Willow Rockwell

How does FOX contribute to your success?
Comfort and confidence are key to a fun bike ride and a good race. FOX gives me both.

Tell us about your best race or event and how it changed you.
I haven't had my best race yet, but the good races keep you going. My two bronze medals were both great rides. One magical (2009), and one more of a battle (2010).

Tell us about your bike/vehicle setup.
I ride the TREK TopFuel. The Factory Series 32 FLOAT 100 FIT Terralogic is at 62 psi, the threshold is 5 clicks out, the rebound is 9 clicks out. The rear shock is the FLOAT RL at 105 psi.

What else is in your garage?
Myles' bikes, TC's bikes and Myles' "man cave."

What's your training regimen?
Do what I want, when I want to.

Any major injuries, and how did you recover?
Torn ACL in the winter of 2006. It healed on it's own with the power of my mind and the help of energy workers.

What's your typical pre-race/event meal? Guilty pleasure?
2 eggs, rice bread with almond butter and cinnamon. Guilty pleasure... manchego cheese and red wine.

How do you determine which races or events to enter each year?
The World Cups and the World Championships are my focus, and I don't waste time with anything else.

What motivated you to get started professionally?
The addiction to doing well, feeling good and getting attention. All of which are not great reasons to start, but that's the truth.

What separates you from other professional athletes?
I am not a robot.

What would you be doing if you weren't a professional athlete?
I am faced with that question right now as I am on hiatus, pregnant with my first child. It is a bit of an identity crisis to say the least. I am writing a book about the hardships and inner turmoil that bike racing has exposed me to, and my discoveries of what is really important, and how to separate who you ARE form what you do.

What's the best thing about being a professional athlete?
You have every reason in the world to take care of yourself.

What other sports are you interested in?
Snowboarding, trail running, and belly dancing.

Any advice to the readers dreaming to turn pro?
Ask yourself why you want to do it. Really get that figured out first if you can. You will be surprised how much "ego" plays a part in it.

What are your favorite magazines and websites?
I don't read bike magazines or websites, I prefer fashion blogs if anything. Fashiontoast is fun.

Favorite movie quote?
Impossible - "Drive Louise, drive!"

Who is your hero?
Anyone who dissolves the illusion and does not live a lie.

Are you a Mac or PC? Mac

Top 3 bands LCD Soundsystem, Royksopp, and Madonna

Greatest strength My ability to find the lesson in the depths of despair.

Most frustrating challenge Figuring myself out

Twitter