Ken Steel Inspiration Award

Ken Steel was an avid cyclist and in today's terms would be called old school.  Ken lived a very simple life: family, friends, work, and riding were very important to him.  But he was the type of man who gave his time and effort to anyone in need, to the community, and to his passions.  He was a very unselfish and was there for whoever needed him.

Ken is considered the patriarch of modern cycling in the Altoona area.  He was the winner of the first bicycle race held in Altoona in 1975 and from there his inspiration spread through the region. 

Most cyclists in the 40+ range from Blair County remember Ken and the way he approached riding.  Riding with Ken was an adventure, or as some may consider an endurance test.  He would encourage and lead rides (or all day marathons to some) throughout central Pennsylvania ranging from 100 to 150 miles.  Fruit stands and mountain climbs were his forte.  "Why go around on a flat ride when there was a challenge to be had; they are better for the soul."

Alone Ken would put thousand of miles on a bike while most people never even gave riding a thought, unlike today.  Starting in 1963 while in the service, he rode 5,000 miles in 16 months; and upon his discharge from the military, he rode home to Altoona from San Francisco - 3,070 miles.  Eleven years later, he had racked up an amazing 53,640 miles in the saddle.  Later during the summers of 1970 and '71, he traveled from the cities of Seattle and San Diego to Altoona, respectively.  Other cycling trips included areas like Skyline Drive in Virginia and the states of Indiana and North Carolina.

His choice of steel was a Schwinn Paramount, but the bike he used for cross county trips was a Schwinn Varsity.  The 10 speed Varsity was not equipped with toe clips, nor did he have the specialized shoes and riding shorts as is commonplace today. 

His profession was as a firefighter for the city of Altoona.   During a routine call to an early morning structure fire on January 20, 1987, Ken lost his life in the line of duty.  A couple years later Ken was first honored by fellow firefighters and local riders with a small bicycle race in his name called the Ken Steel Curve Classic, the predecessor of what is know the International Tour de Toona. 

This year we return the honor by adding a special award given by the firefighters of Altoona to the Cat 5 male rider who has the lowest accumulated time for the Saturday Road Race which travels over the Curve Classic course and the Sunday downtown criterium, the birth  place of Toona.  

A quote taken from an article written about Ken from one of his proteges and companions, John Frederick, who spent many hours riding with Ken and knew him quite well: