Geovana “Geo” Velazquez // Pathways and Perspectives
My name is Geo Velazquez, originally from Mexico, moved to Austin, Texas in 1993 where I developed a love for the outdoors and being out in nature. In Austin, I spend a lot of time hiking and Barton Springs was my favorite swimming spot! It wasn’t until 2013 when by accident on one of my hikes at Walnut Creek, I ran into the mtb club, The Austin Ridge Riders they invited me to join them to their weekly rides, but I didn’t even own a bike!
I do believe in destiny and how we are put in the path of the people we will need in our journey. My mentor with ARR, Robert Hansen helped me get a bike, very patiently took the time to teach me how to ride a bike for the first time, I was 35 years old. I joined the club and became very involved, first helping with the “kids trips” a program where we took the kids from boys and girls club mountain biking, after 6 years of wearing many hats in the club including trail crew coordinator, special events coordinator, race director and vice president the last two years. I knew then that this was my community, my people, my tribe!
In 2014 I registered for my first race, my goal was to motivate more women to register for my race event at Pace Bend, the race was a success with the most women registered for the first time. Only one small problem, I got hooked to racing! I started racing in 2014 and by 2016 I had won my first State Championship and went to my first National Championship in Mammoth Mountain, Ca. where I managed to podium. I had been racing strong CAT 1 for two years, volunteering for the mtb club and working full time as a preschool director, when in 2016 I was diagnosed with Gastric Stomach cancer, this is when I first realized how much I was going to need my cycling community and my bike to get through it. I had given so much to the community that when I needed it, they were all for me!
My stomach was removed in September of 2016, I went through 12 rounds of chemotherapy and lost the ability to process nutrients, I was not the same competitor and my cycling journey was unknown, I had to reinvent myself, convinced and determined I decided to use my bike for healing, to practice active recovery, mental toughness, release fear, and to use the bike as a tool to overcome hard times, so I started a group ride I called “recovery ride” for riders who had gone through traumatic experiences, both physically, mentally, and emotionally, the ride was slow and short but impactful.
In 2018 I decided to go back to racing, with a different idea in mind, to focus on me and not the competition in 2018 I won the State Championship again, and went back to Nationals, chasing fast girls on a bike was my way to keep cancer at bay, ( cycling an hour a day reduces chances of getting cancer by 30%). Through cycling I was able to keep cancer away for 7 years, time I was not expected to have and I am very grateful for, cycling daily gave me the opportunity to see my sons graduate from middle school and high school, to see my daughter get her first big job, cycling daily has given me the time to meet the love of my life, to make new friends, ride new trails, get my dream job where I get to share my passion for cycling, nature education, trail advocacy and share my experiences with others.
The benefits of riding a bike are so great, so big, it’s hard to believe it, but I am here to prove it. In May of 2024 after racing Rule of 3, I developed a muscle ache on my back, scans showed that cancer is back on my spine and pelvis, I have been on treatment for 6 months now, as I continue this race to find a cure, I will continue using my bike to shed the chemo, fears and doubts. My bike is the best medicine, it doesn’t care if go slow, if I stop frequently, it grounds me, motivates me, takes me as I am and it grants me more time. ❤️ Go ride your bike!
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