Not Like This: Ben Frederick on Survival, TBI, and Finding His Way Back

Nearly a decade ago, American cyclocross racer Ben Frederick suffered a devastating crash that changed everything. What began as a concussion spiraled into a traumatic brain injury (TBI), years of post-concussion syndrome, and a long, uncertain recovery that cost Ben his career, his identity, and nearly his life. As his physical recovery stalled, Ben fell into deep depression and developed an eating disorder — clinging to the one thing he felt he could still control. At rock bottom, facing a life-or-death moment, Ben made a defining decision: not like this. In this episode of The Stable Cyclist Podcast, Ben shares his full story — from injury and identity loss to rebuilding his life piece by piece. We talk about traumatic brain injury, mental health in endurance sports, disordered eating, and the difficult process of finding meaning beyond performance. That journey ultimately led Ben back to the cyclocross start line, culminating this season with a powerful return to the UCI Cyclocross World Cup, finishing on the lead lap in Tábor. This conversation goes far beyond racing. It’s a story about survival, resilience, and redefining success when everything you thought defined you is taken away. Whether you’re an athlete, cyclist, or someone navigating recovery after trauma, this episode offers a rare and honest look at what it really takes to keep going.   If you’d like to ask JP a question for an upcoming Ask JP Anything episode, send him a DM on instagram @thestablecyclist or send an email to [email protected]   The companies supporting JP and this channel: Maplelag Resort - https://www.maplelag.com/ Wark's Cycling Services - https://www.warkscyclingservices.com/ Ignition Coach Co. - https://www.ignitioncoachco.com/ Gulo Composites - https://gulocomposites.com/ Flow Formulas - https://flowformulas.com/discount/JOHNPETER15 Wahoo Fitness - https://amzn.to/48RUSqe Owl City Cycles - https://www.owlcitycycles.com The Black Bibs - https://amzn.to/3XRlMtm Dawn to Dusk - https://amzn.to/48zKi8p Some of the above are affiliate links, but all are personally vetted and recommended   Mental Health Advocacy - Go4Graham - https://www.go4graham.org/ Resources: 988 Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/ International Bipolar Foundation: https://ibpf.org/ National Association for Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/