Monday Track Race report

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By Mike Ivancic

At 49, you’d think I might slow things down a bit—or as my mom loves to remind me, “Sit your butt down for a minute!” Instead, I decided it was the perfect time to try something entirely new: track racing.

If you’ve never raced on a track, here’s the deal—it’s cycling stripped to its bones. No brakes. Fixed gear. One gear, one objective: go fast. And this wasn’t a polished velodrome. It was a 333-meter grass-and-dirt oval carved into a field just northwest of Lawrence, Kansas. Tires with bite were essential, and a sense of humor helped, too.

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Connor and Scott

Track Racing: Old-School Vibes and New Challenges

The local track community showed up in force, blending seasoned racers with younger legs and bringing equal parts grit and good vibes. I knew many faces from the road and cyclocross scene, but there were also some new—and seriously fast—riders in the mix.

Two standouts were Scott Williamson, perched on his sleek Specialized, and Connor Remboldt, rolling a 1989 rusted steel frame that made more noise than a cowbell at a cross race. Different machines, same intensity. Between us, we traded blows all day while chasing Kansas State Track Championship titles.

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Roger, Connor, Ian
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Our new kit is slimming:)

Podium Moments (and New Kit Confidence)

Somehow, I found myself standing on the top step of the podium in two events—and finished 4th in Cat 4. Not bad for my second-ever track race. I won’t lie: our new KCBC kit didn’t just look good—it felt fast. Maybe even a little slimming.

It was also great sharing the day with Dave—teammate, cycling official, and president of the Kansas Cycling Association. He’s one of those people quietly holding the local cycling scene together. I gave him a little grief about racing me in the 45–49 category, but let’s be honest—that’s where the real battles live. With his racing, leadership, and support from his wife Cindy, their family is a true pillar of Kansas cycling.

Between the Races

Track racing isn’t just about speed—it’s about community. Between events, we caught our breath while kids’ races lit up the infield. After the final whistle, racers and spectators lingered for conversation and a well-earned beverage or two. The vibe was relaxed, inclusive, and supportive—everything grassroots cycling should be.

Curious?

If track racing has even slightly piqued your interest—or you just want to know what it feels like to go full gas with no brakes on grass—check out localcycling.com. The folks behind this scene are working hard to keep it alive and growing in Kansas City.

Up Next

There’s a bit of a breather in the KC race calendar this weekend, but the next two are stacked:

  • August 5 – Swope Park Criterium
  • August 12–13 – Junction City Classic

So dust off your road bike, stretch those legs, and get ready. Whether you’re chasing points, podiums, or just a new challenge—there’s a spot for you in this community.

Happy Monday!!!

Crash, Comebacks, and KCBC Grit: A Midseason Recap from Missouri

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By Mike Ivancic

This race report is unofficially brought to you by the letter “C”—for Crash. Because every rider knows: it’s not if, it’s when. And my when came hard in Columbia, Missouri, during the Froze Toes Road Race, held July 15—the Missouri State Championship Road Race. It was my worst wreck since I first clipped in back in 2010, and let me tell you: Missouri pavement does not forgive.

Ironically, despite its name, the Froze Toes race felt more like Inferno Heels. With temps pushing past 90°F, the 31-mile road course offered a fast, flat profile—except for the kicker in the final 500 meters. And if you’re carrying 20–30 pounds more than the featherweights in the peloton, you feel every inch of that uphill finish.

Unfortunately, my day ended early—taken out at mile 11. I still managed to finish, albeit 25th out of 27. Not ideal, but part of the game.

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KCBC Shows Up

Despite my misfortune, KCBC represented well.

  • Dan Shaffer took on the Masters field and earned a solid 12th out of 20. Steady and dependable.
  • Kurt Wilson raced in the Cat 3 field and landed 26th out of 30.
  • Lynn Wilson powered to a brilliant 2nd place, narrowly missing first by inches—and picked up some podium cash for the ride home. (Note to self: get a picture of Lynn on the podium next time!)
  • Shelly Milner, racing for the first time since surgery, rode a strong race, finishing 5th despite missing a turn. Without the detour, we may have seen her on the podium.

Special thanks to race director Aaro Froese, whose passion for cycling is evident in every detail of this well-run event. Froze Toes may leave some skin behind, but it’s a race built with heart.

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The Truman Cup: KCBC Women Steal the Show

The following weekend, the Truman Cup took over the racing calendar—a 3-day omnium with a Friday time trial, Saturday circuit race, and Sunday criterium. I was sidelined with injuries, but the KCBC squad rolled deep in orange.

