“Cycling has definitely made me be time efficient,” Hong agrees.
Another thing Hong has quickly learned through cycling is mental toughness.
“Like in any sport, it’s a question of bearing physical pain versus giving into it,” he explains. “It’s about running outside or lifting weights even when it’s difficult, or freezing and cold. You have to train, so you train.”
Some may say that he is too small to be a competitive cycler, or may have started training too late, but those few must not know Chris Hong.
As McLoon says, although he does not fit the cycling stereotype, “[Chris] loves riding and racing so much that he’s succeeding against the odds.”
One thing is certain: the day Hong dropped his violin and picked up a bike was a bright day for cycling indeed.