ENDURANCE

Barry Wicks

Kona Endurance Team Manager Barry Wicks has been riding with Kona for 19 years. He enjoys long bike rides in the rain, skinny skiing, and listening to the wind dance through the mountains. At one time a world class athlete, Barry now resides in the heady realm of the “lifestyle athlete,” closely adhering to the 60% effort lifestyle, but still occasionally and totally accidentally standing atop podiums in the off-road cycling disciplines.

Barry on instagram

RIDER NEWS

DATE OF BIRTH

11/15/1981

RIDING WITH KONA SINCE

2003

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE KONA IN YOUR QUIVER AND WHY?

My current favorite is my Process 134. It is like a little unicorn bike in that I can pedal it all day long as hard as I want and not feel burdened, but then I can ride extremely irresponsibly down hills jumping off stuff and doing sick roosts, and get away with it (mostly).

WHERE ARE YOU FROM AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

I come from Marjorie and Nathan, my mother and father. They are from New York but moved to Oregon when I was still occupying a different life form. I currently live in Bend, Oregon, home to river surfing and the most per capita Sprinter Van ownership level in the United States.

DO YOUR BIKES REQUIRE ANY SPECIAL SETUP TRICKS TO MAKE THEM “JUST RIGHT”?

I like to tilt my brake levers up higher than average, and I like side entry water bottle cages.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SEASON?

Seeing my friends

WHO IS THE PERSON YOU MOST ADMIRE AND WHY?

I admire people who successfully do what they feel deeply in their being as the right thing to do.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TRACK OF 2020 AND WHY?

19 Dolla Lap dance by E-40, Suga Free off the ‘Curb Commentator Channel 1’ album. Sick beats, epic flow, ingenious lyrics, hilarious premise.

WHAT WAS THE LAST GIFT YOU GAVE SOMEONE?

I mailed my ex-wife some Buddhist prayer flags for her birthday that I had carried up a mountain to energize them.

WHAT FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU IDENTIFY WITH THE MOST AND WHY?

I’ve been watching The Queens Gambit recently on Netflix. Elizabeth Harmon is an interesting character. I am impressed and simultaneously concerned with her ability to pursue a singular focus like chess while the world around her is in total shambles. It seems all humans exist in this dilemma to a certain extent.

HOW WOULD SPENCER PAXSON DESCRIBE YOU IN JUST THREE WORDS?

tall. dark. handsome.

2020 WAS A CRAZY YEAR, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US ONE HIGHLIGHT AND LOWLIGHT?

The highlight was being at a backcountry ski lodge in Canada when Corona started and staying there for 40 days straight while the world fell apart. 

The lowlight was not getting to see anyone or go anywhere all year. The second highlight was building a wood-fired pizza oven in the backyard and handing pizzas over the fence to all our friends every Tuesday all summer.

Last Thing You Lost?

My truck keys

Last Video Part That Got You Hyped?

JP Auclair’s street segment in "Into the Mind"

Last Person you followed on Instagram?

I don’t follow anyone on the Gram

Last TV show you watched?

Queens Gambit

Last song you listened to?

Mad World (Feat. Michael Andrews) by Gary Jules

Last poster pinned to your bedroom wall?

A comic drawn by a local artist that says "The Mountains are Calling" and then the mountain is saying "Fuuuck Yooouuu!"

Last Meal?

Chicken Potstickers (homemade)

Last time you got a flat tire on a bike?

1987

Last book you read?

"Touching My Fathers Soul" by Jamling Tensing Norgay

Last thing you gave up for good?

Self-pity