Highlights from the women’s field:

  • Michelle Lingenfelser took 3rd in the TT and 1st overall in Women’s Cat 4.
  • Lynn Wilson doubled up on Sunday, snagging 1st place in both 40+ and Cat 1/2/3. Incredible performance from a true workhorse.

In the men’s events:

  • Kurt Wilson grabbed 1st in the circuit race.
  • Shawn Knight locked in a 2nd place finish in the Sunday crit (40+).
  • Kyle Guinn clocked a strong 3rd in the Friday TT.

Even from the sidelines, I enjoyed seeing so much KCBC success. I spent Sunday at the crit, not quite 100% yet, but lucky enough to hang out with Michelle’s son, Nash—a future cyclocross or BMX racer if I’ve ever seen one. Smart, enthusiastic, and already soaking up the racing world

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Gratitude, Crashes, and Kenny’s Redemption

A big shoutout to Shelly Milner, who came out all weekend to support the team. Whether it was setting up, passing out water, or cheering like hell at the finish line—Shelly reminded us what real teammates look like.

And while I was bandaging up my crash wounds, Kenny Carlson was in the woods racing MTB—and hitting trees. Literally. Despite splitting his chin open mid-race, Kenny shook it off and won the Cat 3 race. Guts, grit, and a podium finish to prove it.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Pikos decided to make a little side trip up to Ft. Dodge, Iowa, where she snagged 3rd in her category at the RockNrail 1850 Crit. Well done, Piko—and we know your Facebook’s got the photo evidence!

In cycling, there’s pain, yes. But there’s also perseverance, support, and family. Every race isn’t just about podiums—sometimes it’s about who showed up, who helped out, and who refused to quit.

As I always say: Every friend you have today was once a stranger. So go out this weekend, meet someone new, and maybe even hand them a water bottle at the finish line.

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Thank you for reading.

Monday Race report from NWA

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Whether you race or ride your bike. It is a great way to meet new people. This weekend there were a ton of folks riding and racing their bike. Me? I truly enjoy the freedom of being on a bike. This weekend was no different. I wish I could have been a part of the awesome event that was put on by Cycling Kansas City. The Cider Mill century was enjoyed by 385 men, women and children. To put on a ride like that takes a bunch of volunteers and the CKC board. Thank you to all those that participated and took time out of their day to help. The next ride is the Summer Breeze on 8.26.2018 and I hope to see everyone out for this event.

This weekend had so many options on the race/ride calendar. I, however, committed to racing in Arkansas at the Natural State crits. Along with KCBC teammate Kyle Guinn. We roomed with Connor and Ian from Moveup and Alex from Colavita. 3 days of crit racing at its finest. It started with Friday night under the lights and it was .6 of a mile, 6 turn short course. If you were not on the front line, you were left behind. Ian Pepin was our main focus for this race but he ended up on the back row. Alex Flunker and I worked to stay with the front pack. We also had Thomas Lewin from the KC team Grip n Rip join in the fun. I ended up getting caught behind a crash in the middle of the race, then again later in the race and took me all but out of the race. By the end of the 1st race Thomas took 7th, Alex 9th, Ian 17th and I was in 12th. The only female to race from KC was Molly Benton (Elektra racing). Molly took the course with 56 other pro123 women. This was a really tough field and Molly (cat3) took it on the chin like a champ and ended her race in 50th. I’m proud of that lady for stepping in the ring with the pros. Our Cat3 men had Tim Jansen (AKA Jan Timson) of GP Velotek and Kyle Guinn from KCBC. These boys averaged 25+ miles an hour and Jansen came away in the money with a 6th place finish. These tight turns did not favor the time trial champion and Kyle landed in 28th.

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Alex, me and Thomas

Saturday in the town of Rogers AR, The KC area represented with 16 athletes, 10 of the 16 were the women of the KC. All of these ladies raced in the 3 4 5 womans race. This race had 30 women in it. I would have loved to see more teamwork between the 3 teams from KC that were represented. Amy Cottrell took 6th, Kelly Skinner 10th both from Elektra racing and were in the money. Grip n rip showed up with 4 women, GP Velotek fieled 2 and 4 from Elektra. There was a total of 30 women in the race. Velotek, Elektra, KCBC, Colavita and Move up all set up base camp together on Saturday. I would have liked to have the Grip n Rip folks with us but we did not get to coordinate that to make it happen.

