The 2019 Parkway Cup was awarded to the racers in each age and experience-graded category based on their total, combined on-course time for days 1 and 2 at Charm City Cyclocross weekend and DCCX weekend. These four races were Kelly’s last racing in category 4 and her 2nd place finishes on both days of Charm City in addition to her dominant 1st place victory at DCCX day one set her up to bring the women’s Category 4 Parkway Cup home to Great Eskape in the mud on day 2 of DCCX, coming in at 3rd (and smashing that Cat. 3 upgrade button as soon as she rolled across the finish line). Over the course of the season Kelly captured 8 podiums in 11 races. Kelly and her Great Eskape kit made their debut in an elite race at Ed Sander as well, grabbing a spot “in the money” at 7th place! Thanks for winning us some beer money, Kelly, and congrats!

Grexley, Gerx, G-Rex?
Kelly was the first of us to run GRX and it worked like a dream - precise shifting and ergonomic brake levers with a new, flatter profile were all very much appreciated this season. Kelly trusted Cannondale’s rec of a 40t chainring with an 11-34 cassette and never found herself wanting more on either end. The cockpit with the exception of a Specialized Mimic saddle is stock but she did slap on some Supacaz Super Sticky Kush bartape in purple for maximum team #aesthetic.

Kelly ran Challenge Grifo tires set up tubeless on Stan’s Grail MK3 rims laced to Hope M4 hubs built by the team at Conte’s Bike Shop. But don’t even think about asking her “what pressure you running?” She stands by a very-scientific tire squeeze and will probably tell you “whatever it is, it seems fine.” These days she’s running some thicc boi 40mm Maxxis Ravager tires and treating her bike like a rigid mountain bike seeking out as much singletrack as she can.

For pedals, Kelly runs Time Atacs; she sings the praises of their mud clearing capabilities and has yet to miss clipping in at a start (hope we haven’t jinxed her!). Kelly secures her Garmin 1030 with a K-Edge mount and we do mean “secures” as she’s been known to forget to take off her GPS until she gets home from a race. The K-Edge is so solid it can handle the gorgeously manicured streets of the DMV, especially those in DC, without losing its grip.

We’re still trying to convince her to try her hand at some SSCX but so far she seems immune to our peer pressure overtures. For now this stunning example of a cyclocross racing bike will be her race day, gravel riding, and singletrack-slaying Swiss army knife. Who knows, she might even get a fit and address all those spacers… Thanks for the opportunity to gander at your bike!