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Joey Sielen

Photo by Amy Dykema

Name: Joseph Sielen

Age: 24

Location: Milwaukee

Disciplines/ Current Categories: Mountain Bike, Cat2/Comp

Goals for the upcoming season: Win the Subaru Cup Omnium, upgrade to Elite, and have a blast doing it all.

Why did you start racing? I started racing because I love mountain biking. Racing takes me to places I would never ride other wise.

First Race Story: I was 19 and I had just gotten back into mountain biking. I thought I was pretty fast after riding like mad for about three months. I had my brother take me to the Alpine Valley WORS race, and entered with some money I borrowed from a friend. I entered as a Comp, and blew up after a lap and a half. I knew I couldn't finish the race, but had too much pride to drop out. After suffering for some time, I heard a pop and knew I had my out. I had never been so pleased to have a flat tire and no spare tube. I dnf'd and was humbled.

1st Bicycle: A huffy with 24in wheels and a unicrown coil sprung fork. It was awesome. I learned how to mountain bike on it.

Current bikes: Santa Cruz Superlight, Voodoo Aizan, Khs Dj200, Zion 660EBB, and Andy's Soma DoubleCross.

Favorite Bicycle story (Does not have to be related to racing): Last spring my brother and I took a road trip to Moab, Utah. It's sort of a pilgrimage for mountain bikers. Beware though, if you ask me about it, I may never stop talking.

Bicycle superstitions: I always have fun while riding. When I get too serious, bad things happen.

Dumbest thing you've done on a bike: Recently? I was manualing down a staircase at UWM on one of those below-zero days. I undershot it and wound up on my face. I was bleeding during class, and had to keep pulling my sleeve off of my arm so it would get all stuck in the blood and puss.

Special Talents? Wheel building, getting up after a crash and continuing to ride, and staying stoked.

Strengths: Downhills, climbs, and technical stuff.

Weaknesses: Starts, passing, and pacing myself.

Final words of wisdom? Be stoked and you will get lucky.