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Amy on her trainer
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Kelly, Marianne and Molly
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Connor, Kyle and I with Marianne spinning
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the Marianne selfie

Our goal for the men cat4 was to get Ian on the podium. I figured if any course would favor him, it would be this one. We did what we could to keep him protected and he did all the work in the last 5 laps to get into position for the uphill sprint and he took 2nd. The kid that took 1st almost lapped the entire field but Ian kept that from happening. Time to upgrade Ian. Tom Lewin took 7th, Alex in the 8 spot and I was shot out the back and 18th.

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and though she be but little, she is fierce

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The cat3 race had Tim Jansen working hard for a 3rd place field sprint finish. After the race I asked him what he was doing to get him to where his fitness was. He said he put this weekend as his A race and focused on what he needed to do to best put him in position to win. One hell of an effort. Our KCBC teammate worked hard to hold on to the 28 spot. Kyle had a moment where he took off and went for and won a prem. So, our man Kyle did not walk away with out any $$. After the race we invited the Velotek and Elektra team over for dinner and made a hell of a shrimp and pasta meal. The ladies brought over salad, wine and garlic bread. This is where we get to get out of our race kits and just sit around eat, drink, tell stories and just enjoy each others company. Here is a great photo of the ring leader of the evening. Kelly Skinner has a dynamic personality and was nice to have in the mix. The pictures pretty much tells the story.

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Kelly giving a dissertation on quantum physics
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Proper top podium pose. why is Kate wearing one shoe?

I think the dinner was the best part of the weekend. We are all amateur athletes and all have to go to work on Monday. We love riding and that is the common bond we all share. We are human and sometimes we suck and other times we are amazing. I hope you don’t judge a human when they are having one of those days that they suck.

Day 3 of the Natural State was a much longer course with more turns than the other two races. The women kicked off the day with a morning race and all 10 of our KC women worked hard to get into position, only to get crashed out in the finale turn while a prem was at stake. Kelly, Sev Tournadre and Carol Stauffer were all but taken out of the race. Marianne Melling had a huge effort and took 5th place. Amy was in the money at 10th, Michelle Sheppard with elektra at 13th. I decided to double up and start the day with a masters race. I was feeling great and sitting in a top 10 position with 8 to go. Then we had a crash and the race had to be neutralized with 7 to go. The last 6 laps were fast and after 15 minutes of waiting in the sun we all were suffering and out of 29 racers, I sprinted for 12th place. Ugh, in 4 hours I get to do it again. Next up, Cat3 race and boy did it not disappoint. It was a battle of positions and Tim was in the money one more time at 10th and Kyle ended the weekend with a hard fought race at 31st.

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Kyle Guinn

There were other KCBC athletes out there racing. One of our mountian bikeracers, Michael Conley was racing in the Marmaton Massacre in Ft. Scott. Michael had a rough go at the race in the single speed category and ended up crashing out and breaking his helmet. Glad he was not seriously injured.

Last but not least was our Triathlete Iron Woman, Michelle Lingenfelser. Michelle took the top podium spot at the Big Shark New Town Tri. She also was 5th overall on the bike portion of the tri. That is 5th out of 215 men and women. WOW! Great Job Michelle. We are all very proud of you. By the way, 2nd place was a 15 year old! Don’t you just love it!

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Thank you for reading. And remember, every friend you have today was once a stranger. Go out and meet new strangers. Even if they suck at first, they might just be having a case of the Mondays.

~M

Monday Race Report – KCBC 7/2/2018

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The Tour of Lawrence was the feature event this weekend. It was going to be a hot one, that along with the wind, will make an out and back time trial even tougher. Friday evening was the start of the time trial with a headwind out, coupled with a climb. So, knowing this is one thing, doing it in the most efficient way? Well that would be a question for our very own Kyle Guinn. He did the absolute best out of us all. Kyle took 1st overall in the Cat 3 and won it by almost 15 seconds. Great job Kyle. If you have any advice or secrets please share it with the rest of us. We are all proud of you. As for the rest of us? Well, Michelle Lingenfelser took 2nd place in the Cat 5 and missing 1st by 8 seconds. Everyone second guesses those 8 seconds. Did I leave it all out there? Where could I have made up those 8 seconds? You will have a chance to redeem yourself soon enough. Miss Jennifer Piko threw her hat in the ring in the Cat 4 and suffered with the rest of us to take 5th place. Great effort Jen. Then there is the Cat 4 men and I (Mike Ivancic) ended up taking 8th place. Those are all respectable places. We win when we show up and give it 100% no matter where you place.

