#JustinTimeRacing Enduro World Series Debut

Justin Lagassey Start Date: Dec 14, 2017 - End Date: Mar 24, 2018
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
  • Manizales - Caldas, Colombia

My Travel Story

by: Justin Lagassey Start Date: Dec 14, 2017 - End Date: Mar 24, 2018
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Professional Development
I like bikes! Help me make it to Colombia to ride and share this experience with the world, make new friends from new countries, and connect the world through the vehicle of smiles, bikes! I'm making this appeal for funding because I need help in making my debut in the Enduro World Series round two in Manizales, Colombia. This will be my first EWS event, and I am stoked to raise my level and race with the best in the world. You can help make it happen and share in the experience by sponsoring my cause.

Three years ago I crashed my car and bought a bike. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I have my Mom and aunt Susan to thank for the nudge towards two wheels. From that point forward, it’s been all downhill (mostly, except for the climbing). The places the bike have brought me and the people I’ve met have been a constant source of joy in my life and I see it reflected in the eyes of my friends every time we snake a sick line or, more likely, break for snacks. My partner in this endeavor, Mr. Bassil Silver, has been a true friend and a mentor in teaching me the ropes in my first full season racing enduro in the Eastern States Cup circus. I have to thank Dave Richard and CMCC powered by Mathieu’s for taking me onto their team and being tremendously supportive of the racing scene and the local riding community. I love racing enduro because it brings us as a bike community into the wild places on epic adventures, snack time and shenanigans in the woods, and real collaboration among competitors to make the racing fun and push the performance envelope. This trip is about riding the best trails, with my best friends, trying my best to make it the best time ever. I hope you can help me accomplish this goal and spread a little joy in the world.

A donation doesn’t have to be a large investment, or even monetary at all (a little common sense is sorely in need and expert advice would be greatly appreciated), but everything helps and will reduce the stress that comes with financing, organizing, and executing this trip. The total trip cost is budgeted for $2,000 USD. Just $15 would buy dinner at BFFL Serrano, reportedly the best steak house in town. Trip insurance costs $65 and would cover medical evacuation in the event of an accident or illness as well as other circumstances. Given my history of mechanical misfortune, a spare wheel might make the difference between racing and spectating, and for $250 you could cover me with a wheel that I could use for a couple seasons of racing. These costs stack up fast and every penny toward my fundraising goal will relieve stress and will help me execute fun, loose runs on race day. Invest in bikes and they will pay dividends in smiles.

I am passionate and focused on bikes to a point now where I know it is a part of my calling in life. To go outside and do rad things, and to share that joy and experience with my people is my mission. As a privateer, I have funded my riding thus far out of pocket. In the last 12 months I spent 38% of my after-tax income on bikes, race registrations, bike travel, local bike shops, parts, trail building tools, and friends. For comparison student loans cost 20%, retirement savings is 3% (Thanks Harry!), the beer and spirits budget was 0.38% and the bacon budget was 0.44%. Point is there isn’t a whole lot of fat left to trim in the personal finances to make more bike races easily affordable. I would like to be able to spread the joy of bikes as far and as wide as my smile can reach, however the financial reality is that there are limited resources and if I fall short of my fundraising goal I will have to cut the trip budget or cut spending from local racing and riding. If you help me race in Colombia, I swear I will visit each and every one of you for a fun ride, smiling and making great memories all along the way.  

Well that’s all I’ve got to say. If you can help me reach this goal, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Have fun, get rad, safety third. Cheers!
  • Manizales - Caldas, Colombia

Updates

2

  • Almost Home

    Wow we're 90% funded! I can't believe how big ya'll have stepped up to support this drive (and that bitcoin discovery, helped too). After crunching the lastest numbers we are down to the last $200 to fully fund this trip out of an original goal of $2000. Get ready Colombia, cuz this train is leaving the station. WOOOOOHOOOOOO!

  • 13% Funded In Three Days!?!?

    13% Funded in Three Days!?!?
    Wow, people really stepped up bigger than I could have imagined in the first three days of this campaign. We are 13% of the way to being totally funded and the advice and support I have received has been incredible. I am really touched and can't thank ya'll enough. Thank you to the Maldonado's, Ian, Leo, Brian and Odin. Ya'll are my heroes and I'm working hard to make it real. Cheers!

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