MENOMONIE — Whether it’s racing up a 10-minute climb or spending hours in the saddle through the backroads of South Dakota, Ruben Dayton-Brantmeier finds focus and freedom on two wheels.

A 2025 Menomonie High School graduate, Dayton-Brantmeier competes for North Star Development, a U23 cycling team based in Stillwater, Minn. Specializing in road racing, he is emerging as a rising name in the endurance-heavy discipline that mirrors the style of the Tour de France.

“I have been riding a bike since I was two years old, but have only been seriously racing since 2021,” he said. “I just started riding during the pandemic, and it took off from there.”

That turning point came on a November day in 2019, when Dayton-Brantmeier met Menomonie residents Jerry Porter and Jeff Peterson during a trail ride, a meeting which helped kick-start his competitive journey.

“I got my first bike from Jerry Porter,” he said. “I can remember when I met them — Nov. 19, 2019. I lived, then I biked, and my life changed.”

Since then, his passion and commitment have shaped nearly every aspect of his life. He trains daily, races across the country and internationally, and works to support his racing goals. He recently completed a demanding seven-stage road race in Quebec, Canada, where each day included 70 to 90 miles of competition.

“My specialty is long climbs,” the 18-year-old Dayton-Brantmeier said. “If I can have a 10-minute climb – that is my best.”

While he’s competed in races throughout the Midwest — including Minnesota, North Dakota, and Illinois — he’s also tested his endurance in Arizona, West Virginia and across Canadian terrain. He races under the guidance of USA Cycling, with international events governed by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

Racing is about more than just endurance. Points earned in competition determine starting positions, which can significantly affect a rider’s performance.

“The better you do, the better your (next) start. The better your start, the better you do,” he said.

A typical day this summer begins with yoga or strength work, followed by a 2- to 3-hour ride and a full day of work at a local orchard, Dirty Mary Face Farm. When school was in session, training shifted to after classes.

Even in winter, his commitment doesn’t waver. When road racing slows down, he competes in Fat Tire events and uses the off-season to recover, reflect and reset.

“Competing all year round is not sustainable,” he said. “I’ll take a break from October to January.”

Originally planning to attend Colorado Mesa University in the fall, Dayton-Brantmeier opted instead to pause his academic plans for a year. He intends to study exercise physiology with a concentration in human performance when he does enroll.

“I’m taking a gap year to get a big result and to build up my savings account,” he said.

Racing with a team brings both competition and camaraderie. Dayton-Brantmeier emphasizes that road racing is a collective effort.

“Everybody has a role, everyone has a job,” he said. “The team aspect is not only when racing. Off the bike, they are people you can trust who do exactly the same thing you are doing. They are going through the same ups and downs.”

Dayton-Brantmeier’s goals are clear – continue to improve, support his team, and someday win a national championship.

“Getting a good finish is a goal,” he said. “Setting a goal, training with a team, doing well and going home happy — that’s a great feeling.”

When he’s not racing or training, he enjoys woodworking, fixing and cleaning things, spending time with family and friends, and walking in the evenings — a habit he finds relaxing.

“I never get bored on a ride,” he said. “And I’ve done rides up to 10 hours. It can be a time to think on your own, be exactly on your own. I think about everything — random math problems, things like that.”

Next up is a 113-mile gravel race in South Dakota — a course he knows well.

“I won that race last year,” he said. “It’s just what it sounds like — you are racing on a road made up of gravel. While you are racing, you think of random stuff while riding through South Dakota.”

For Dayton-Brantmeier, cycling offers more than athletic competition. It’s a daily challenge, a personal journey, and a way to connect with the world around him.

“There is always that hill out there that you can get up faster,” he said. “There are never-ending layers of you that can do better.”

Chat GPT provided assistance in the production of this story.

For Menomonie football fans, Chad Zutter’s book “Menomonie High School Football History & Record Book” is now available on Amazon for $14.95.  You can order the book at: 130 Years of Menomonie Football, 1895-2024