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Day 2 was even hotter than Friday. The crit was at Haskell University in Lawrence. This 2+ mile course had a ton of turns and an uphill finish. KCBC had a total of 8 athletes that entered the race. 3 of those were the best part of the 8. Our womans team once again showed up ready to race and contend. Madison Shepherd was first up and man did she put on one hell of a race and it was, once again a sprint finish. Madi came out of the final turn behind the cyclist from Tulsa and just could not get past her. Great work Shep! Jennifer Piko rode one of her stronger races and placed 17th out of 20. This was a very large cat 4 womans race. Michelle Lingenfelser also placed 2nd and the only reason she did not win this race was because there was a prem on the final lap. ( A prem is a premium / something of value that is given to the 1st cyclist to cross the start/finish on a certain lap that the officials decide) So, when they announced the prem and belled the final lap, this created a bit of confusion and Michelle let Kate from GP Velotek take the prem and therefore the race. I am going to go out on a limb and say, that will never happen again to Ms. Lingenfelser. As for the men of KCBC? Well, the top racer was once again Kyle with an 11th place finish, Michael Morris 13th and Shawn 21st in the cat 3 race. New KCBC teamate Mike Harrison took 8th in the 60+ category and was 2nd as a cat 4 in the 60+.  I, on the other hand, suffered and struggled to stay on with the main group. This tends to happen when you are assisting the director of the race and there all day. Yes, I know what excuses are like, everyone has one:) So, 23rd place is not last but wow! We all suffered in that heat. I was impressed with everyone that showed up to race. But, I have to say one of the most impressive efforts I witnessed, was the one that Michael Allison (Cat 1 racer), from Olathe Subaru racing, put forth. Michael Allison set out on a 75 minute race in 100 degree heat. Micheal took off from the start and built about a 2.5 minute gap over the course of the 1st half of the race. He worked so hard and kept pushing himself but there was a chase group of 4 cyclist and one of those on the chase was a kid by the name of Alex Hoen (pro racer). In that chase group there was also 2 other Subaru teammates that were doing what they could to slow down the train. The lead was cut to 1 minute then 40 seconds. The take over happend right in front of me and we were all amazed when Alex took Michael over. But that was not what amazed me. Nope, what I was impressed with was not the speed that Alex overtook Michael. It was when Alex passed Michael Allison, Michael dug down deeper than he may ever had and he made such a huge effort to chase and get on the wheel of Alex Hoen. So, here is a high level racer that just put out a ton of effort, gets caught in the last lap and has the grit to accelerate enough to catch his opponents wheel and stay on it until the finish. Michael and Alex were neck and neck all the way to the finish line and Alex took the win by half a wheel. It was the best race of the weekend.

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Mike Harrison rockin the orange

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“the climb”
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Love the earings:)

Day 3 was the road race around Lonestar, KS. Good news is it was much cooler, the bad news? There was a climb just before the finish. We fielded 8 and had a much better showing on the mens side. Our ladies did a great job with Michelle taking the top podium spot (that’s 1st place for all the non racer, or anyone that has never watched the Olympics). It was not a solo finish for Michelle, oh no! She had to work on that hill climb to beat Alexandra Borjarski-Stauffer (we should recruit her). Michelle did an outstanding job keeping her on her rear wheel through the climb and all the way to the finish. Great effort Michelle, super proud of you! Madison took 4th in the cat 4 and Jennifer finished strong at 14th. As for the men? The big win of the day goes to Mr. John Newman. John put in some incredible efforts and with a group sprint up the hill John worked his way into that 3rd spot. The cat 4 mens field was solid 25 men that all were strong climbers. I was officially pop’d off the back on the hill after the 2nd lap and could not recover. licking my 21st place wounds. As did my good friend John Field. Mr. Field entered the 40+ race that fielded some of the top cat 123 athletes. John is 52, he is also a cat 4. I give him props for sticking with that group as long as he did. John did not finish (DNF) and will be back in a few weeks for the Truman cup road race. As for our boys in the cat 3, they did a great job working the field and Kyle ended up in the 6th spot with Michael shutting the door behind Kyle with 7th place.

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The Tour of Lawrance ended up being a well ran 3 day race and next year it will be an omnium and I have a feeling it will bring some bigger teams. As some of you know, my focus is on women in racing. This race series had a total 498 entries. I have said it before, you have 100 women at a race and you will have 300 men. Well, here is proof. 125 women raced this weekend. If you are a race director and are reading this, I think you might need to adjust your marketing. Working with Cindy Bracker (race director) this weekend was a blast. Everyone did a great job and helped out even when they were hot, sweaty and tired. I am proud of all the volunteers that came out and made a bunch of new friends throughout the event. Thank you.

