Taco Powered Rider: Kylee Sweeten!

Taco Moto is proud to introduce to you one of our favorite humans, Kylee Sweeten! Keep reading to get to know her better...

How did you get into riding?

From family. My parents met racing motocross and were always all about dirtbikes so I was born into it. I also have two older brothers who ride and do multiple disciplines as well of dirtbiking.

What bike(s) are you currently riding?

I have a TRS 250 trials bike, a KTM 250 XC-F for more flowy and fast offroad and the occasional motocross outing, and a KTM 200 XC-W for hard enduro.

How often do you compete? 

This year I am focusing on mostly just the trials nationals and local events so I will be competing about 1-2 times a month!

How often do you compete with men? 

Not that often. For trials and hard enduro I compete in the AMA national womens pro classes, and if I ever do off-road racing locally I almost always sign up for womens classes. The only time I compete with men is at local trials events.

What advantages do you think women riders have?

Something that I’ve noticed about women and especially teaching them, is that they often have very good balance and coordination. Most women riders also have to rely on good technique instead of using brute strength to just get by.

Corn or flour tortilla’s for your tacos?

White corn tortillas!!

Trials requires a tremendous amount of balance. Do you improve your balance with just more time in the saddle or are there or things you do outside of riding to improve balance?

Time on the bike is always going to be the best source but I like to cross train with bicycle trials, mountain biking, slack lining, and occasionally I mess around on a unicycle.

Riding trials looks like it would take a lot of strength. Do you find it takes to mostly upper body strength, your core, legs? All of the above equally?

I think that trials requires the most strength from your legs and glutes. It is a full body workout, and it certainly works muscles in your upper body and shoulders that is pretty hard to replicate in the gym but your lower half needs to be the strongest. 

What is your workout regiment?

My workout schedule tends to change with the seasons since in the winter I’m unable to get as much riding in but typically I will try to do 2-3 gym workouts a week and 2-3 days of riding. I like to do more crossfit style workouts and AMRAPS, or just simple body weight exercises and cardio! When the weather cooperates I try to get at least one good mountain bike ride in a week too for endurance. This is all around my work schedule of about 35-40 hours a week in the office, so it kinda all depends.

Is there anything you do to calm your nerves or improve focus before a competition?

This is a great question because trials is extremely mental. I think the biggest thing for me was just years of experience and competing at different levels of pressure, and honestly realizing that in the end it’s just a motorcycle competition. A competition that is a big part of my life, but the results are so small compared to the big picture. For me personally thinking that way helped me enjoy it more and be able to relax and ride the way that I can!

Is there any other type of riding you’d like to get into?

I would love to get better and explore more with mountain biking!

What are your riding goals for the future?

My riding goals are to just improve on all the disciplines and ride as much as I can, meet more awesome people, ride at new awesome places and to keep enjoying the experience!

How can people follow your riding?

@kylee_sweeten for Instagram and I have an athlete page on facebook!