow suit. I’ve tried plenty of sports, but nothing compares to the sense of freedom a bike gives you. XC mountain bike racing demands everything: technical downhill skills, sprinting, endurance, guts to pass in tight corners, and the mental strength to hold it all together.

This year tested that strength. In July I had a serious crash. Waking up in hospital with my teeth in a shambles, broken bone in my jaw, my lip swollen and my head pounding was not a good end to a beautiful sunset ride. I’m forever grateful to Jamie at the Wellington Hospital Emergency Dental Unit for stitching my lip (10 stitches plus 2 in my gum) and moving my teeth back into place in the early hours of the morning. Also a huge thankyou to Ben Catherwood for the subsequent dental work including three root canals.

Getting back on my bike has been a journey. The hardest part was having to take a full month off to recover. My parents have always been the “dust yourself off” type, and that’s exactly what I did. Time off my bike was much harder. And yes, I still avoid the track I came off because in hindsight, a combination of factors probably contributed to that fall, even though I’d ridden it countless times before.

To prove to myself that my love of mountain biking isn’t going to fade, no matter what life throws at me, I signed up for the Whaka 50. I’d never done it before, but I’m happy to say I loved every minute of it, and I’ll definitely be back again next year.

Picture of Sophia at Rotorua's Whaka50 by Photos4sale.Silversky gear is designed in NZ and is perfect for MTB, Road or Gravel and NZ's changeable conditions. Sophia wears Women's Australis Short Sleeve Cycle Jersey and Women's Split Ends Bib Cargo Shorts coming soon.