Wednesday Night Worlds!

I want to close this out with something I heard at Wednesday. After the A race Michael Morriss had some words with Shadd Smith about something that happened during the race. I was not in the race and do not know if a wheel was chopped or someone perceived that he was aggressively overtaken? All of that does not matter. Shadd and Michael had some not so friendly words and Michael ended up walking away. All of this was overheard by the official, who let it play out. He knew that if it got to heated he would have to step in. The reason I want to share this story is because of what I was told by this official on Sunday after the ToL, over pizza and a beer. He said that Shadd came up to him this weekend and that Michael had sent him an email. The first thing the official thought was, oh shit! But then Shadd continued to explain that it was a good email and an apology. Michael Morriss, you gained the respect of many people with one email. Well done Mr. Morriss, you are a good man. I don’t mean to air any dirty laundry here, but we all have to realize that everyday we are being watched by those who are new to racing, a Jr racer or a parent that came out to see their 20 year old race. The race gets heated and we all might say something that we regret later. Our egos are no way the size of non athletes:)

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Michael Morriss laying it down!

I have more respect for a man who lets me know where he stands, even if he’s wrong, than the one who comes up like an angel and is nothing but a devil. ~Malcom X

~every friend you have today was once a stranger. Go out and respectfully meet some strangers!

Monday KCBC race report 6/18/2018

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This report should start with the gents that went to road nationals in Agusta GA. But, since I have the proverbial pen in hand, I will begin with the incredible women of KCBC. This weekend we got to see three women race in Ames, Iowa at the 2nd annual Ames Grand Prix. There was a Saturday night criterium and a Sunday circuit race. The Saturday crit took place in downtown Ames under the lights. The race started with all women categories and masters mass start. We had 3 women start that race and the lead pack formed quickly, Lynn Wilson (cat 2) sat in a very comfortable 3rd spot with Madison Shepherd (cat 4) sitting on the back of this peloton. Jennifer Piko was racing in the masters category and missed this break, but held on for a 4th place in 40+ masters. The race pushed speeds of 25+ for our ladies and mid way through the race they announced a $100 prem. Also, there was a local jeweler sponsoring the womans race with over $2800 in diamonds and this is what Mrs Wilson was focused on. As they came into the final turn Lynn was sitting in the 3 or 4 spot and held on to the wheel of Anne Meyer out of La Crosse and Dee Mable of IA. All three of these women laid down the hammer in an all out sprint for the finish line. It was a back and forth race and in the last 30 meters, Anne pulled ahead by a wheel and Dee and Lynn threw their bikes for a photo finish. Lynne took the 3rd spot and one of those lovely diamonds! Madi also took a 3 spot and some cash home. IMG_0977.jpg

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Day 2 was a hot one and our KCBC ladies were on fire!!! Lynn Wilson took 1st in the 123 race, Madison Shepherd took 1st in the 4/5 race and Jennifer Piko fought it out for a 4th place spot and a little walking around money.received_10212232426625633[1]received_10212232426345626[1]

As for us men in Ames? We all worked to get in position and with 2 large local race teams running the race, you pretty much get shut out at every turn.

Kurt Wilson and Kyle Guinn were in the cat 3 race. Kyle had an epic crash with an even better landing (I give his landing a 9.8). Jack Mason of 360 racing was also involved in this mayhem. If you watch closely, at 15 seconds you will see an Ames Velo racer bunny hopping the rider on the ground. At 19 seconds it looks like Kyle is going to finish the race with out his bike with jack pretending to be in his open wheel race car and another racer curled up in the fetal position praying not to be hit by yet another bike.

In Ames on Saturday night here is how the placing looked

Kurt Wilson took 17th/35 in the cat3 race and Kyle Guinn placed 21st in that same race. We also had another Kansas City racer in Ames. Aaron Sims from Cycle City Racing placed 18th in the 3 race.CRA_4982.jpg

As for the cat4 race on Saturday evening? It was Ian Pepin and myself representing KC/Lawrence. Ian took 13th of 36 and I limped in with a 22nd place finish.CRA_4960.jpg

The gents of Subaru racing out of Lawrence KS worked hard in the pro/1 2 race. but were out numbered 7 to 3. Garick Valverde took 4th, Scott Williamson 6th and Jordan Miller 14th. There were 18 men entered in this race. That is certainly respectable in my book. 

Day 2 in Ames for the men looked a bit better. Although with just as many crashes as day 1. We all stayed upright. Cat 3 race – Kyle took 14th out of 22 racers lined up. Cat 4, I took 16th out of 35 racers that lined up. Ian did not finish (DNF) do to several attempts at a break away group and very little sleep:) Great effort Ian! The master race was directly after the 4 race and I jumped in with Kurt Wilson who took 15th out of 20 and I ended up with a 16th place.  The Subaru team had a better circuit race and put Garrick in 2nd, Scott in 4th and Jordan in 10th out of 16 men that lined up at the start. Well done Subaru!CRA_5209.jpg

NATIONALS————————————- 

Mark Horn, Bill Smith, Kenny Carlson from KCBC. Also, Mike Harrison from GP Velotek and Andy brown from 360 racing all traveled to Augusta GA for masters national.

The Friday road race looked like a brutal course and took its toll on the crew. Mark Horn pulled the pin, blew up and decided to save his legs for the crit. Andy 9th in the 70+ with Mike ending up with a respectable 17th place finish.

Saturday was day 2 of the road race with Kenny taking 22nd out of 37 starters and Mr. Smith pulling the plug so not to completely shred his legs. These masters races are basically a bunch of ex-pros that can still drop the hammer. It is a painful event and will put you in the pain cave for the entire race.

Sunday was the crit and the boys did much better. Andy 5th and Mike took 9th in the 70+. Mark Horn 25th out of 52 starters. Kenny with a strong finish, placing 17th.  In the masters 40-45 Bill raced the crit and tailgunned it with 5 laps to go. He moved up to the front, and was at the front with 1.5 laps to go, being in a perfect position to contend is extremely tough but a gutsy move. As the front of the pack came through the start finish on the bell (final lap), Bill was swarmed, and they entered turn one, two guys in front of him crashed battling for position and took Bill down and out of the race. With a broken helmet and rashed body, he was out as fast as the race started. To be that close and competing at that high a level he has to be happy with how he performed against the best, but it was just not in the cards. Next time Bill!35240537_10156349685707158_306068208555655168_n.jpg

 

Mountain Madness? 

Looks like KCBC had one racer in the Mountain Madness race. Mr. Pat Robinson decided to move from the cross country category into the marathon category. This tells me that he loves to suffer:) Well done digging a deeper hole to get out of. That is a true sign of someone who likes to challenge himself. Pat finished 5th overall.35744121_10212101887406718_2675636991864864768_n.jpg

Great job to all of those cyclist out there and keep putting on the miles no matter where you are at in you cycling life.

Remember, Every friend you have today was once a stranger!

 

Monday Volunteer and Race Report

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It was a busy weekend of meeting new strangers and spending time with family and friends. I was asked by my daughters if I wanted to help with some volunteering at a local organization called Uplift KC. They bring food and supplies to the homeless of Kansas City. Seeing how we just purchased a house that had a bunch of clothes that was left behind. This was perfect timing. Below is a picture of some of the girls filling little bags of aspirin. I had the pleasure of doing some of the heavy lifting. This is what happens when you are perceived to be in good shape and look like you can lift a sack of 50lb potatoes with out much of a struggle. No, there were no potatoes to lift. Just moving boxes from here to there. To some this may seem trivial but they are some of the things that are needed to keep the operation moving. You can not always be on the front line. The support role is a huge void that always needs filled. Uplift was doing a great job in organizing, keeping the place looking great and taking care of our homeless population. I have seen the vans around town handing out food and clothes. I didn’t realize that they are a pretty lean operation and currently have 3 vans. I met several of the ladies there and promised that I will be back with more supplies and help with any heavy lifting they need. Find an organization near you and and go meet some pretty cool strangers. You never know where it will take you.

After volunteering I headed out to help re-build a deck with Tom G and Alain. Tom and I have known each other for some time, all of our kids went to school together and he and his wife are awesome. Alain is one of our contractors and has been in the states for about a year. He is originally from Cameroon, when he got to Kansas City I worked with him to get all of his stuff together and some medical help. He also stayed with me for a few months. I am also helping him send a container over to Africa and we will be going there in February to receive it. That will be a fun blog to write. Below is Tom, Alain and I. these are very good men that I completely trust and have faith in. If I was ever to need anything at anytime, I know they would be there.

Sunday, was race day and it was the category state championship race. I was, once again going to do two races. The 40+ master and the single speed race. I had Volker bikes put together a single speed out of my pit bike. This race was put on by 360 racing and is always a great race in Lawrence KS. In the masters race there is a very strong racer that I am always chasing. His name is Damian Almanza and he has beat me 8 out of the last 8 races:) Actually, Make that 9. Yes, once again he took the top step of the podium. I did get to hang out with him after the race. It was nice to get to know him a little better. I have to admit, I was feeling him out on his road race interest. I would love to have an athlete like him on our road race team.  I also got to race with Mark, Kyle and Kenny with KCBC. Of course I got to hang with Marco, Haley, Maryanne and Clymer. It is so much fun hanging out at a race and getting to know everyone. 26752824599_240759b7f4_z.jpg

My favorite youth to watch. This is Franklin. Watch out for this kid on the pro tour!

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Below is a pic of Damian and I. Every time I see Jesse getting ready to take a picture I try to strike a pose:) This was my super hero pose. It was tough not to laugh.

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Just before my second race I got to get into some compression equipment. There is a new Cryo salon in Lawrence. Thank you Optimal wellness and cryo spa 

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Here is after the race at the pig in Lawrence with Clymer and Maryanne. I think Clymer should ask her out:) They seem to be having a good conversation.

More suffering:) So I finished 5th and 7th. I will be re-gearing the single speed soon.  My quads still hurt.

Thanks for reading and remember. Every friend you have today was once a stranger! So, go out and meet new strangers.

Monday Race Report (Veterans Day, Go Army!)

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When serving in any branch of the U.S. Military, trust and loyalty are vital to accomplish every mission. You must trust your command to make the right decision and your fellow soldiers to have your back when you are put in harms way and everyone has to do their part so that no one is injured or killed. You must also be loyal to your command and fellow soldiers or this could erode trust. In the civilian world it is not generally a life or death situation. But trust and loyalty are extremely important.

I open with this because it is Veterans Day and KCBC racing did a group ride on Saturday and I got to witness some of the same comradery I enjoyed while serving in the Army. These are a bunch of guys that love to ride and support their fellow rider. Below is a picture of Mark Horn, I would say that Mark is the General and he takes on the leadership of the team. I have always had great respect for Mark since I got to know him as I coached his son in soccer (in my opinion his son is the best HS keeper in KC). Mark does a great job in rallying the troops and he truly gets excited for you when you share your ride or race stories with him. Mark also will light you up like a drill sergeant if you do something that he feels is dangerous while racing or riding in a group. He will also bust your chops if you are on another team and you make a tactical mistake. I got to see this first hand and it almost resulted in a fight. I knew at that moment, when I got off my bike to stand by Mark and go to battle, that this was the team I needed to be on. For all I know, he may have been the one in the wrong. That didn’t matter, I was still ready to have his back. That is what a good leader instills in his troops.

20171111_1109232085490016.jpgThe General giving direction.

Sunday, The Keen Wealth Classic. This race is the KS CX State Championship for age group. So, the goal was to stay upright and finish in the top 30%. So, that didn’t exactly work out because of a flat in the final lap. Although, I did finish 6th out of 14 and 3rd in my age group. I also gave the single speed race a shot and ended up placing 3rd and really enjoying the single speed. Below are the pictures of the the podiums and race pics.

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I got to hang out with so many friends on Sunday. It was a great time. That seems to happen when you are at the race at 9am and leave at 5pm. It’s a full day of work:) The picture above is of Kyle and I. Kyle is on the team that I race road with. KCBC had several racers at this event. It was great to see everyone they are all is so helpful. Mark was encouraging me to power up a hill and sprint out of the corner as he let up a little to slow the person that was trying to catch me. Shawn was in the pit telling me to go go go and catch a wheel. Kenny was my rabbit and my goal was to catch him. 38375135961_a005b7775b_o.jpg

So, last week I mentioned Clymer (aka Lantern Rouge). Above is a photo of him and I after the race with Jesse Miguel taking the selfie. Clymer is new to the area and I can tell he will be a strong rider once he gets his race legs back. Not to mention he seems to be an all around nice guy. Jesse is takes so many great photos. If you get a chance, visit his Flicker page. 38375316421_7b15b02eaa_k.jpg

General Horn giving the troops a pep talk after the race:)

37661241984_1441ee4793_k.jpgMiss Haley taking 1st yet again!

Thanks for reading that race report. Do what you love and meet as many strangers as you can along the way.

