Ride Leaders and Mentors

 "I remember the first time I clipped in I felt free and alive, like I could do anything, go anywhere...I loved the speed and adrenaline".  AJ continued her passion for biking and noticed change taking place both physically and emotionally.  AJ now contributes much of her recent life successes and relationships to the strength cycling has given her. This has led her to her most recent success G2 Bike. 

"I want motivate and inspire others to pursue their dreams and I hope G2 Bike will provide all the tools for others to reach their goals."

Heather was born & raised in southwestern OH, and moved out to sunny southern CA in 2006 for a promotion within her company. Growing up, her interests were always more in the arts over sports. That was until she discovered mountain biking in 2009, and she hasn't stopped pedaling since! She enjoys all disciplines of biking, and in her free time can usually be found out on a road or dirt adventure. Her competitive spirit also enjoys racing where she has competed in XC and Endurance mountain bike races as well as Cyclocross. Loving to see new riders come into the sport and improve on their skills, in addition to helping with Girls Ride 2, she also assists with managing a local coed mountain bike group and is a mountain bike Trail Guide for the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Julie has been riding road bikes since 2006 after a decidedly non-athletic childhood in the greater New York City area.  Since catching the cycling bug, she’s completed numerous centuries, double centuries and longer distance events in the western USA.  She has also competed in the HooDoo 500 and Rockwell Relay races in Utah.  When she’s not riding, you can find Julie behind the wheel of her minivan, supporting her husband Colin as he takes on a variety ultracycling events.  She loves traveling with her bike and has been on cycling tours in Europe,  South and Central America and various US states.   
Julie says the best thing about riding bikes is hanging out with friends old and new.  This is why she’s joined AJ and the G2 Bike crew to form a ladies’ intermediate road riding group in 2015.  “I felt there wasn’t a place where intermediate female riders could get together and make each other stronger”, says Julie.  “Now, we have a home”.

I grew up in Iowa and I took up road riding in 2008 so I could particpate in RAGBRAI, which is a huge annual ride across the state.  I was immediately hooked and loved the comradery that comes with biking.  In 2010 I started doing sprint and olympic distance triathlons and eventually completing 4 half Ironman and Ironman Wisconsin in 2013.   In 2014 I moved to California from Minneapolis where I had lived for the past 5 years.  One of my first rides in Cali was a womens group ride leaving from G2 Bike.  Being from the flat Midwest, I struggled up and down the hills of SoCal but the AJ and other women in G2 jerseys encouraged me and made me want to get stronger.   I am so happy to be helping with rides now and encouraging others to challenge themselves in a fun, welcoming environment.   G2 is way more than a bike shop, it's a community!