Whether you're a fat tire loyalist or also a skinny tire enthusiast (I love both), it was cool to see so many familiar faces at the first annual Papillion Twilight Criterium. Midwest Cycling Community put on a great event at a cool venue. Props to Lefler, Mark Stursma, Kent & Shim for coordinating police, fire, dept of roads, city of Papillion, Alegent Health, road closures, hay bails, and recruiting all the volunteers. Thats a lot of upfront coordination that came together to give the racers & spectators a top notch experience with tremendous payouts.
If you've ever put on an event like that, it feels as if you can never have too many hands and bodies helping out in one way or another. And the Midwest Cycling Community gathered many to make things happen easily. And though it may feel chaotic behind the scenes, for the racers and spectators it seems to be a cool, collected, good time had by all. And it was.
What's sweet to see is all the MOUNTAIN BIKERS that showed up to help make this race happen-- from corner marshalls, to course prep, to first aid, to pace car, to just generally helping create enthusiasm and cheer on other fellas that like to pedal a bike with less rubber. Its all about a CYCLING COMMUNITY. Where in some parts of the country, we got "trail riders" who hate XC racers who hate downhillers who hate roadies.... here we got something different. A week ago a few roadies gathered to do registration and score the Manawa XC MTB event. A week later a bunch of mountain bikers came by to help out at a road event and cheer. Friends, that is just awesome to see.
You got a few weeks before the next XC MTB event. But be sure to get out on July 28 & 29 for the Dave Babcook Memorial Stage Race hosted by UNMC/Team Kaos, right here in Omaha. Get in an early fattire ride, fill your cooler, then roll over and check out a spot for the road race. Or better yet, find your fav spot in the shade outside the Flatiron and watch the crit race on Sunday. Cheer on the skinny tires as they try to hold 20+mph through a 160 degree corner.
Cuz its all about a cycling community. It gets me fired up. Healthy living, great times, great friends.
4 comments:
I really want to thank everyone who helped out. I tried to get around and tell everyone, but if I missed you please know that your help was greatly appreciated. We had a lot of people step in a probably do a lot more than they had planned on. It turned out to be a really cool race and planning for next years will be starting soon. If you would like to provide feedback, please shoot me an e-mail. gshimonek@AOL.COM
Hey, Martin and I had fun at our "crash-corner". I have to admit that the sun got to us after 5 or so hours, but it was all for a good cause and a lady came up to me and thanked me for the wonderful condition of the course! I overheard the major and some other Papillion officals talking very positively about the event and they were already talking about next year and making it a bigger event. I think that is pretty cool!!
The only bad thing were the sprinklers that came on during the men's pro race. But with Martin sweeping (!!) and some guys finally pulling a connection, the road stayed dry.
I was very impressed with the support from the Midwest Cycling Community...Stursma, Bixby x2, Ryan & Roxz, Shim, Bartels x2, JACQ, Big Frank, Dickey, Jay, Munson, etc. I had to leave for a wedding shortly after the start of the Men's 5 race, but I felt ZERO anxiety about going. When you have a group of class acts putting on a bike race, you need not be worried. Whether you dig road racing or not, I was happy to see the COMMUNITY come together to put on a great event. This race has a lot of potential b/c you got it right the first time out. Sure, there are some things that need a little tweaking, but the event accomplished three VERY important criteria:
1. Good organization, expecially registration, NICE job, ladies.
2. Ran on time, all day.
3. Respectable turnout.
I guarantee this race will be HUGE next year...people are buzzing on the message boards and the City of Papillion (BTW, major props to them) are behind it.
Good luck to everyone at the State Games this weekend and if I could make a shameless plug here:
GIGGLEBOX
Saturday, July 21
The Ozone - 72nd & F St
Showtime @ 8:30pm, NO COVER!
Rock the bells.
I got one, Shim. Don't let Dickey talk on the radio!
Great event. Probably best to keep race director and announcer seperate people. (Rib-rib, John). So, was it nice and air conditioned at the reception?
Overall, not too shabby for first time out of the box. Cool that it has the support of Papillion!
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