Lael Wilcox is the first American to win the Trans Am, an ultra-distance cycling race spanning 4,200 miles across the United States. In her talk, Lael instantly plops you in the seat of her saddle, recounting the grueling climb from Astoria, Oregon to Yorktown, Virginia. Her story addresses issues of gender discrimination in a largely male-dominated sport, and illustrates what can be achieved by pushing past your comfort zone. Born and raised in Anchorage, Lael started cycling for transportation. This quickly became riding everywhere she went, traveling around the world on her bike and competing in ultra-endurance races. Lael is the top ultra-endurance female cyclist and sometimes beats all of the men too. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx