Team K&N Performance is a first year pro and semipro cross-country team based out of Southern California's Inland Empire. The team consists of freshman pros Matt Freeman, Christie Pleiss and Teri Strayer, and Semi-pros James Williams, Josh Underwood and Loren Dodson. All six have been mainstays of the California State Mountain Bike Series, and frequent competitors of the Norba National Mountain Bike Series.
Anyone vaguely familiar with the name K&N may know bikes are not the company's forte. The worldwide company is actually known for its exploits in automotive and powersports air filter and intake system technology. While the members of Team K&N Performance measure heart rates and watts, the team's title sponsor is in the business of measuring air flow, horsepower and dirt retention. So, how did an automotive and powersports aftermarket company get involved with a mountain bike team?
"For as long as I can remember, automotive manufacturers like Volkswagen and Subaru have been supporters and sponsors of mountain bike racing. So why shouldn't a company that manufactures products for those vehicles try to piggyback on to their success?" asks Freeman, who happens to be the Merchandising/Point of Purchase Manager at K&N. "Not only that; K&N air filters are as environmentally friendly as an air filter gets. They're washable and reusable, so unlike disposable air filters, a K&N air filter won't end up in a landfill; or even worse; littered on the side of your favorite singletrack. So why wouldn't an environmentally-aware mountain biker use a K&N air filter?"
Freeman doesn't always wear his marketing hat. He originally assembled the team without a sponsor under the name, Inland Valley Elite, as a way to help support and promote mountain bike racing in the road bike saturated community of Redlands, CA. Soon, K&N, Trek and a handful of local sponsors signed on and in its first year, the team has already branched outside of California. When the thought of another Big Bear winter seemed too cold to bear, roommates Williams and Dodson split ways searching for an off-season of mild training weather. Williams landed in Oregon and Dodson in Texas and even though both had planned to move back to the Southern California mountain town by round one of the NBMS in Fontana, plans changed. For the time being, both intend to stay put and for good reason. Dodson has become a solid Cat. 2 road racer in Texas hill country and will balance his road schedule with NMBS events. Meanwhile, in Bend, Williams has taken up residence as Adam Craig's housemate--the ultimate training partner.
That's left Freeman, Pleiss, Strayer and Underwood to fly the team flag in Team Big Bear's popular California series. Freeman and Underwood have gotten a slow start due to their training schedules, which include road racing commitments; however femmes Pleiss and Strayer have wasted little time. After three rounds, Pleiss is third in series points, thanks to a pair of podium finishes, and Strayer is not bar behind in fifth.
In addition to K&N Performance's "A" squad, the team also offers limited support to a select number of expert and sport racers. One of which is Greg Johnson, an Expert 45-49 racer who was instrumental in building and maintaining the team. Ironically, Johnson was a K&N-sponsored motorcycle dirt track racer in the 1970's. Today, instead of pushing the limits on the blue-groove, Johnson pushes Trek, Gary Fisher, Lemond and Klein bikes as the SoCal territory manager for the Wisconsin-based companies. "This team wouldn't exist if it were not for Johnson's help and expertise," adds Freeman. "On any given day, he's working on one of our bikes after hours or placing a parts order. The guy lives bicycles 24-7 and that keeps us racing."
For the remainder of 2006 Team K&N Performance will focus on the Norba NMBS, the U.S. Mountain Bike Championships and the California State XC Series. You can track their results on the team website, www.inlandvalleyelite.com.
Chrisite Pleiss gave Team K&N Performance its first podium with a 3rd place finish at round two of the Cal State XC Series held at Bonelli Park in San Dimas. Christie is currently 3rd in the series point standings.
The Pro Short Track event at a Norba National hurts bad enough. It hurts even worse when you're a first year Pro and get called up near the end of the start list. Matt Freeman pays his dues in Fontana.
Teri Strayer and her teammate Chrisite Pleiss are hitting all of the major North American mountain bike events this year, including round three of the UCI World Cup in Mont-Saint-Anne, Canada.
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