I met Louisa on my first day of work at WTB. In proper first-day fashion for a company in the bike industry, the hours of introductions and login credentials was topped off with a trail ride to fully seal the deal. We were joined by riders of the Nevada City Miners high school mountain bike team, with Louisa riding at the front of the pack. It was immediately apparent that Louisa carries an incessant love for being out on her bike, whether heading up or down the mountain. She's the type of rider who everybody looks forward to sharing the trail with.
Her thunderous skills of shredding lurk beneath a humble, easygoing personality that makes friends first and rides bikes second. Though the two typically go hand in hand. She can be found putting laps in at Downieville for most weekends of the summer, while weekends away from the legendary area are still typically spent with bike in tow. Keep an eye out for here at the Downieville Classic!
With a constant demand for solid wheel builds comes a need for somebody whose role is dedicated to every aspect of the complete wheel. The wheel person...who understands the importance of a reliable build and is committed to making sure it is achieved. The person who pulls a wheel out of the truing stand with confidence that their build will hold up to anything, and everything, the rim was designed for. Louisa is the perfect person for the job and provides piece of mind that every wheel sent out is good to go. She's been rambling around the WTB Nevada City office for years and has always been one of the first to offer help at WTB events, but we're thrilled to have her officially join our team.
Name:
Louisa Sussman
Home Shop and City:
Nevada City, CA
Notable passions, feats of accomplishment, interests, goals, phobias and unusual experiences: I recently helped create and won the first Expert Junior Women category for Downieville All-Mountain World Championships, bought my first car, and started work as a wheelbuilder and dog petter for WTB. I lived abroad for a few years and in addition to developing a fear of reptiles, I also became fluent in Spanish. I’d like to learn how to manual, fix everything on my bike and lots of things on a car, find the balance between being really good at promoting myself in order to achieve goals and still be down to earth and not annoying, race internationally, and maybe pick up a bike sponsor in the near future.
Favorite WTB product:
Favorite Ride:
Any sort of shuttle, Grouse Ridge, or Nevada City's Greatest Hits.
Background, how’d you get into riding, what kept you going with it?
My brother got hooked after taking an after school bicycle repair class in 6th grade, and little sister monkey see, little sister monkey do! There seems to be no shortage of ridiculously rad people riding and racing bikes, and in addition to going on numerous road trips and meeting them, I get to spend a lot of time on mountains.
Tube or Tubeless, why?
Tubeless, it means no worries for the rest of your days!
3 most important things to bring with you on a ride?
One of those photo capturing device things that can also call an ambulance if needed, a sense of adventure, and some water.
Craziest thing you’ve seen or witnessed on a ride?
Dead things, bears, and four front flats in one Downieville run.
Most important lesson to teach the groms?
You can do whatever you want as long as you keep your head down and put in the work.
Left my wallet in… (fill it in):
The car. Wanna buy me this shuttle? I'll buy lunch.
Anything you’d like to plug, courtesy of WTB’s blog?
My instagram (@louisasussman), these wonderful organizations (http://www.norcalmtb.org/) (http://www.sierratrails.org/), and this cute cat (https://www.instagram.com/p/BNS8RmLAGCf/).
