This weekend marks the official opening of the Kansas City area road cycling season with the 2018 Spring Fling Cycling Series. The series starts on Saturday, February 24th. Five weekends of criterium racing will shake out the cobwebs and get riders’ legs ready for the long road season ahead.
The Spring Fling is one of the best places to learn how to race bikes, especially criteriums. It is as safe of a course as you are going to find; the course has wide roads, wide corners, no curbs, and is relatively flat. Riders can race multiple categories throughout the day for one fee. Those looking at upgrading should take advantage of the multiple race opportunities offered over the 5 weeks of racing. Some riders, depending on age and category, could race up to 15 races over the course of the series.
The criteriums are run as points races, allowing multiple chances for riders to earn points towards their finish placing and allowing multiple chances to practice their sprinting skills.
Entry fees are $36 per race day, junior and youth riders receive free entries in their respective junior events. Those looking to try out racing can get a one-day license online through USA Cycling or onsite. We recommend purchasing an annual or one-day license online to save some time on race day.
The 2018 Spring Fling cycling series is held at Clinton Lake State Park on the western edge of Lawrence, Kansas. There is a small vehicle fee to enter the park which can be paid by cash or card or you can purchase an annual park permit if you plan on racing all five weekends and save some time entering the park each week.
You can check out race updates via the Revolution Racing Facebook Page.
Photo via Roger Harrison
