Thank You

I tried Cyclocross reluctantly 3 years ago at the incessant urging of Mike Berning, and have been hooked since.  This year I managed to hit most of the races, and I came to realize that a small number of individuals are making these weekly races happen.  I don’t know how much credit or thanks they receive, but I suspect it is inadequate, so I wanted to spotlight these guys, and on behalf of all participants, offer them our gratitude. 

Every week others and myself merely have to show up at the course, pay a few bucks, race, enjoy post race sustenance and camaraderie, and then head home, perhaps with little thought as to what transpired to make the race happen.

Someone had to secure permissions to use the property, obtain sponsorships, place deposits against damages, design the course, tape and mark it, test it, then work the logistics of holding a race with accurate timing and place marking, etc. Après-race, they then then must spend the few hours of daylight remaining disassembling the course, cleaning and packing up, and seeing to administrative activities and getting results and other news are posted in a timely manner.

For those individuals involved, this consumes the better part of a weekend, time that many of us use to spend with our families or friends, tending to personal matters, etc.  These guys sacrifice all that, without pay, so you and I can simply show up, ride, and go home.

KC no doubt has to have some of the better CX venues and most consistent calendar in the Midwest thanks to those guys behind the scenes.  We’re lucky to have them. I think they deserve a bit of recognition for this, and thanks that the autumnal months offer this distraction from what would otherwise be filled with the commonplace weekend ride out the back door.

and anyone else I’ve overlooked that makes CX happen here.

Tim Bergman