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RRH: Kyle, you race for the Athletix Cycling benefiting Globalbike team. Tell us more about the team and what Globalbike the organization is all about.

KNOTT: Athletix Cycling benefiting Globalbike is a USA cycling domestic elite team based out of Spartanburg, SC. We have a very talented roster this year, and are looking to make the step up to a continental-professional team next season.

The title sponsor is Athletix Products by Contec, Inc. The company makes a series of wipes under the Athletix name that range from body wipes to equipment disinfectant wipes. Most cyclists will use some form of a wipe to clean off after a race, and I highly recommend trying Athletix due to the fact that you do not have the greasy feeling after using the wipe on your drive home.

The benefiting sponsor is an organization called Globalbike with a slogan of : “two wheels making a world of difference.” The Globalbike organization gives bikes to caregiver workers in foreign countries(i.e. Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia) to combat problems with HIV/AIDS, poverty, education, and poor sanitation, especially with drinking water.

A bike for us may be used as an activity or a sport, but the people who are on the receiving end of your donations will use these bikes to spread their area of support, which increases the rate at which the above problems can be confronted. The great thing about the Globalbike organization is that with 150 dollars you can donate enough money to buy a bike for one of these caregivers and have a direct connection to helping out.

RRH: What kind of racing do you do? What are your specialties?

KNOTT: I started as a road cyclist, but with the opening of the Giordana Velodrome in Rock Hill, SC I have been able to make track racing a staple of my racing calendar. On the road I am a criterium specialist and a sprinter, which have lead me to many victories including the 2011 collegiate national championship in the criterium and individual omnium. On the track, I enjoy all types of racing from keirins, match sprints, and omnium events. I am sort of in between in terms of a type of rider on the track, having wins in both match sprint tournaments and omnium events. In the future I plan to focus on the omnium events, where I feel that, with my road background, I will have the most success.

RRH: You also work in the cycling industry. Tell us more about that.

KNOTT: Yes, I recently moved to Greenville, SC to work for Athletix Cycling benefiting Globalbike’s wheel sponsor Boyd Cycling. We build “high performance wheels you can afford.” We have a wide selection of wheels, from alloy clinchers/tubulars to carbon clinchers/tubulars ranging from 25mm of depth all the way to 88mm of depth. Our wheels can handle all types of riding from road training and racing, cyclocross, and track-specific wheel sets. The greatest thing about this company is it is run by Boyd and Nicole Johnson who are two racers in the Southeast that understand that cycling is expensive and wanted to keep the prices as low as possible.

The prices range from $400 to $1,000 for a set of wheels, which is outstanding. We also sell individual wheels, and you can purchase Power Taps through us and have your wheels built up on that hub. It is nice to see the company growing, and also pretty cool to see people who want to buy a couple of sets of wheels for the price of 1 set from more expensive companies.

I train on the 23mm wide vitesse alloy clinchers daily. My go to set of wheels for track racing are my 88mm deep carbon tubulars. For road I like 58mm carbon tubulars, 50 mm carbon clinchers, or 88mm deep carbon tubulars depending on the type of event and the conditions.

I am also connected in the cycling industry as a new cycling coach. I have recently started working for Jim Cunningham’s Greenville Cycling Center as a coach. This is a great opportunity that I have wanted to get into for a while since majoring in Kinesiology. My background in endurance sports ranges from swimming, cross country/track running collegiately, triathlon collegiately and with USAT, cycling both collegiately and with USA cycling, so I am open for coaching all types of endurance athletes in order to help them reach their goals.

RRH: What do you think about the Giordana Velodrome and the upcoming cycling venues at the Rock Hill Outdoor Center?

KNOTT: I am absolutely stoked about the Giordana Velodrome. It is a world-class velodrome close to my house, how can I not be excited? Having access to this velodrome will be great for my own personal interests of winning a national championship on the track and increasing leg speed and sprinting for criterium victories. As for the community, this is a great opportunity to come and witness fast and exciting racing on a weekly basis. Hopefully within the next couple years the Giordana Velodrome will become the home track for numerous track specialists in the nation.

With all the other cycling venues opening at the Rock Hill Outdoor Center, I can only expect for Rock Hill to become a Mecca for cyclists of all disciplines. It will be great to combine road cycling, track cycling, and BMX all in the same community, offering the locals a chance to see many types of events and become more interested in cycling as a whole. Along with all the venues and events opening, the public will notice and hopefully become more aware of cyclists in the area while out driving. The Giordana Velodrome and the Rock Hill Outdoor Center seem to be a win for cyclists and a win for the local residents in my opinion.

RRH: With these new facilities in Rock Hill and strong cycling communities in Greenville, and throughout the state, what do you think is in store for cycling in South Carolina and the Southeast?

KNOTT: As I mentioned in the previous question, I believe Rock Hill and the surrounding areas will become the place to be for cyclists. As for track cycling, it is great to have another 250 meter velodrome in a great climate, but the best part is you don’t have the LA traffic. I can see, over the next couple of years, the Giordana Velodrome becoming the go to track for many trackies.

The Southeast is already a great place to be as a cyclist, and I think having so many strong cycling communities only a couple hours apart will increase racing events and participation over the next couple of years as the Rock Hill Outdoor Center begins to open more cycling venues.

RRH: Tell us where we can find out more about you and your team

KNOTT: AthletixCycling.com is our team page where you can find information about our sponsors and riders.

GlobalBike.org is the website for the organization where you can learn more about the amazing things that organization is doing as well as make a donation to help the cause.

BoydCycling.com is the website for the wheel company that I work at, and I suggest you check them out when considering buying a new wheelset.

GreenvilleCyclingCenter.com is the company I coach for and if you would like to contact me about coaching or just to ask any questions please feel free to email me at Kyle@greenvillecyclingcenter.com

Thanks to Kyle for helping us with another Ride Rock Hill feature!

For more information please feel free to email Kyle at : Kyle@greenvillecyclingcenter.com