schmalz Most racers in the area now know you as a promoter, but those of us who are a little bit, ahem, more mature, know you as a former pack-shattering racer animal. How did you come to be a promoter?

Charlie Issendorf I was looking to find something that involved even more suffering than bike racing and the answer was easy – I would become a race promoter!  Seriously, in 2004 the Kissena Cycling Club contacted me and asked if I wanted to take over promoting the Prospect Park Series. The former promoter, Brian Grundstrom, was moving. I said yes thinking it was just a one year gig. A couple of months later, Craig Roberts (the former promoter of Long Island’s Tour de Parc) asked me if I wanted to take over that race and again I said yes. The following year Tony and Millie asked if I wanted to take over the Floyd Bennett Series and the next thing I know I was promoting almost 30 races year. 2009 marks my fifth year promoting races.

schmalz Did becoming a promoter end your racing career, or were you ready to take a break?

Charlie Issendorf I officially stopped racing in 1991 when I was 22. I know that may surprise some people who might have seen me race after that age but that was the last year I went away for a spring training camp and the last year I did an International stage race (the Tour of Greece).  I’ve always been pretty realistic with my abilities and I already knew at 22 that I did not have what it takes to be a pro and that was my dream. I’ve continued to race on and off since I was 22 taking some years off here and there.

schmalz Wait, you were killing everyone locally all those years and you were retired? I’m both impressed (at your strength) and depressed (at my own weakness). What were the international stage races like?

Charlie Issendorf It’s not like I wasn’t training those years but there’s “training” and there’s “TRAINING”. If you want to compete on a National level you to have put the hours in and that’s just to survive. Not to take anything away from the local race scene but let’s face it most of the races are under 2 hours so you don’t need mega miles to compete. Most riders have no idea how hard racing can be and I never even competed at the pro level!  

I remember in 1990 my team was invited to compete at the Tour of Texas the last year it was an international stage race.  The race was in April and we went to Arizona in February to prepare. We trained incredibly hard for about six weeks and that was just to survive the race. There were four 120 mile races in a row and sometimes it would be single file for hours. It was ridiculous. I had raced the Vuelta de Chile the year before and it was night and day compared to Texas. The competition was so much better in Texas – all the top US pro teams were there along with a bunch of national teams.  

I remember racing against Chris Boardman, who was with the UK National Team.  You just suffer so much and that’s just to finish with the field. You don’t even think about winning. Hell, you don’t even think about placing.  Surviving. That’s the name of the game. You feel like a rock star when you finish with the field. Mind you, the field might only have 50 guys left out of 200 starters. It’s a humbling experience to say the least. 

The “Philly Week” races were the same way. I raced Lancaster, Freehold and Thrift Drug as part of the Mengoni/U.S. National Team. I remember Freehold was 90 miles and we did it in a something like 2 hrs and 55 minutes. You just stare at the back wheel in front of you as if you were staring behind the back wheel of a motorcycle when you motorpace. You watch the body movement of the rider in front of you to see if you see signs that he’s going to crack.  When he does you have to dig even deeper to close the gap he just left. If you’re lucky he’ll hand-sling you to close the hole. It’s brutal. That’s why I was shocked when I saw some local NYC teams were heading to Redlands without any preparation. 

schmalz Why was that shocking to you?

