2024 Inductee

MATT LEVY

CATEGORY: ENDURANCE & RACING



•     QCBC mileage total: 497,973. Lifetime total: 969,455

•       Received Category 5 license from U.S. Cycling Federation in 1985; raised to Category 4 in 1986 after successful racing season.

•       Member of the U.S. Navy Cycling Team; 5th overall in 1989 military championships, improved to 3rd overall in 1990.

•       Member of Illinois Cycling Team in 1990, upgraded to Category 2.

•       Rode in first Paris-Brest-Paris in 1991; also rode in same event in 2015, 2019 and 2023.

•       Selected for U.S. Masters Team in 1992; competed in the first ever Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Championships and World Championships.

•       Participated in Super Randonneur Series in 1991; in the next 20 years, completed nine Super Randonneurs and 15 Grand Randonnée’s.

•       Competed in five Ultra Midwest Balltown Classics between 1993 and 2009

•       Third place finishes in the Ultra Midwest 24-Hour Challenges in 2011 and 2012; also finished third in Metamora 4X50 Ultra Endurance Race in 2011

2024 Inductee

JOHN THIER

CATEGORY: ENDURANCE

John has been a club member since 1996 living in Park View, Iowa. In 2020 he went over 375,000 miles and is still going strong.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

•       1981: Completed crossing of Iowa, riding 325 miles in under 24 hours

•       1982: Completed Race Across Wisconsin (RAW), riding 225 miles in under 24 hours

•       1986: Completed Bike Across Missouri (BAM), riding 540 miles in under 48 hours

•       1991: Completed Boston-Montreal-Boston (BMB), riding 750 miles in under 87 hours

•       1995: Completed Paris-Brest-Paris, riding 750 miles in over 87 hours

•       Completed at least one century ride per month for seven straight years (1996-2002)

2024 Inductee

BRUCE HAUGEN

CATGORY: ADVENTURE CYCLING

Bruce completed his 45th RAGBRAI in 2024 at the age of 82. His interest in Adventure Cycling began in preparation for his first RAGBRAI. Over the years he has ridden twice from the Quad Cities to the RAGBRAI starting point on the Missouri river and then rode RAGBRAI back to the Mississippi river.

His first biggest adventure was starting at the Queen Mary in Long Beach CA with friends and riding through Los Angeles to San Franciso and then east riding to the starting point of RAGBRAI. He and his friends continued after leaving RAGBRAI through southern Illinois, Tennessee and arrived 100 days later in Washington DC a total of 5,000 miles.

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

•       Rode the length of the Mississippi river and then into Canada, 2,150 miles

•       Traced the Lewis and Clark trail from the St Louis area, 4,900 miles

•       Traced Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles, 2,490 miles

•       Iowa City to Washington DC, 2,000 miles

•       Decorah to International Falls and returned along Lake Superior, 1,400 miles

•       Toured the Utah National Parks, 520 miles

•        Completed five rides across Wisconsin

•       Completed five TOMRV rides

•       Completed one TIGR ride

2017 Inductee

VICTOR M. HOPKINS

(1904 - 1969) 

CATEGORY: ROAD RACING

Victor Hopkins was born in 1904 in Cedar Rapids, IA to a single mother and given up to adoption when one year old to Jacob Hopkins and his wife. His adoptive parents died when Hopkins was nine and he was placed in the Iowa Soldier's Orphans Home (now the Annie Wittenmyer Youth Center) in Davenport, IA where he remained until 1920. 

Life in the orphanage was hard. In those years, the institution owed 300+ acres and grew its own food in the surrounding fields. The children did much of the work tending to the crops. Although life was harsh, efforts were made to teach the orphans a trade or skill to sustain them once being released. It appears that Victor was taught to be a tailor. He listed this as his occupation on his passport. 

