Cycling Oklahoma

We catch up after a long gap, from Drummond launching a new appointment-only service studio in Bricktown to traveling nonstop with teams and races. Ryan tells us what racing and supporting a rider in Romania really feels like, then we swing through GP New York chaos, Nationals motivation, the Oz Stage Race, and the moment I finally cave and buy an e-bike. 

• Drummond Performance Studio setup, services, and why bike fits...

We catch up on life as a race mechanic, from a tightly run USA Cycling mountain bike camp in Bentonville to the long, chaotic days of the Redlands stage race. Along the way, we get into suspension basics, feed zone survival, and why local racing only stays alive if we actually show up. 
• how USA Cycling camp works behind the scenes 
• what mechanics do all day to keep athletes rolling 
• suspension setup mi...

We share how Maverick Criterium grew from a lunch idea to a true city race weekend, with campus corners under the lights, a revamped downtown sprint, and a bigger prize purse. We break down last year’s wins and messes, the new categories, neutral support, and why community buy-in matters.

• year-one highlights and hard lessons
• permits, signatures, and city partnerships
• campus course design and OU collaboratio...

We sit down with Tulsa trail builder and race director Bobby Reese to map how Turkey Mountain grew to 70 miles, why Cold Turkey became a three-day fundraiser party, and how OKXC aims to unite Oklahoma racing with a rider-first spring series. From vintage 26ers to party enduro to short-lap XC, we keep it fun, fair, and community-led.

• Turkey Mountain’s trail expansion and wayfinding
• Cold Turkey Fest schedule, form...

We sit down with Dave Ortloff to trace a life on bikes from rigid forks and jorts to Cat 1 wins, White Rim epics, and choosing joy over endless intervals. We also launch The Dirties, a new, irreverent awards night to celebrate trail crews and the people who make our scene hum.

• sponsors, local events, and dates for Damn Zombies and OKXC
• Dave’s origin story from Lake Thunderbird to Bluff Creek
• stepping throug...

We share the full story behind the Lake Thunderbird rebuild, from a million dollars in funding to permits, design choices, and the future of sustainable singletrack in Norman. Josh explains how a barber chair conversation became a blueprint for community-led trails that protect the lake and elevate rider experience.

• why T-Bird’s redesign matters for Norman’s cycling scene
• how funds unlocked a professional,...

We share how a Tulsa firefighter helped launch NICA’s first Oklahoma season, building a safe, welcoming league that gets kids racing, families involved, and communities investing in trails. From scholarships and loaner bikes to short‑lap course design, we map the practical steps that make youth cycling work.

• mission to empower youth for life through mountain biking
• why NICA’s short courses and marshals mak...

We trade gossip for a plan to fix Oklahoma mountain biking: rally support for OMBA, align race calendars, simplify categories, and build real youth pathways. Sponsors get thanked, Arcadia’s new features get spotlighted, and we outline a statewide board to bring order to the chaos.

• OMBA’s role, funding gap, and 50-dollar membership drive
• Palo Duro Marathon’s low turnout and event promotion lessons
...

Ryan Drummond takes us from Tulsa Tuff breakthroughs to a Pan Ams podium, shares how team support sharpened his race craft, and lays out the plan for Fayetteville and a two‑month European block. We ask for help funding the campaign so he can test himself against the world’s best.

• Tulsa Tuff tactics, solo bridge, omnium jersey
• Marathon Nationals result and shifting failure
• Comp Edge team camp, routines and p...

We sit down with Brent and Jonathan to trace how two fresh racers launched The Salty Dogs, built a real team structure, raced across the country, and started giving back to get more kids on bikes. Mindset, tactics, and community sit at the center, with plenty of laughs in between.

• founding story of the salty dogs
• mindset shifts from survival to strategy
• racing upgrades, team roles and finishes
• tactics for cr...