2 days 'til CX racing

When you're racing in the Midwest there is one household name who really stands out in bicycle racing. Steve Tilford is an ageless force to be reckoned with. Besides his LONG history of racing in the Pro Tour to riding the dirt for Specialized all the way until the late 90's Steve has yet to hang up his racing shoes. I don't know another soul who lives harder to race his bike. These days he lives in the Kansas City area tending to an apartment complex and rescuing ferrel cats. The rest of his time is spent on his bike.

Besides his astounding ability to keep performing at a pro level with a blonde perm is the legend and lore that follow him to every race. Take for instance an email I received from a friend this year. "I went racing in Kansas City this weekend. Tilford came up on me and I told him if he wanted to go around me to just say the word and I would make room. All I heard back from him was his yelling, 'IF YOU CAN TALK YOU'RE NOT RIDING HARD ENOUGH!'"

BUT PERHAPS, oh sorry I didn't take off the all-caps. But perhaps the highlight of this season was during a breakaway at the Hillsboro Roubiax Road Race when he told the other two he was attacking with that they could get second and third the easy way or the hard way. They could sit back and enjoy the breakaway and take second and third without a care or they could belly up, be forced to race hard and take second and third after a long hard morning in the saddle. The two told Steve, "no, we want to race hard. you're not going to beat us." With that Tilford put his head down and drove them into the ground for sixty miles. And at the finish they still took second and third - the hard way.

However, when it comes to cross racing the four-time US national cross champ has a highlight that should have made ESPN's play of the day for a week. At a race in 2006 Tilford wrecked into a frozen pond getting completely soaked and icy. But he didn't pull out of the race, instead he just got up rode his ice-covered drivetrain to the pit, got a new bike and put it into overdrive. Don't take my word for it, just look at Velonews and Cyclingnews to get the details.