Who’s dat guy? Well, his mom calls him Geronimo.

 We’re introducing a new feature of the TSEpic site.  Probably, considering we’re about 130ish hours from TSE proper, this “feature” won’t be repeated this year – though we will have a bit up about the boys from the CO/VA Team since they have that cup to defend.   Perhaps if I have nothing else to do between now and then…

In this edition we introduce you to Geronimo.  I first came across Geronimo when I was really starting to get sucked into the sport.  I was part of a Bucknell cycling team that made it to Collegiate Nationals in Reno, 1995.  I finished dead last that day.  I was so far back they were packing up the finish line by the time I rolled across, literally.  

Geronimo finished first that day and was crowned National Collegiate Road (and Omnium) Champ.  

I got a little better and Geronimo and I crossed paths often through the next few years in the road racing circuits.  I always found him to be a class act.  He’s had a hell of a road career but is also a super capable mountain biker.  I’m stoked that he’s been doing more and more mountain biking lately and that he’s coming to TSEpic this year.  

Geronimo at Battenkill. Marco Quezada photography

We know you well around these parts and a whole lot of roadie types know you from all over – but give a quick run down on who you are for the readers out there.   Who is the real Geronimo aka Stephan Kincaid and what’s with the nickname?

The nickname was given to me by Marty Nothstein (Track Olympian and Gold Medalist and multi-World Champion) and his coach Gibby Hatton back in the 90′s.  I was racing a lot of track and road at the time.  I had really long hair and apparently looked Native American.  An influential mentor, New Zealand Cyclist and Olympian Graeme Miller, would call me Cochise too.  Both Geronimo and Cochise were frequently used but Geronimo was uttered more often and it’s stuck.  Even my mom will call me “Geronimo” time to time.

I was primarily a road rider, raced as a “pro” and was best at criteriums.  I appreciate everything two wheels, including motorcycles and hold Cat1/Elite status in Mountain Bike, Cyclocross, Road and Track.  I was never a cycling superstar but am proud to have earned Cat1/Elite status in all of these disciplines.  However, I guess you can call me the jack of all trades and the master of nothing?! Ha! I have a regular job (School Counselor at a Middle School), value family and good friendships.

Most importantly; I love my girlfriend Jill and my two dogs Hunter and Scooby.

You’re splitting time between the road and trails.  Are we going to see you doing more and more dirt?  

Technically, to me at least, I’m “retired” from racing full time.  Full time to me was 60+ races per year and this was often done while working my full-time job.  Stan’s NoTubes/AXA Equitable invited me back this year and have graciously allowed me to choose my own schedule.  I am VERY thankful for their forward thinking and faith.  These days I don’t plan to participate in more than 20 races a year.

Dirt has always been a love of mine.  My roots are in BMX, Freestyle and the bicycle in general was my escape from a troubled childhood.  A simple 20″ bicycle was influential in keeping me from a complicated life of drugs, alcohol and a troubled home life.  When I was a kid my friends and I built two quarterpipes a half pipe and a small ramp.  BMX and Freestyle was my everything.

My first “quality” bike was a 1992 Schwinn Paramount PDG30 and it was candy apple red.  I remember seeing it hanging in the window of the local bike shop and it captured my imagination.  I saved up for almost a year to buy that bike from the now defunct George’s Cyclery in Emmaus, PA.  This was before I really got into road racing.  I now have a custom built single speed cyclocross bike built by the legendary Peter Dreesens.  It is candy apple red and it’s a tribute to my old Paramount. I believe I’m enjoying the mountain bike now because it takes me back to my roots.  As a teen I rode all the hiking and deer trails I could find in the woods near my home..  I can still remember the first ride on that Paramount.  It was glorious and I was hooked.

Why do the TSEpic?  What are you looking forward to most?  Least?  Any tricks or tips you want to pass along?  

Since it’s beginning TSE has always piqued my interest.  I’ve done a ton of stage racing (road) and always enjoyed the challenge. Sadly I was a classic example of pack fodder in the Pro races.  However, I always enjoyed the sense of accomplishment from finishing a week long race and being the faithful domestique.  This will be my first mountain bike stage race and I’m really looking forward to this new challenge.

