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Yesterday, the Arizona Trail Race set off - a 300 and 800-mile self-supported bikepacking adventure. The 2021 Arizona Trail Race 300 was my comeback adventure after two major concussions/TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) in two years. At the time, I had only returned to riding my bike in April 2021, and within weeks had decided to do the Arizona Trail 300 bikepacking race. When I returned to riding, I had to relearn how to balance, track my eyes with the movement of my bike, not let the bumps on the trail hurt my head, and do multiple things at once, like pedaling and moving my head to look around. Plus I was out of cycling shape and anxious about another crash. Yet, for some strange reason, I thought bikepacking would be a good way to ease back into cycling, and I really wanted an adventure after being sidelined for a year and a half. Previously, I would have thought this was impossible because all I wanted was to be a normal, independent person. 

Community Wheels: How Link Cycling Transforms Biking Culture September 10, 2025 • 10 mins What happens when a devastating brain injury and a failed business become the foundation for something extraordinary? Melissa Ross and her husband Aaron transformed personal setbacks into Link Cycling, a revolutionary bike shop in Laramie, Wyoming that's redefining what the cycling experience should feel like.The journey began during COVID when Aaron, a respected bike fitter, pivoted to virtual consultations for clients nationwide. From this necessity-driven innovation, Link Cycling emerged as a welcoming haven that actively counters the intimidating atmosphere many associate with traditional bike shops. "Sometimes they have a vibe of they ignore you or they expect you to know everything about bikes," Melissa explains, describing the industry problem they're solving. Their approach? Creating a judgment-free zone where cyclists of all experience levels feel understood.Behind the business philosophy lies Melissa's personal resilience story. A mountain biking accident left her with a traumatic brain injury that took over four years to recover from. She experienced everything from dizziness and memory loss to double vision and emotional regulation challenges. This profound journey, which she documented in her podcast "Get Your Head Back in the Game," infuses her approach to customer service with extraordinary empathy. The shop doesn't just sell bikes—they build relationships, offer skills coaching, and help customers experience the childlike joy that comes from cycling. As Melissa beautifully puts it, "When you get on a bike, you have this 'oh wow, I feel like myself as a kid again.'"Whether you're an experienced cyclist or just beginning your journey, Link Cycling demonstrates how a specialty retail experience can feel supportive rather than intimidating. Visit their website at thelinkinnovations.com or stop by their shop at 263 North 3rd Street in Laramie to experience their unique approach firsthand, or call Link Cycling at 307-761-9260. Share your own cycling journey with us and let us know how inclusive spaces have changed your relationship with sports or hobbies!

Foot comfort is an important area of bike fitting. Many riders will seek out a bike fit when they experience issues such as hot spots, tingling, or other acute discomforts.   There are a lot of things that we can talk about when we are talking about feet issues on the bike. Depending on when someone has issues, there are some basic things to understand.   The role of the feet in pedaling Once the hip placement is correct in the saddle, what we want the feet to do is to be directly under the hips. So, when you extend down, it is more or less like a piston working, so that downstroke is really powerful.      Hot spots, tingling, foot discomfort Causes of foot discomfort such as hot spots or tingling can come from the feet, the hip placement, and sometimes the hand placement. Cleat alignment To start with, there are some things we can do in moving the cleats fore and aft that will affect your pedal stroke. This will aid in proper knee alignment. The knees will find their natural alignment when the hips and feet are stabilized. If someone is experiencing any aliments, cleat adjustments can help. Footbeds There are a few options out there. Footbeds can help stabilize the foot and allow the foot to relax better in the cycling shoe. Learn more about our custom footbeds. Cycling Shoes Matching up the right shoe for the rider can help improve the experience on the bike. For instance, some riders need a larger toe-box or a wider shoe. Sometimes worn-out shoes can create a weak link and cause unwanted foot ailments.   Foot issues can stem from many different things. It's important to understand that each rider is unique so what might be the source of one person's foot pain, might not be for another. At Link Cycling, we have a systematic process of doing a bike fit that helps us to narrow down what is the issue to foot discomfort and make sure the rider is in the best possible position to help the feet to become more relaxed and work more efficiently to power the bike forward.   If you need help with your bike fit or want to learn more about custom insoles, reach out!      About Aaron Ross: Aaron has 20+ years in the cycling industry with 12+ years as a master bike fitter. For 5-years he was the director of technology and general manager of the FASTER wind tunnel in Scottsdale. Aaron has extensive technical experience in aerodynamics and biomechanics and has worked with many Olympians, world champions, and Tour de France riders. Currently, Aaron lives in Laramie, WY with his wife, two young daughters, and three border collies. He is busy fitting athletes virtually, consulting cycling brands on product development, and working on building a new wind tunnel facility. Aaron has cycled all over Europe, was a Cat 2 Road and Cyclocross Racer and Pro Level Mountain Biker. He now enjoys riding a fixie, teaching his girls to ride, and taking adventures on his dirt bike.

