King Challenge, 14 Edition

If a picture is really worth 1,000 words, here are “20,000 words” from a recent autumn Saturday in New Hampshire to kick things off:

Mid-October in New Hampshire is generally characterized by good weather. But after 12 consecutive rounds of the King Challenge basking in sunshine, we were quite frankly doused in 2023. So when we had banner week of fine weather forecasted leading into this year’s King Challenge, including event-day Saturday, we knew we had a party on our hands.

My professional road racing career spanned ten years til the end of 2015 and 2024 marks my ninth year in this gravel world. In my experience, once I became a father in 2020, my perspective on a lot of things often became myopic. I’m forced to look at the trees and missing the forest. I’m tackling the here-and-now, at the cost of looking up at the bigger picture.

I’m therefore all the more proud of the fourteen years we’ve hosted the King Challenge. It’s something that’s stood the test of time from my road racing career and well into my time in gravel. That span has meant “my family’s participation” started with my mom, dad, and brother riding the King Challenge and now in addition to Mom and Robbie riding, my wife and children are participants too. (Dad’s stroke has precipitated over time, so he’s wheelchair bound now and riding is an impossibility.)

My gratitude is infinite to everyone who has supported the King Challenge in one way or another. First and foremost to Arlon, who suggested we partner up and create this event. It was a risk and on a lark, but with countless hours of hard work, we did it. To the staff at the Krempels Brain Injury Center, I’m grateful for their continuous support and drive. There is no such thing as a bike ride without riders, so to everyone who showed up and rode: thank you! Many many friends of mine across the various places I’ve been lucky enough to live have ridden, so it’s a bit of a mosaic of my friends over time. Family from all over, neighbors, acquaintances, and lots of people I still don’t know. Whatever our relationship, I’m thankful for your support.

The donors earn their share of thanks too. I think in our first year we raised something like $47,000, which was staggering in its own right. We soon got up to triple digits and now typically eclipse $100,000. We’ve raised more than $1.5 million for KBIC and I know that’s created a lasting effect. Sponsors are the lube on the chain or air in the tires— they make the event run smoothly plus insert a healthy dose of fun into things. Again, I’m nothing but grateful.

It’s a busy week leading up to the event and the hours that Saturday go by lightning fast. I wish I could ride next to every single person at the event and share a conversation. I wish I could talk to every single person there at the post ride festivities. Even when I do talk to many, I’m left wanting more. This is a very special day and an incredibly special sliver of time in my life that I’ll remember forever.