Alumni couple bringing historic bike race back to Athens

Ohio University alumni Daniel, BS ’02, MS ’07, and Ashley Brown, MS ’08, are organizing the first Athens Brick Criterium to be held since 1998. Photo courtesy of Daniel Brown

Daniel Brown, BS ’02, MS ’07, distinctly remembers the Athens Brick Criterium bike race in 1989 when he stationed himself on a street corner and watched as professional cyclists zoomed past. Among the riders that year were some of Brown’s idols: professional cyclist Lance Armstrong, Tour de France winner Greg LeMond and John Lefelhocz, co-owner of Athens’ own Cycle Path Bicycle Shop.

Daniel, who was 10 years old at the time, had already developed a love for cycling. Seeing professionals in his hometown, engrossed in the sport he loved, left an impact.

“You go through life and you have things that stick out, and that was definitely one of them,” Daniel said.

Ten years later, in 1998, the criterium was held in Athens for the last time, ending a 12-year run. Now Brown, an Athens native, cyclist and two-time Ohio University graduate, is bringing this historic race back to the bricks.

A young Daniel Brown, BS ’02, MS ’07, poses with renowned cyclist Lance Armstrong, who, along with Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, competed in the Athens Brick Criterium. Photo courtesy of Daniel Brown

The Athens Brick Criterium is scheduled for Saturday, June 22, in uptown Athens. A closed-circuit race in which cyclists complete course laps allowing spectators to see them every few minutes, the Athens Brick Criterium starts in front of the Athens County Courthouse, running down Court Street to West State Street, South Congress Street and West Union Street before returning to Court Street.

As an OHIO undergraduate, Daniel studied wildlife and conservation biology, a degree that took him around the country on various internships.

“I went to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Georgia, Washington State, Oregon, Nevada and Utah,” he said. “So I was in all of these amazing and beautiful locations, and I found myself wanting to be back home.”

In 2007, he returned to Athens, earning a master’s degree in biological sciences and meeting his future wife, Ashley Brown, MS ’08. The two moved to Hawaii for a time and again found Athens calling them home. In 2012, they returned to Athens, starting a family and immersing themselves in a growing biking community.

“There’s so much freedom in riding,” Ashley said. “I don’t really compete in anything, but I really enjoy it. I definitely see the draw to the sport.”

Since January, Daniel and Ashley have been meeting with a team of volunteers to finalize plans for the return of the Athens Brick Criterium. The process has been a multifaceted project of gathering sponsors, meeting with city officials and engaging local businesses in the planning. The couple is hoping to make the race a community event, involving local cyclists, outdoor enthusiasts and visitors.

“I think realistically we just want to get a good number of racers to come and have a good time, and put on a good, safe race that goes well,” Daniel said. “From there, we all have a lot of ideas for things we can add on.”

He said previous Athens Brick Criterium organizers, Dave Lundberg and Bruce Mitchell, have been an inspiration, helping him to plan an event that draws cyclists to the Athens community, benefits the local economy, and engages youth and families.

Mitchell shared with Daniel that back in the day, criterium participants would visit the local elementary schools and interact with the kids. With schools out for the summer, this year’s Athens Brick Criterium will take a different approach—bringing some of the participants to a camp at the Athens Community Center to meet with the youth in that program. And this year’s Athens Bike Criterium will kick off at 11:30 a.m. with Kid Street Sprints.

The Browns are also forming a non-profit organization, Athens Brick Cycling, dedicated to supporting and promoting youth cycling.

“Ideally our nonprofit would be two-fold,” Ashley said. “It would be to increase cycling opportunities for youth, but also just to get them on bikes in general—providing them helmets and allowing them to get on the bike and feel that freedom everyone should have when they’re a kid.”

For Daniel, instilling a love for cycling in children has the potential to grow to the entire family, just as it did for him.

“It transfers over to family,” he said. “Biking feels natural as something to do together.”

For more information about the 2019 Athens Brick Criterium and to register for the event, visit the event’s website and its Facebook page.

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