Cyclists tend to be nearly unrecognizable on the road; to some degree, we’re disguised by a helmet and sunglasses. There are times when we know each other more by the bike we ride than anything else, particularly when most of us are wearing identical Nona Cycle jerseys. It’s not uncommon to see a fellow cyclist in “normal” clothes and initially not recognize them.

We come to know each other post-ride at Starbucks or Nona Adventure Park; typical cyclist talk leads to conversations about family, what we do for a living, places we’ve traveled, and how we found Nona Cycle. Inevitably, we become friends on Facebook, and in typical social media fashion, get to know the person beyond the spandex and spokes.

The progression from riding with someone I only know by their bike and how fast they ride to truly knowing who this person is and counting them among my friends had me wondering about how people passing our pace line view us. Do they wonder what motivates us to ride on the road, where we came from, how far we’re riding … or do they view us as nothing more than a nuisance with no regard for the fact that there are bike lanes and the “three-foot” law?

This month’s column is the first of a series profiling the “anonymous” cyclists you see riding around your community – the members of Nona Cycle. You’ll find we come from diverse backgrounds and professions, became cyclists for a wide variety of reasons, and have a common thread that binds us together – love for the sport and a deep appreciation of our fellow Nona Cycle family members.

Kevin Addison and Daughter Taylor

Kevin is relatively new to cycling and Nona Cycle. An inline skater since 1994, he left the sport for a time, returning to it in 2015. He took up cycling as a complement to his skating.

Like some of his fellow members of Nona Cycle, Kevin does not live in Lake Nona; he commutes to our Canvas roll-out point from Davenport. He’s found the people, friendly atmosphere, and quality of the rides help make him a fundamentally better cyclist.

Kevin’s had a new riding partner the past month or so; his daughter, Taylor, has taken up the sport and is Nona Cycle’s youngest member at 10 years old. A natural athlete, she was an inline speed skater for two years, currently participates in track and field, and has been a student at Glenda’s Dance Center in St. Cloud for two years.

Taylor got interested in cycling as something new and fun to do with her dad. Her orange and red specialized bike looks like a miniature version of Kevin’s, but don’t let her size fool you. She can reach speeds of 17 mph and wears the signature cycling shoes and cleats, meaning she is “clipped in” to her bike. I couldn’t help but think of the falls I took while learning this all important road-cycling technique when she clipped in and rolled out with us one morning just after putting her shoes on for the first time.

On a recent Saturday morning, a group of Nona Cycle ladies and friends headed out for our monthly Ladies Only Ride – joined by Taylor and her dad. To see her in the midst of the pace line riding effortlessly, sometimes behind Kevin and sometimes sprinting off with him in pursuit, brought an added sense of fun to the morning. We’re witnessing the future of cycling, and she is awesome!

Garrett O’Neill

Garrett is well known to the members and friends of Nona Cycle for his gregarious personality; his love of cycling is rivaled only by his love of Game of Thrones. Encouraged to join by a work colleague, he has been a member of Nona Cycle for two years. While riding in a pace line was a new experience, Garrett certainly wasn’t new to cycling; he’s been a pedicab driver working in downtown Orlando since 2009. He lives in Orlando and commutes to ride in Lake Nona.

Garrett got into road cycling when his dad, a cyclist, gifted him with a road bike for Christmas in 2011; together, they have completed the MS 150 annual two-day, 150-mile ride that raises money in support of a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.  In 2013, Garrett began working in local bike shops, first in sales and now at his current position in assembly at Orange Cycle Works. I can attest to his knowledge and passion for bikes; it was Garrett who spent a number of months patiently answering my questions as I made the leap from beginning to advanced road bike (and, oh, how I love my new bike!).

The friends he has made, the opportunity to educate and encourage newer rides, and the joy of watching his fellow riders progress are what makes Nona Cycle special to Garrett. He shares the same sentiment we all do – there’s no better way to spend a Sunday morning than peddling out from Canvas for 30-plus miles of cycling, followed by fellowship at our post-ride gather spots.

Another insight Garrett shared is something for anyone who sees us riding in our pace line and wonders what possesses us to do this: Cycling proves that exercise does not have to be a chore – it can be fun, improve your mood, and lead to new, unexpected friendships.

Do you like to cycle or want to learn how? Join the Nona Cycle group for weekly rides: nonahood.to/nonacycle.