Dahlke Cycles With One Thought: No Stops

The best thing about going to school in Pullman for Paul Dahlke was the stoplights. There were only five of them in town, by his estimation.

That meant he didn't have to slow down too often.

Dahlke left Washington State University with an education in computer science and an appreciation for barrelling down the hills of Pullman.

"For me, the thrill of cycling is pushing things to the limit, physically," Dahlke, 26, said. "And then there's the tactical part of it."

That's where the scientist in Dahlke comes out. When Dahlke talks racing, he talks aerodynamics and physics. He can go on for hours about tactics, drafting, chasing, sprinting, and every racer's favorite move, sling-shotting past the leader.

Bicycling is a new love for Dahlke, one of the newest members of the Seattle Cyclones. For the first time in his life, Dahlke is attending press conferences.

"This is all new and exciting for me," Dahlke said. "This is the first time I've done anything like this. I didn't know what to expect."

Dahlke, from the Tri-Cities, went to WSU with no interest in bicycling beyond the fact that it was his main means of transportation.

But the speed demon soon caught him, and he found himself trying to get everywhere as fast as he could.

He met other riders at school who brought him into the loop of competitive cyclists in the area. He joined the school's cycling team and became the fastest college rider in the Northwest.

After he graduated last year, he moved to Seattle and joined a locally sponsored race team. His part-time job at a clothing store allowed him to race at least once a week.

He and his teammates traveled to regional races in Dahlke's 1978 Ford van. Meanwhile, he sent a resume to the newly formed National Cycle League.

As he expected, he did not receive a reply. But the next season brought the Cyclones into the league and a spot for Dahlke.

In college, Dahlke competed in team time trials, road races and criterium, his specialty.

The dog-pack, gang-sprint style of the NCL and the multiple layers of strategy that go with stage racing was designed for Dahlke.

"I don't sit around and wait for the sprint laps," Dahlke said. "I'm willing to attack and respond to other teams' attacks. The high speed and bike handling of the short races are what I've had the most success in. You have to be able to do anything."

With his racing career thriving, Dahlke's only worry is his computer science degree, which is growing more and more obsolete as technology revises the usefulness of Dahlke's education.

"I eventually want to use my degree," Dahlke said. "Right now, I'd like to take time to have fun."