The Leadville 100 MTB, known as the “Race Across the Sky,” isn’t just a test of endurance. It’s a crucible of grit, altitude, and determination. The 104-mile race pushes riders up more than 12,000 feet of climbing at elevations above 10,000 feet, where oxygen is scarce and the terrain unforgiving. For many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime challenge. For Melinda Frandsen - wife, mother of four, and founder of TOBIQ - it’s become a family affair, a proving ground, and a story of resilience that keeps unfolding.
2024: Racing With Fear, Racing With Heart
In 2024, Melinda lined up at Leadville for the first time with her husband Jonny starting up ahead. Just four years earlier, Jonny had suffered a “widow maker” heart attack, an event that shaped their family perspective (and adopted motto) in the years following: Every day is a gift.
In 2023, Jonny set his sights on Leadville, trained with the support of his family, and inspired Melinda along the way. One year later, previewing the course together before race day felt like a miracle in itself. But racing 100 miles through the Rockies would be the longest ride of Melinda’s life.
“I had to confront major fears and insecurities in those mountains,” she recalls. “It’s hard for me to be a female athlete and feel like I belong. Why am I scared of all the dudes on the course? I don’t know. But this race became about conquering imposter syndrome and owning my space.”
She pedaled with mantras in her head - life is a gift; give it all you’ve got; you belong here - and crossed the finish line to the sound of her family, and especially her dad’s voice, cheering her on. He had never mountain biked before, but watching Melinda finish stirred something in him. “Do you think I could do that?” he asked. Without hesitation, Melinda answered: “Yes. You totally can.”
2025: A Family at the Starting Line
That “yes” set in motion a story no one expected. A year later, her dad joined the Leadville start line - his first race ever, wearing the same 9-pound work boots he’s worn his whole life.
The 2025 race was layered with emotion. Melinda wrestled with nerves that brought her back to high school, when anxiety kept her from competing. But this time, she reframed the fear: “It’s excitement. Just give yourself a shot.” She also made a new decision: instead of sending Jonny ahead to race his own race, she let him pace her. “Maybe that sub-9 belt buckle is possible,” she thought.
The day unfolded with all the drama Leadville promises. At mile 50, the brutal Columbine climb unexpectedly drained Jonny, leaving Melinda to press on alone. Dust-filled lungs and aching legs carried her to a 9:20 finish - good enough for 5th in her age group and 14th overall women. Jonny, dehydrated but determined, finished just 14 minutes later.
“I’m just so proud of you,” he told her at the line.
Then came the wait for her dad. Hours later, he flew down the final descent, smiling wide. He crossed the line, an official Leadville finisher, just 12 minutes shy of the coveted belt buckle cutoff. When he accepted Melinda’s buckle instead, the symbolism was clear: this wasn’t about hardware. It was about family.
Lessons From the Saddle
For Melinda, the race has never been just about biking. It’s about identity, belonging, and showing her kids that big goals are worth chasing.
“Motherhood has taught me resilience,” she says. “The Leadville 100 strips you down, but it also shows you what you’re made of.”
It’s also about carrying those lessons into TOBIQ, the company she founded to build duffel bags tough enough for real life. Durable, ethical, and designed to last a lifetime, TOBIQ bags reflect the same grit and intentionality that Melinda brings to the race course.
Her story is one of perseverance: not just riding through altitude and fatigue, but pushing past fear, doubt, and the feeling of not belonging.
Riding Toward What’s Possible
At the finish line in 2025, Melinda watched her children, husband, siblings, and parents all united in one dusty, joy-filled celebration.
“We’re a family with diverse perspectives and experiences, holding each other up and cheering each other on in these life moments,” she says. “I’m so grateful for these people.”
From business to biking, Melinda’s journey is proof that when you give yourself a shot, extraordinary things can happen. Leadville may be “the race across the sky,” but for her, it’s also a race across generations - fueled by family, faith, and the belief that you belong on the course, wherever it takes you.