Upon release, from the orphanage, he began delivering papers for a local newspaper. As soon as he could, he purchased a bike to help speed his deliveries. In 1921, Worth Mitten, a retired professional cyclist and founder of the Davenport Cycling Club, noticed the speed at which he was riding and asked him to join his club which consisted of several Iowa state championship riders and soon with the mentoring of Mitten, riding with others of such high caliber and his own natural ability he was prepared for what was to come. 

Later in 1921, he made an attempt at the World Amateur 5 Mile Time Trial record and at age 17 broke it with a time of 11 minutes 22 seconds! For the next two years, he engaged in local and regional races until he learned of the impending Olympic Games to be held in Paris France during July 1924 and determined that he would do what was necessary to compete. 

Requirements were, to qualify at a semi-final 117-mile time trial in Milwaukee and then qualify in another similar final time trial in New Jersey. Having limited financial resources, Hopkins rode his bike from Davenport to Milwaukee (and returned via bike), qualifying there by placing second. Then three weeks later after again riding his bike 1000 miles mostly over dirt roads, including the Appalachian Mountains, he won the final qualifying time trial. He was going to Paris! Four days later his ship was to disembark for France and he had yet to apply for a passport or make preparations for the handling of his bike and few possessions he had available, but AGAINST ALL ODDS, he left with six other American cyclists on the US America for the six-day journey. 

During the Olympic time trail, Victor was in third place at the 30-mile check point and was gaining, but crashed at a railroad crossing, ruining his rear wheel. By the time repairs were made, he was out of contention, but did finish in 59th place. Upon returning home, he was offered a contract to race in the Chicago Six-Day races launching a ten-year career. He was now a professional cyclist. 

Victor found his niche with Motorpacing where cyclists raced behind special motorcycles on a velodrome track. Following as closely as possible to reduce wind drag was extremely dangerous, and he fell frequently breaking the same collarbone four times requiring it to be wired. He was among the best, earning $500/week. He reportedly was once clocked at 70 mph. In 1926 he won the American Professional Motorpace Title consisting of best finishes over 36 races. Victor won the title despite missing the first 12 races! 

Retiring in 1934 to live in New Jersey, it was reported that he finished life involved in the transportation industry as well as involvement in politics. In 2006 he was inducted into the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame. 

2015 Inductee

Dr. James O. Hanson 

(1930-2009) 

Category: ENDURANCE

Originally focused on marathon runs, Hanson added cycling to his training regimen to enhance his running fitness and soon realized he was born to ride. As his running mentality took him to distance goals, so did his cycling. After joining the QCBC in 1966 he soon began to gravitate to longer rides. In 1977, the Club created the "Tour de Iowa" a 750-mile brevet style ride fashioned after the famed Paris-Brest-Paris randonnee and Jim was one of the first to complete the challenge. 

In 1983, Jim decided to move his practice from Farmington, NM back to Moline, IL. His wife Carolyn drove with the children for the return, but Jim rode unsupported and covered the 1350 miles in only nine days averaging 150 miles/day totally unsupported. With this feat, Jim had cemented his reputation as a serious endurance cyclist and over the following years, served as an example to many aspiring QCBC cyclists. He continued to focus on fast, long distance touring with some of his most impressive achievements being; 

1986 Completed his segmented US crossing. 3564 miles in 26 days. 137 miles/day

1987 Circumnavigation of Lake Michigan 1200 miles in 8 days. 150 miles/day

Beginning in 1988, Jim began to engage in competitive endurance events with positive results, some of the more impressive were; 

1988 BAM (Bicycle Across Missouri) 546 miles in 50 Hrs. 53 Mins

1988 QCBC Double Century 12 Hrs 55 Mins a category record

1989 Iowa 24 Hour Challenge 337 miles a category record

1990 Double Trouble a 2-day 400-mile race completed in 21 Hrs a category record-by 8 Hour!

2000 QCBC 20K Time Trial completed in 18.1 mph at 70 years of age.

Around 2004, Jim began to focus on volunteering for the QCBC and other cycling associations. He served as QCBC Director in 2005 and was an invaluable asset to the Ultra-Midwest Endurance LLC.

