Hello ya’ll!  Klishy here…

Finally got the website up and going.  It is a ton of work establishing a new website while learning how to run timing systems and how to be an event director!  At this point, it’s all about establishing a good foundation for the years to come.  I appreciate your patience as I continue hammering away at this project!

I wanted to share an updated story of MAD Racing came to be today… Before August, the LTR Sports and LTR Events had changed ownership and then on August 7, I pursued the LTR Events to keep what Mike and Kristy Driver had started growing for the Grand Valley.  They had done a fabulous job of introducing cycling racing to the Grand Valley, starting 10 years ago.  However, we all felt it was time to give it more attention and different energy.  Enter Mountain and Desert Racing, LLC (aka MAD Racing)!

I’m excited to be taking up the reins on this “new” baby to bring the quality of races up to the next level for our fast-growing cycling community.  I can see your mind spinning out  the next question: “How am I going to bring these races to the next level?”  Great question – First step is to ensure those races will still take place, starting today to next year and the years to follow for our community by ensuring those special events’ applications are in place and secured ahead of time.  I only had a few weeks to apply for special events permits at the 4 locations throughout the Mesa County’s parks / private properties this coming fall’s cyclocross races and then the 2 mountain bike races taking place on BLM lands next summer (Rumble at 18 Road & Gunny Enduro).  I had turned in the last application on the day before the deadline!

After that milestone was out of the way, I pursued a timing system to ensure quality and immediate results posting!  You will see $5 increase in race entries to cover the costs of operating a timing system on top of the races.  I really strive to keep the costs affordable for the community to participate and I believe that you’ll have a better racing experience overall with the new addition!  The first race to utilize this awesome tool was at the Powder Cross (September 20), but we were not able to program the timing chips yet.  So I had to time that event manually while directing it!  Afterwards, I had to re-visit the drawing board to see what I needed after hosting my first event.  With the first event under my belt, I decided to recruit a full-time timing worker so  I could focus on event directing better at the next event I host.

With the new timing assistant on board, we plowed on to the next event.  We had a timing contract with Colorado Mesa Univeristy for their mountain bike event through the weekend of Oct. 11-12.  We were able to program chips and learn a lot more about the system.  However, the day of the event…  it didn’t work as I had hoped!  There was ONE more step for the system to work well.  We were so close to getting a good base for the system and for the company.  I was disappointed that we couldn’t walk away with a clean reputation, but I’m proud of how we handled the weekend.  We stepped up once again, timed everything manually and got the work done.  CMU was happy how we stuck with them through and completed the job without the timing system.

The next event is Creepy Cross on Oct. 25 and I feel very confident it’ll work this time around with the experiences with the 2 races so far.  Cross your fingers the system will finally spew out times and results! 🙂

While all that fun business stuff was going on, I also hosted weekly CX Clinics to re-establish the CX community and the base for the upcoming CX season – first one was 09/10, Wednesday, at 5:30pm till dark at Canyon View Park.  We had 3 people show up.  Recent Wednesday, 10/15/2014, showed 8 people!  And then, just yesterday (10/18), Julia Davis and I instructed 2 ladies on CX skills.  They both walked away with huge smiles and new-found confidence on their bikes.  I am honored to have ya’ll out there and to teach ya the invaluable tools of CX skills, which will carry over to both road and mountain cycling!

Next Wednesday, 10/22/2014, will be the last one I’ll be hosting in the evenings for the season and will be put on hiatus as I leave for Taiwan Oct. 26 (yes, you read that right, the day after Creepy Cross event!).  I return Nov. 7 and will set up the next event taking place on Nov. 9!  After that event, the new CX Clinic times will be announced…  I am aiming to make it easy for everyone – thinking about hosting it midday like Wednesday from 11am to 1pm.  Again, I want to emphasize that you don’t have to have a CX bike for these clinics – these skills are actually very handy for mountain bike races and road races as you’ll be honing your balance skills, dismounting and remounting skills, and gaining sense of confidence within yourself!  Let me know if you have suggestions or recommendations on CX clinics for the rest of the season.

I can see another question churning in your heads “why are you doing all this?”  I grew up riding my mountain bike here in the Grand Valley, wishing I could race.  I would read from magazines and see all those cool clips of racers pushing themselves to the edge.  I didn’t have that luxury while I was growing up.  However, I learned how to ski and play soccer in this community.  Tyler Jones who worked out of Powderhorn’s CDA back in the day would tirelessly instruct on how to ski well.  My soccer coach, Dan Kirby, believed in me at the time as well and worked hard on molding my skills.  I fine-tuned the skills with races and practices.  Then I put them to work by instructing friends here and there on how to ski better, ride better, etc.  It’s my passion to see people improve their skills and walk away with more confidence to do MORE on the next adventure.  So, I am here to keep the races alive for Western Colorado to bring the community together more and to create a bigger and more fun atmosphere at each of those events!

I know this will take time  to build, so your contributions, help, and support are always appreciated.  I look forward to seeing your MAD smiles out there…  Race with grace ya’ll!

P.S. Feel free to keep checking back frequently to see the website changes as I continue to tweak it in front of your eyes! 🙂