// Parri Gilbride            

Hometown: Bloomington, IN
Current Residence: Nolensville, TN
Education: BA French, minor Environmental Studies, Indiana University
Occupation: Stay at Home Mom
Number of Years Racing: 2
Category Raced: Road Cat 2
Cycling Highlights: 2010 TBRA State Champion cat 1-3
2010 SEW Series Champion cat 3
2010 3rd State Criterium-1-3
2010 4th tour de tuscaloosa1-3
2009 TRBA State Champion-4
2009 TBRA Road Race Champion-4
2009 TBRA State Criterium Champion-4

Personal Note: Although I have always been physically active and ran, I had never ridden a road bike before 2008!  But a dear friend and now teammate told me, “You should get a bike.” I remember the first time I got on the thing I wondered how in the heck am I going to stay upright, and at first I didn’t! But after just a few months, I LOVED it. Then a few months after that I started racing. I loved it! It gave me an outlet at a time in my life when I had so much going on and just needed a release, a place to just be “me.” Racing has brought so much into my life—new discoveries about myself and what I am capable of accomplishing—as well as experiences and friendships with people that I will have for life.

I joined Team Belladium last year, and these beautiful, strong, confident women have become my second “family,” the sisters I never had growing up. I love the competition of racing—the part where I get to see all the women I have come to respect and call my friends show up at race day eager to push each other to become stronger and better racers!