Closing the Gap On: Ryan Stremke
The Wabash River Cycle Club's "Closing the Gap On..." blog series is a brief minute spent getting to know your diverse cycling community! If you know of someone who wouldn't mind sharing just squeaks of information about their cycling life, please contact us at wrccindiana@gmail.com to nominate them (or... yourself!)
What is your name?
Ryan Stremke
What kind of work do
you do? If retired, what was your life’s work?
I work in information technology at Purdue.
Do you engage in any
hobbies when you’re not cycling?
Photography
What is your cycling background?
Have you always biked? If you got back into cycling as an adult, how did that
come about?
I rode my bike frequently growing up, but it wasn’t until a
couple years after college that I bought my first road bike. It was a new-old
stock steel bike from a shop in Milwaukee, and I rode it regularly until I got
a modern road bike.
Do you lead any WRCC
rides? If so, how do you plan your routes?
Less so recently, but when I used to I would primarily try
to pick routes with hills and interesting scenery.
How often do you ride
your bike each week in good weather?
1-2 times
Do you track your
mileage? Do you have a mileage goal?
Yes, I use Strava. My goals vary from year to year based on
which events I’m targeting.
How far was your
longest bike ride?
160 miles - RAIN
Have you ever ridden
a fixie?
Nope.
Do you enjoy working
on your bike or do you prefer to take it to the shop for basic maintenance? For
more complicated stuff?
I try to do all my own maintenance. I usually enjoy working
on my bike. I find certain tasks like washing it, doing routine maintenance or
wrapping bar tape to be oddly calming and satisfying.
What is your favorite
food to consume during a ride?
My go to ride staples are lemons & limes Skratch mix,
and pomegranate açaí Honey Stinger gels. I enjoy Lara Bars and homemade rice
cakes on longer rides.
Clipless, toe clips,
or flat pedals?
Clipless
What power song do
you sing to yourself to make it up a hard hill?
I usually manage to get some particularly annoying pop song
stuck in my head during rides. I’ve learned to embrace it.
What piece of gear do
you love?
Waterproof gear that works and is breathable. I have several
Castelli items that are great for wet rides.
Hills or wind?
Hills. Wind is just demoralizing.
Is there a local road
or route that you especially love?
The gravel roads west of Independence are quite scenic and I
enjoy exploring those.
Who is that one
riding buddy you trust to tell you when your shorts have worn out?
Molly. Obviously.
Who has inspired you
to push yourself athletically?
I have several close cycling friends who ride farther or
faster (or both) than I do. They’re inspiring and regularly provide
encouragement and advice.
Are you working
toward any cycling goals right now?
Getting faster.
How do you stay in
shape over the winter?
I use Zwift, do off-bike exercises, and if it’s not bitterly
cold or icy, I’ll ride my gravel bike.
What do you like
about riding with the Wabash River Cycle Club?
I enjoy the camaraderie, the variety of rides, and the
support for each other. There’s a sense of community.