Competition 2022: The "Humanity" of it All

Competition 2022: The “Humanity” of it All

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by Ron Burkitt, PCI #488
Hilliard (OH) Police Department

Some reading this newsletter may not know the history of IPMBA or much about the founding fathers. However, if there were a Mount Rushmore of Public Safety Cycling, Allan Howard would be the George Washington. Allan hails from the Dayton Police Department, and this year’s conference was an homage to Allan and all he has done for our organization.

The competition course was no exception. Designed and implemented by disciples of the Dayton Bike School as well as the Five Rivers MetroParks Bike School, the competition focused on slow speed maneuverability and skills.

The course was constructed on Humanities Plaza, in the heart of the University of Dayton campus. The only thing that would have made the course more challenging is if Five Rivers MetroParks could have provided a water hazard!

The course began with a stair descent right into a cone cut. Said cone cut should be part of the basic course as the skill seems as foreign to some riders as trying to operate a bike from the United Kingdom, where the front brake is on the right. It continued through the plaza, as riders descended through a sea of orange cones, until they were met with a teeter-totter. The riders then turned left into a keyhole, followed by a curb ascent onto a balance beam.

After clearing these obstacles, the riders were given a chance to gain some speed. As they approached the halfway point, they were slowed by a set of tapering cones, which then led them to five-step stair ascent, where the participants could decide whether to ride up or carry their bike.

Once again, the riders gained some speed before tackling the last few obstacles.

This time the riders were slowed down by a tight serpentine through a set of steel bollards and cones, which was followed by a quick descent through the rolling, grassy terrain.

At the bottom of the descent, the riders faced a steep curb ascent, a climb through the grass, a few more curb ascents, and finally, a ramp ascending to the finishing line.

Thirty-eight riders entered the competition, 22 as single competitors and 16 others combining their efforts on four teams.

The team names were as diverse as the teams themselves. Several instructors, smitten with their Instructor-Trainer and mentor, Rance Okada, formed the oft-seen “Rance’s Rangers”, who finished first with a combined time of 5:40.76.

Four altitudinally opposed riders formed “Too Tall-Too Short”; they were too slow for first place, but secured second with a time of 6:03.70.

Early in the week a cafeteria communication spawned Team “Baked Potato Debacle”, which came in third with a time of 6:25.09, blamed solely on a lack of starch in the riders’ diet.

“Master Exploders” filled the last team spot, but the reason for the team’s name is as elusive as a podium spot for the four riders.

The individuals were classified by age and category, and E-bike. Age groups were younger than 30, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60+, with the largest group being ages 30-39, with 15, followed closely by 40-49, with 14. The top three riders in the under-30 group were Chris Metzler (1:26.25), Preston Weidner (1:26.63), and Sean Landis (1:41.94). The top three riders in the 30-39 group were Jacob Coyle (1:12.78), Michael Dragovich (1:18.91), and Stanley Sedillo (1:26.86). The 40-49 group was led by Allen Daniels (1:20.08), Mark Brownell (1:27.77), and Jason Kramer (1:31.44). Those in the 50-59 group were led by Rod Roberts (1:24.20), Ed Bartelme (1:24.51) and Scott Bixby (1:29.68).

The 60+ group was led by and comprised of Rance Okada (1:47.11). E-Bike participants were Jeremy Rimmer (1:25.30) and Eric Kackley (1:25.57), riding the eagerly anticipated Volcanic e-Bike prototype.

All in all, the competition was a success as most participants finished the course, and there were no injuries.

2022 Competition Results

---- Individual Competition ----

Female Under 30
No entries

Female 30+
No entries

Male Under 30
Christopher Metzler, San Antonio (TX) Police: 1:26.25
Preston Weidner, Bethlehem (PA) Police: 1:26.63
Sean Landis, Bethlehem (PA) Police: 1:41.94

Male 30-39
Jacob Coyle, Castle Rock (CO) Police: 1:12.78
**First Overall**
Michael Dragovich, Lehigh University (PA) Police: 1:18.91
**Second Overall**
Stanley Sedillo, Auburn (WA) Police: 1:26.86

Male 40-49
Allen Daniels, Windy Warrior Project (ME): 1:20.08
**Third Overall**
Mark Brownell, Spokane (WA) Police: 1:27.77
Jason Kramer, Kettering (OH) Police: 1:31.44

Male 50-59
Rod Roberts, Dayton (OH) Police: 1:24.20
Ed Bartelme, Washington U.in Saint Louis (MO) Police: 1:24.51
Scott Bixby, State University at Buffalo (NY) Police: 1:29.68

Male 60+
Rance Okada, Westminster (CO) Police (ret.): 1:47.11

---- Team Competition ----

Rance’s Rangers: 5:40.76
Thomas Atkinson, Peel (ON) Regional Police: 1:33.35
Mark Brownell, Spokane (WA) Police: 1:27.77
Jacob Coyle, Castle Rock (CO) Police: 1:12.78
Stanley Sedillo, Auburn (WA) Police: 1:26.86

Too Tall, Too Short: 6:03.70
Michael Dragovich, Lehigh University (PA) Police: 1:18.91
Kyle Fisher, Lehigh University (PA) Police: 1:26.87
Christopher Metzler, San Antonio (TX) Police: 1:26.25
Joseph Setty, Dayton (OH) Police: 1:51.67

Baked Potato Debacle: 6:25.09
Sean Landis, Bethlehem (PA) Police: 1:41.95
Jeremy Rimmer, Bethlehem (PA) Police: 1:36.91
Joshua Rymon, Bethlehem (PA) Police: 1:48.20
Preston Weidner, Bethlehem (PA) Police: 1:26.63

---- E-Bike Category ----

Jeremy Rimmer, Bethlehem (PA) Police: 1:25.30
Eric Kackley, Volcanic Bicycles: 1:25.57

Photo courtesy of Deanna Flaugher.

Ron attended the Police Cyclist Course taught by Allan Howard in 1998 and joined IPMBA shortly thereafter. He was certified as an IPMBA Instructor in 2001 and taught at the IPMBA Conference from 2002-2009. In 2017 and 2022, he served as host agency member, instructor, and competition course designer. He served on the IPMBA Board from 2006-2009. He co-taught the first Security Cyclist Course in 2004 and now teaches annually for a local security company. He enjoys teaching tomorrow’s riders and watching their shock at what an old man can do on a bike. He also likes riding his bike as fast as you can stand. He can be reached at hpdbadge26@gmail.com.