I sat down with Wes Kline of the Doylestown Bike Works p/b Fred Beans Cycling Team as he prepares to open his racing season at the Daniel Harwi Memorial 31st Annual Lower Providence Spring Classic Criterium in Montgomery County, PA on Saturday April 22, 2018.
Tell us a little about yourself, where you grew up and how bike racing happened? Emmaus, PA since Day 1. Started racing around 16, always ripped BMX bikes around as a kid, got into Red Robin Marty Nothstein Bicycle Racing Program program at Trexlertown Velodrome in 8th grade and fell in love with it there. Switched from running to cycling full time when my knees exploded around 10th grade. Been trying to send it ever since!
What have been some of the highlights for you in terms of bike racing? Some highlights- 2010 was a big year as my final year in the junior ranks- 4th at USA Cycling Criterium Nationals in Bend, Oregon and 1st in Team Pursuit at the USA Cycling Juniors Track Nationals. That led to me being selected for the World Championship team for Team Pursuit. Raced for the Penn State University Cycling Team and took the win in 2013 at the PSU Nittany Classic Criterium to clinch the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference cup. One of the best days on the bike ever. Raced for D3Devo p/b Airgas Cycling Team from 2013-15 with current comrade and forever bash brother Big Meach. Raced with Team Skyline from 2015-17, where I won the Historic Marietta Bike Race Criterium. (You can see Wes’ full cycling palmares here).
How'd you come to fall into this lot? Meach and I tossed around the idea of building the “Hard Bod Squad U30” when we were younger with our friend JC. So glad It’s finally happening.
You've been training on the team Giant TCR Advanced Pro 1, and been racing on the TCR platform for a few seasons. Tell us your thoughts on the bike so far? The Giant TCR Advanced Pro 1 is pretty much my favorite bike ever- when I have to be the motor. Stiff for my puffy tushy, and light to compensate for my puffy tushy. But seriously, it’s a rocket ship. The ultimate race bike. Love Giant Bicycles as a company as well. Price points are awesome, and the quality and support are unparalleled.
What are the goals for racing this year, what can the fans at home keep an eye out for? Goals for this year are to help the team succeed in some of the big East Coast Criterium races like the Tour of the Somerville Cycling Series, West Chester Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic, and ultimately my favorite - Doylestown’s own Thompson Bucks County Classic. It’s a ripper of a course and THE best setting for a bike race.
When Wes Kline isn't on a bicycle, what's he doing? When I’m not on the bicycle, I’m either teaching gym class, building old school choppers, climbing rocks, or hanging with my lady. But whatever I’m up to, you can bet I’ll be sending it!
(Photo by MindYourDesign)
