DEEKA Community 2025 Reflections: Part 1.
Every season, we watch athletes discover new strengths; many of which they didn’t even know they had. Behind every ride, every training block, every quiet moment of self-doubt or determination, there’s a story of growth unfolding. As part of our 2025 Reflections series, we’re digging a little deeper into those stories, giving space for the full experiences, insights, and breakthroughs that often can’t fit into an Instagram slide.
This week, we asked our community:
“In 2025, what did you discover you’re capable of that surprised you?”
It’s a question that goes far beyond watts, speed, or race results. It’s about resilience, patience, identity, and the moments, big or small, where athletes realise they’ve shifted into a new version of themselves. Below, you’ll find the full-length reflections from members of the DEEKA community who generously shared what they learned this year.
Aimee: This is a crazy answer, but I discovered I am capable of pushing myself in, and enjoying training without a race on the horizon. I have trained without missing a beat for several months!
Sarah: Doing really hard things. Bikepacking is one of the most amazing ways to see the world. But it can be really hard. You have a heavy bike. You go through tough terrain. You have to figure out how to get everything you need and where to sleep. It can be rainy, cold, hot, windy. And you get to ride through it and see the world one pedal stroke at a time.
Kristina: Riding 100 miles in the mountains! I never expected to push myself that far, and doing it felt like discovering a whole new level of strength.
James: That I have great fatigue resistance/ durability!! I have always considered myself to be a punchy rider, better suited to shorter efforts, but in both my A Goals this year I really noticed that I was getting stronger compared to my competition as the race went on, and it was exactly this quality that made it possible for me to with the National Championships! Shows that the training we have been doing is absolutely working!
Bill: In 2025, it continues to surprise me that I can build strength as I age, although I am also surprised by how much nutrition’s role in the ability to train increases.
Kirsten: I spent a good portion of 2024 injured as well as having other health issues and a couple of surgeries. I basically had to stop everything and lost 4 years of fitness in a matter of weeks. I didn’t think there was any possibility of getting any of my former self back in 2025. But with some DEEKA coaching and a lot of perseverance and consistency I was able to equal and sometimes even best old records!
Mark: Getting back on to a TT bike and riding hard for 25 minutes.
Sophie: Winning the XCM European Championships. Looking at the start-sheet I knew it was going to be a tough race, and as soon as the gun went off I knew I had to take the race on myself, and force the moves, be the instigator. Usually I ride more defensively and wait for the race to come to me, so my aggression kind of surprised me!
Caroline: What surprised me most in 2025 was managing to finish the mighty gravel ride that is The Gralloch and wanting to ride gravel more and wanting to get a gravel bike!
Geoff: That I can do more than I think I’m capable of. DEEKA coaches know exactly the right amount to push their athletes, which is often a little more than the athlete thinks. Not so much that you’re always in the gutter. Just that little extra to keep the improvements happening.
Richard: Qualifying for the worlds; I was amazed I did it.
Reading these reflections, a common thread emerges: growth often shows up quietly, then all at once. Sometimes it arrives through hard sessions and structured training; other times through unexpected challenges, setbacks, or moments of joy that remind us why we ride in the first place. No matter the path, each athlete uncovered something powerful about their capabilities, something they didn’t know was already within them.
We’re grateful to every rider who contributed so openly to this week’s question. Your honesty and self-reflection continue to inspire the entire DEEKA community.
Next week, we’ll explore another question from the 2025 Reflections series and continue sharing the stories behind the athletes we’re proud to coach.