Race 2 Performance MVP: Miles Talbert
Meet Miles Talbert, our Sacramento Cyclocross 2023 Men’s A Series Champion and Race 2 MVP. We’re highlighting Miles because of his continuous positive attitude, passion for the sport and dedication to racing at a high level. Performance Bicycle is proud to help us honor Miles with a $100 gift card!
How long have you been racing cyclocross and how did you get into it?
This is my third season of racing cyclocross. My entry to cyclocross is entirely attributable to my high school mountain biking coach, Lars Lofgren, who encouraged me to try out cyclocross racing on numerous occasions. In 2021, I gave it a go on my mountain bike and felt like it suited my strengths as a cyclist. I decided to race the entire season the following year and each year since then.
What is your “day job” and how do you balance the training needed to compete at a high level and all your other responsibilities?
I am incredibly fortunate to be able to be a full-time college student who does not need to work to pay the bills. With that said, I do not put cycling above family responsibilities or my education, so my training is whatever time I have left over after those. I do not take on much outside of school and cycling, so I can do my best to excel at both.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in your cycling career?
Somehow, I have not broken a bone or suffered an extensive injury before. I would say the biggest challenge I have overcome was mentally dealing with being years behind in terms of physical development while racing mountain bikes in high school. No matter how hard I trained, I did not have anywhere near the power of my competitors, so I had trouble finding the motivation to keep training and racing. On the flip side, I learned to make the most of the tactical and technical sides of racing, which allowed me to find better success once I was more developed.
Tell us about your race bike! What is it and how have you personalized it?
My race bike is a Specialized Crux—thanks to Specialized Sacramento last season. It is mostly stock, minus some aftermarket wheels. As for personalized things, I race with tire inserts to run lower pressures and ensure I avoid pinch flats and breaking my wheels. I also race with turned-in hoods, which allow me to have my elbows further out, akin to a mountain bike. This gives me better control, and I can tuck down lower on the straightaways for better aerodynamics—not that that matters much in cyclocross.
What are your goals for this season?
Since I achieved my long-term cycling goal of winning the series last year, I do not have any results goals this year. Of course, I would like to defend the title, but I am not willing to pursue it if it takes away from the fun or other aspects of my life.