Pre-Race Q&A: Rob DeCou

November 11, 2015/ Maria Parker

We are honored to welcome Rob DeCou to the Cruzbike community and racing team. Getting to know Rob and his wife Kristin over the past few months has been wonderful. They are passionate and kind and we are proud to work with both of them and to have them represent Cruzbike and 3000 Miles to a Cure racing the V20 and fundraising for brain cancer research.


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Rob brings considerable ultra endurance experience to his Vendetta V20 racing efforts and an incredible passion to to all that he does. That passion is taking him, his crew and his Vendetta V20 from Oceanside, CA to Annapolis, MD in the 2016 Solo Race Across America to raise funds for brain cancer research. Lucia and I are traveling to Borrego Springs, CA this weekend to support him and Jason Perez, who will also be racing a Vendetta V20, at the 6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships. Rob took a few minutes this week for a pre-race Q and A:

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.

In 1997, I spent a year in India as a Rotary International Exchange Student. During my exchange, I participated in a 50 hour non-stop aerobics event which placed me and 15 others in the Limpca book of World Records.


What are you most looking forward to about the Worlds in Borrego Springs?

I’m excited to have a few of my crew for next year’s RAAM along for the trip. For me, endurance sports is all about sharing time with my friends, giving my full effort while competing in a smart way, and the camaraderie and friendships built with other competitors and their supporters.


How does this race relate to your Race Across America 2016 effort?

This will be my first ride over 10 hours since my qualifying race in 2014. It also kicks off my higher mileage training. I signed up for Race Across America 2016 on July 21, 2015 (my birthday) with the blessing and encouragement of my wife. I have been focusing on cycling ever since.


Why do you race a Cruzbike Vendetta V20?

I am a wrestler at heart. When I got out of college, wrestling no longer made sense, so I switched to ultra endurance sports. In July, when I decided to do RAAM, I knew I needed to upgrade from my steel frame bike to a newer model. I figured since I was going to invest in a new bike, I might as well do some intensive research. After about a month of visiting bike shops and scouring discussion boards, I kept getting referred to the Parkers and Cruzbike. It was not really a decision I made, but more a a realization of what the best option was for me.
After being on the Cruzbike Vendetta for the past three months, I can’t imagine going back to another bike, given the speed and comfort. I can’t wait to see how well I am able to maintain a sustained high rate of speed at Borrego Springs. That is, of course, always the hope and plan. 

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