2014 Inductee

BARNEY YOUNG 

CATEGORY: ADVENTURE 

Barney Young joined the QCBC in 1989 at the age of 70 and provided an example to cyclists of all ages that touring on the open roads and even in the mean streets of major urban centers need not be feared. 

Young's adventurous spirit and fearless attitude were best demonstrated during his years in   WW II when, as the pilot of a C-109 aircraft modified to carry raw fuel and supplies from India to China, he logged 116 missions and 1700 hours! These flights over the Himalayas in support of Chinese Nationalists and the "Flying Tigers" were extremely dangerous. Nearly 50% of all crews were lost during the 10 months in 1945 of these efforts. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor. 

His bicycling tours reintroduced him to the mountains as he negotiated the Cascades in Washington State on a couple of occasions. During the period of 1989 until 2006, he accumulated 50,000+ miles on the bike while recording an impressive record of touring. 

Some of his most memorable tours were; 

Rock Island, IL to Denver, CO

San Juan Islands with visits to Sidney and Victoria, Vancouver, BC

Anacortes, WA to Glacier National Park to Kalispell, MT to Helena and on to Yellowstone National Park finally to Jackson, WY

Two state crossings of Colorado negotiating Wolf Creek Pass, Loveland Pass, and Monarch Pass!

Three state crossings of Arizona!

Cedar City, UT to St George, UT during which he visited Bryce Canyon and Zion Canyon National Park.

On one occasion after attending a National Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, he toured the high country of Santa Fe, Los Alamos and the Taos Ski Valley, 

Three loops out of San Francisco; Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley and, on Hwy One visiting Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Pebble Beach and Big Sur ending at Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

In addition to tours in Florida and the Midwest including RAGBRAI, he once drove to Newark, NJ unloaded his bike and rode across Staten Island, boarded the Staten Island Ferry to Lower Manhattan then rode up the Avenue of Americas to Central Park to visit his son. Leaving Manhattan, he took a train at Grand Central Station for a ride to Greenwich, CT. From there he rode along the coastline to New London where he boarded a ferryboat ride to Orient Point, Long Island. Riding back to Manhattan he crossed the East River on the Queensberry Bridge. FEARLESS!!

At the time of his induction into the QCBC Hall of Fame, Barney was 95 years old and still riding, although his touring days are over. But knowing him, we can never be sure! 

2013 Inductee

JOHN HOOD SR. 

CATEGORY: ROAD RACING 

He was in his prime and anticipating the realization of his dreams as a member of the British Olympic road cycling team. It hadn't been easy. The time was early in 1948 and food rationing was still in effect for the citizens of England following the war and the cycling team was no exception. They were provided only 3400 calories per week consisting primarily of sugar, lard and butter plus whatever else they could scrounge. Never the less John Hood Sr. was fit and had set several hill climbing records prior to his acceptance on the team. Most of those records stood for nearly 50 years. 

As fate would have it, only weeks before the Olympics, Hood broke his wrist in a serious fall and lost his position on the team. His replacement went on to compete and after the games the team participated in the Tour de France and Hood's replacement won a stage. It was generally accepted that Hood would have done at least as well. 

Hood stopped racing and immigrated into the United States finally arriving in East Moline, IL where he found work in the John Deere foundry sweeping floors. As soon as he was established, he sent for his wife and son. The next few years saw him taking classes, toward an engineering degree and receiving promotions that culminated in a position as a Process Engineer. 

Then, nearly 15 years after leaving England and having not ridden a bike, he decided to reengage in cycling and soon was competing in cycle-cross and road racing with amazing results. Even though he was now in his forties, he was consistently on the podium at a time when there were no age categories. He continued racing well into the 90's always finishing well up in state and national competitions. 

John was one of the four founders of the Quad Cities Bicycle Club along with his son John Hood Jr., Rene DeLanghe and Fred Blessin. 

2013 Inductee

JOHN HOOD JR. 

