Tara Reddinger-Adams
Current residence: Saint Paul, Minnesota
How long have you been riding for?
Riding bikes has, for the most part, always been part of my life; but I really got into mountain biking in 2007, when I bought myself a Gary Fisher XCaliber 29er to replace my sluggish, heavy mountain bike. After getting my 29er, I re-discovered the joy of riding my bike and have been riding since. I raced cross-country for a few years, eventually burning out on traveling each weekend to race and decided to focus on riding for fun and on developing my skills.
I attended a women’s clinic in Winter Park, Colorado in 2011, and became hooked on learning to ride more technical terrain, especially downhill, and began leading group rides. In 2015, I felt my skills had developed enough to decided to try racing enduro and super D.
What or who influenced you to start riding bicycles?
Bikes have always been part of my life. There are pics of me as a small toddler riding a red tricycle, which gave way to a blue, banana seat Schwinn that became my preferred mode of travel to explore the neighborhood on. On camping trips, I would ride alongside my great-grandfather on his red single speed Schwinn, I also remember going to the BMX track to watch my cousin race and wanting to emulate him. When I was 16, I bought myself a road bike, a Giant Perigee; after school I would ride lap after lap around the neighborhood. I guess you could say I grew up riding and never quit.
What disciplines do you compete in and what do you love most about this type of riding?
Enduro, is the discipline I enjoy most. I love how physically and mentally taxing and challenging enduro is, the long sufferfest climbs, followed by long technical descents; it’s a rush and I don’t think will ever get old or easy.
Give us some of your racing/competition highlights:
1st Citizen Women 30-39 2009 MN Mountain Bike Series Overall Standings
2nd Cat 2 Women 30-39 2010 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships
2nd Women 35-39 2012 Chequamegon Short n’ Fat
3rd Am. Women 30-39 2015 Monarch Crest Enduro, Stages 1 & 2
Do you have any goals for 2016?
I have a few goals for 2016. First, is to obtain my IMBA ICP Level 1 certification so I may lead clinics and coach. Second, is to race in at least one multi-day enduro in Colorado, such as the BME in Aspen/Snowmass, in addition to races in the upper midwest. Lastly, my husband and I going to France for the guided Trans Provence (TP) tour in late September, so I really want to be prepared for it. TP been a bucket list item for me and I hope to possibly compete in 2017.
What’s some of the best bicycle-related advice someone has given you that made a huge difference for you?
Don’t feel like you need to be out there killing yourself all the time on the ride, go out and ride and enjoy it. When I was racing cross-country every ride turned into a race and eventually riding was no longer fun. After I stepped away from racing, I decided to ride for fun it was then that I rediscovered what I enjoyed most about riding, the adventure, the challenge, the solitude, and I was excited to ride again. Now that I am training again, I try to keep that in perspective. Every day on the bike is not going to be awesome, if I’m not feeling it on a particular day, I don’t let it get to me, there is always tomorrow.
Dayjob?
Special Project Coordinator for the Saint Paul Public Schools. I work for AVID, a college readiness elective class for students in the academic middle. I train and coach teachers and tutors, write curriculum, amongst a host of other duties.
2016 sponsors:
Still searching for 2016 sponsors.
How long have you been riding for?
Riding bikes has, for the most part, always been part of my life; but I really got into mountain biking in 2007, when I bought myself a Gary Fisher XCaliber 29er to replace my sluggish, heavy mountain bike. After getting my 29er, I re-discovered the joy of riding my bike and have been riding since. I raced cross-country for a few years, eventually burning out on traveling each weekend to race and decided to focus on riding for fun and on developing my skills.
I attended a women’s clinic in Winter Park, Colorado in 2011, and became hooked on learning to ride more technical terrain, especially downhill, and began leading group rides. In 2015, I felt my skills had developed enough to decided to try racing enduro and super D.
What or who influenced you to start riding bicycles?
Bikes have always been part of my life. There are pics of me as a small toddler riding a red tricycle, which gave way to a blue, banana seat Schwinn that became my preferred mode of travel to explore the neighborhood on. On camping trips, I would ride alongside my great-grandfather on his red single speed Schwinn, I also remember going to the BMX track to watch my cousin race and wanting to emulate him. When I was 16, I bought myself a road bike, a Giant Perigee; after school I would ride lap after lap around the neighborhood. I guess you could say I grew up riding and never quit.
What disciplines do you compete in and what do you love most about this type of riding?
Enduro, is the discipline I enjoy most. I love how physically and mentally taxing and challenging enduro is, the long sufferfest climbs, followed by long technical descents; it’s a rush and I don’t think will ever get old or easy.
Give us some of your racing/competition highlights:
1st Citizen Women 30-39 2009 MN Mountain Bike Series Overall Standings
2nd Cat 2 Women 30-39 2010 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships
2nd Women 35-39 2012 Chequamegon Short n’ Fat
3rd Am. Women 30-39 2015 Monarch Crest Enduro, Stages 1 & 2
Do you have any goals for 2016?
I have a few goals for 2016. First, is to obtain my IMBA ICP Level 1 certification so I may lead clinics and coach. Second, is to race in at least one multi-day enduro in Colorado, such as the BME in Aspen/Snowmass, in addition to races in the upper midwest. Lastly, my husband and I going to France for the guided Trans Provence (TP) tour in late September, so I really want to be prepared for it. TP been a bucket list item for me and I hope to possibly compete in 2017.
What’s some of the best bicycle-related advice someone has given you that made a huge difference for you?
Don’t feel like you need to be out there killing yourself all the time on the ride, go out and ride and enjoy it. When I was racing cross-country every ride turned into a race and eventually riding was no longer fun. After I stepped away from racing, I decided to ride for fun it was then that I rediscovered what I enjoyed most about riding, the adventure, the challenge, the solitude, and I was excited to ride again. Now that I am training again, I try to keep that in perspective. Every day on the bike is not going to be awesome, if I’m not feeling it on a particular day, I don’t let it get to me, there is always tomorrow.
Dayjob?
Special Project Coordinator for the Saint Paul Public Schools. I work for AVID, a college readiness elective class for students in the academic middle. I train and coach teachers and tutors, write curriculum, amongst a host of other duties.
2016 sponsors:
Still searching for 2016 sponsors.
