Windham Mountain Cyclists Awarded $4,500 Grant

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August 14, 2007 Windham

It's a sunny summer weekend, it's hot and getting hotter. Nick Bove, founder of the Windham Mountain Outfitters Cycling team, is waiting by the side of the road to hand water bottles to his team of young cyclists as they ride their way to the finish line of the Owasco Flyer Race in Auburn, NY. Nick sees some of his riders rounding the corner, in Windham Mountain Outfitters signature unmistakable uniform, a bright blue jersey with orange flames. They look a little tired.

"Keep it up! You're doing great! Don't stop now!" Nick Bove shouts to the young members of the Windham Mountain Outfitters Cycling Team. Each one grabs a bottle and keeps pedaling. "Dig deep!" Nick encourages, as he passes us by. "Some of these guys are new to road racing," he explains to me. "You've gotta keep these kids from getting discouraged, they've got great potential." It's clear that Nick sees a lot of potential in his team of kids.

Nick Bove started the Windham Mountain Outfitters Cycling Team in 1996 . The idea grew directly out of an interest from youth and adults in the community who were passionate about cycling. The team races at many local races, but also uses Windham Chapter support to help bring the team to national races throughout the Northeast. The Windham Chapter grant of $4,500 helps make it possible for all team members to have quality team uniforms to compete in. The grant also helps the racers by contributing to accommodations at race locations. "The kids and I are all really thankful for the Windham Chapter's support. It makes such a big difference." At the Windham 4th of July Parade, Nick and his team created a beautiful float, complete with a banner thanking the Windham Chapter signed by all team members.

It's clear that the positive effects of the WMO Cycling Team are far reaching as soon as one talks to any of the team members. Justin Lindine started riding for WMO in when he was 15. "I used to be a fat kid!" he jokes. "I really owe a lot to Nick and the team." Today, Justin is a professional cyclist riding for Team Target Training based out of Connecticut. He races at the professional level in three different cycling categories: road, mountain, and cyclocross. This July, he won the New York State Road Race Championship.

Nick laughingly remembers Justin's first race, when after a serious crash Justin got right back on his bike and determinedly fought his way to the finish. "I thought, wow, who is this kid?" Nick chuckles.

Justin is not the only young cyclist who graduated from The WMO Cycling Team to pursue professional cycling careers. Andy Guptill started riding at age 13 when Nick invited him to try a mountain bike race. In 2001, he joined the US National Team as a junior for the Mountain Bike World Championships, and today he rides for the Colavita/Sutter Home professional road team. Josh Misevis also joined WMO when he was a teenager, and now he is currently riding for Bare Naked Cannondale on their professional downhill cycling team.

For Nick, the best part about leading his team is watching the kids develop. "They go from wide eyed scared kids who don't know what they're doing to teaching me how to ride," he says. At today's race, as the young team members grin crossing the finish line, I can see that journey taking place.

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