Spid Collective – Spid Werkz

The Spid Collective is a group of people dedicated to the spid lifestyle and advancing the Spid Werkz mission. Each has unique skills and experiences that they bring to the organization and athletes, whether is be training, mentoring, networking, or beyond.

Dr. Erin Ayala

With over a decade of clinical and sport psychology experience, Dr. Erin Ayala is a
Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant
(CMPC). Erin provides virtual mental health therapy for athletes aged 14 and
older, one-on-one performance coaching, CMPC mentorship, clinical supervision, and group workshops for teams and sport organizations.
Based in Minnesota, she is licensed to work with athletes in 40 states.

Outside of her practice, she is an avid endurance sport athlete and advocate. With nine marathons, seven half-distance triathlons, and one full-distance triathlon under my belt, Erin co-founded a cycling team and non-profit in Minneapolis to promote diversity in cycling. She regularly competes in events in the Midwest as a cat 1 road cyclist and gravel cyclist. During winter, she participates in virtual racing, fat bike
racing, and strength training.

Erin helps Spid Werkz with workshops and athlete access to sports psychology services.

https://www.skadisportpsychology.com/

Dr. Allison Brager

Allison has served on the Board of Directors and have chaired committees for the Sleep Research Society, the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, and Gordon Research Conferences. In addition to > 40 peer-reviewed publications in flagship society journals, she has written op-ed and column pieces for Science and professional society bulletins, has been on many podcasts, and has a popular science book entitled Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain. The book content ties the fields of exercise physiology and neuroscience with her experiences as an elite athlete in track & field and CrossFit.

Allison helps Spid Werkz and its athletes with maximizing their sleep and recovery for high performance.

Stephen Schaefer

Dr. Stephen Schaefer is a competitive elite cyclist, a 2025 Spid Werkz Z6 athlete, and a true pioneer for the foundation. As our very first sponsored cyclist, Stephen opened the door to the elite cycling world, helping us forge lasting connections within the community and expand our support for cyclists navigating the rigorous demands of high-performance sport.

Stephen’s resilience and mental fortitude are just as impressive as his physical capabilities. While racing in the U.S. as a domestic elite, he navigated the devastating loss of his father to cancer, using his training as a vital anchor. This culminated in an unforgettable, emotional victory at the 102-mile El Tour de Tucson, where he launched a daring 40-mile breakaway to win the massive race he dedicated to his late father.

Now based in Berlin, Germany, Stephen continues his athletic career by racing competitively and immersing himself in the local cycling community. He is dedicated to sharing his expertise, coaching athletes who want to push their performance limits while finding greater enjoyment on the bike. As a co-founder and co-host of the Spid Werkz podcast, the Spidcast, Stephen continues to champion the “life of spid”—bringing the gritty, behind-the-scenes stories of elite athletics to life for listeners everywhere.

Gavin Ross

Gavin is a multiple time Team USA member for sprint canoe. He has multiple national titles in sprint canoe/kayak in addition to international race results representing the United States. Gavin is the head coach at Washington Canoe Club and enjoys developing young paddlers passion for the sport.

Gavin provides a strong understanding of the sprint canoe/kayak world to Spid Werkz along with mentoring for developing athletes.