Lucas Brunelle was raised on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts where he attended Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. He began his bicycle career riding BMX bikes at 15 years old.

In 1988 he started road racing and won his first citizens race and went on to win many races as a junior. In 1990 he upgraded to category two.

In 1990 he was invited to the Olympic Training Center to train under Chris Carmichael where he narrowly avoided being thrown out for a fight with another cyclist.

After graduating in 1990 he attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst MA where he joined Delta Chi Fraternity and continued to race. He graduated in 1996 summa cum laude with a BA in finance.

During his short and notorious racing career as an adult he raced for Mass Bay Road Club, UMASS Amherst, and Cannondale Jiffy Lube. He placed well and led his teammates to victory sometimes by riding on sidewalks, over grass, and through riders blocking. After participating in pro-am road races for several years, Brunelle was unsatisfied with the pace and intensity of legal bicycle racing.

Lucas began work as a bicycle messenger/courier in New York City which is where he began his career in alleycat races.