I peer over the edge. There’s a good five feet of nothing between the lip and the landing, but from where I sit, it seems like a lot more. Near the horizon, over the Snowy Range mountains to the west, towering storm clouds roll slowly toward me. I take a deep breath and try not to see them as a bad omen.

I always give myself time after racing to digest the day, and take time to understand how I feel. Because let’s be honest, no one feels awesome after finishing an Ironman, even if they say they do! I was anxious after my full hysterectomy, ovaries included… life, training, and recovery has been hard. I got sick in July and then again with Covid in August, my run wasn’t where it should be and the biggest anxiety - excuses, disappointing people and myself which made the mental side hard. Throw in the hardest IronMan Bike course on the planet, cold weather and well I think I’ve said it clearly here but let me make sure — IT WAS A HARD FUCKING DAY! The venue can’t be beaten, the people of Nice WANT US THERE! They want photos with you, are excited and remember you when you come into their shop, I have never felt welcomed like this in Hawaii… and we have a house there! The people of Nice understand tourism and what events like these bring to their economy! This past weekend they hosted a huge run as well as a swim event!Speaking of the swim, it was one of my best! Thankfully it was wetsuit legal because it was cold!! I found the best set of feet, she was a machine! The water was “rolling” and ugh I felt seasick more than once, it gets deep fast and unlike Hawaii, there is nothing to look at… I welcomed the course design that didn’t take us so far out into the abyss of the ocean! The bike, well I can write an entire post about this bike course. First, it’s fucking mean. Second, they didn’t close the roads, we had a LOT of car issues. We had cars zipping in and out of us, on descents where we were hitting 40+mph! They would pass us then immediately slam on their brakes. More than one of us almost ate the back of car. It was terrifying and a bummer because after all the climbing, the downhill should have been the award! Special needs was another disaster - I spent 6:36 while they tired to find my bag. Not to mention it wasn’t on the course - you had to ride off course backwards in a roundabout, which came on one of the fastest descents, which meant you had to ride around uphill into a gravel parking lot. It was a total clusterfuck! I usually don’t use special needs, and this reminded me why! HUGE MISTAKE! I have never wanted off my bike so badly and I spent a lot of time hating my life choices. Headwind all day, cold and the longest I have been on my bike ever in an Ironman. I was sure this would be my last Ironman! The struggle was real… and really mental! Once in T2 I truly wasn’t sure if I was going to run a marathon, like I just didn’t want to. That bike ride crushed my soul and will to live and let me be clear, I was ready for this course, I spent a month training in France / Italy riding mountains. It just wasn’t fun! Somehow I talked myself into leaving T2 and while I was in a lot of body pain for the run, Brendan McKee, Carolyn, Chelsea, Becky, and many others out there cheering me on kept me going. I knew I was going to be walking aid stations due to lacking run miles. The run went as well as I could hope for and surprisingly the watermelon at the aid stations really motivated me!! YAY for watermelon!The finish line was amazing and like a disco party! Having a surprise friend and Carolyn greet me there left me speechless! For the first time in my life I uttered the “R” word (retirement) and truthfully it has taken me over a week to talk myself into racing IMAZ! As for IM Nice in 2026… it’s going to take a lot longer before I get over the suffering of this one…. This picture of me at the finish really feels like that moment when I realized how much everyone who supports me got me to this finish line…. If I was out there on my own… I truly don’t know if I would have crossed the line. Thank You…. ALL OF you who support me, in all the ways! ❤️❤️   Coach Rebecca McKee has been coaching 20 years!  She is one of very few USAT Triathlon Level II Endurance Coaches in the Nation.  She holds the highest level Coaching Certification from USA Cycling and is Power Certified.  She is a USA Track & Field Coach, a US Master Swimming Level II Coach, as well as a Slowtwitch Certified Swim Coach.  She is Training Peaks certified along with countless other certifications.  She holds specialty certifications as a Metabolic Specialist, Nutrition Specialist and Menopause Specialist.  Rebecca has also been co-directing races in Alaska for 20 years and is a Certified USAT Race Director.  She is one of the founding members of the Alaska Triathlon Club and still sits on the Board of Directors. Rebecca is also a competitive Elite Triathlete with 8 Ironman Kona World Championship finishes 3x in the top 10.  She has won her age group at Ironman Arizona 5 times.  She is currently ranked #4 in the World in the World Triathlon Corporation Overall Standings for her age group in 2023.  She has been ranked #1 in the World two times (2018 and 2019), for her age group, at the 70.3 distance.  She has raced in over 100 triathlons all over the world to include World Championships in the United States, Canada, Austria, Australia, South Africa (finishing 4th), France, and Finland.  She also raced in Thailand and Spain. Learn more about Coach Rebecca at: https://www.peakcenterak.com/

