Kyle, 16, With El Grupo since 2012
If I had a Superpower, it would be: the ability to produce absolutely no draft and amplify the headwind I have to the person behind me.
Hidden Talent: I’m a good shot and talented woodworker
Favorite Hobby: Welding, Fishing, Hunting, Outdoors
Favorite Style of Riding: Endurance
Favorite Trip: Durango
Favorite Bike Ride in Town: Top of Mount Lemmon
Quotable Quote by Ignacio: Control the Controllables
Favorite Food: Sashimi
Why do like riding your bike?
It’s freedom and challenging.
How’s does El Grupo challenge you?
I get to figure out my limits- that’s why I like endurance racing so much because it’s a fun way to figure out what I’m actually capable of. I like to push those limits.
Tell me how you’ve changed in character and skills.
From a skillset perspective, I used to get dropped from the C Team ride in town, it wasn’t even a cool place to get dropped- haha. I’m faster, can do cool stuff on my bike now- go up curbs and not crash. And character, I’m way more confident and talk to most people and have a lot of social media friends just because of bikes. I’m more confident as a person. Shaving one’s legs changes one’s character too.
What are your goals with El Grupo?
For the season, I’ve kind of accomplished one (podium in a high school race). My long term goal is to make a life out of bikes.
What are three things you’ve gotten out of it?
Character, skills, and a good way to fill a lot of time. Before El Grupo, I didn’t have confidence in myself. I didn’t know how far I could actually go. I didn’t find the pleasure in the pain.
How do you push through when you’re at your limit?
Sometimes just getting to tell the story, I want to tell people that I finished.
When you explain El Grupo to other people, what do you say?
I normally just say we’re a tight-knit team that’s pretty much a family and we all like to work hard together and it’s really fun!
