By Staff Writer, Paige Thor

enior Joseph Ainsworth first learned how to ride a bike at the age of five, much like every other kid who learns how to ride a bicycle. But unlike the rest of us, Ainsworth developed a natural attraction to bikes. Now cycling is both a hobby and a sport to Ainsworth, riding his bike wherever he goes since he was 12 years old.
“I enjoy biking for the freedom [and] the exhilaration,” Ainsworth said. “Just knowing that I’m doing something to protect the environment a little comforts me.”
Since August, Ainsworth has been working at Bicycle John’s Serious Cycling, a local bike shop in Burbank. After cycling with one of the workers at the shop, Sandra Kolb, and visiting it on a weekly basis, the store manager finally asked Ainsworth if he wanted a job. Working at the shop, Ainsworth says he enjoys being around bikes all day and learning crafts about bikes that he would not be able to learn otherwise.
“I get paid to do what I enjoy,” Ainsworth said.
Ainsworth works at the shop as a sales associate while helping others learn to love the sport of cycling, too.
“He really works his heart out, he’s a good kid,” co-worker Leo Telionsandovau said. “Anyone would be lucky to have him as an employee, his passion for cycling is incredible.”
Every week Ainsworth bikes an accumulative amount of 150-200 miles from commuting and leisure.
“There’s not anywhere I haven’t gone in the surrounding area on my bike,” Ainsworth said.
Every now and then, Ainsworth and a couple other cyclists make lengthy trips to beaches such as Santa Monica, 50 miles round trip. Depending on how fast he cycles and whom he cycles with, Ainsworth stated that it could take up to two hours with a fast cyclist or four hours with a slower one.
Since last year, Ainsworth has been seriously training with other cyclists and attending races. So far, Ainsworth has raced in about seven different races and he hopes to continue many more in the future. He has placed in the top tens two times, even reaching third place in one race. Each race has different standards, so there is not always a specific time or mileage one has to bike. Generally, younger cyclists such as Ainsworth, race up to 30-40 minutes, that is 10.2 miles of extreme cycling.
“Cycling is something that I can do to ensure that I stay in shape,” he said. “It’s also something I can do to relieve stress just as other sports do for others.”
As a former cross country and track runner, Ainsworth compares the differences between cycling and running.
“Cycling is more complex than running,” Ainsworth said. “There’s much more strategy involved in it.”
Although Ainsworth does not dedicate his time to any Hoover sports anymore, he still enjoys leisure runs. But and working at the bike shop.
“He loves to ride that bike,” Ainsworth’s uncle Robert Riestra said. “Today, most kids would ask for a ride to school, but not Joseph; he chooses his bike.”