Charlie Issendorf Look at the competition: OUCH, Garmin, Rock Racing, BMC, Team Type 1, Jelly Belly. So let’s think about this for a second – these guys normally kick your ass even when you are in amazing shape, right? Now you are racing against these guys and they’re coming off of races like Tour of Mexico and Tour de Langkawi. They’re having training camps in So Cal getting ready for Redlands.  Already amazing riders now have “super” form. How can you possibly compete with better-than-you-riders on “super form” coming off of 30 mile Park races and indoor training workouts. It’s not a fair fight. You can’t make your first race of the year (Park races don’t count) the Redlands Bicycle Classic. There are so many great races during the year – Nature Valley, Fitchburg, Altoona, Elk Grove. These races all start in June. At least if you’re a local racer by June you have some good races under your belt – maybe Palmer, Jiminy Peak, Bear Mountain. By the time Fitchburg rolls around you’re in good shape and the playing field is a bit more level. Our local Cat 1’s like Lisbon have proven that when in shape they can at least be competitive with the pro teams. The key words are “in good shape”. If you’re not in top shape and you try to race with these guys you’ll get shelled on stage 1… and that’s exactly what happened to most of the local riders at Redlands. It’s not that these riders are not good, because they are. Like I said, it’s not a fair fight.  If I can give some friendly advice – stay East, save your money and make Nature Valley, Fitchburg, and races like that your top priority.

schmalz Well, there’s lots of issues there. Plenty of teams and racers go to races where they don’t stand a chance. Maybe they go to these races to gain form? Should teams avoid races where they might potentially get shelled? How will the racers improve if they don’t do big races? Maybe it was important for their sponsors that they go to these races…

Charlie Issendorf You should never avoid hard races but you have to be realistic.  You should not use a race like Redlands to gain form.  It goes back to the point I keep making – it’s not a fair fight.  Riders from the Northeast can’t possibly compete with pro riders who are specifically preparing for a race like Redlands.  What’s the sense in flying out to Redlands just to DNF in stage 1?  What fitness are you really gaining?  You improve by entering races you can at least be somewhat competitive in.  I can guarantee no local NYC Cat 1 will win the overall at Fitchburg, Nature Valley or Altoona.  But they can get good results at these races in individual stages and even in the overall.  Lisbon Quintero has scored good results at Fitchburg.  Eugene Boronow was 8th overall at Fitchburg one year.  Amaury Perez won the final stage two years ago.  When our local Cat 1’s are in shape they can mix it up with the pro riders and be competitive.  But these are all summer races – it takes Northeast riders longer to come in to form because our winters are so bad.  It was like 20 degrees and snowing just a couple of weeks ago.  How can you possibly do the necessary training in conditions like this?  If these races are important to your sponsors then you either have to educate your sponsors on cycling or you have to be honest with them about your team’s abilities.  If your sponsor says “You have to do Redlands” you should respond by saying “I totally understand why you want us to race Redlands  – it’s one of the top races in the U.S.  To be competitive in Redlands we need to train in warmer weather and I’m afraid we don’t have the budget for it.  It would be better if we use our resources for events later on in the season when we our riders are in top shape”.  What’s worse – telling your sponsor this or telling your sponsor almost none of your riders finished the race?  Please understand I’m not trying to criticize any team.  I’m just offering advice for the future.  There are great NRC races all summer long.  Go to the NRC Nature Valley GP in June, the NRC Cascade Cycling Classic in July or the NRC Tour of Elk Grove in August.  All great races you can do when your riders are in top shape.

schmalz Those are valid points, but I see both sides. If your goal is to build a national caliber team and attract national level talent, you might have to do the entire NRC calendar to put your face out there and show that you can get invitations to the big races. But we’re starting to sound like a pair of NRC schedule nerds here, maybe you can tell us about how you came into cycling?

Charlie Issendorf My father raced when he was younger and I remember him taking me to watch races at the Kissena Velodrome and the Tour of Sommerville.  I guess I was 6 or 7 at the time.  I started racing when I was 8 in 1978.  The category name was called “midgets”…not exactly the most PC name.

schmalz It’s funny to think that there probably isn’t even a category for the “midgets” these days. How many kids were in your fields when you raced midgets?