By Tricia Davis, DPT Improved performance, injury prevention, bone health and muscle imbalance correction are some of the better known reasons for endurance athletes to incorporate strength training into their routine.  These all sound like good enough reasons to get to the gym but it can feel daunting to imagine inserting one more thing into an already overloaded schedule. In order to make a change there need to be reasons you may have not previously considered. Here are some surprising benefits to adding specific strength training to your routine. Better Energy Efficiency- strength training teaches athletes to recruit muscle fibers with ease, strengthening patterns and connections specific to their sports. As distances increase these effects accumulate, making you more efficient and less fatigued during prolonged efforts. This is particularly true with sports requiring a high level of skill and coordination. Enhanced Fatigue Resistance- building muscular endurance allows athletes to maintain great form and power during the latter stages of long events. Increased Metabolic Rate- improving lean muscle mass boosts your metabolic rate which will help in maintaining optimal body composition for endurance sports Improved Joint Range of Motion- exercises requiring a full excursion of movement not regularly required during your sport can aid in more effective movement mechanics. Mental Strength and Confidence- strength training is HARD and proving to yourself that you excel at HARD things builds your mental strength. Confidence in your body’s abilities is the icing on the cake, the difference between finishing a race and DNFing as well as getting to the top spot or plateauing with mid-pack results. Getting Started: The key to starting anything new is to keep it simple. Focus on compound movements that target large muscle groups. This is where a little instruction is key. Performing a squat, lunge and deadlift properly will simply transform your strength routines.  Using bodyweight and minimal equipment like dumbbells or kettlebells will allow you to really dial in your form and make it easier to start now.  Being efficient and consistent with 2-3 sessions of 20-30 minutes a week will be enough to convince you that it is time well spent. Example workout: (2X per week) -body weight squats -reverse lunges -push ups -glute bridges -planks Advancing your Program: Adding resistance with more weight or load is the obvious way to make strength training harder. Building in single leg variations will up the ante and train balance and stability too. Power and speed with the addition of plyometric training can help train explosive power and help keep things interesting. (Think box jumps and jump squats!) Just as we manipulate things like intensity, duration and recovery with training for sport performance so can we use variability with peroidizing your strength training. Overall volume of strength training should be done in the offseason, but maintained during competition. Consistency is key with strength training: Being consistent, getting some form help and carefully listening to your body are keys to your success. Get into the habit of doing just enough, but not too much so that you can continue to build a foundation. Having a coach or personal trainer may help with form and accountability. Getting together with friends in a group setting may also help if you need some extra motivation. Make this year the year you invest in your long term health and sustainability as an athlete with strength training.     Tricia Davis, DPT: Tricia Davis, DPT, is a hyperkinetic, Canadian-trained physiotherapist and athlete. Good at seeing the big picture, she is able to focus on the most important specific details for you to achieve success. Tricia thrives most in helping those with limited time by providing evidence-based training and skill acquisition in order to make training the most efficient way to attain goals while reducing risk of injury. Tricia is passionate about health, wellness and efficiency in sport while maintaining a balance in all aspects of life. She uses humor to connect with people, and shoots straight from the hip- doesn’t beat around the bush. Learn more about her at killercoachacademy.com and fizeeoh.com

