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Noah Middlestaedt

@gimpcyclist

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Former Team USA Athlete
Professional Endurance Coach
Professional Bike Fitter
Unprofessional everywhere else

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Being a gimp ain’t easy but the bike has made it a bit more fun! It’s been a rough road but here we are!

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I’ve never spent much time recognizing today or prompted the fact that I live with Cerebral Palsy. I’ve never viewed myself as disabled and I still don’t. I’m just a bit gimpy.

#handicapable #cycling #roadbikes #usacycling #teamusa #disabilityawareness #disability #paralympics #olympic #mtb by @gimpcyclist

@tandemcoffeeroasters is a decent cup of coffee ☕️

Thankfully I am fully stocked while I am away in Belgium for my first World Cup racing with @usacycling

#cycling #teamusa #coffee #belgium #bilmuri by @gimpcyclist

6 months post total hip arthroplasty… and I’m back racing

The last time I pinned on a number was at Road Worlds in Glasgow, 2023. This weekend, I finally lined up again — my first race since surgery — and came home with the Stars and Stripes.

Coming back from THA, I was determined to not just return, but to come back stronger. Without the constant, debilitating pain, the quality of my training over the past 4 months has been next level. While the top end fitness is still on its way, hitting lifetime power PRs from 2–4 hours post-op tells me this is just the beginning.

Huge thanks to:
➡️ @fixcoachlarry for the constant support — pre, mid, and post ride
➡️ @livinonalimb for being an unreal training partner in the final push
➡️ @chmannn, @heyyy.renee & @apple_friter for the amazing hospitality in Minnesota

Let’s keep it rolling. 🚴‍♂️🔥
#nationalchampion #usacycling #paralympics #cycling #gravelcycling #elielcycling #hedcycling #lazerhelmets by @gimpcyclist

@gimpcyclist is your Men’s C3 Gravel National Champion p/b @vittoriatires 🇺🇸 by @gimpcyclist

Not much to say but thank you to everyone who reached out over the last several days, thank you to the amazing staff at the hospital this morning, and most importantly thank you to @clara.brownie for all the support.

The journey to this morning has been nothing but long. The anticipation this week leading in was anxiety inducing. It’s felt like so many aspects of my life have been on hold waiting for a hip replacement.

The road ahead is going to be long getting gaining back function in the hip. Thankfully I am surrounded by such a supportive and loving crew. by @gimpcyclist

Last night was an honor and a shock I did not see coming. After an amazing two weeks in Paris for all my athletes capping off the event at the @teamusa House was a night I will never forget. @elouan_bike _bike , my first athlete to ever medal at the @paralympics presented me with the Order of Ikkos medal. An award presented by athletes. This recognition is something I was never expecting but is one that leaves me in tears. The amount of pride I feel in the athletes who have entrusted me to help either in small or large capacities is something I never would have felt if I was still singularly focused on myself.

The path to growing my coaching and fitting business is one that has relied on people trusting me and giving me a chance. Everyone in this post in some capacity has entrusted me to help them either large or small. From @elouan_bike and @clara.brownie putting full faith in me helping them to achieve their first @paralympics medals, two days I will never forget. To getting a call while I was riding this spring to fly out to Colorado Springs to help @hailstormusa dial in her bike fit. Working along side her and her world class coach/amazing human @derickw817 is an honor. To seeing a long time friend and former athlete of mine @mohamedlahna achieve silver was an unreal moment. I will never forget this year, I will never forget @paris2024 and I look forward to what the future has in store for all of us.

Thank you all for listening to me ramble, thank you all for following along in my own pursuits, and if you don’t already please continue to follow in the pursuits of all these amazing people.

You too can inquire about medal winning coaching/bike fitting at GimpCyclist.com or slide into the DMs #ad #shameless

#teamusa #paralympics #cycling #coach #gold #silver #bronze #bikefit #paris2024 #la2028 by @gimpcyclist

I still can’t find the words to totally describe what life has felt like this year. At the end of December I made the difficult decision to retire from racing and forgo pursing the Paris Paralympic team. My intrinsic fire is still there but with most of my twenties being dedicated to training it was time to step back, grow my coaching/bike fitting business, and reset.

Which brings me to this past weekend, the final selection race for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Cycling team roster. These athletes before you @elouan_bike @clara.brownie and @iron.lyons are some of the most hard working and dedicated athletes I have ever seen. For some of them our journey together has been long and others we are just beginning but the determination each one of them shows is something that I can’t help but be proud of.

