Sorry to miss this Anthony, but outta town. Bon voyage Mr State Time Trial Champion! Stay in touch. 

Seems a sad thing to search out this thread to post in it, but it is the place for this type of thing...

After 4 and a bit years in NYC it is time for Tess and I to pack our bags, bikes and now 2 cats up and head for the motherland. A combination of work, visa and wanting to start our own family has meant that now is the point at which we call time on our adventure. 

In normal times I would have loved to have had one last set of races, group rides, coffee's etc however I think I'll have to settle for a virtual goodbye and wish everyone all the best for the future.

KCC, Redbeard & cycling in NYC in general have created some of my favourite memories of NY/USA and I am thankful to everyone in the club who welcomed me in and made my time on the bike with them what it was. If any of you ever find yourself in London, please do give me a shout if you want to meet for coffee or a ride.

Wishing you all the best for the rest of this year, a return to racing and everything else which makes KCC so special.

(Side note - I'll be continuing to work with many people in NYC/US and so as soon as travel is back, will probably be in the city 1 or 2 weeks every month/2 months. Bike will be with me and hopefully I can fit in some more PP races, rides up to Boxer donuts and maybe even a return to SuperCross...)

Cheer,

Rich 

Bon Voyage Rich! 
The Kissenas around the world thread awaits!

Team - while I plan to be back in town a lot (keeping my place in Brooklyn and I will have a couple of bikes here) this is my official farewell post. Monday morning I load up a trailer and return to the PNW after 28+ years in NYC (26 in Park Slope). I retired from my job a few weeks back and its time for some new adventures.

I joined Kissena in (I think) 2008. I had raced back in the late 90s with CRCA (road and cx) but was mainly off the bike for about 8 years doing grad school/career/kid related stuff. I wanted to get back in the saddle, especially to some cx races, so I built a couple pvc barriers, put them in my backpack and headed into PP early on a fall morning. I was riding down the hill through a dense fog and could see someone riding a ways in front of me, wearing a backpack, with some white tubes sticking out of the top. It seemed like an apparition and I chuckled to myself that maybe it's someone with cx barriers. They turned left at the bottom of the hill and I followed. Ten minutes later I was zipping around the secret spot with Ian and Eloy. When I had to leave to get ready for work they both said I should join Kissena. I think they gave my Clayton's email address (membership director) and that was it.

Literally tens of thousands of miles later in Kissena kit and every one of them has been enjoyable. I've made great friends, stood on a couple of podiums, sniffed plenty of tubular glue, been in good shape, been in crappy shape, drank gallons of beer and coffee and even scored a few KOM points (Charlie actually called me later in the week to ask if it was actually me  .

See you on the road.

Jim! you are always & forever part of kissena. Brooklyn and Park Slope will miss you! I am so very much looking forward to catching up on all your upcoming adventures!! Much love to you. 

Jim, you're a KCC legend. Not only did you teach me how to race with a team, but you also taught me random other things to contribute to the club and racing community at large - stuff like working the registration tables, rallying to drain the park course late at night, offering up time and gear and kit and rides to get people involved and excited... all the good stuff outside of just pedaling (but that too)!

Good luck, happy travels and can't wait to ride with you again!

Jim I wish you all the very best in your next chapter. Racing with you was always a highlight of the season - even when you snookered me into the tape on the final turn 😉 stay in touch and stay on your bike. Wherever you go, KCC is there with you.

While I probably met Jim shortly after he joined Kissena, my earliest memories are from 2011 when Jim and I battled it out for the podium at SupercrossCup (where he bested me handily). We've been good friends on and off the bike ever since. Happy to have him start a new chapter in your life, sad that he won't be around (as often) to hit the trails or jump into a cross race. Here are a few pics from across the years decade:

2011 Supercross Cup podium:


Sarah joined in a matching jersey


2012 BubbleCross (with Jules, Mark, Dan and I). Spotted: Blue belly!


2014 Jim was part of the team that cemented us the Yellow and KOM at L&C Cup 


2014 Jim was often the first to volunteer in this case for SupercrossCup


2014 We had fun at Asylum CX in Kings Park




In 2018 the club had a "training camp" in the Catskills. We had fun


During the pandemic Jim, Mark and I went camping in Montauk and socially distanced on cx bikes


In 2022 we headed to CX Worlds in Arkansas (James and Eloy in masks)


Jim photobombed my picture of another random Belgian CX pro (probably Baestaens) P.S. Jim is not the guy with the beard


Jim was also not the guy with the beard in this photo


2022 Racing Croton Cross


Let's say we organize a group trip to the west coast for some cross action or maybe just convince him come back and drink a few podium beers with us. 

Jim, this is just our simple way of our saying that we will miss you. 

Wherever the road (or trail) takes you, hope the wind is at your back and don't let anything ruin your ride

Found a couple of photos from 2012 Supercross

Jules said:

Found a couple of photos from 2012 Supercross

Well clear of the chasing pack ❤️

Thanks everyone! Some great memories for sure. 

Fear not, the small trailer will allow me to take only 6 bikes. Plenty will remain here for my visits back.... 

Hey Gang,

I've let a few folks know individually, but wanted to post here and let you all know this season I am going to be racing with a new team.

This club reignited my passions for riding, and the support and mentorship y'all have given as I have moved into racing has been invaluable.  From the cornering and positioning tips of @mugwump, to the kit matching scolding by @eloy, and the ever positive feedback and support from @David Yang, especially as I laid in a hospital bed with a tube in my chest.

From the get, even as a new team member, so many of you were willing to support me in races and I attribute most of my (very minor) success to you all.

We truly have a special group of people in this club, and I will still be around, looking forward to seeing your smiling faces at the reg desk on some cold spring mornings.  And I'll always be on the lookout for a train of blue and orange out on 9W!


For those whose numbers I do not have, my cell is (312)-841-1336

-Max

Sad times. Was a pleasure riding and racing with you @MaxBucksbaum Good luck with the new team, and hopefully see you out there on the road soon.

Best of luck to you Max. Sorry to see you go

We'll miss the epic EF stories, among other bits, but I'm sure we'll see each other on the road often and we'll likely get some of them anyway.

MaxBucksbaum said:

Hey Gang,

I've let a few folks know individually, but wanted to post here and let you all know this season I am going to be racing with a new team.

This club reignited my passions for riding, and the support and mentorship y'all have given as I have moved into racing has been invaluable.  From the cornering and positioning tips of @mugwump, to the kit matching scolding by @eloy, and the ever positive feedback and support from @David Yang, especially as I laid in a hospital bed with a tube in my chest.

From the get, even as a new team member, so many of you were willing to support me in races and I attribute most of my (very minor) success to you all.

We truly have a special group of people in this club, and I will still be around, looking forward to seeing your smiling faces at the reg desk on some cold spring mornings.  And I'll always be on the lookout for a train of blue and orange out on 9W!


For those whose numbers I do not have, my cell is (312)-841-1336

-Max

Is the new team EF 

@Mark Taylor Maybe as a soigneur, but doubt I even have the chops for that.  In fact, I know I don't!