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Sue Aflague doesn’t just ride; she perseveres. When she moved to Nebraska, she found herself in a town of just 350 people—and facing a number of health challenges. But rather than slow down or give up, Sue focused on her commitment to fitness and living well. Through it all, she’s found that riding her ElliptiGO bike supports her wellness goals, expands her community, and helps her stay strong through even the toughest times. Her inspiring story is one you won’t want to miss. Meet our July 2025 Rider of the Month!

Sue grew up in Southern California. She and her husband, Allen, have a multi-generational family of three adult children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. When they retired, Sue and Allen decided to move to the tiny town of Fairfield, Nebraska.

Sue’s journey with ElliptiGO began during a visit to Chandler, Arizona. While shopping for a bike to ride with her husband, she was immediately drawn to the ElliptiGO bikes at the front of the store. Sue recalls, “The store manager noticed, and said, ‘You really want the ElliptiGO, don’t you?’ I admitted I did.” The cost was holding her back, but the manager worked out a deal, and Sue and Allen walked out of the store with her first ElliptiGO.

But it wasn’t exactly love at first ride. After her initial ride, Sue had buyer’s remorse because the bike seemed awkward to ride. Sue watched an ElliptiGO video on how to ride the bike, and then she made adjustments to the handlebars and stride length. She attempted another ride, and everything changed. “I never looked back,” Sue says. “I fell in love with my ElliptiGO!”

The next year, she upgraded from the 8S to an 11R. Today Sue and Allen have an 11R and an 8C. For others considering buying an ElliptiGO bike, Sue says, “GO for it! It’s absolutely worth it. It truly is the best invention ever.”

Riding 10 miles daily became a cornerstone of Sue’s lifestyle, complemented by strength training, yoga, and a clean, fasting-based way of eating. Sue says, “ElliptiGO has been my go-to every day. It helped me keep running as I’ve aged and has been the perfect way to stay fit.”

Sue had practiced intermittent fasting since 2017. In 2023, she started following Dr. Mindy Pelz’s Fast Like a Girl program, which she says transformed her health. By 2024, she had completed Dr. Pelz’s course and earned her coaching certification. Sue was in the best health and the best shape she’d been in for decades.

Sue has made riding not just a tool for fitness but a source of community. She recalls her first group ride, Tour de Bosa, also known as “the donut ride,” which covered about 50 miles through Scottsdale, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe, with stops at donut shops along the way. Sue admits, “I stopped at the first donut shop and skipped the rest!” She adds, “It was a great ride. That kicked off my participation in ElliptiGO events.”

Other unforgettable rides include the Five Boro Bike Tour in New York City and Bike the Bay in San Diego. She especially remembers the thrill—and challenge—of conquering the Coronado Bridge during Bike the Bay. “The climb was the steepest I’d ever attempted,” notes Sue. “Reaching the top and flying down the other side was exhilarating. That ride remains one of my top memories.”

Each group ride has been an opportunity to connect to her fellow ElliptiGO riders. In fact, Sue credits ElliptiGO bikes with helping her adjust to retirement and her new hometown. She sought out her fellow riders, finding Leigh Esau in nearby Lincoln, Nebraska, on the ElliptiGO map. While on her way to ride with Leigh, she spotted someone on a GO and yelled to her husband, “Turn around! Chase her down!” That spontaneous roadside connection blossomed into a friendship with Peggy VonSpreckelsen.

Sue’s ElliptiGO journey continued even as she faced serious health setbacks. In 2020, she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She committed to riding her ElliptiGO through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. “Even on my very worst days, after chemo treatment, I got on my ElliptiGO and rode. Some days it was just one mile,” she recalls.

As she began to heal, she slowly increased her mileage, riding three miles, then five miles.  Then, in May 2021, she had a heart attack, which led to having a stent placed in her left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Sue says, “It shocked me to my core.”

Still, she was determined to keep GOing. Her cardiologist cleared her to start cycling—with one important rule: keep her heart rate below 110 beats per minute. Sue began to ride again, albeit slowly. Then she heard about ElliptiGO’s Electric Bike Conversion Kit. Sue called Service Manager Keri Cleeremans about it and became one of the first to buy the new product. It was the perfect solution to help Sue climb hills while keeping her heart rate below 110.

Just two months after the stent was inserted, Sue was in Iowa, riding the 48-mile Pigtails Ride. “The Electric Bike Conversion Kit kept me moving,” Sue shares. “I felt so accomplished. At age 68, I was living my very best life.”

Then, in October 2024, Sue suffered a traumatic accident while riding over railroad tracks near her home. She was riding a route she knows well, and, like all good cyclists, she is cautious around railroad tracks. Work had been done on the tracks the week prior, and what Sue didn’t know was that an opening in the tracks hadn’t been properly closed. 

Her front tire got caught in the gap, and Sue went down hard. Luckily, Allen was riding with her and he immediately provided first aid.

Doctors predicted a long recovery: 30 days in the hospital and then a transfer to a rehab facility to relearn life skills. But Sue astonished them with her rapid improvement. She was in the hospital for just four days and then went home to heal further. 

Sue attributes her incredible resilience to years of consistent training and healthy living. She explains, “Being an active ElliptiGO rider, lifting weights, eating clean, and following a fasting lifestyle helped me survive the worst accident imaginable.”

Today, Sue says, “I’m feeling fantastic. I’ve recovered and am doing well.” She’s riding again, logging 10 miles daily and, she says, “I’m loving the GO adventure! I’m thankful, grateful and blessed to continue this journey.”

Her ultimate goal? “My GOal is to live a long, happy, healthy life, to age 100!” says Sue. “And my wish is to still be riding my GO at that age!”

Sue’s story is a powerful reminder that illness, age, and even serious injuries may slow you down, but they don’t have to stop you—especially when you’ve got purpose, perseverance, and an ElliptiGO bike. 

What an inspiration! As Sue works toward her goal of riding to 100, we’re honored to celebrate her as our July Rider of the Month—and excited to watch her GO.

 

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