Team Kaos

One aspect of Team Kaos' mission is to use cycling as a tool to reach a wide audience. Through volunteer efforts, we can teach bicycle safety, cycling as a lifetime activity or assist with youth programs.

In mid-September, Team Kaos' senior olympics team members assisted with a youth activity at Bennington Lutheran Church. Here's the scoop from Doug Semisch:

The "Senior Olympians" were asked to help with the Sunday School opening day roundup for the Lutheran Church in Bennington.  Gary Schmidt and a church member did a demonstration as part of the Children's Sermon in church where there was a story about God taking control of a bike ride and taking the rider to exciting places while helping others. Gary rode into the church in front with "God" on the back and after the sermon, "God" rode in front and Gary rode in the back.  Gary, Suzanne Wilson and Doug also took the kids on a ride/walk around the church neighborhood.  There were all sorts of kids bikes, scooters and big wheels.

Team Kaos riders were also on hand for last weekend's 100 For One century ride, in honor of former Bike Masters employee Seth Embrey, who died in April of brain cancer. For more information, go here. For pictures, go here.

Though the fall weather has cooled things off in eastern Nebraska, Team Kaos' hot streak has continued.

Brandon Fenster and Matt Farnham each have claimed big wins in the past few weeks. Fenster won the Cat. 4 state road race crown in late September, while Farnham opened the cyclocross season with a win on Sunday.

WEST BRANCH, Iowa -- A pair of Team Kaos/Alegent Health riders competed in the Iowa State Road Race Championship Saturday.

Rich Pearson placed fourth in the Masters 50 to 59 age group, which was contested over 81 miles along with the 40 to 49 group and the 60-plus group. A lone 40-plus rider rode off the front during a tailwind section. The ensuing chase halved the pack, with Pearson in the lead group.

The race reached a stalemate in the final miles, since the finish was into a headwind and nobody wanted to pull. When things finally heated up for the finishing sprint, Pearson came away with fourth place.

Brandon Fenster was in the Men's Cat. 4 race, which was 54 miles. The tailwind section split that group up, too, but Fenster was safely ahead in the lead pack. 

The peloton later lined up for a bunch sprint, and Fenster had good position coming into the final few hundred meters. But the riders ahead of him collided, sending pedals into spokes and pushing Fenster out of the picture. He finished 12th. 

Nearing the end of the Nebraska road racing schedule, Team Kaos/Alegent Health has three riders poised to take Nebraska Cycling Association Rider of the Year honors.

John Vondracek has clinched the victory in two categories: Men's Cat. 1/2 and Cat. 1/2 40-plus. The runner-up in the Cat. 1/2 40-plus category will be recognized as that division's rider of the year.

Brandon Fenster holds a wide lead in the Cat. 4 race. Teammate Ashton Lambie is in second place, but has since upgraded to Cat. 3. 

Rich Pearson has clinched the victory in the Cat. 4 50-plus division. 

All Nebraska Rider of the Year winners receive free entry into next year's series races.