Pandemic Escape to Endurance Athlete: Shauna Howard’s Story

Introducing Shauna L. Howard, a musician and creative entrepreneur who found cycling to be a powerful catalyst for personal growth and development. During the isolating days of COVID-19, Shauna’s chance discovery of cycling helped her manage her mental & emotional health. Cycling would help her begin the process of escaping the pandemic and becoming an endurance athlete as well as her best self.

From Lockdown to Liberation

Shauna’s cycling journey began in 2020.  She lived with a family of recreational cyclists who owned a diverse collection of bikes. During the pandemic, she borrowed their 30 year old hybrid to run errands. What started as simple trips to the market, post office, etc. soon became long, cathartic rides that allowed Shauna to process her mounting frustrations. “I spent the majority of my career traveling and performing.  Being in quarantine felt like a punishment for choosing a performance career. Not working took a toll on my mental and emotional health. I felt lost, terrified, scared, and lonely,” Shauna recalls.

“I was angry that we were all stuck inside and terrified that I lost my job due to the quarantine. My anger about the racial injustices happening during the pandemic grew. The isolation made me feel extremely lonely and lost all while being terrified for the future of my career as a creative entrepreneur. The quarantine realized all of my worst fears as a singer. I was literally and figuratively performing for others as the ‘strong black woman’ caring for others while ignoring my essential needs. I felt like I had no one to talk to, so I checked out, borrowed a bike, and rode it every day.”

Freedom on Two Wheels

Cycling provided Shauna an unexpected outlet. “The freedom I experienced on the roads –  chasing the lights, seeing folks waving back, etc. – made me feel human again.  It reminded me of the freedom and joy that my body experienced as a little girl. Cycling during the pandemic was WILD – the roads were practically empty. It was the perfect time to explore the city, meet others, and learn more about Southern California’s charm and beauty,” she says.

Shauna soon began seeking out running, yoga, and hiking communities, introducing herself to everyone along the way and participating in the workouts. “I always wanted to have ‘gym buddies’. My non-athletic friends used to always talk about going to the gym but rarely followed through. The quarantine taught me that you have to become the person that you want to meet, so I would just show up and meet like-minded people along the way.  I felt like I finally found my community – I created a calendar of all the workouts, showed up eager to workout or ride, detach from the horrors of the pandemic, and have tons of fun while naturally social-distancing! It was too easy – my new athletic community became a theraputic lifeline during an incredibly isolating time.”

Transforming Fitness and Finding Freedom

As Shauna’s passion for cycling grew, so did her skills & bikes. Within a few weeks of being a cyclist, she bought her first bike.  “I rode my housemate’s bike so hard that I was afraid that I was going to break it, so I bought my own at my neighborhood bike shop.  Being new to cycling, I didn’t know what I needed at the time. I bought something comparable to what I was already riding.  I used to show up on group rides with cyclists with road bikes and hold my own on a 33-lb hybrid!  The chain would fall off and I would get dropped, but I didn’t care. I would just put it back on and keep on rolling!  I couldn’t afford what I knew that I needed, so I rode with what I had and set my sights on upgrading when I could afford to do so, which came sooner than expected.

One morning, I went to the market and my bike was stolen while I was shopping.  I was heartbroken and I shared with my community what happened. Next thing I knew, I had deposits sent to my CashApp, Venmo, Zelle, etc. to replace my bike!  I had enough money to upgrade to a road bike, which enabled me to tackle more challenging routes and hills around Los Angeles.  I went to a local bike shop in Venice and found a 2012 Raleigh road bike for $500!  It was heavy (33 lbs to be exact) but I rode it like I stole it!” Shauna’s fitness transformed also. In the first six months of cycling, she lost 70 pounds by riding consistently, committing to drinking a gallon of water every day, learning about supplements and detoxification, cleaning up her diet, and getting therapy.

Cycling Into a New Career Path

Shauna’s cycling journey also inspired a shift in her professional life. With performances drying up due to the pandemic, Shauna decided to channel her energy into teaching music, setting her sights on learning more about social-emotional learning, positive psychology, anti-racism, and the therapeutic benefits of music education in marginalized communities. “One of my former music colleagues referred me to a charter school that was looking for a music teacher as well as a music school that needed a new voice instructor.  I did a SEL certification with the Save the Music Foundation and a few workshops on curriculum development for private studios, two trainings that made me feel more in tune with what I could offer,” she explains. “The skills that I learned as a cyclist helped me to reframe my life and align with my deepest truths to connect healing, wellness, and fitness to my performing arts career.”

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Breaking Barriers in Cycling

Shauna’s cycling exploits also gained attention from brands and organizations. She was approached by several fitness brands and cycling companies to become their brand ambassador, which included her first modeling gig with Zwift. “In an effort to show their alliance towards anti-racism, fitness brands searched for BIPOC endurance athletes to promote their newly-found alignment with DEIB initiatives after the murder of George Floyd. At first, it felt performative to me; however, as I began exploring more cycling groups and clubs outside of my community, I noticed how few female and black cyclists were in the pelotons. Knowing how much representation mattered to me, I embraced the opportunity to share my experience and story with others. Doing so empowered me to step out of my comfort zone and alchemize my pain into something more positive for my life.

It didn’t take long for Shauna to notice significant gender and racial disparities & discriminations in cycling, both in terms of participation, representation, sportsmanship, and hospitality. “When I started doing more difficult rides, I sometimes faced harassment or subtle forms of discrimination that were based on my gender, race, or my body type,” she shares. “But cycling & a healthier diet & lifestyle empowered me to use my voice to challenge those who felt like I didn’t belong on a road bike.  For example, I remember being told by multiple cyclists not to do the Montrose ride ‘because I might get lost’, but I ignored them. I’m glad I did – the 8am group is now my favorite Saturday morning group ride in Los Angeles! Speaking my truth and occasionally dropping cyclists who were confused by my presence in the peloton was the motivation behind advancing as a cyclist and starting my private voice studio.

Dreaming Big: Racing Toward Representation

Rather than be deterred, Shauna has used her platform to advocate for inclusivity in the cycling community. She has participated in all-women’s rides like the Rapha Women’s 100 and the women’s series at Luft Los Angeles.  One of her favorite group rides is The Mixed Race in Mar Vista founded in 2017 by Rachel Horn and Jane Ashley. Velo LaGrange awarded her the Most Improved Female Rider in 2021 after learning of her transformation.  She dreams of sharing her story with the world to encourage more people to live a life dedicated to wellness, physically and mentally. Shauna wants to promote more authentic diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sport for female and black cyclists.

While Shauna hasn’t yet taken the plunge into competitive cycling, she sees racing as a strategic next step. “I ride a 2019 Specialized Allez Sprint with a Shimano Ultegra groupset, which I hear is a good bike for entry-level racing.  Competing isn’t about getting to the podium for me right now – it’s about learning how to dedicate myself to a meaningful goal. Thanks to teaching and coaching, my schedule now gives me the time to work out in the mornings, then teach, create, and perform for the rest of the day”, she explains.

Shauna is currently in discussions with her brand team about speaking engagements, participating in international cycling events, and organizing a music tour & clinics. Until that happens, she enjoys logging her miles to fundraise for Calibrate, a nonprofit that promotes social-emotional learning and leadership training to tomorrow’s leaders who are from under-resourced communities and the descendants of American slavery. 

The Transformative Power of Cycling

In the meantime, Shauna continues to find immense joy and freedom in simply riding her bike. “There’s something so universal about cycling. Whether you’re commuting to work or training for a triathlon, we’re all just trying to get somewhere in an efficient and healthy way,” she reflects. “It’s a place in my life where I feel the most like myself, the most at peace.”

Shauna’s cycling journey that once began as a pandemic escape hatch has evolved into her becoming an endurance athlete and more. Through cycling, Shauna has found her voice, her confidence, and a deep sense of community.

“Cycling saved my life many times,” Shauna says emphatically. “Even in the low moments when I was in bike accidents, homelessness, etc., cycling gave me the freedom to get to know myself. I learned to process my emotions, ask for support, and to reimagine healthier, happier, wealthier, and more fulfilling possibilities for my life. I will forever be grateful for my international athletic community and the ways that the bicycle has proven to be the greatest tool made for living a balanced life.”