Back to when it began: 1983 Toledo Glass City Classic, junior men’s race. I was 15 years old.

That’s me trying to hold the wheel on a very technical course on a bike that was too big and that had touring geometry. It was a Fuji S-12S that originally came with a triple crankset. At least I had a sweet pair of racing tubulars. It was my very first pair of tubulars and was a wheel set that I laced up under the direction of one of the old sages of our club, Clif Mueller. They were Fiamme Red Labels laced to Campagnolo high flange Tipo hubs. I was also rocking a pair of Detto Pietro Article 74 shoes clamped into my toe clips with a set of Alfredo Binda straps. And of course there was the Kucharik helmet. My patent leather hair net would not come for a few more years. I wasn’t “stylish” enough to rock that yet.

The big hitters in the 1-2 race that day were Andy Hampsten and Thurlow Rogers of the Raleigh Cycling Team. Somewhere at my parent’s house I still have a poster for the race with their autographs on it. It’s funny that Thurlow became one of my regular partners during my brief time living in Los Angeles 16 years later.

Speaking of the Glass City Classic, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Jim Black who passed away last week. Jim was the promoter of the Glass City Classic and would be the Chief Referee for the cycling events at the LA Olympic Games the next year. Jim was a driving force for cycling in Toledo during my youth and would become a fixture at many Ohio races throughout my racing years there. Thank you Jim for everything you did for cycling back then. You will be missed.

I got my first racing license in 1983 from the USCF (now USA Cycling). I’ve taken out a racing license every year since. 32 years later I’m still as keen on cycling as ever. Cycling isn’t just what I do, it’s a major part of who I am. I owe a lot to cycling: my friends, my profession, the many experiences (both good and bad) that have shaped me.

Now time for a ride…