Page 147 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2026

endurance rides, such
as Rouge Roubaix in Louisiana,
Tour de Georgia, Cheaha in Alabama,
and 6 Gap. Cheaha became especially significant
after she returned stronger, won her age group, and earned
a spot on Team USA for the UCI Gran Fondo World
Championships in Australia. This achievement meant more
than just physical strength.
Handy owns a Gulf Coast insurance agency, has been
president of the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club, and is raising three
children—Jazzlyn, Jaxon, and Jaycen—while fitting 10 to
12 hours of training each week. Most mornings, she begins
before 4 a.m., so she can finish long rides before her children
start their day.
She believes that success comes as much from recovery,
discipline, and mindset as from the miles traveled. She said
a 10-day silent meditation retreat became one of her most
valuable training experiences, strengthening her mentally as
cycling strengthened her physically.
Now, Handy is aiming to qualify again at Cheaha for
another shot at wearing the Team USA jersey at the UCI
Gran Fondo World Championships in France. Before that,
she’ll revisit one of her favorite races, 6 Gap, happening
on September 27—a chance to test the resilience that has
defined every chapter of her athletic journey.
Looking back, she no longer views setbacks that once seemed
devastating as endings—they were simply invitations to start
again.
“Sometimes we have to be brave enough to create a path
out of nothing,” she said.
Readers can follow Handy’s training, racing, and cycling
adventures on her social media accounts as she continues
pursuing her next challenge.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net September 2026 | 147