Charlie Issendorf Most races had around 20-25 riders but the bigger races had a lot more.  In 1981, when I was a last year midget, we had 45 riders at the Tour of Somerville.  It was a different time for sure.  Now it’s so rare to see a rider under the age of 12.  Let’s put it this way, every race back then had races for midgets (8-11), intermediates (12-14) and juniors (15-17).  For a promoter it was just normal to put races on for young riders.  It’s so different now.  As a promoter, I would not hold a junior race because I know, at best, I would have 3 to 5 riders show up.  It’s just not worth it.  But it’s a catch 22 – a promoter won’t hold a junior race because there are not enough juniors but how can junior racing grow if there are no races for them.

schmalz What kind of equipment did you use – especially when you were racing at age 10? Were you all on tiny little bikes?

Charlie Issendorf Yep – they were mini road bikes.  My first bike was a Gitane  That bike had 20″ wheels and 3 speeds.  It had one chainring in the front (like a 40) and a 3 cogs in the back (like 15,16,17).  I used that bike my first year because I was so small and couldn’t fit on the standard size midget bike which had 24″ wheels.  When I raced midgets I had a Paris-Sport track bike and a Whitcomb road bike.  I used the money I received from my first communion to buy the track bike…a whopping $165 for the complete bike, brand new.  It was hard to find small-size parts back in the 70’s so you really hard to search around.  3T made a really narrow handlebar, 34cm, and I used TA 155 and 160mm cranks.  Hard plastic Cinelli saddles were the saddle of choice back then.  Ambrosio and Fiamme made 24″ rims and Vittoria and D’Allesandro made 24″ tubulars and still do – 24″ bikes are still super popular in Europe.  Clothing was the tough part.  Nobody made cycling clothing for children back then.  Everybody raced in wool jerseys so to make a kid’s jersey you had to wash a men’s size small jersey in hot water and shrink it down to fit a child.  My mom made my first cycling shorts.  Kucharick made small leather hairnets so that took care of your helmet and Detto Pietro made small cycling shoes…with nailed-on cleats.  I can’t believe I remember all this!

schmalz That is so damn adorable I can almost not stand it! What was your dad like as a racer?

Charlie Issendorf My dad raced in the 1950s with the German Bicycle Sport Club.  There were no categories back then like Cat 2 or 3 – it was just like CRCA club races with A, B and C fields.  My dad raced in the B field.  He was a good track rider and won a lot of madisons when they raced at the old Flushing polo grounds track in Queens.

schmalz I had no idea that your dad ever raced. You two have had a long collaboration in the cycling world, are you usually in agreement on team decisions?

Charlie Issendorf  Usually. My dad has been managing GS Mengoni since 1991 so he must be doing something right – not too many teams have been around for 18 years.  He has final decision on all Mengoni team matters but he will ask me what I think of a particular rider he might be considering for the team.  I really only managed one team, CRCA/Breakaway Courier, for a couple of years.  I enjoyed it mostly because I liked working with elite riders.  We won a ton of races with Kevin Monahan (who later went on to become a two-time U.S. Pro Criterium Champion) and Adam Myerson including the Tour of Somerville and the North Atlantic Cup.  Managing teams is hard work.

schmalz Did your dad “discover” George HIncapie? I use quotes there because, from what everyone in New York has ever told me about George – he probably didn’t need a lot of discovering – when you have a teenage kid killing everyone in races, you kind of discover yourself.

Charlie Issendorf No, my dad did not discover George.  George’s brother Rich and I met when we were last year “midgets” (12 years old).  We quickly became best friends and my dad would take us to most of the races.  George was a few years younger than us and started racing a few years later.  In 1986, when Rich and I were about 16, my dad approached Sal and Louis Corso at Stuyvesant Bicycle about sponsoring a junior team.  Corso Distributors (Sal and Louis) were the exclusive U.S. importers of Atala Bicycles and they gave us road bikes and a ton of clothing.  USCF rules were changing around that time and clubs were allowed to have sub-teams.  We were racing for Kissena and Al Toefield (Kissena President) gave us the ok to have a sub-team and the KCC-Atala Junior Team was born.  I guess it was the first sub-team in NYC.  George was 12 then and was starting to take racing seriously and he was also part of the team so it was the three of us.  We all knew George was a different level even at the age 12.

