Name: Allan Rego
Category: 1
Race Age: 30
Current team: CRCA/Lupus Racing Team
Day Job: Cycling Coach

How you got into cycling: My parents were teaching my older sister to ride, but she wasn’t overly interested, so I gave it a try. I learned to ride pretty quickly, but learning to use the coaster brakes took a few days. I had a few accidents into briar patches, cars and the occasional person or dog. Since then, bikes have always been part of my life. My BMX bike gave me some freedom to be a punk, my MTB set me free for longer distances, and at some point I graduated to a road bike.

How you got into racing: Boston College had a club cycling team. We raced in the ECCC (perhaps the most enjoyable road cycling league in existence). I ski raced in college, was struck by the inevitable knee injury, then took up bike racing.

Favorite local course and why: Floyd Bennett Field. Well first, It’s just cool to show up way out in Brooklyn and see that the scene somehow arrived. How did they get to this bike racing oasis? The racing is also a blast. It has a lot to teach. You learn when to go hard and when to go easy…easy is relative. The ride home completes the experience: cruising Brooklyn and Manhattan -with 1st Ave moto pacing (not suggested)- after dark.

Greatest achievement racing: Winning the Keith Berger Crit in 2011. Placing the fast Cat 3, 2, 1 or Pro on a different and unobtainable level is the biggest thing holding many racers back. I used to do it. This breakthrough race made me realize that I was as good as the scary person who racers helplessly submit to week after week. Perhaps I had been the one holding myself back. I carry that memory with me, it has helped. I recommend that people stop giving wins away just because they have convinced themselves it can’t be otherwise.

Worst memory of a race: Probably Grant’s Tomb 2015. It was 40 degrees and raining. I got into a 3-man break and slowly went hypothermic. I couldn’t hold a wheel as my HR went from 180 to 170…to 140. I shouted to my break mates, “Hey guys! Wait for me!”. The break went 1-2. I went home and started convulsing. Be careful out there!

Goals/Aspirations: I’d like to win Battenkill.

What’s the most fun thing you missed out on in order to do a bike race: I miss out on half of every wedding I go to because of bike racing. It goes like this: 2 beers, eat lots of food, get really tired, fall asleep for a couple of hours, wake up groggy, try to rally, fall back asleep. Bike Racing makes you tired. Be sure to taper before your next wedding.