I did my undergraduate work at Penn State and mountain biking their was essential base training for my road season.  I LOVE the mountain biking there.  My skills as a rider progressed tremendously while I riding the trails in and around the TSE.  There are two guarantees from riding out there: increased fitness and increased handling skills.

What am I looking forward to the most?  I guess it’s to re-visit some old trails, enjoy the week long vacation of riding, clear my mind, laugh with friends and finish the darn thing!   Quite frankly, I no longer care or worry about race results, I’ve been blessed with some good accomplishments.  These days I value the journey much much more.

What am I looking forward to the least?  Time away from my girlfriend and dogs.

Tips or tricks?  Hmm, not sure why you’d be asking me this!?  I’ve always specialized in road racing.  Heck, I am the one that needs some tips and tricks!!!  However, I’m sure there will applicable principles from road stage racing that will apply to TSE.

Oh, so you don’t want to share.  No special recovery formulas?  None of those leg airbags all the cool kids in the tour have these days?  

That might be a little too roadie of you, not sharing the good stuff.  Let’s see if you can redeem yourself.  You’ve been around a little while, what do you think of TSEpic?

Perhaps it’s my age [Geronimo turned 40 on May 4th. Ed.] or honest observations.  I know for a fact that I’ve never heard one bad thing about TSE.  When you compare cost to what you get it appears to be the best deal out there.  More importantly I believe a lot of riders are recognizing the value of the challenge, the camaraderie of friends and want to be a part of an event that will reinforce and create lifelong memories.  To me TSE will provide all of this and I now realize that these are the things I’m looking forward to the most. I’ll have much more to reflect upon the TSEpic when I, and I hope I will, complete it.

Well if you’re going to kiss our ass like that then we’ll have to give you a pass on that last one.  You are a past race winner at RB Winter – one of very few.  Can you repeat your victory from 1996?

I am?!!  I’ll be honest, I don’t remember this win but I do trust your memory more than my own!  I don’t mean to sound boastful but there have been so many mountain bike, road, cyclocross and track events in my history that I don’t remember them all!  Sadly this same scenario just happened a few weeks ago.  I was catching up with old friends and they brought up another race and I had genuinely forgotten! Being a bit of a realist I highly doubt I’ll win or podium any stage of TSE.  There are some seriously fast people showing up.  My goals are to survive, enjoy every moment and be thankful that I am there!

[So, this was going pretty good, but that last paragraph doesn't do it for me.  Instead, what Geronimo really said was, 'I'm going to kick the snot out of everyone and especially that Sager/Bishop/Wicks/Lindine/Johnson/Wallace/Edsall/Tanguay guy.  Oh, and Cush.  Definitely Cush.  I'll finish the stage then ride back out to where Cush is cracking, point and laugh and then beat him to the line again.'  There, that's better. Ed.]

Actually, I could have made that up too.  But that’s due to the repeated beatings I take about the head  and drinking too many Black Russians, if there is such a thing.  But I digress.  Or I think I did.  Bottoms up either way.  You mentioned owning a Single Speed Cross bike.  Can we talk about SSCXWC2013?

Ummmm, this topic evokes the Fight Club rules.  I know nothing.

Alright then perhaps we’ll just get Dave Pryor to divulge something once we ply him with enough alcohol.  Any last words/thoughts for the readers? 

Yes: HUGE thanks to my loved ones, family and friends. Y’all make my day every day. Props to: Stan’s NoTubes/ AXA Equitable, Cannondale and Sram.  These companies and their people have helped my cycling and in affect my real life to be fantastic.  I am forever in gratitude.

Thanks for taking the time Mr. Geronimo.  Looking forward to seeing you throw down during the race and throwing back some cold ones with you after it all wraps. 

If you’re thinking you’d like to see how Geronimo makes out, he and his friends from the Philly Ciclismo team will be posting updates and blogs to Liberty Sports throughout the event and of course we’ll have all sorts of good stuff happening on our site and over on the Dirt Rag and CyclingDirt sites too.