If you enjoy Kodiak pancake mix, this recipe makes a large batch of pancake mix for a fraction of the cost! These are a hit with my kids and full of wholesome grains and energy!   To Make Pancake Mix:2 c. wheat flour2 c. white flour2 c. oat flour (add oats to food processor or blender and pulse until you get flour)1/8 c. chia seeds1/4 c. flaxseed meal4 Tbl. baking powder3 tsp. baking soda1 tsp. salt4 Tbl. sugar Mix all of the ingredients and put into an airlock container.   To make pancakes add:1 cup of pancake mix1 egg1 cup of milk1 tsp oil1 tsp. Vanilla (optional) Yields about 4-5 pancakes.  

Pumpkin contains the phytochemical beta-carotene and offers amazing health benefits including, supporting healthy skin, the immune system, and your eyes.   Ingredients 1 tablespoon vegetable oil1 chopped onion1 green bell pepper chopped1 red or yellow bell pepper chopped5 cloves garlic, minced1 pound ground turkey or lean meat (Melissa likes to use elk)1 (14.5 ounce) can diced or crushed tomatoes1 can (15oz) pumpkin puree2 cans black beans drained and rinsed1.5-2 cups chicken or beef broth2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder (you can add more for more spice)2 teaspoons cumin powder1.5 tsp dried oregano1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper½ tsp salt1 bay leaf Top with fresh cilantro, shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream (optional).   DirectionsHeat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and sauté the onion, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and garlic until tender. Stir in the turkey or other meat, and cook until evenly brown. Drain, and mix in tomatoes, black beans, broth, and pumpkin. Season with chili powder, cumin, oregano, pepper, and salt.  Add in the bay leaf. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20+ minutes. Top with cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro, and sour cream.

If you own a Garmin Computer or Watch, did you know your device might have a built-in emergency contact alert feature?

Let's talk about electronic shifting.     Some great features of electronic shifting over mechanical are:   It's just a tap of the button to shift. This could be a great option if you're someone who has a hard time reaching the shifter, has arthritis, or wants ease of shifting in a long endurance mountain biking event (when your hands can get fatigued).   Electronic shifting is very reliable. It's extremely accurate when you shift, and over time, you don't have the stretching of your cables, which can cause gears to skip in mechanical shifting.   People often ask about battery failure. Some people like to carry an extra battery on them. But, be reassured that the battery life is quite a few rides, depending on how often you ride. As long as you keep it charged, battery failure is rare.   The other cool feature is if you use a bike computer or a Garmin device, you can actually see what gears you're in on your bike computer display.    I was always skeptical of getting into electronic shifting but since I've ridden it, I really like it and I think if you tried it out you would too.    There are many other reasons why electronic shifting is a great upgrade to your bike! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at Link Cycling.