Redbeard Racing: Graydon

Where did you grow up?
Northern New Jersey.

When and where did you first learn to ride a bike?
My Dad taught me in our neighborhood park when I was 5. He would run behind me holding my seat and one day he told me that he had stopped holding my seat and that I had been riding solo. I remember it feeling like I’d gained a new superpower. I’ve been hooked ever since.

How did you get into track racing?
I’d been riding for a long time (doing long rides, commuting, touring and a tiny bit of road racing) and my good friend Ros, who had recently been bitten by the track bug, kept pestering me to come out to a race at Kissena. I finally got around to coming by on a Wednesday night to watch him race. I was blown away by the friendly people, entertaining races and general good vibes I got from the track scene. This good atmosphere was something that I saw was lacking in the overly serious “roadie” scene.

The next season I got my fixed gear beater bike into some semblance of race shape and showed up at Kissena for the 6 Days Race Series. I was hooked! For the first time since being a kid I felt that joy of trying to go as fast as possible on my bike.

For me, as a husband and father of little kids, track also lets me have more time with my family. My wife and kids show up with me to races, cheer me on and hang out with me in between races. Initially, track was something I never thought I’d get into, but it’s hard now to imagine not doing it. I’m looking forward to a lot more of it in my future.

Do you have a pre-race ritual?
I just try to remain as clear headed as possible before a race. For me that doesn’t manifest in any physical rituals, more just a mindset I’m striving after. My wife says that I get race tunnel vision and nothing matters more than getting to the track and on my bike.

How do you take your coffee?
Always black. A citrusy medium roast made in an AeroPress is my favorite.

Tell us about your track bike(s) and why you love it/them.
My first track bike was a crappy Bikes Direct Mercier Kilo TT (feel free to shudder). It was purchased during the height of the fixie frenzy of 2007 and I thrashed around the city brakeless on that thing till I wore out all of the stock components. As cliché as it sounds, I fell back in love with cycling on that baby. The Mercier took on many different iterations (breaks, cruiser bars, racks, baby seat) and I soon realized that a geared, fully fendered bike was more my speed for commuting. The Mercier was neglected for a little while until I broke it out again for racing on the track.

Halfway through my first track season, Ros, who got me into track racing, surprised me with an All-City Thunderdome for my birthday! It was a world of difference and I’ve been smitten with the Thunderdome ever since. The Mercier still has a soft spot in my heart and it is currently set up as a townie basket bike with a pink fork.

Favorite post-race meal?
Anything tastes good after a race to me.

Favorite pro bike racer?
Theo Bos. Super inspired to see another tall lanky Dutch dude tearing it up on the track. Plus he’s just a pleasure to watch race.

What do you do to pay the bills?
I work with Ros at Anti/Anti and am the Managing Art Director.  Our unhealthy obsession with bikes and bike racing has landed us with a number of bike related projects that we’re always giddy to work on (including the Redbeard Bikes branding). I also teach graphic design at School of Visual Arts. It’s funny to have my alma mater paying me now.

And the most important question: lock-ring or no lock-ring?
Since I’ve retired from doing whip skids in traffic I forgo the lock-ring.