schmalz It’s funny how some of us (or just mostly me) try to dupe ourselves into thinking that if we just work hard enough, we could do what the pros do, but the sad fact is that you have to have the natural ability, or you just won’t make it as a pro. I don’t know if I really have a question there, I’m just sort of trying to depress myself…

Charlie Issendorf You’re right – to make it as top pro you probably do have it possess a certain amount of natural ability.  However, we ALL posses two important qualities that can make us better bike racers – discipline and motivation.  Here’s a story I would like to share.  I was a hot-shot midget racer winning lots of races but when I turned 12 I graduated to the Intermediate category (12-14 years).  I was a small 12 year old and I got my ass kicked for the next two years.  Yes – TWO YEARS.  I was dropped in almost every race I entered.  It was so depressing to enter a criterium, get dropped, lapped and eventually pulled by the officials.  There’s a big difference between a 12 and a 14 year old and the bottom line was I just not able to compete with them.  My dad kept telling it would not be like this forever and my body would change.  It was hard to believe him.  When I was a last year intermediate I finally had a good ride when I scored third place at the Empire State Games qualifying race and went to the games. It was a disaster.  The Empire Games had a scholastic division that included 17 year olds – even worse for me!  I was dead last in the road race and time trial.  But my dad was right – thin

gs started changing for me when I was 16.  For Christmas, my dad bought me the Eddy B. training book and I read it cover to cover.  I made my own training schedules and really became focused.  As a last year junior, I won the NY State TT Championship with a 20km time of 28:16 (3 minutes faster than the year before), I was second at the Junior National Pursuit Championships (2 seconds behind Erin Hartwell), and I won the Junior World Championship Qualifying Race at Bear Mountain.  I went from being an awful time trialist to a TT specialist.  I went from getting dropped on small rollers to winning Bear Mountain.  How?  Two words: motivation and discipline.  Obviously, I possessed zero natural ability.  My results came from hard work, sacrifice and never giving up.  I can guarantee EVERY cyclist reading this can improve.  How much?  That’s up to each person. 

schmalz What do you think the chances are for say, a 40 year old sprint-free, week-willed breakaway artist at FBF in the 3/4 field this year? And how much would it cost to get a good percentage of the sprinters DQ’d for a few races? Just a ballpark figure…

Charlie Issendorf Dan – you’re a perfect example of somebody that never gives up.  It was awesome for you to grab the FBF yellow jersey last year after all the years you’ve been racing.  FBF is what it is…when it’s windy it’s a death march, when it’s calm it’s a cake walk.  For your sake, let’s hope it’s windy.

schmalz Ah, you’re too kind. Now I just have to figure out how to bribe the wind to blow on Tuesdays. I’m just going to get this question out of the way – what’s your favorite George Hincapie anecdote?

Charlie Issendorf So we’re at the 1990 GS Mengoni Grand Prix. George and I are racing the Pro/1-2 race even though George is a last year junior (17 years old). I’m 21 and racing for Bottecchia, George is racing for the U.S. National Team.  We both make the winning breakaway of about 7 riders. Peter Illovsky (Toga) was in the break and he was a great rider. Cezary Zamana was in the break too. He had arrived that year from Poland and was another great rider. He later turned pro for Motorola. Going into the final lap we had well over a minute on the field and we were all confident we would stay away. That’s when the attacks started. Peter would attack, we would all chase and then everybody would sit up and we’d roll around at a snail’s pace. Then somebody else would attack and the same thing would happen. When we got to Tavern I saw my dad riding towards us on my spare bike.  When we passed him he screamed “What the hell are you doing?!?! Look behind you!!” I turned around and the field was breathing down our neck, maybe less than 10 seconds behind. I screamed “GEORGE!!” He turned around and saw the same thing. He went right to the front and start pulling. We all jumped on his wheel. He pulled. And pulled. And pulled some more. He never swung off the front.  We were all hanging on his wheel for dear life. He pulled from Tavern until the finish, sprinted up the hill and nobody came around him. He won and I ended up 7^th. The field actually caught us right before the finish and some of the riders passed me right before the line. After the race, a guy came up to me and said Mr. Mengoni would like to speak with you. I met Fred and he said he wanted George and I to ride for him next year. He had stopped the Mengoni team in 1987 and wanted to bring the team back. He was following our break in his big Mercedes and said he liked how George and I were racing. And that’s how the GS Mengoni team that my dad manages now began.

