By Jeff Sowa
A summer ago, Don Felice was a one-man cycling team.
Boy, has that ever changed.
Since the March formation of the Lewiston native’s Team Warp 9/Bike Boy Racing, Felice has recruited nine men to join him as part of the area’s premier professional road bike racing squad.
“I’m just blown away right now at the response,” Felice said. “These 10 guys are really committed, and it’s a passion for all of them. They all have families and children and real jobs, but they still find seven to 15 hours a week to dedicate to the team.”
Felice’s team has competed in more than 20 races so far this season, already compiling 15 top-10 finishes. In a June 21 meet in Tonawanda, the group had its first podium finish, with Dave Van Horn and Andy Burke registering second place overall.
Because of the team members’ varying work schedules, anywhere from three to seven guys bike together six days a week. They’re able to put together a larger group ride on Sundays.
“There’s a lot of other things everyone could be doing, but they’re doing something to promote health and fitness,” Felice said.
The team’s 10 riders range in age from 21 to 55. Felice, 40, was one of the original five members along with Van Horn, John Olson, Alan Hastings and Jim Majka. Rounding out the group are Tim and Andy Burke, Ben Nigro, Mike Schwenkbeck and Jim Martino.
Along with Warp 9, its national racing sponsor, the team has a slew of local sponsors. Beeton’s Cyclery and Advance Chiropractic are the team’s Niagara Falls representatives, with The Silo Restaurant, managed by Hastings, and Smith Brothers Pizza in Lewiston also sponsoring.
“It’s wonderful that businesses in these towns, even in these hard economic times, have stepped up to promote something for the good of the community,” Felice said of the continued support.
Felice himself has trekked about 2,000 miles so far this season — 700 more than he had at this point last year. He’ll take part in the Masters Olympics as part of America’s Cycling Team in October in Sydney, Australia.
The team has raced in such places as Syracuse, Hamburg, Salamanca and Auburn thus far, with races scheduled every weekend until the end of October. The group of 10 will also ride in this year’s Peach Festival parade.
And make no mistake, their bond lies much deeper than the lime green jerseys they all sport.
“We’ve really become like a family,” Felice said. “I slept in through my alarm one morning, and there were four guys with jerseys on, banging on my door at 11 a.m. ready to ride. That’s dedication.”
The group is still looking for female riders and is trying to set up a separate women’s team. Felice is also offering free membership to any junior rider under the age of 16 in an effort to promote young kids to ride bikes and stay in shape.
More information on the team can be found at its official Web site, www.bikeboyracing.com, or by calling Felice at 417-1611.
