For many, cycling is just a pastime, but for sophomore Rebecca Rinderknecht, it is much more. It is a way to connect with family and challenge herself mentally and physically. Every ride pushes her further, both on and off the bike.
Rinderknecht’s love for cycling started at a young age. Inspired by her father at 12 years old, Rinderknecht began her cycling journey with simple rides in her neighborhood. This simple bonding activity turned into a passion she still enjoys to this day.
“My dad and I used to do [cycle] in the afternoons, after he got home from work, just to, relax and go see nature,” sophomore Rinderknecht said.
One of her most memorable moments from cycling was her first time seeing wildlife up close. On her trips, she would see animals such as deer and cows, especially on her cycling venture in Germany.
“My favorite memories from cycling would have to be when I saw a deer for the first time up close, and the beautiful scenery I saw during my rides,” Rinderknecht said.
What started out as just a family vacation to Germany turned into an enduring but rewarding adventure. Rinderknecht’s father discovered a trail when he came up with the idea of a four-day bike trip across the area.
“The most difficult trail I’ve done was in Germany,” Rinderknecht said. “It was tough waking up early every morning and biking the entire day.”
The family traveled from one end of Germany to the North Sea, encountering wildlife, cities and wilderness on their way there. The trail ranged from rocky dirt paths to cement streets of cities. Rinderknecht saw many animals and interacted with many different groups of people.
Such a lengthy trip requires preparation. Commonly, cyclists focus on endurance when training for longer trips. They ride consecutively for weeks with rest periods to prevent over training. In preparation for the ride, Rinderknecht and her family did as such.
“When we’re doing a tour, like we did in Germany, we’ll go [cycling], every day of the weekend for a few months leading up to it,” Rinderknecht said.
Her regimen taught her endurance, patience and discipline. She felt her motivation would trickle down to nothing every day, but her father would often words of encouragement.
“When I’m tired my dad will tell me that I’m slow,” Rinderknecht said.
As a high school student, it may be challenging to balance academics and extracurriculars. With this in mind, Rinderknecht has a schedule that works for her that she sticks to. This allows her to focus on both cycling and her studies.
“I just focus on finding a balance,” Rinderknecht said. “I do [cycling] once a week, usually on the weekends.”
Though currently cycling is just a hobby for Rinderknecht, she hopes it will remain a substantial part of her life in the future.
“I definitely want to keep doing it, and do a similar thing with my kids,” Rinderknecht said. “I think that’d be nice.”
For now, cycling for competitions may not be on her agenda, but Rinderknecht knows there will always be a bike nearby. For her, it is not about competing; it is about the freedom of the ride, appreciating nature and making memories with loved ones.
This story was originally published in the May 2025 Eagle Eye print edition.
