Bishop fell in love with mountain biking when some friends in his neighborhood started riding. He converted a road bike, putting bigger tires on it and some extra pieces of metal on the frame, but it didn't last long on those dirt trails.

"I pretty much destroyed it," he said. Which is when he learned what happens when you help yourself to someone else's property. Finally, he got a job washing dishes at an Italian restaurant and "worked my butt off. I borrowed the last $500 and bought myself a real mountain bike."

He began racing and was good at it. That allowed him to find sponsors, travel and opened his eyes to what the world has to offer.

His success has also allowed him the opportunity to help others who may not have the means to buy that bicycle. He works with World Bicycle Relief, an organization that uses bikes to empower people living in poverty. Not only do they help people get that first bicycle, they train people in how to make bikes, how to repair bikes, and they create situations where professionals can use bicycles as transportation in underdeveloped areas or communities damaged by natural disasters.

"It has been an eye-opening experience," Bishop said. "They came to me at a race and I had always been pretty community-minded working with kids. It's an amazing organization."

And when he's sucking wind, pedaling up a mountain path, eating someone else's dust in the sweltering heat, he knows his greatest victory won't be against those other guys on those other bikes.

"Everything is up to me," Bishop said. "I love the individuality of the sport. There are a lot of unique challenges, and much of them mirror life. It requires steadfastness and determination. You have to take opportunities when you have them and be grateful for the little things."

And above all else, enjoy the ride.

"Just have a good time," he said, smiling.

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E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com