First, a word about Phil the Thrill:
To someone who doesn't know me, this nickname might indicate that I'm full of myself. Let me assure you that it's a joke.
a. I'm barely cracking the top level of American cycling at this point, and that's not very thrilling in the big picture.
b. Even if I make it all the way, make millions of dollars, and win more tours than Lance, I realize that to most people I'm still a dude with shaved legs and brightly-colored tights who should really get the hell out of the road.

Bio:
I am a cyclist, a coach, and an English major at the University of Florida. My goal is to see how far bike racing takes me, and begin a career as a writer/journalist when I'm ready to hang up my wheels.

In 2004, I retired from laziness and computer games and started riding a bike to lose weight. Quickly enamored with the sport, I bought a road bike and began a training program that fall.

I won my first few races 2005 and rose through the ranks. I upgraded to category 2 in only four months and joined AG Edwards, an elite amateur team out of Atlanta, Georgia. At the end of that year, I earned a bronze medal in the points race at Collegiate Track National Championships, and signed a contract with VMG, a startup U23 pro team.

I spent 2006 floundering in races I wasn't ready for, as I was probably the least experienced "pro" in the history of cycling, as well as the highest paid cat 2. This combination came with a steep learning curve and a lot of road rash, but I was able to get enough points for my cat 1 upgrade, and I gained valuable experience and an appreciation for the life of a pro cyclist.

In 2007, VMG changed direction and understandably left me behind, and I landed on CRCA/Sakonnet U25, another great development team. I faced a stiff schedule, but this time I was ready, which I proved with local wins, several NRC top 15s, and a 7^th place finish at the UCI Univest Grand Prix road race.

In 2008, I moved to Fiordifrutta, one of the best amateur teams in the country. With their support, I determined my own schedule, and drove myself to every race that suited me, putting 30,000 miles on my car (and probably taking years off my life). I turned heads first at Mt. Hood, where I drove a breakaway for over 80 miles in the first road race, and still had the gas to attack for the win before the field swallowed up the break in the final kilometers. At the Tour of Pennsylvania, I had more near-misses, going solo for the win in two consecutive stages, only to get caught in the final meters for a 3rd and a 5th place. My hopes for the U23 Nationals TT were dashed by a flat tire, but I redeemed myself in the road race, finishing 4th, and first non-Slipstream rider, after the argyle armada worked me over. I finally got a big win on Mt. Washington, ending the season with an exclamation point. It was a hard year, bumming at friends' houses and sleeping in my car, but it was all worth it when I got the call from Jelly Belly for 2009.

In 2009, I joined the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team, and got a shot at the big races, including the Tours of California, Missouri, Qinghai Lakes, and Hainan Island. Results were hard to come by with such a tough schedule, but I got a big win at the San Dimas Stage Race, defended my title at Mt. Washington, and learned a lot in my debut season as a real pro.

For 2010, I've joined the Kenda Pro Cycling Team, a revamped squad out for real results. I'm excited to see what I can do on a more manageable domestic schedule, with a strong team behind me.