Meet Mountain Bike Racer Lindsey Prososki

photo courtesy of Lindsey Prososki

Meet Lindsey Prososki, Back Roads and Beaches’ sponsored mountain biking phenom. Now a 16 year old junior at North Ridgeville High School, Lindsey has been racing for 11 years, starting in the competitive sport of mountain biking at the ripe age of 5. By the age of 12, she was a full time mountain biker taking over racing circuits across the country. She is currently ranked number 1 in the country by USA Cycling for junior women cross country and has taken many impressive first place finishes in races including the prestigious Kenda Cup Series.

According to Lindsey, her dad was instrumental in her early start as a mountain biker. She grew up watching her father race mountain bikes competitively, but according to Lindsey’s mom “Now he can’t keep up”. With Lindsey’s talent, it’s understandable. In addition to her first place ranking in the country, Lindsey was also previously named the novice women’s state champion in the Ohio Mountain Bike Championship (OMBC) series. This class is designed for women aged 25 and up, and at the time of her win, Lindsey was merely 13 years old. This major feat sums up the drive and talent that Lindsey possesses. She also won the Iceman Cometh Challenge which is believed to be the largest single day mountain bike race in the world which boasts more than 5,000 racers.

Taking part in races as Lindsey does, is by no means an easy feat. Racing mountain bikes on tracks that are usually 15 or more miles long, full of treacherous terrain with many steep downhills, and doing so in sometimes inclement weather would be enough to stop many people from even trying the sport. Bravery is definitely not something Lindsey is lacking. Four concussions and a broken elbow later, Lindsey is still unfazed by the possible dangers.

As you can see, completing such a race is difficult enough in itself. However; it’s not as if she simply jumps on her bike before the start of the race. Racing requires many long hours of practice, and according to Lindsey, “that’s the hardest part.” In order to prepare for such rigorous races, Lindsey bikes countless miles daily at the Lorain County Metroparks. For a 16 year old, this level of dedication is unheard of to many. And in her mind, her young age is not a hindrance, but rather a perk. “It’s fun being younger than the other racers. Everyone treats me like I’m their kid.”

However; being a teenager means having a busy schedule. When asked how she juggles mountain biking with other extracurricular activities, school, and friends, Lindsey says “I stopped playing basketball and volleyball to concentrate on racing. It’s hard, but I try to ride every day.” It’s clear that her commitment to the sport is unwavering. In the future, Lindsey wants to attend college to become an attorney. Her biggest hope is to attend a college with a mountain biking team so she can continue to compete in her beloved sport. As for now, her goal is to race in the Expert Category by the time she is 18, and after all of the things she has accomplished, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch. Keep your eyes out and expect even bigger things from Lindsey in the future! We wish her the best of luck!

Written by: Katie Swinehart