There aren’t too many brands that can claim a PhD candidate in astrophysics as an athlete! Erik has been racing since his junior days, and now has reached some lofty heights on and off the bike! Be sure to follow him below.
What first drew you into competitive cycling, and what keeps you racing today?
I started racing as a way to stay fit for my fall and winter high school sports. I found that I was having more fun racing than I was playing team sports, and so I picked up racing year-round during my senior year in high school. Today, I keep racing as a way to feed my competitive spirit. There is nothing more fun than racing against your friends.
What has been your proudest race moment or breakthrough performance?
I have had quite a few moments where I have over-performed my expected results, but I think my proudest moment was when I won the category 3 race at the NBX Grand Prix of Cyclocross in my hometown. Being so close to my house, I use Goddard Park as my cyclocross training grounds. I was able to put together everything and win in a HUGE field in front of my close and extended family.
Can you walk us through your typical bike setup process before a big race?
My pre-race routine starts a few days before the race. For a Sunday race, I put my last shakedown ride on a Thursday. Even if my bike is already clean, I give it one last wash on a Saturday night. On race day, I have a very specific set of events that must take place in order. Arrive an hour and 15 minutes before the gun, register, set tire pressures, check suspension settings and pressures, and add wax or chain lube if required. Even on the start line, I have a pre-race checklist, first making sure that I am in the right gear, and then checking my pedals are at the right angle to clip in. Preparation is everything for a good race.
How do you evaluate or select your drivetrain components?
As a student, the budget is always tight, so I am looking for the best value for money. I am still a firm believer that Shimano 11-speed XT was the greatest groupset to ever exist. Lately, I have preferred the SRAM AXS systems with their integrated power meters and crisp shifting. As someone who rides “hard”, it is important that my groupset is robust in case in takes a hit during a race or training run.
What details do you obsess over when it comes to drivetrain performance?
Robustness. Things happen while you race. You might get rear-ended on the start line, or you might have a stick jump up into your derailleur. The last thing you want is your bike skipping gears in the middle of a race.
How do Rotation Engineering components fit into your race-day setup?
For a long time, I kept a bottle of Rotation Engineering AC2 chain lube in my car. I am probably the last convert to waxed chains and having some chain lube in my car to address any squeak that comes from my drivetrain. Recently, Seth talked me into using the Rotation Engineering Wax Chain Lube. Unlike other waxes, the Rotation Engineering wax has officially made me a convert to the wax chain trend.
Have you noticed any performance differences since switching to Rotation parts?
I never really meshed with waxed chains before I switched to using rotation engineering hot wax chain lube. I always felt that waxed chains were more maintenance than they were worth. Using Rotation Engineering’s hot wax chain lube has definitely changed my perspective on that.
What kind of race conditions do you feel Rotation products especially excel in?
The wet and the dirt are always the true test for any drivetrain part. However, I would like to add one more: the sand. In racing cyclocross, we ride through sand pits and through beaches. I have never had a single spec of sand ingress into my drivetrain using a Rotation Engineering bottom bracket, speaking to their superior construction.
What’s one overlooked maintenance or performance tip you’d share with younger racers?
My biggest performance tip for younger riders is to keep riding within yourself. I see a lot of very fast riders who are very fast until something goes wrong. They get manic and start freaking out and making mistakes. The slowest thing you can do while racing is be on the ground because you have crashed or broken your bike. “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast” gets said a lot around the race circuit, but it does not get taken seriously enough.
How do you mentally prep before a high-stakes event?
I used to really struggle with this. I found that not over-complicating things and just enjoying the event helped me race even faster. For example, when I travel to a nationals, I travel with my family and make it a little family road trip. Focusing on the journey and spending a good time with my family keeps my mind off of obsessing about the race. A few hours before the race, I get locked in, and then we are ready to go when the gun goes off.
What role does the cycling community play in your journey?
Cycling is a very positive and supportive community. When you are struggling with anything, on or off the bike, the community is there to help you. Even if we get a little heated during a race, we are always congratulating each other and shaking hands on the finish line. This positivity is something unparalleled in other competitive sports and provides a positive influence on the rest of my life.
How do you see your platform as a way to influence or mentor others?
Over the last few years, I think I have temporarily plateaued in my racing results. I think a major part of this was trying to balance racing and pursuing a PhD in Astrophysics. There are only so many hours in the week, and researching and writing a dissertation took a lot of them. That being said, during this time, I have qualified and raced World Cups, national and continental championships in two disciplines.
I want people to see me racing and realize they do not have to give up on other dreams to race at the highest levels. I have seen many kids drop out of school to “go pro” just to burn out in a few years and return to school. While at the tippity top, you might have to focus solely on racing, but you can certainly get pretty far without having to give up on your other dreams.
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