Rider Profile: Michelle Rodriguez
Trust yourself! You can do it!! It may seem like a lot to take in at first, but just ride at your pace and you will start to get in your groove of riding. You’ll meet so many people that will be happy to just ride with you!
Who are you?
Just a little Latinx baby from the Midwest.
What types of riding do you do?
I love to ride gravel, mountain bike and road!
What do you do for a living?
I am an account manager.
How long have you been riding?
A year and a few days! I bought my bike May 18th of last year. I had a fun memory from the day I bought it recently pop up on my phone. Haha!
What brought you to Northwest Arkansas?
I grew up in Springdale but moved to Virginia Beach back in 2015. I planned to temporarily move back to help my family. Unexpectedly, my partner fell in love with NWA! He calls himself a local now, haha! We definitely call this place home.
How did you get started mountain biking?
I started getting interested in MTB after my partner, Luis, started riding. I saw how much fun he was having and I wanted to have fun on bikes too. I was so nervous because I was not in shape… I’m so glad I got over that mental block and tried it because now I’m hooked!
Why do you participate in mountain biking?
There’s so much! I could go on and on with this question. It’s a little bit of everything. Connecting with nature, connecting with people from different walks of life, the physical fitness, the mental fitness… I always find myself pushing myself harder when I’m on my bike.
What cycling ambitions do you have for yourself in the next year?
Just to ride as much as possible, and participate in some races!
What mountain bike do you ride and why?
I ride a little hardtail Cannondale Trail 3. This bike and I were meant to be! I really wasn’t looking for a bike last year, but my partner Luis called me to come to the bike shop to check out this bike in my size. I was just like, ‘Ok yeah let me go check it out no big deal.’ I saw it, tested it, and fell in love. We’re living happily ever after now haha!
If you could only ride on OZ Trail for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Modelo loop! Such a fun loop!
What is your favorite post-ride meal?
Yeyos nachos with the salsa on the side. HANDS DOWN! SO DELICIOUS!
What encouragement would you give to someone in our community who is thinking about trying mountain biking but is nervous to take the first step?
Trust yourself! You can do it!! It may seem like a lot to take in at first, but just ride at your pace and you will start to get in your groove of riding. You’ll meet so many people that will be happy to just ride with you!
