All in the Family

A series about members of the same family competing in cycling in Wisconsin.

Meet Wisconsin’s First Family of Cycling: Jim, Debbie and Jamie Surges

September 30, 2004

This is the second in a series of articles about families participating in WCA events.
Recently our WCA reporter caught up with the Surges family of East Troy. The husband/wife and daughter team are a familiar site at group rides and races around Wisconsin. If you’ve ridden the Drop the Doc or been to a Wisconsin race you’ve seen at least one of the Surges clan. Here’s some insight into this family who stays fit together.

Q: HOW DID THIS FAMILY CYCLING CONNECTION COME ABOUT?
Debbie: We all have been very active in skiing, snowboarding, triathlons, and other miscellaneous sports. Jim and Jamie started mountain biking as a way to cross train for snowboarding, and that is ultimately how they got into road riding.

Q: HOW MANY OTHER FAMILIES DO YOU KNOW WHO HAVE MOM, DAD, AND DAUGHTER IN THE PELOTON?
Debbie: No others that we can think of--one is plenty!

Q: WHAT IS YOUR DAY LIKE WHEN YOU RE GETTING READY FOR A RACE? WHO DOES WHAT?
Debbie: The day is usually spread out. Jim is the wrench, and races 30+ and 40+. I do soigneur- type stuff. Jamie races the women's 1,2 events. So it is usually an all day affair.

Q: WHAT'S EVERYONE KNOWN FOR DOING ON ROAD TRIPS?
Jamie: We haven't actually taken a family trip in years, but when we did my Dad was the driver. He can cross entire sections of the country without pit stops/ bathroom breaks. Mom was the back up driver and navigator. She can sniff out the cheapest hotel room from 100 miles away! My brother and I took care of the arguing in the back seat.

Q: QUESTION FOR JIM: I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU LOST ALOT OF WEIGHT AT ONE POINT. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL OTHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO DO THE SAME?
Jim: One day I was suddenly 29 years old and 225 lbs. When Jamie was born that year, I decided that I wanted to be able to enjoy various sports activities with my kids as a participant, not just a supporter. That gave me the incentive to loose the weight. Any diet works, you just have to stick to it! Ask Debbie to show you one of my "fat pictures". She carries them everywhere.

Q: QUESTION FOR DEBBIE: I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU LOVE MOUNTAIN BIKING. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT RIDING? ABOUT SAGGING RIDES?
Debbie: I like the challenge of the trails! Plus I can do mountain biking on my own. I don't have to worry about traffic or keeping up with other riders. I am happy that I can be over 50 and mountain bike! What I like best about being a sag driver is helping others. The first time I drove the sag vehicle was a few years back. Jamie and Jim were new to the sport and they were thinking they would get lost if they were dropped. I discovered that it was a lot of fun, and have done it ever since. I love helping people out that get a flat tire and then pacing them back up to the group. Blowing stop signs is also fun!

Q: QUESTION FOR DEBBIE: YOU WERE GIVEN A PERPETUAL MOTION AWARD AT THE WCA DINNER IN 2002 FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CYCLISTS IN WISCONSIN. WHAT'S NEXT ON YOUR CYCLING AGENDA?
Debbie: I would love to ride support in a race. I would also enjoy being a support driver in some of the charity events, ones like Tour of Hope as they sound like fun. Ed. Note: The Surges Family is indeed riding support in the Tour of Hope beginning in October!

Q: QUESTION FOR JAMIE: WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT HAVING YOUR FAMILY INVOLVED IN THE SPORT?
Jamie: It is very fun for me, because I get great support from my parents. They know how tough and rewarding cycling can be. Plus I always have someone to ride with and someone to cheer for me!

Father/Son Duo of the Wisconsin Peloton: Ken & Brad Pearson

August 13, 2004

Ken Pearson made a comeback this year in the masters category after a few years away from the sport. His son, Brad has also recently taken up the sport. Meet Brad Pearson (One Percent More/Stone Creek Coffee) of Sun Prarie and Ken Pearson (Michael’s Cyclery) of Janesville.

ert
ertertertBrad Pearson (left) and his father Ken Pearson.