CATEGORY: ROAD RACING 

John Hood Jr.'s interest in cycling was a result of his father, who was an accomplished cyclist in his youth, deciding to resume riding after a 15 year hiatus. This decision by both men began a lifetime relationship focused on a love of racing and of each other. Both men would continue in the sport with some interruptions, for the rest of their lives. 

Both men were founders of the Quad Cities Bicycle Club in 1964. The Hoods were also founders of bicycle clubs in other cities as they both followed career opportunities throughout the United States. 

John Hood Jr. realized immediate success at the age of 16, placing 4th at the National Cyclocross Junior Championships in Chicago. In that first year of cycling he also participated in the first Quad Cities Bicycle Club Criterium. From that beginning there was no looking back. He and his father would travel together wherever races were being held and always finish high in the standings. 

Hood Jr. had serous aspirations of qualifying for the 1968 Olympics and on track after high finishes in the Tour of California and the Aspen Alpine Cup (later called the Coors Classic), but fell ill just before the Olympic Trials and only finished 12th. Despite this disappointment, he went on to significant achievements. Mr. Hood accepted the award for his father who lost his life in an auto/cycle accident in 2001. 

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 

1964 4th at Nat'l Cyclocross Championship for Juniors

1964 Classified Cat 1 in both road and track

1964 Wins "Tour of Shrewsbury" against US 1964 Olympic team

1965 3rd at Nat'l Cyclocross Championships for Seniors

1968 4th in the "Tour of California" & 6th in the "Aspen Alpine cup" (Coors Classic)

1969 Served in Viet Nam, interrupting his cycling career

1981 Races in the Tour of Texas against the first 7-11 Team

1981 Won a stage in a Texas stage race beating 3 time TDF winner, Greg Lemond.

From the 80's to the present, has won multiple Masters State road and Time Trial Championships

2012 Inductee

IAN HIBELL (1934-2008) 

CATEGORY: ADVENTURE 

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 

First posthumous induction

Resident of Devon, England

While touring in North American in his late teens and early 20's he sought out a contact from Devon that had moved to the QC Area when she married an American.

He was a Charter Member of the QCBC

Raced in the first QCBC Criterium (when they were held in East Moline)

Toured Europe, Asia, North & South America, Africa, Australia and Antarctica

Featured in Adventure Cycling Magazine. He was more of a Touring Cyclist that a Racer.

Author, lecturer, TV figure in his native England

Killed near Athens in 2008 while on tour by a hit and run motorist (at age 74)

Many references to him on the Internet, YouTube, etc.

His trophy, photos and many other items will be sent to Wales where friends and followers of Ian have a small cycling museum

2012 Inductee

DEB (BRADLEY) KUEHL 

CATEGORY: ROAD RACING 



ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 

1966 - 10 years old - Wins 4 Silver Skates trophies (speed skating) & 2nd overall at Van deVeer Park 

1970 - 14 years old - is licensed to race and in her first race she finishes First overall for the Women and well into the Boys Category despite going off course during the race!

1971 - 15 years old - Due to lack of Women's' Races, she enters events in the Boy's categories and finishes in the top 5 or 10. In one Race, she finished 2nd (in the Boys Race category) and was awarded a Tube of Lipstick! Organizers just didn't know what to do with female entrants.

1972 - 16 years old- Wins the Women's National Road Race! Title IX legislation is passed and signed into law by President Richard Nixon.

1973 - 17 years old - Wins the Women's' Open Class at the Moline Criterium. Places 2nd at the Windy City Wheelmen race in the Senior C Men's Division. Places 4th in the Women's' National Road Race and is invited to join the American World National team. She declines and registers for Nurses Training at Moline Public Hospital which was her dream.

