Bryce W., Facilities Design and Construction Manager, rides to success with an unlikely transportation solution

Starting at a young age, Bryce has always had a special connection to speed.

Living down the road from a bicycle shop and seeing kids ride around the neighborhood, he took a keen interest in going fast – no matter how dangerous.

At the age of 10, thanks to friends of the shop, Bryce was introduced to Bicycle Motocross (BMX) and started competing in St. Louis. BMX, which became popular in the 1970s, is a form of bicycle racing that takes place on a dirt track and features numerous obstacles and jumps competitors must tackle in the shortest amount of time.

“It wasn’t my parents’ top pick of childhood sports,” recalls Bryce. “But there was just something about the adrenaline of going fast and pushing myself that got me hooked. There’s nothing like getting into a gate with seven other riders, hearing the starting horns and trying to get to the end of the track before your competitors.”

Keeping the passion going

Fast forward to 2017 and Bryce can still be found competing. In fact, he recently won the Missouri State Championship for his age division. This win is familiar territory as Bryce has won several state and regional championships, along with placing in the top 10 nationally.

“I’ve broken my femur, both collar bones, several fingers and suffered concussions,” he says. “You would think that would stop me, but it hasn’t yet.”

Bryce notes he enjoys both the team and individual aspect of the sport. “Our team trains together one to two times per week, but we compete individually,” he says. “It takes a lot of mental focus to not get distracted with the challenges a day of racing presents, so it’s nice to have the support of the other guys to help get you through it.”

Looking ahead

As for his next goal, Bryce says he would like to win the Regional Championships in 2018.

“As a dad of two young children, I’d love to show my kids that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible,” he says. “Having them with me at the races is an incredible experience and something I look forward to time and time again.”