Q: Ken, we understand that you had some good seasons a few years back, when was that, and what prompted you to return to acing? Have you reconnected with any former teammates or rivals in your comeback year?

A: I started racing on the Wisconsin citizen circuit in 1984. I made the switch to USCF racing in 1987 and thought the USCF was a fantastic organization. The races were closer, the entry fees less, and you could actually win some money back. It was unbelievable. In ‘84 I won the Cat 4 series at Superweek--it was actually only a week long back then. Most of my racing was in the Master’s class after that, and I raced on the Vic Tanny team. The core riders were Jeff Littmann, Gene Macken, Mark Ketkeisen Tim Zens, Gene Hoeft and, Jimmy Winter. It seemed like we won everything back then, and if you think Jeff is muscular now, you should have seen him back in 1990! With the help of these guys, I had my greatest wins, State Championships, the Lakefront Long Course, and in 1992 the Masters series at Superweek. The truth is that Brad has been the main catalyst for my return to racing. It has been great to see him improve. I'm sure everyone can remember how fascinating the sport was when they first started. I see this every week in Brad, and he has reminded me of how much fun cycling is.

Q: Ken, what's it been like getting back into the sport?

A: It's hard! I was pretty much out of it from 1995 to 2001, and I can't reach the level I was once at. Sure I'm a little older, but the 40+ class is just flying! There are lots of reasons why I'm not contending for the win, and I think the main one is that when I raced the 35+ stuff, all the really good guys were racing Cat 1/2, and some were Pro; now I'm going head to head with them. It's a tremendous challenge.

Q: Brad, was your Dad an influence in your deciding to race? Do you remember any advice he gave you?

A: Brad: Dad’s advice? He gives me advice all the time. He is very smart and mature about the sport and understands everything, I think. Do I take his advice? Now that's another thing. Most of the time no, but when I really want to win, yes. I like to get him worked up and attack like I did at the Lakefront Road Race. He was sitting on the hill saying how I will blow up, and I knew he was saying that, and who knows what else. But I proved him wrong. But otherwise most everything I do I learned from him somehow or another.

Ken: He doesn't listen to anything I say. However, I am amazed at how well he understands the sport.

Q: Brad, you recently stormed through the cat 4 ranks with multiple wins this year and are a newly minted cat 3, taking a 4th at the Lakefront Short Course last week in your first cat 3 race. What motivates you to race and win?

A: I guess I love the simple part of it all. I like being outside and riding with a bunch of people that enjoy the same thing I do. Another reason and a big one is it gives my father and I a lot of time to spend together. We are very competetive with one another even if its basketball or off-season diets. We emailed each other every day about what we ate and who has less calories and so on. I think I won that battle. Overall I love riding my bike, and its great to have a father do it with you.

Q: For both: what do you like/not like about racing and training?

Brad: I really don’t like anything about training unless it is an easy ride or a competitive one. I like to compete, and I wish that is all I did. But to be able to compete, you have to train, and I like it 'cause there are practice crits here in Madison, and I know of a few group rides that make training easy to do. Racing: I like everything about it. The speed, bumping, friends, rush, giving it 110%, and feeling like I could do nothing else to do it better. Racing is just my nature; I like to compete even if it is who is correct in a argument or if it’s who gets the last drink of milk in the fridge. Racing makes the work worth it.

Ken: HOT:
• There are times when racing makes me feel like I'm flying!
• Race tactics are like playing chess while in oxygen debt.
• The feeling you get when you complete a killer ride/race!
NOT:
• Road Rash
• Broken bones

Q: Are you planning on being in the same race anytime soon?

Brad: The same race? Yes we plan on doing some races together soon. We did do the cat 3 race together at Arlington. It was great racing together in a USCF race 'cause he is my secret weapon. He covered a few break attempts for my team and blocked for us too. He is very smart at tactics so it is cool to see him at work and learn a little while he can still keep up with me. I wish he did all the races with me but he has to do the young men’s races (40 & 50+). He will do the cat 3 races when he can though I am sure.

Ken: Part of the reason I've gotten so committed again is because of the fun of riding and racing with Brad. I'm not sure how long it will last as he's getting faster every year, and I'm getting...