1974 - 18 years old - Wins the Women's' Open Class at the Moline Criterium

1976 - 20 years old - Dreams of the Olympics are dashed when Women's' Cycling was not "approved" as an Olympic Sport. This came later in 1984

2012 Hall of Fame Inductee 

JACQUE (BRADLEY) MYERS 

CATEGORY: ROAD RACING 



ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 



1975 - 12 years old - Midgets National Champion

1977 - 14 years old - Intermediate National Champion

1978 - 16 years old - Repeats as Intermediate National Champion, takes 1st Overall Women at the Moline Criterium

1981 - 18 years old - Member of US World Championship team, places 2nd at Junior Nationals, places 1st at the great Mohawk Carpet Cycling Classic in Atlanta over Connie Carpenter to take the biggest cash prize for women ever in the US . . . $15,000

1982 - 19 years of age - Becomes a member of the 1st Women's' 7-11 Racing team, Member of the US World Championship team riding support for Connie Carpenter who takes 2nd place.

2011 Inductee

GREGORY ZABORAC 

CATEGORY: ENDURANCE CYCLING-Randonneuring

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 

 Zaborac, a life-long resident of Canton, IL was influenced by the activity of Quad Cities endurance cyclists in the late 1990's and eventually established a commitment to the sport by joining the Quad Cities Bicycle Club in 1999. He immediately began to make an impression on randonneuring when he entered and officially finished the prestigious Boston Montreal Boston 750-mile brevet. From there it was no looking back. Zaborac, with his base as an outstanding high school athlete, was made for randonneuring. Mentally tough, strong and sinewy he has come to be respected by his many riding companions as a man who can be counted on to finish and seeing to it that those riding with him finish as well. His search for the events that challenge him has taken him to Canada, England, Scotland, France and, of course, the United States. This, in addition to the many honors he has received for consistent performance (among which is the International Two Continents Super Randonneur Award) well qualify Greg Zaborac, our first randonneur, for membership in the QCBC Hall of Fame. 

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 

1999 PARIS BREST PARIS 750 MILES

2000 POTOMAC PEDALERS 1000K 625 MILES (Greg; "My toughest event!")

2001 LONDON EDINBURGH LONDON 875 MILES

2002 ROCKY MOUNTAIN 1200K 750 MILES

2002 BOSTON MONTREAL BOSTON 750 MILES

2003 PARIS BREST PARIS 750 MILES

2010 Inductee

JEFF BRADLEY 

CATEGORY: ROAD RACING 

Born, raised and still residing in Davenport, Bradley is without question the finest cycling product ever to emerge from the Quad Cities Region and is quick to credit the parenting and coaching received at home in his formative years. Equally adept at speed skating, Bradley achieved national attention in both sports during the 70s and 80s. His head to head competitions with three-time Tour de France winner, Greg Lemond, early in their careers led to a long-time friendship after they defeated each other in a series of races. Bradley raced in the major stage races of Tour de France, Giro de Italia with the first American team to do so as well as many of the European Spring Classics (one-day races early in the season). He now is the owner of Trek Bicycle Store in Davenport, IA and still competes. 

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 

1970-87 Over 100 career victories and 11 times the U.S. National Champion!

1978 Junior National Road Champion, defeating Greg Lamond in the process.

1980-87 Original member of the famed "7-11" Cycling Team

1983 Pan-Am Gold Medalist in Road Racing

1984 Member of U.S. Cycling Team at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

1985-87 Member of "7-11" Team when it changes from amateur to professional status and becomes the first American Team to race the European Pro Circuit.

1985 "7-11" becomes the first American Team to enter the "Giro de Italia". Bradley is a key member of the team. 

1987 "7-11" is invited to race the Tour de France becoming the first American Team to participate in this legendary event. Bradley is again on the team, becoming the only QCBC member to achieve this level of competition

2009 Still competing, Bradley wins the Iowa State Road Championship, a 108 mile road race for Cat. I, II and Pro competition.