schmalz Mr Mengoni is such a prominent figure in New York (and even international) cycling, how would you describe him to someone who’s never met him before?

Charlie Issendorf Fred is quiet and doesn’t really like much attention.  He has a great ability to read people which is why he was always successful at spotting up-and-coming riders like Leonard “Harvey” Nitz, Steve Bauer, Mike McCarthy and George.  All rode for GS Mengoni at one time.  And of course he was instrumental early on in Greg Lemond’s career.  I guess he uses the same ability in business which is why he was so successful.  He’s a true patron of the sport, a “tifosi” to the bone.

schmalz What do you think the secret to finding talent is? It is pretty evident or do you need to have special insight?

Charlie Issendorf There’s no secret.  It boils down to one word – results. The bottom line is the finish line. I’m old school – I don’t care how much training you do, what watts you put out or how good you look on the bike - if you’re not winning or placing you’re not going to turn heads.  Eddy B. would use the expression “diamonds in the rough” when describing how he would look for talented riders.  First, they have to be good riders and then you can mold and shape them into great riders.   Being a promoter, I get to watch all categories race and I look carefully at the Cat 5’s.  When I see guys winning Cat 5 races with ease I keep an eye on them to see if it’s a fluke or if they are consistently winning.  Last year I noticed three Cat 5 riders who I believe have some real talent and we should keep an eye on – Neil Bezdek (incredibly just a Cat 2 in his second season and he’s won a few races already), James Buttler (looks very pro) and Brian Breech (already a Cat 3 – I was in a break with Brian this year and he was looking for very strong). 

schmalz As a team manager how do you balance the desire for results and rider morale? Because we’ve seen situations where a rider might feel too much pressure (whether real team pressure or perceived team pressure) for results, and they can be tempted to dope in order to keep their job.

Charlie Issendorf At the level we compete at any manager who puts pressure on their riders to get results should have their head examined.  Any pressure to get results should be reserved for the Pro level where big bucks are on the line.  Don’t get me wrong – it’s important to have goals and to work towards them but I know I have never put pressure on riders and I know my dad has not either.  The closest thing to pressure for the Mengoni team is having a good race at the GS Mengoni Grand Prix because it’s the only race Fred comes out to watch the team and we don’t want to disappoint him.  Riders put enough pressure on themselves without a manager screaming at them.  Are some tempted to dope?  As we have seen in the last few years some local riders are.  It’s disgusting.  Doping to win any race is sad.  Doping to win local races is pathetic.  I raced with a few of those local riders who tested positive and it made me sick to think I was beaten by somebody who cheated.

schmalz How did you feel about Jared Bunde testing positive while racing for Mengoni?

Charlie Issendorf Mixed feelings.  It’s tough for me to talk about it because it hit so close to home.  I remember when my dad told me.  He said he just got of the phone with Jared and he said he had no idea what he was taking was illegal.  He said he was taking a bunch of over the counter herbs and stuff like that.  Is he telling the truth?  Honestly, I don’t know.  I think it’s tough for amateurs who are taking supplements to know if every ingredient is on the banned substance list.  I remember taking E-Caps for two seasons and honestly I never looked at the ingredients.  Suppose there was something in it that was illegal.  I could have tested positive with no intention of doping.  If you get busted for Amphetamines or EPO it’s pretty cut and dry – you were a doper.  But it gets murky when you test positive for an obscure ingredient in a supplement. 

schmalz It’s become a tough call, because you want to believe guys you know, but on the other hand; they could’ve be lying to your face the whole time. That’s the situation teams have been put in. Was there fallout from Jared testing positive?

