Up until this year at CHPT3 we’ve never sponsored cycling teams or individuals, that wasn’t a conscious decision, it just happened that way.
We’ve kitted out professional cyclists as they begin their own next chapters, Ryder Hesjedal, Christian Vande Velde, Dave Zabriskie, Thomas Dekker, Baden Cooke and Stuart O’Grady to name a few; yet we didn’t consider that sponsorship or influencing, it was more because they wanted kit they could trust in their post-racing cycling life and they felt like CHPT3 represented them. They could be themselves, they didn’t want to be human billboards, or feel part of a club or team or brand, CHPT3 allowed them to rediscover their own identity after so many years wearing what were essentially uniforms.
That all changed this past winter when I was serendipitously introduced to Ashton Lambie, finally we found someone who embodied the CHPT3 spirit, so much so that he’s begun to influence us.
Ashton is everything I’ve always loved about cycling, he’s eccentric, he’s kind, he’s curious and more than anything he’s an outsider, he doesn’t follow the crowd, he blazes his own trail. The biggest cycling magazine in the US, Bicycling Magazine, coined him, “The Most Interesting Bike Racer in America.” And that was before he became the first rider to go sub 4mins over 4km. Yet he’d started in ultra, beating the Cross-Kansas cycling record by riding the 692km in sub-24hrs. In between those records he raced Grass Track and won the Unbound Gravel Race. His hero is Graham Obree.
Ashton has been working with us behind the scenes since January, testing products and working with our design team on developing new products for the future. He’s been racing in a prototype of our new Aero Jersey that will launch in June and working on the new Allroad collection that will launch in August, and there’s much more beyond that to come.
But for now, let's get to know Ashton even better...
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Building a life full of adventures and experiences by living with intention.
2. What is your greatest fear?
Living a boring life.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Overthinking things, pushing myself to burnout.
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Not taking ownership of problems or solutions.
5. Which living person do you most admire?
My partner Christina. She constantly amazes me with her ability to balance being in a high performance environment, while being grounded and enjoying.
6. What is your greatest extravagance?
Gas station food. I normally eat pretty basic food and frugal, but mid ride gas station, I'll definitely snag that fancy juice.
7. What is your current state of mind?
Pretty good! It's a rest day, which always leaves me feeling a little listless. But it's great to take some time to re-adjust and work on things that.
8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Always pushing to be independent and a free-thinker. There are plenty of times it's better to take the path more traveled, listen to experts, and trust.
9. On what occasion do you lie?
Only on questionnaires.
10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
"I'm pretty ok with it!"
11. Which living person do you most despise?
Don't despise anyone that much.
12. What is the quality you most like in a man?
Good communication, actions match words, fun to be around.
13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Good communication, actions match words, fun to be around (These are the same because expectations of individuals aren't different based on gender).
14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Classic midwest, I say "ope" a lot. Never really realized it until I started traveling more and realized not everyone says it.
15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Chris :) She's awesome, we get to do all sorts of amazing things together. Just being around her for normal everyday things. Going to the grocery store.
16. When and where were you happiest?
We had some incredible days in Montana last summer. We'd be outside most of the day; fixing things, hanging out, playing with animals, there were a lot.
17. Which talent would you most like to have?
Better bike handling skills.
18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'm always working on better communication and life balance!
19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The sub 4 world record. I have mixed views on competition most of the time, but to get to have so much support and achieve something so far past what.
20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
I feel like being a cat would be pretty chill. Our guys seem pretty happy! I do enjoy sleeping, and I'd probably be a lot better at it if I were a cat.
21. Where would you most like to live?
Honestly, I really love living in Houston. I've never lived in a big city and didn't know how it would be, but it's pretty great. It's hot, we're close.
22. What is your most treasured possession?
Memories and amazing experiences.
23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Feeling like you're a burden on other people.
24. What is your favorite occupation?
I'm pretty happy anytime working with bikes. I feel so passionately about helping people get what they're looking for out of cycling.
25. What is your most marked characteristic?
Gotta be the moustache
26. What do you most value in your friends?
Support, checking in, and pushing each other to be better.
27. Who are your favorite writers?
I've always liked Emerson! Seveneves by Neal Stephenson is one that's really stuck with me I read a bit ago.
28. Who are your heroes in real life?
Graeme Obree
29. What is it that you most dislike?
Overcooked steak.
30. What is your greatest regret?
None really stick out.
31. How would you like to die?
Not in a hospital alone.
32. What is your motto?
Zapierdalac
