Among the ranks of the good athletes I have encountered two general classes, the highly dedicated and the highly talented. The exceptional athletes, without fail, possess both qualities. Often some event will occur early in an athlete's career that signals both dedication and potential . I call these moments "Significant Happenings". When the sport is cycling, the significant moments invariably involve those difficult moments towards the end of a race where fatigue is the final arbiter. Selections are made based on conditioning and desire , against which the defeated can never make appeal, knowing full well their own impotence to answer the challenge that came from a superior foe. Fortunately many club races, and often races on much higher levels, never reach such a point. Invariably the "If onlys" and excuses flow freely in the post race banter. This is good for the sport because it ensures a continuing field of hopefuls for next week. But when the Significant Event occurs, the finish line is usually a silent and respectful place. The average riders know their futures consist only of hoped for "good wheels" and lucky breaks. The exceptional rider is left standing alone, his future in his own hands. Two such events that have occurred on Ohio roads are worth retelling. One involves the legendary Greg LeMond, then just an 18 year old with a future. The other involves our own Mike House on the day he won his first club race and suddenly changed from a rookie club rider into a serious contender.

In 1980, before President Carter had made his final decision to boycott the Moscow Olympics a three day series of Olympic development races were held in Lima, organized by my lifelong friend and cycling companion Alan Kingsbery. Alan devised a particularly cruel road circuit, 112 miles long, ten laps. The course went east out of Zanesfield (near Bellefontaine) on county road 10, a climb that is very steep without a break for .7 mile and then continues over false flats and variable grades until the top is finally reached after a total of 1.2 miles. Certainly not impressive by Alpe d’Huez standards, but throw in a few good hills in the middle and do it ten times and I’m sure it will be challenge enough for any cyclist. LeMond had been invited to participate in the development races as a way of grooming this promising young cyclist for the future.. He had been competing in races beyond his age category since the age of 16, but was ineligible for the Olympic team according to the age rules then is existence. Only the road race was a selection race. As such, Le Mond could not participate. The field of qualified riders was fairly small and as the previous time trial and criterium had generated a greater than anticipated showing of fans, the officials were anxious to keep interest high and pad the field. Local riders, who obviously stood little chance of finishing much less placing, and ineligible riders, were allowed into the field to make for good pictures from the starting line for the newspapers. A heated argument broke out between Alan and USOC and USCF officials over LeMond. Alan rather vehemently warned them that it would be poor publicity indeed if an ineligible rider, and the youngest in the field, won the event. This was discounted as wildly improbable and LeMond was allowed into the field with a few knowing chuckles from the officials. All went as planned for most of the race. The field was soon whittled down to a handful of elite riders, the pretenders dropping out early, satisfied with having had a decent training ride and photo op courtesy of USOC. There was even a breakaway of three favorites about two thirds of the way through the race. As the last lap approached it seemed certain the winner would come from this group, and after all, only the first three riders scored any meaningful points toward team selection anyway. The field had worked hard to narrow the gap, but as they crossed the start/finish and began the last climb up road 10, they were clearly spent. Everyone settled in to await the inevitable three up sprint for the finish. LeMond had other ideas. He saw the climb not as dues to be paid on the way to the showers , but as a final opportunity to test the breakaways when they were hurting. He attacked immediately from the bottom to both the derision and disbelief of the survivors in the field. Surely it was a futile gesture, noble at best, silly at worst, especially if his legs cracked and he burnt himself out before reaching the top. But LeMond of course never cracked. By the top of the hill he was halfway to the break and after three more miles was with them. One series of hills remained, SR 540 from east to west from SR 292 to county road 5, a distance of 2 miles, mostly climbing in a series of steep stairsteps. LeMond dropped all of the breakaway favorites on the climb then held them off over the ensuing downhill and subsequent three mile stretch of flat road into the finish. A furious chase by the group of three, working together, was of no use. LeMond finished alone, the improbable and ineligible victor of what had been one of the toughest Olympic selection road races of the series. Angry berating of the coaches fell on deaf ears. The favorites knew they had been beaten thoroughly by raw power and against all their best efforts. The embarrassment of the selection committee was compensated by the satisfaction of knowing that they had seen the future of American cycling, and it was bright indeed.

The MVW club race of 9/9/99 saw a similar emergence when 15 year old Mike House won his first club race. To be sure, the difficulty of even the most hotly contested club criterium hardly compares with a hard fought 100 + mile road race. But when Mike’s young age and inexperience is considered, it was a significant event nevertheless. This was race #21 of the year, a criterium at OOIP. The field was small with only 20 riders, but the quality level was high. It was, as Dave Komives likes to say, a race with no place to hide. 