Charlie Issendorf There was no real fallout.  My dad told Fred and Fred’s a realist.  It’s not like there was a systematic doping program in my dad’s basement. It was one rider in then 17 years my dad was managing the team. All the Mengoni sponsors stayed on board. 

schmalz Do you think the doping tests for amateur racers are adequate? 

Charlie Issendorf I can’t really comment on the adequacy of the tests but I’m sure they are up to par. The problem is the frequency of the tests. I was tested once during my entire career in 1987 when I was a last year junior. That’s it. I was never tested as a Senior. I could have doped in every single race I entered and never been caught. The trick is avoid races where you know there is testing like Nationals of maybe some NRC races.  So you sacrifice the stars-and-stripes jersey (and no money for the win) to get paid every weekend in local races. That’s what a certain local doper did for years. Don’t ask for a name Dan – I’m not telling. He was eventually caught so I’m sure your readers can figure it out.

schmalz Just one test? I get the feeling that racers want to be tested, so they have a reason to NOT dope (and so that dopers who profit get caught also), but it’s probably not a financial reality for promoters of smaller races, as they are just hoping to break even or not lose too much money – paying for doping controls might bankrupt most of them. The notion that a local racer (with or without team knowledge) could dope and get paid (however little it might have been) is a little depressing.

Charlie Issendorf You’re right on both points – doping controls are expensive and it’s sad to think your fellow racers might be doping and there’s nothing anybody can do about it.

schmalz Why do you think there’s a code of silence with racers? If a competitor took a cut off on the course or went in the joggers lane (a stalwart NYC park racing rule), there would be howling protests after the race; but the doping stuff seems to get a pass. I guess what I’m asking is: is there a way to address local amateur doping? 

Charlie Issendorf I’m not sure if it’s a code of silence or if has to do with the fact nobody is really ever 100% sure.  If you see a rider attack in the jogger’s lane it’s in full view and there’s no hiding.  How often do you see a rider whip out a needle in the parking lot before a race in full view.  Is there any way to address local doping?  In my opinion there is answer is no.  Until somebody makes a doping test that’s as easy to use as let’s say a home pregnancy test there is no way to police it.  It would be great if immediately after one of my Prospect Park races I could ask the winner to pee in a cup, place a stick in it and within minutes get a positive/negative result but it’s not happening.  Now that I think about it that would an incredible invention.  A company that invented something like that would make billions!  Think of all the sporting events around the world that would use it.  Come on Dan, you and me, let’s do it!  Get out your chemistry set!

There’s also the flip side of doping that hurts innocent riders with accusations of doping when they start having good results.  2002 was the last year I raced seriously.  After so many years of racing, it was difficult to get motivated for every race.  There were about 5 or so races that year that I wanted to do good in.  The rest of the races I would literally stay in almost last place and use for training.  Lots of riders would see me in last place in Prospect Park or Floyd Bennett, never attacking or making a move, just riding in last.  It was an important part of my training – it was the equivalent of 1-2 hours of motorpacing.  When a race I wanted to do well in would roll around I would really race it and I had some good top 10’s.  That year one of my teammates told me he heard rumors that I was doping.  I was shocked – why would somebody say that?  He said people were saying “Isn’t it strange that Charlie gets last in so many races and then all of a sudden on the day of a big race he gets a top 10”.  My point is that sometimes riders are just racing well.  The tell-tale sign is how well they are racing.  Notice I said I was getting some good top 10’s.  I didn’t say I was soloing off the front and winning races by minutes.  When you see riders who have never won races like that start riding THAT good it becomes suspicious.

