Fernando Cuevas, and What Makes You Tingle?

After last years ride, John Campo, who actually played an integral part in organizing the ride route and details, wrote this to honor Fernando, his selflessness, and his vision for the future.

Fernando Cuevas, and What Makes You Tingle?
By John Campo

There are times when people coming together for a common cause, to help someone in need, can transcend and elevate the them, and their cause, to the realm of super human. Today I experienced that phenomenon in all its splendor and glory. In a sport where no good deed goes unpunished, cycling in the North East has finally taken a turn for the better.

The Cuevas family that has made bike frames for over 3 generations are no strangers to tragedy. Now Fernando, the grandson of the famous frame builder is battling cancer alongside so many others in this sport, and in the general population. Thankfully, he has been getting stronger. He has been through all the radiology treatments and is now on oral meds, as well as dialysis three times a week.

Fernando Cuevas is a very big part of what is done at the Kissena Velodrome. He has run my junior program, and gives them their own night to shine every week, as well as taking them to road races all over the country. I was contacted by one of his national champion Juniors Chris Thornton to put on an event for Fernando to help honor all the support he has given me and the cycling community. Today was that day and we put on a fundraiser ride with registration on Bikereg.com. We felt this way people could give their support to a special man, and stand up for the sport they love by showing the juniors spawned by Fernando that the cycling community cares, not only about him, but about them as well.

I must tell you that I personally over the last 25 years of trying to develop a junior program in this country have felt it has been like pushing a piano uphill with a ball and chain wrapped around one leg. I was told by other velodrome directors that junior development "is a waste of time" because their ridership only consisted of over 30 year olds. My answer was, “there must be some children in your state.” Junior development doesn’t fall out of the sky, you have go and get them, nurture them, and give them a chance. Fernando and I share that same vision and he has taken on this grand task without asking a penny from anyone. He has developed many champions and non-champions, but the placing doesn’t matter, he has brought children to our world - cycling. You do not learn piano because you have hopes of being Ray Charles. You learn piano because it becomes a vehicle of learning that might be adaptable for life itself. Cycling is no different in that respect.

Today we rode for Fernando, his young riders, his friends, his family, and his helpers. Everyone in solidarity for a man, and a sport, and his dream for its future. I was only a small part of the success of this showing of love and affection as were all involved. However, the cross-section of riders from young and old is what made it special. Youth has a way of seeing things simply without worry of faltering obstacles. To be with that segment of the world is to know life, and how precious it is, and how good things can be if you try. That is what makes my mind tingle, more that anything I have ever been involved with. Bless all that were here today, and if you missed it you can still help by registering for the 2008 rides here.

NYC / Keene, NH

Be a part of the future.
-John Campo