Ramirez has been competing in mountain bike races for six years.
Granby- Joel Ramirez, of Chicopee, is an avid mountain biker.
CHICOPEE – As a teenager in Puerto Rico, Joel Ramirez loved to compete in mountain bike races.
He purchased his first professional bike when he was 18.
“I always got a thrill out of it, but my parents never approved,” he confided recently.
After two years of racing, he abandoned the sport, got a job and didn’t think much about it until about seven years ago.
“I gained 70 pounds, and I just didn't feel well,” he said. Already in his late 20s Ramirez, who is now 35, began racing again.
“I was 195 pounds when I entered my first race and I still managed to win second place in my category. Since then I have never stopped,” he said.
Three years ago, facing a tough economy on the island, Ramirez and his girlfriend relocated to Western Massachusetts.
“I thought I would have to give up the sport when I moved here. I wasn't used to training in the winter and the terrain is different, but luckily I found a group of riders who love the sport like I do and I’ve been competing here ever since,” said Ramirez, who lives in Chicopee, and is a member of the Northampton Cycling Club.
In his first race with the club three years ago he placed in the top 10 for racers between the ages of 30 and 39 in the cross-country category division. In most of his races since then he has placed in the top 10.
“I had to take some time off after I fractured my clavicle, but I’ve pretty much been training non stop for six years now,” he said.
Granby- Joel Ramirez rides his mountain bike in the woods off Batchelor Street in Granby.
The races are all under USA Cycling, the official cycling organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the International Cycling Union, and is responsible for identifying, training, and selecting cyclists to represent the United States in international competitions.
Ramirez said he is very dedicated to the sport and would like to participate in in 2013 USA Cycling championships in Pennsylvania.
He wold also like to get into cycling which is a more expensive sport.
“There seems to be more of an interest in cycling mostly because it is a visible sport where mountain biking is not so much a spectator sport,” he said. “The training is similar, but the rides are much longer for cycling. The bikes are also much more expensive and there is a lot more travel involved.”
Ramirez said he would like to be able to find some sponsors so that he can continue to participate in the races and travel to larger competitions.
“There is a lot of sacrifice involved with a sport like this. I am a regular guy with a full-time job, a house and a family, but I don’t use that as an excuse. If you really want to do something you have to work hard at it,” he said.
Currently, Ramirez is the only Latino on the Northampton Cycling Club team and believes he may be the only one in Western Massachusetts, too.
“I haven't really met other Latino riders in this area and it’s something I hope will change. This is a great sport that’s challenging and really pushes you to do your best,” he said.
Anyone interested in sponsoring Ramirez can contact him by email to jrspc09@yahoo.com.