2010 Inductee

STEVEN GAY 

CATEGORY: ENDURANCE CYCLING 



Gay was a Geneseo, IL resident and QCBC member during his racing career which started in 1985 with a double crossing of Illinois in 38 hours. This accomplishment led to entering a 700 mile Race Across AMerica (RAAM) qualifier in Capron, IL the following year. Finishing in 45 hours and 58 minutes, he did indeed qualify and was left with the decision of whether to enter RAAM, which he did the following year. And with only one ultra-marathon race behind him, he placed tenth in the 1987 RAAM by racing 3117 miles in 11 days and 59 minutes. To finish RAAM on the first attempt is a rare feat even today. Gay moved on to organizing events and promoted several popular races from 1988-1992. Gay and his wife now live in Huntley, IL where they are self employed in the importing business. 

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 

1986 Placed ninth out of 78 racers in the 700-mile John Marino Open, Capron, IL. He finished in 45 hours 48 minutes qualifying to compete in the 1987 Race Across America (RAAM)

1986 Placed fourth in the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) National Points Challenge with 4250 documented miles.

1987 Placed tenth in the 3117-mile route of RAAM on his first attempt which is unusual if not rare. This race comprises in excess of 45000 feet of accumulated climbing. Gay averaged only 90 minutes of sleep per day during his official finishing time of 11 days and 59 minutes and with that result became the only QCBC member to this day to officially finish RAAM.

1987 Placed fourth in the UMCA National Points Challenge with 7818 documented miles ridden.

1988 Placed first in the QCBC 320 mile "Across Iowa Race" (Hawarden to Dubuque) finishing in only 17 hours 59 minutes.

1988 An achievement of respect occurred when Gay was invited to participate in the prestigious Spenco 500-mile Bicycle Race in Waco, Texas. This is a closed event for participation by invitation only.

1990 Gay retired from competitive cycling to move on to directing competitive events in Illinois including his popular "Trophy Glove 12 Hour Challenge" which expanded into the Illinois Road Series, a three-event series held in three locations in Northern Illinois each year.

Between 1988 and 1992, Gay was the founder and co-director of the Redline USCF Racing Team.

2010 Inductee

CARTER LEBEAU 

CATEGORY: ADVENTURE CYCLING (TOURING) 

Lebeau, a native of Chicago, came to the Quad Cities as the result of a career move. He soon met Fred Blessin (founder of the Quad Cities Bicycle Club) who introduced him to cycling. Lebeau quickly became active with the Club, holding several offices, organizing events and recruiting fellow workers to join the Club. A defining moment occurred when he learned about the plan of John Karras and Don Kaul of the Des Moines Register to ride across the state of Iowa. Lebeau acted on their offer to the public to join them and never looked back. That crossing was the beginning of the "Register's Annual Great Bicycling Ride Across Iowa" (RAGBRAI). Lebeau has done everyone since the beginning! Following RAGBRAI, Lebeau's enjoyment of the touring experience led him to many other significant tours, some of which are shown below. He has continued riding to this day with his wife Kaye. By his presence on America's byways, as a charismatic booster of the sport and his love of the country he has influenced countless people to experience the joy of riding a bicycle. 

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 

1972 Self-contained tour from Prairie du Chien, WI to Kenosha, WI

1973 Rode the first "Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa" (RAGBRAI) and everyone since, including two years of cycling to the start for a double crossing.

1976 Bike Centennial Ð Portland, OR to Denver, CO (work limited time allowed)

1981 Newport Beach, OR to Washington D.C.

1982 Quad Cities to Knoxville, TN and back for the Knoxville's Worlds Fair

1984 Quad Cities to New Orleans, LA and back for New Orleans Worlds Fair

1984 Popularized Tail Wind Touring and led many tours for the following 22 years.

1989 Melbourne to Sydney, Australia.

1991 Reedsport, OR to Washington, DC

1992 Santa Monica, CA to Chicago, IL on the Old Route 66.

1995 Long Beach, CA to Washington, DC for Iowa's Sesquicentennial.

2000 Quad Cities to Champaign, IL and Illinois University for 50th year class reunion

2001 Tucumcari, NM to Springfield, MO on Old Route 66 

2005 Quad Cities to Champaign, IL and Illinois University for 55th year class reunion.