 

Monday Race Report 11/6/2017

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The Boulevard Cup 2017 was a bit chilly and windy but didn’t keep away the cyclocross fanatics. I swear if it was muddy or snowy there would be more racers out just to prove that they are tougher than their competition, myself included.

Below is a picture of me as i was dismounting before a run up and torqued my right knee. It was the same knee I whacked with my peddle just before the race began:(24348499218_b0467026fa_z.jpg

Oh, and yes that is a new kit I am wearing. It is the”defenders of Freedom” jersey. The knee was fine. I just needed some ice and rest and all was well. Here is a better pic of the full kit. 26424392689_f98a7e94af_z.jpg

It was a great course and I got to hang out once again with some really awesome athletes. Here is a pic of Dr. Rob. He also races with the U.S. Military team and was racing the 50+ masters race. He and I went to lunch after the race to catch up. He did the BWR training ride with me in San Diego last year and totally hooked me up when I got sick. Such a great guy. I look forward to hanging out more with him. He is a strong gravel rider and a beast on the road.26424396199_102df644f2_z.jpg

Of course no race would be the same if I didn’t get a picture with Maryanne. I like hanging out with her. Such a great demeanor. It will be my goal to get a pic with her after every race:) She says that if a guy ask her out on a date she always says yes. I think that is the best way to know what you like and don’t like. Good for you MM!37491961834_4c179286c2_z.jpg

I also ran into a new racer from Maryland. I met him about 3 weeks ago at the Joules Cross race. His name is Clymer and he came out to race after being out of it for several years. I was proud of that dude! He just showed up and we started talking. That is the whole point of my blog. Meeting new strangers, right? Sorry, no pics of Clymer.

As always, go out and make some new strangers. Thank you for reading.

Oh, I almost forgot. I finished 10th out of 20. I did have fun though!

Race Report Colavita Cup 2017

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Another great weekend for racing. The cross season is in full swing and everyone was ready for another tough CX course.

The race took place a bit east of downtown Kansas City, MO at Blue Valley Park. Saturday races started at noon and continued until 5pm. This course was both a little technical and had some climbing in it. Overall it was such a fun course to navigate and all the people were great. As usual, I met several of the 300+ riders, families and friends that came out over the weekend. As I always say, every friend you have today was once a stranger. So, this weekend was no different and I got to hang out with people that I really wanted to get to know a little better. Some of those people were Marianne, Marco, Haley, Steven, Alex, Britton, Brett and several of the youth cyclist. The Kansas City Cycling community is, for the most part, a tight knit group and everyone seems to get along. I’m sure there are some feathers ruffled and feeling get hurt. But, from my perspective it is a family.

It was nice to sit and have a conversation with Marianne this weekend. Marianne and I share the same cycling coach. I always try to get a picture of us to send to him. She is very insightful and introspective person. This was the first time we actually sat and chatted about something other than cycling:)  When we did talk cycling, she said how do you think it feels to be a kid out there racing on the same course as the adults. I thought about that and we talked about how there really is not another sport that allows children to compete against adults like this. That is why I love cycling. It can bring together people of all ages. Kinda like the youngsters Marco and Haley. I knew I liked these two from the minute I met them last year. they are so much fun and really seem to have such a great outlook on life. These two are going to be exciting to watch. I know as they get stronger as cyclist they will stay the same beautiful people.

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Marianne and Haley battling it out
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Having way to much fun

Below is a picture Finn, this kiddo is possibly the friendliest and most respectful 12 year old I have ever met, and as a middle school soccer coach I have met many a 12 year old. Finn was my hero this weekend! I know his dad was proud of him too. He beat 26 other men and women in the cat 4/5 race on Sunday. Taking first place is spectacular, but being humble at 12 is much more impressive. If only we could bottle this guys humility.

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The picture below is of Britton, he is the race promoter and runs Volker Bikes. I didn’t get to talk with Britton much as he is always moving:) I can tell he is a great father and although he likes to give people shit about their bikes, he does care about his cycling community. I really don’t know how to best describe him. I feel that Britton would give you the shirt off his back and the next time he sees you wearing the shirt that HE gave you, he will tell you how bad it looks and you should get a new one. I enjoy his honesty and how he can say so much in so few words. Also, I don’t think I ever heard him say goodbye, see you later or piss off. I look forward to never figuring him out.

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I thought about changing the featured image but it is my blog so piss off:) Thanks for reading and please talk to someone today that you normally would just pass by. You never know the impact you may have.

A special than you to Roger Harrison for his pictures. If you want to see some cool pics goto rogers flicker page.