Expert Profile: Anne Grofvert
EXPERT PROFILE
Where the Rubber Meets the Dirt: Anne Grofvert
- Expert name: Anne Grofvert
- Affiliation: USA Cycling, IMBA
- Occupation: Marketing & Advertising
- Location: Michigan
- Date joined ExpertVoice: 2010
Meet Anne Grofvert, a lifelong Michigander and avid cyclist. Anne has been a member of ExpertVoice since 2010 and is a tried and true cycling expert. She spends countless hours racking up thousands of miles on her bike. Read on to learn more about her, her love of cycling and what she recommends.
ExpertVoice:
Where are you from?
Anne Grofvert:
I’m a lifelong Michigander. Planned to head to Boston or Chicago after I graduated from college and ended up staying in the “mitten state” as I’d been smitten by biking more than graphic design in the “big city”.
ExpertVoice:
How did you get into cycling?
Anne Grofvert:
Nothing serious until that first mountain bike, what a great gift. Combining time in the woods on a bike? Wow! I was hooked.
My first mountain bike, a 1983 Trek 850, opened up singletrack cycling opportunities and used skills I had honed in my youth while riding dirt bikes (off road motorcycles). My interest in cycling exploded and soon I was racing – mountain bikes, road races, and cyclocross.
ExpertVoice:
What has been your most memorable experience in all your years of cycling?
Anne Grofvert:
That is a very difficult one to distill to a single experience. I'm going to go with a mountain bike race from just before my first cancer diagnosis. Lumberjack 100. It’s a 100 mile mountain bike race in Michigan. It was the second time I had raced it and was targeting a 10-hour finish. The epic rain that came the day before added some “swamp” challenges to part of the course. The real accomplishment that day was being fully present for the entire ride. My focus was solidly on the ride, what I was doing, how it was going, pacing, hydration, feeding. I wasn't wondering about laundry, work, or even if I was gaining or losing time. It was full-on maximizing my performance. I finished first in the 50+ age group and fourth in open finishers. What a day.
ExpertVoice:
What's your favorite brand on ExpertVoice? Why?
Anne Grofvert:
PEARL iZUMi. They make high-performance and high-quality kit for cyclists. I can depend on it to perform and the fit is excellent. It lasts, it’s high-quality.
We are just into our winter riding season here and that calls for the amazing Hestra gloves for winter rides (and XC skiing), Black Diamond Gore products and SmartWool.
ExpertVoice:
What bike do you ride? Tell us about it or any other piece of gear you cannot ride without.
Anne Grofvert:
Drop bar gravel with high-volume tires and Campy Ekar, Santa Cruz Blur for fast days on the trails, and a fat bike that comes out when nothing else works and there isn’t enough snow to cross country ski.
Must haves on rides? Nuun tabs, tool kit (and the knowhow to use it), inflation (pump as a backup), ID, helmet: find one that fits and wear it, eye protection, Oakley and 100% both make killer cycling glasses, navigation tools, I’m a fan of Garmin Edge, Forerunner and Fenix. Be prepared, some rides take me into areas that lack cell service, Garmin inReach mini for those.
ExpertVoice:
What are some tips you have for people who really want to dive into serious cycling?
Anne Grofvert:
Connect with other riders. For mountain biking it is really helpful to ride with more skilled riders. Attend local clinics to get professional skill instruction.
For getting stronger/faster on the bike? Connect with a coach and include power meters in the mix for the most efficient and effective use of limited training time. Find a good bike shop or club, local if possible and join in on their rides. You’ll learn who in the group or at the shop are able to offer sound advice on things from kit to fit (what to wear, how to dress for cold temps), gear, how to ride in groups, what is trail etiquette, all the way to bike fitting.
Find a local “expert” to ask questions. Gals, find a group of women for some women-led skills and intro rides. I’ve done those for mountain biking locally and we also have a couple groups led by others for road and gravel. The all-women initiatives can be really supportive and friendly.
ExpertVoice:
How have you been able to give back and participate in your community?
Anne Grofvert:
I've been deeply involved with the Mid-Michigan Mountain Biking Association (MMMBA) since its founding in the early 1990s. Recently, I helped the organization develop online and on-trail maps of all regional MTB trails. I’m also the longtime trail coordinator at Burchfield Park, overseeing the development and maintenance of trails that address the needs of users of all ages and abilities.
The most recent project I’ve been involved with is “Dirt School” – a skills park for kids and beginner riders to learn and improve their mountain bike skills on various surfaces and obstacles before heading out on singletrack trails. It’s a joint project between our local organization (MMMBA) and Burchfield.
You can follow Anne on ExpertVoice by going to her profile. Anne is credentialed in more than 70 different brands. Follow along to see what other gear she recommends and check out the pictures she shares.