They have all taken a chance on me to help them grow in the sport and that is something not to be taken lightly. Having a day like today, being able to sit there and hear their names announced to the @teamusa roster is a moment I will never forget and long cherish. I look forward to helping them in whatever capacity I can moving into the games and I look forward to seeing them through Paris and beyond. You are all now, and forever will be, Team USA Paralympian’s.

#teamusa #paris2024 #paralympics #paracycling #roadcycling #cycling #roadtoparis2024 #coaching #cyclingcoach by @gimpcyclist

This off season has been none stop. After a disappointing worlds showing it’s been slow going finding my legs on the bike. That being said I’ve had so many opportunities off the bike.

@bicyclefitguru was kind enough to let me shadow him for two weeks and resharpen my fitting skills. Look for more to come there soon.

📸: @joesulik

While being back in Minnesota @joesulik and I had a little fun in and around the Minneapolis trail network. It felt so good to be able to show off some sharp @donkeylabel kit. More importantly the opportunity to work with Joe and see his talents at work behind a camera was so exciting.

#minneapolis #minnesota #cycling #photography #roadcycling #donkeylabel #lazerhelmets #hedcycling by @gimpcyclist

This isn't the post I hoped to be writing after Worlds this year. Disappointment is the only adjective I can find that describes how I feel.

The results, or lack thereof, don't reflect the volume of work and uncalled for bullshit that I dealt with on and off the bike to get myself to the start line with the best fitness of my life. Right before the time trial I fell ill with a violent stomach flu. We had hoped that it was food poisoning that would pass quickly but by the morning of the time trial it was obvious starting would cause more harm than good. By the time the road race came, being on the start line was a miracle.

I'm proud of the effort I put in and what fitness I had shined through until the gas tank ran out. Again, I am just disappointed I wasn't able to do justice for all the hard work I put in and repay the support that has been given to me. Congratulations to @fin_graham22 for defending his title. You can lead me out next year ;)

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and has followed along. Thank you to my athletes who reached out and followed along. I am proud of each and everyone of you and what you all continue to accomplish in your own athletic endeavors. Over the past decade of doing this sport my motivation has come from many places but it's the amazing people I am surrounded with who continue to keep the fire going.

This chapter in my life may be coming to a close but the story isn't done yet 📖

📸: @cbgphoto

#teamusa #uci #glasgow #roadcycling #worldchampionships #paralympics by @gimpcyclist

Week 2: Training

Last week we were fortunate enough to stay with the @usparacycling team in Italy. Very rarely do we get the opportunity to explore the places we are racing. This past week was a treat with truly the best riding I’ve ever experienced on a bike. Endless scenic roads, gorgeous mountains, and beautiful weather led us to an unforgettable couple days.

This all capped off with an amazing day playing tourist in Venice. I come away with very few photos of what we experienced, mostly because we were too busy soaking it in.

I am beyond fortunate to be able to do all this with @clara.brownie. It’s something I never take for granted being able to travel the world with my best friend.

📸: @cbgphoto by @gimpcyclist

Week 1: Italy

Just as it’s becoming nice enough to ride outside, back home in Maine, our World Cup Season has already begun. This winter Clara and I spent more time on the trainer than we ever have but there are somethings that the trainer can’t prepare you for.

Limited time outside on the TT bike left my result on Friday one that I wanted to soon forget. The discipline of TTing is something that I rarely grasp but when I do it is so rewarding. Italy unfortunately was the prior.

The road race on Sunday felt good until some inconsistencies with how the UCI was handling neutralizations around passing fields left me caught out. @matthias_schindler_official l and I put in a valiant effort trying to chase our way back to the lead group but time was not on our side.

My personal performances for the weekend did not live up to the expectations I put on myself. In reflection there are more things to be grateful for than to get caught up on. First and foremost I am beyond fortunate to be able to get to travel the world and race with amazing people of differing backgrounds. Sport had brought us all together and sport has given me opportunities that I never would have dreamed of growing up.

Onto Belgium this week. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and continues to follow along. I realize I do a poor job updating. It’s a hurdling trying to organize my thoughts and transcribe them onto this thing called social media. Especially as someone who doesn’t like the attention for what I do. At the heart of it all it seems like social media is superficial to start. But I have to remember that it’s also a way I get to feel apart of my friends lives who I don’t get to speak with or see often anymore. Maybe some people feel the same way in return.

Noah

📸: @cbgphoto by @gimpcyclist

First full week back home completed after stocking up on Vit D in ☀️ California. It was great to get a break from the cold and get miles in with my @usparacycling teammates. Thank you to all the support staff for going above and beyond. Most important thank you to @ianflawless for busting out the 📸 and making us look good! by @gimpcyclist