When Sidney Andrews lines up, she’s not chasing a time—she’s chasing joy.
After years immersed in triathlon, Sidney came back to bike racing this season for a simpler reason: she just wanted to ride her bike. That “back to love” mindset, combined with a deep well of faith and a fierce work ethic, carried her through a rookie campaign that ended with two Colorado state titles—and a renewed sense of purpose.
It also carried a legacy. Sidney first started racing in 2021 to honor her aunt, a world champion bike racer who passed away from cancer. “It made me so proud/happy to know that I am living out my aunt’s legacy,” Sidney says. That memory rides with her still—through big climbs, bold moves, and a season she’ll never forget.
From Tri Burnout to the Tactics of the Peloton
Triathlon sharpened Sidney’s engine, but bike racing asked for something different: racecraft. “Bike racing is so much more tactical and top-end focused than triathlon,” she says. The transition meant learning to read wheels, surf momentum, and time efforts—especially at altitude, on Colorado’s rolling terrain.
Her training reflects that shift:
- 20–25 hours/week on the bike (300–400 miles)
- 1–2 strength sessions and a short run with her church crew
- Cross-training that keeps her mentally fresh
But the most important shift might be mindset. “My mindset in every race is that I am here by the grace of God alone, and everything I do on a bike is just an expression of joy & worship for the incredible life that He has given me :)”
That posture—gratitude over pressure—showed up when it mattered.
The Day Everything Clicked (Sort Of by Accident)
At the Colorado State Road Race (Iron Horse, Durango), Sidney made the move that defined her season—by mistake.
“I went off the front on accident,” she laughs. “I knew we had two passes to climb/descend, and I thought we’d already done the first one… only to find out I went WAY earlier than I intended to.” The only choice was to commit. Head down. Steady focus. Quiet prayers. “I kinda had to go ‘oh crap… okay well I guess we gotta work with this’ and accept the pain and keep my head on straight and keep asking God for strength to make it through.”
She made it through. And she won.
The second state title confirmed it wasn’t luck—it was learning, courage, and a motor honed over years. “At some point in every race… you’ll have an idea of whether or not you are going to win,” Sidney says. “I had two moments like that this year, but a lot more moments of ‘I don’t know if I am even going to make it to the top of this hill’ haha!”
Setbacks, Perspective, and the Long Road Back
Sidney’s toughest challenge didn’t happen in a race. Training for her first Ironman in 2023, she dislocated her kneecap—then (like many relentless athletes) kept running and riding on it for a week. The result: damaged cartilage and two months off the bike and run.
“It was less about overcoming and more about realizing that I am not in control, and that everything happens for a reason,” she says. “That time brought me so much closer to my friends and family, and so much deeper in my faith.”
That perspective—acceptance plus discipline—anchors how she trains today.
Fueling the Work (and the Joy)
“I eat A LOT,” Sidney jokes, “and drink an alarming volume of coffee.” Behind the humor is a simple system that suits high-volume training and race-day demands:
- High-protein meals are the center of every plate. “I eat a TON of protein… I feel and perform best when that is what I prioritize.”
- During: she keeps carbs easy and consistent so she can hit the required power when the race ignites.
- After: she doesn’t miss the early recovery window—because tomorrow’s legs are built right after today’s ride.
That’s where ADDRA fits. Our bars deliver 20g Plant Protein boosted to offer 3g of Leucine per bar—a recovery pulse built for the exact second the session ends and adaptation begins. It’s the small, consistent habit that adds up over a long season: sock the bar, take the bite, start the rebuild.
Pro tip Sidney shares with friends: hit ~20–30g protein with ~3g leucine within 30 minutes post-ride to flip on muscle protein synthesis. Then keep the signal on with steady protein across the day.
Why She Rides (and Keeps Riding)
“I raced all of the ‘competitive mindset’ out of myself in high school/college swimming,” Sidney says. “These days when I turn up on the start line of a race I am just there with gratitude and smiles.”
Results still come—because she rides for something deeper. “As weird as it may seem, I just genuinely love the movement of cycling… I’d still do it just as much regardless of whether or not I was racing.” That love translates into fitness; the fitness translates into wins. But the order matters.
What’s Next
Sidney’s goals for the coming season:
- Step into bigger stage races (Redlands, Gila, Valley of the Sun, Tucson Bicycle Classic)
- Race Pro Nationals (road & TT)
- Keep sharpening tactics while keeping the fun and faith central
In other words: build, learn, enjoy.
Quick Stats
- Name: Sidney Andrews
- Discipline: Road (former triathlete)
- 2024 Highlights: Two Colorado state championships
- Training: 20–25 hours/week + strength
- Fueling Focus: Protein-forward meals; consistent carbs during; post-ride 20g/3g recovery
- Why She Races: Joy, worship, legacy
Parting Words
If you take one thing from Sidney’s season, let it be this: show up with joy, recover with intention, and let the work compound. The wins take care of themselves.
Fuel your ADDRA Moment: When the ride ends, recovery begins.
Try ADDRA’s endurance-built recovery bars—20g Plant Protein boosted to offer 3g of Leucine per bar—and make the next session better than the last.
Have a story like Sidney’s? Tag your post-ride ADDRA Moment and share what keeps you moving.
