Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

Another Young Phenom on the Rise

6/20/2011

0 Comments

 
Good article in the Lancaster Gazette about Kayla Starr, a rising cycling star despite being coached by Grand Poobah. Kayla does not hit the Tuesday or Thursday COP rides but does show up on some of the Saturday Roving Rides when not racing.  I think it was the HOOT ride at which Todd told me Kayla was going to make me cry during the ride.  I told him everyone does that to me so it won't be a big deal.

LANCASTER -- It's been quite a ride for Kayla Starr -- literally.

As a child, the Lancaster resident was afraid of bicycle riding because of a bad crash she once had. But she kept riding, and USA Cycling now considers the 19-year-old one of the top amateur bicycle racers in the country. She is ranked No. 3 in Ohio in her category.

"I'm surprised and still in shock over this," Starr said. "I still see myself as an 11-year-old kid riding my bike at 8 mph."

In three 40- to 50-mile road races this year, Starr finished first at Germantown, second at Vandervorts Corner and third at Lynchburg for the Cyclist Connection of Canal Winchester. She also works at that cycling store and races a Felt AR3 bicycle.

"She's had a good season so far and opened up some eyes," cycling coach Todd Lee said. "Her determination is the biggest thing. She's a fighter who doesn't give up."

On Wednesday, Starr will be riding in a criterium at London, Ohio. A criterium is a race on a closed course instead of a long road course.

"Racing is something I enjoy doing," Starr said. "I'm doing it to have fun. I don't have an ego or anything with it. Once you get the big head, it's no fun anymore. I like to have fun with this and I enjoy going fast. It's a neat adventure, for sure."

Top speed for female racers is about 20 mph.

USA Cycling has four categories for amateurs, with Category 1 being the top one. Starr is in her rookie year, so she is in Category 4.

Starr said Lee is a major reason for her success.

"He always tells me you only have $1 to spend when you're in a race," Starr said. "So you have to spend it wisely. You can't start out too fast and spend your dollar at the start of the race."

Lee said a successful amateur like Starr needs to ride about 200 to 300 miles per week. He said professional bicycle racers ride between 500 and 1,000 miles each week.

Of course, people don't have to race like Starr or rack up tremendous mileage to enjoy bicycle riding.

Starr recommends cycling for anyone who wants to get some exercise, although she does offer a strong warning.

"Wear a helmet," she said. "In 2007, a helmet saved my life. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to wear one."

As for Starr, she's not ruling out racing professionally one day.

"We all need to have goals, and that would be really, really cool if that's where life takes me," she said.

In the meantime, Starr said she wants to keep racing as an amateur and help raise money for various charities, such as autism awareness.

Starr also said she might ride in the Tour de Cause on July 16. That is a local ride that raises money to fight drug addiction.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.