Open Mic with Mike Creed – Lauren Hall

THIS EPISODE Mike catches up with Lauren Hall of Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies. A talented all-rounder who’s been racing pro since 2010, Lauren started her career with Team Vera Bradley and then moved to Team Tibco before landing a berth on her current Optum squad. With two national titles on the track and a second in both the national criterium and national road race championships, Hall’s nickname of “The Bullet” is an apt one. She was named by VeloNews as a “rider to watch” in 2013, and her USA Cycling palmarés from last year have indeed demonstrated that to be the case.

Over the course of their laughter-filled gab session, Lauren explains her circuitous route to pro cycling via soccer, culinary arts school, marathon running, and triathlon. A dynamo on and off the bike, Lauren keeps Mike entertained as she tells one story after another of her exploits in the women’s peloton.

You’re sure to be as delighted as we were with this highly entertaining conversation.

As always, Open Mic with Mike Creed is presented by The Colorado Cyclist, Mike’s very first professional cycling team in 1998. Thanks to everyone at Colorado Cyclist for their support of Mike over the years, and a big thank you to them for stepping up and sponsoring the podcast and offering $50 gift cards to our Twitter contest winners. Please visit their website at coloradocyclist.com and give them a follow on Twitter at @Co_Cyclist to show your appreciation for everything they do for us.

Colorado Cyclist is running a special promotion that we’d like everyone to know about. If a customer purchases any bike, frame or wheels, the customer will receive back a gift certificate worth 15% of the purchase price toward a future purchase. For example: If a customer buys a $4,000.00 bike, they will get a Gift Certificate for $600.00. There are no restrictions, and this promotion includes regular and sale bikes, frames and any wheels – factory or custom included. There is free shipping on all items as well. Colorado Cyclist is also launching a new website, so stay tuned and be on the lookout for upcoming giveaways. And be sure to call them at 1-800-688-8600 and mention the podcast when placing your order!

We also welcome Mercury Wheels as a new sponsor of the podcast. As part of their support of Open Mic, Mercury will be giving away a set of the same wheels that Mike’s guys at Smart Stop train on. All you have to do to be entered is like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and follow them on Instagram to be entered into a contest to win a set of deep-rim alloy training wheels. Mike will be announcing the winner on Twitter sometime next week, and we’ll also tweet it from the Cyclismas account as well.

Thanks, and enjoy.