schmalz Two things: firstly, I’m sorry about spreading all those rumors, but in my defense, I was saying you had a heart transplant from a horse; and secondly, I would create the doping test, but I can’t even mix a decent Harvey Wallbanger, so advanced chemistry is a little our of my range scientifically. Like you said, there’s something profoundly pathetic about doping at a category racing level.  When an individual needs the ego boost of a win in a cat 3 race so badly that they are willing to resort to doping, I would suggest that they are, in psychological terms, acutely bonkers. I suppose we’re not going to come up with an easy solution to amateur doping here, but I will contend that we did try very hard.

How are you feeling after crash? I’m assuming it was an act of retaliation for not granting someone their 15th place in a Prospect race…

Charlie Issendorf I’m feeling better every day.  The collarbone and ribs are mending nicely and after collapsing a total of three times I finally think my lung is healed.  The funny thing is from what I remember it really didn’t seem like that bad of a crash.  Two riders crashed in front of me and I had no where to go.  When I hit the deck my body shattered like a piece of glass!  I guess I’m getting old.  Without a doubt it was the worst crash I ever had.  So much for doing a few races for “fun”.  Now you got me scared Dan – I never thought I might have to watch my back for disgruntled racers.

schmalz I don’t think anyone holds a grudge against you. I think most people hold your races in very high esteem. What’s you philosophy about promoting races? Do you have one?

Charlie Issendorf Some of my philosophies: keep it simple; keep it safe; keep it fun; keep it organized.  Do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.  Make improvements that I would have liked to seen if I was still racing.  Preserve and improve the races we already have before trying to start new ones.  Always look for ways to make the races better.

schmalz One last question-it seems at Champion Systems that you give away race leader’s jerseys like a drunken Shriner tossing out hard candy at a July Fourth parade. How do you not go out of business?

Charlie Issendorf When I began working at Champion System I told the owners I could guarantee that I could have the best riders wearing Champion System jerseys.  They asked how and I replied “it’s simple – we supply leader jerseys to the best stage races and the leaders have to wear our jerseys”.  Four years later and we now supply leader jerseys to the Tour de Langkawi, Tour de Beauce, Cascade Cycling Classic, Tour of the Gila, Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, the Ras in Ireland and many more national and international races. I didn’t want to just supply leader jerseys to the top races but I wanted to support local races as well.  Here’s yet another story: In 1988 I was a first year senior (18 years old) and I was racing in the Pro/1-2 Enchanted Mountain Stage Race, a 3 day stage race consisting of a Road Race, Time Trial and Criterium.  I won the Stage 2 10 mile Time Trial and grabbed the leader jersey.  I was stoked.  In the final criterium I lost the jersey due to time bonuses.  I was feeling down to say the least.  I remember sitting in the front seat of my dad’s car when I saw the promoter walking towards me.  He approached and said he needed the leader jersey back because they only had one.  Not only did I lose the race but I didn’t even get to bring home a jersey!  Dan, how would you have felt if I asked for your Floyd Bennett leader jersey back?  Exactly.  So supplying leader jerseys to local races became both a marketing and personal objective of mine.  So many local teams use Champion System so supplying leader jerseys to the races they compete in is our way of saying thanks for being loyal customers.  The Green Mountain Stage Race, Tour of the Catskills, Giro di Jersey, Cadence Cup Series  – for local riders these are our Tour de France so why not make the riders feel like Pro riders with leader jerseys. I don’t see too many other companies supporting local races as much as Champion System.

schmalz Dear God, is there any cycling related incident that you don’t have an anecdote for? Let’s test this-have you ever arrived at a race only to realize that you’d forgotten your cleats?

Charlie Issendorf Would you believe in all the years I’ve been racing I never forgot my shoes, helmet or license.  Remember one of my philosophies: keep it organized.