While this site is generally not a forum for political causes, there currently are two bills working their way through the Nebraska Unicameral that deserve the attention of cyclists. The bills, LB 78 and LB 564, have the potential to impact every type of cycling in the state of Nebraska.

In September 2006, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in Bronson v. Dawes County that governmental entities were not entitled to protection from litigation under the Nebraska Recreational Liability Act. Under Nebraska law prior to that ruling, a city or county could not be sued if someone was injured on public property while engaged in a recreational activity unless some gross negligence on the part of the city or county was found.

That all changed when the former University of Nebraska-Lincoln wrestler scored a 13th place finish at the inaugural Tour of Puerto Rico, including a fifth-place finish on the decisive mountain stage.

It was those results that helped catapult him into the role of protected leader in nearly every race Team Kaos participated in during 2006, as well as opened doors to participate in several National Race Calendar events.

Farnham, 24, won three races - including the team's own Dave Babcook Memorial Stage Race - and finished a very respectable ninth place in the Collegiate National Championship Road Race in Lawrence, Kan.

But it was the Collegiate National Championship Criterium that Farnham wishes he had another shot at riding. Looking back, he says he made a move too early - then got caught out at the end.

Here's how the 65-minutes-plus-three-laps race unfolded:

Farnham gradually worked his way up through the field of more than 130 riders until he was on the front with 12 minutes remaining. For two laps, he drove the field, keeping the pace high. But the effort cost him valuable energy. With five laps to go, he slipped from the front of the pack to 15 riders from the back. But all was not lost at that point.

Nine road events are scheduled between April and September, with the highlight being the Dave Babcock Memorial Stage Race, which is promoted and produced by Team Kaos. The two-day, three-stage race normally occurs the first weekend of June. But this year, it will take place on the final weekend of July.

Other changes from previous years include the Nebraska State Championship Criterium becoming a stand-alone event. It previously doubled as the final stage of the Babcook race. New to the race calendar is the Papillion Twilight Criterium, scheduled for July 14.

Race Date(s), Event, Location
April 21-22 – Lincoln Plating Spring Cycling Classic, Lincoln
May 19 – Nebraska State Championship Time Trial, Norfolk
May 26-28 – Monumental Memorial Cycling Weekend, Beatrice
June 9-10 – Norfolk Cycling Classic, Norfolk
July 14 – Papillion Twilight Criterium, Papillion
July 21-22 – Cornhusker State Games, Raymond
July 28-29 – Dave Babcook Memorial Stage Race, Omaha
Sept. 8 – Nebraska State Championship Road Race, Louisville
Sept. 9 – Nebraska State Championship Criterium, Lincoln