HILLSTRONG: Senior takes cycling to next level

Photo Credit: Jim Becker

Senior Josh Hill trains in his neighborhood decked out in full riding gear. Hill will be following his favorite rider, American Lance Armstrong, as he tries to win his eighth Tour de France this summer.

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March 10, 2010 • Jim Becker, Managing Editor  
Filed under Features, Sports

Watch out for senior Josh Hill. He could be on the streets of your neighborhood. He could be pedaling down 151st Street. He might even be zooming past casual joggers in Swope Park. To the typical teenager, riding a bike is a last resort if the gas money has run out. But for a serious cyclist like Hill, the 100 weekly miles he puts on his finely tuned speed and mountain bikes are the most fun imaginable on two or four wheels.

His devotion to the sport began in the parking lot of Harmony Elementary School when he was only 5 years old. The training wheels soon came off, and Hill was riding his bike to the movies, friends’ houses and everywhere in between.

“Biking proved to be much simpler than walking,” Hill said.

At 14, Hill bought his first mountain bike, an AMP B4. Shawnee Mission Park became a home-away-from-home.

“I had more fun than I’ve ever had, and I started to ride more often and encouraged some friends to get involved,” Hill said.

Dave Hill, his father and executive director of facilities and operations for the Blue Valley School District, was instrumental in his son’s early interest in the sport. As a reward for stellar grades sophomore year, Mr. Hill bought a legitimate professional mountain bike for his son. Hill unleashed the Armstrong within soon after. His dad had created a monster.

“He’s a much better trail rider than I am,” Mr. Hill said. “Sometimes I think Josh most enjoys when I come out to those trails and make a fool of myself!”

Now, he’s more focused on training. When the temperature isn’t below freezing and the roads are dry, he rides four to six times a week. He puts up to 20 miles on his stationary bike when there’s snow on the ground.

“I usually ride anywhere from 20 to 50 miles, depending on the day,” Hill said.

Last summer saw Hill complete his first two century rides, which are 100 miles in one day. In August, he and his father rode in the Louisburg Cider Mill Century Ride. This summer, the father-son duo plan to take on the Des Moines Register’s 38th annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.

“I really enjoy spending time biking with him,” Mr. Hill said.

Hill also practices with neighbor and bike enthusiast, senior Ross Jensen.

“We don’t really train for anything specific, just to be able to have a good ride every time,” Jensen said. “It seems we have different skill sets in riding; he dominates the hills, and I dominate the sketchy rocky lines and descents.”

Top-notch equipment is essential to be a serious rider. Hill currently uses a Cannondale r1000 Road Bike and a Trek Liquid Mountain Bike. A helmet, cycling shoes and clip-less pedals complete the ensemble.

As with any sport, cycling has its superstars.

“Lance Armstrong is my favorite cyclist of all time,” Hill said. He’s even garnered the nickname “Lance” in the halls of BV West. “Everything he’s had to overcome is remarkable in itself. To win one Tour de France is unbelievable, but seven? I can’t think of any other cycling accomplishment that even compares.”

Hill also follows lesser-known riders.

“Danny MacAskill is an awesome trial rider who does things with a bike I didn’t even think were humanly possible,” Hill said. “I admire Chris Eatough because of his crazy mountain biking endurance”

Hill’s trail will take a detour over spring break when he has surgery to repair a torn meniscus. But that’s not before he heads to the mountain biking mecca of Moab, Utah, to take on some of the most difficult trails in the world. He and Jensen will be riding with the local cycling club, Venture. They’ll also stop and ride trails in Fruita, Colo.

After graduation and some serious rehab, Hill plans on adding a triathlon to his busy summer schedule of training and century rides before heading to Iowa State University.

“I plan on riding a lot while on campus,” Hill said.

So next time you want to yell at the biker in the right lane, restrain yourself. It might be BV West’s cyclist extraordinaire.

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