Steve CARWILE
I took up competitive mountain bike racing at the age of 16. After 10 years of baseball and basketball I’d found a new passion. I grew up in the country near Bloomington, Indiana so when the neighborhood kids and I weren’t smashing each other in a game of football, we were pedaling around on our bikes. I had always enjoyed jumping my bike off ramps but when my neighbor brought his fancy new mountain bike over, I knew I had to have one just like it. I purchased the latest Mountain Bike magazine and discovered that there was a local race series–it is all history from there. Riding or racing around the woods can be spiritual yet brutalizing at the same time. I think these contrasts are what keep me coming back. I never get bored riding leisurely or setting new training and racing goals to accomplish. The latter being my real motivation over the years. I introduced my wife to cycling 6 years ago and all I have to say is that I’m glad she does not ride much because she’d be faster than me! We moved to Oregon after graduating from Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky and I have been racing both cross-country and cyclocross here ever since!
Editors Note: Steve has just moved to Maryland so look for him flying our “at large” flag in the mid-Atlantic region soon!