Mike’s first ever club race had been the initial time trial back in April, twenty club races and nearly five months ago. Mike had been the first junior on that day, but only 8th overall in a small field. A good start indeed, but few gave him much thought. He and Jonas Root were the "new juniors" of the year and everyone gave them a wide berth as they worked on improving their form and bike handling skills.

Jonas (L), Mike behind. !st TT

By September both riders had made great strides and there was a general feeling of delight and satisfaction present among all of us who witnessed their progress. But considering either as a potential winner? I don’t think anyone who lined up at the start that day could honestly say the thought crossed their mind. There were no significant team tactics at that time, just very loose alliances that would easily fall apart anytime the right opportunity for a break would arise. Essentially it was every man for himself. Matt Thourot would easily work as hard with Willy as he would Steve Clark or Tony Gwin . Any number of combinations could be mentioned, many of them unthinkable over the past two seasons. These kind of dynamics and good weather made for a very competitive race. It became essentially a race of attrition with the attacks being almost continuous, and all left out of the attack equally as likely to work to reel the breaks back in. Rather quickly the group was down to a dozen riders that probably would hang together until the end. But so relentless was the tempo that it seemed like every time an attack would be brought back, one more face would be missing from the group. There was literally no place to hide. At some point each rider had to close his own gap, take his own turn in the chase. I love races like that when I’m in good form. I hate them when I’m not. With about six laps to go a very dangerous break got a good distance up the road; Steve Clark and Matt Thourot were working together, hard. Jeff Ray, Will McLaughlin, Dave Komives, Tony Gwinn, Mike House, Adam Slough and myself were all that were left to chase them down. With a very hard and concerted effort they were brought back. At the time of the capture there was really no peloton, just a group of nine riders, spread out three or more abreast trying to look each other over and see if any one looked fresh. Every head was down , every face red, every mouth gasping for breath. Mike looked just as whipped as anyone else. But very shortly there he was dangling ten to fifteen yards off the front, looking back to see if anyone was going to charge around him and start a fresh attack or if there were any takers for his wheel, willing to work. At first the general reaction to this show of dogged determination was one of amusement. Suddenly though, Adam jumped out of the group, but only as far as Mike’s wheel. That was all the encouragement needed however, and Mike and Adam were soon working together for all they were worth. No one else had the willpower to answer. It was easy to make excuses. "Don’t worry about it, he’s just a rookie" etc. After about three-fourths of a lap however the sentiment not to let Adam "sneak away" finally took hold and we were back into a furious chase. After two full laps went by and no progress was made, the realization finally sunk in that more than one of the riders up the road was a genuine threat. It was also obvious that they were going to stay away all the way to the finish. According to Adam, he didn’t really put his heart into the sprint…"It was hard not to let the kid win, I knew it would be a big thrill for him" was how I remember him putting it. The picture of the final sprint on our web site seems to belie that statement however as it shows two riders wheel to wheel and up out of their saddles as they approach the line, Mike being the rider with half a wheels length advantage. And so a 15 year old had won a club criterium on a night when a small but determined group of riders had ridden their hearts out trying to gain an advantage over each other. I don’t think Mike was significantly stronger than any of the above mentioned riders, perhaps he was even the least strong among us. What was obvious however, was that he was the most determined, more willing to take the risk of self sacrifice to make the win happen, and it paid off. This was a Significant Event. Here was a kid who certainly had potential, as many do. But on that night he also showed that he had the determination of a champion, and that was exciting.

Pickering brings cycling class	Long shadows on the crit course	That blur is Jr. Mike House	And the winner - House

We are all aware of Mike’s continued progress since then, and all very pleased at his accomplishments at the cyclo-cross Nationals. Mike may or may not grow to the stature of a LeMond, but it sure is nice to know that such dreams are not impossible for him. Talent and dedication, the formula for an exceptional athlete, are both there. There are many crossroads in the life of any athlete, and cyclists have to face them early on. Being dedicated to the higher levels of competitive cycling demands the exclusion of many other options in life. Certainly Mike’s career will not be any less of a success if he chooses not to pursue those higher ranks. But it remains a very important fact that a seemingly insignificant club race became the opportunity for a very significant event in the development of a talented young rider. When you think about it, if any club race can be the potential incubator for such an event, then every club race should be cherished as a Significant Happening for our sport and for our future.

Last Updated 03/19/08