It has become a familiar scene. Every Saturday morning, Kym Kiser gets onto her bike, ready to roll out of the Old Kona Airport Park parking lot and onto Queen Kaahumanu Highway with fellow riders from the Hawaii Cycling Club.
Standing out with her signature braided ponytail, Kiser is often the only female among the eager bunch, ready to tackle yet another two-hour workout consisting of punchy surges, fast pace-lining and intense sprint finishes that often blow apart the group. But for Kiser, it’s just another fun ride with the gang.
“I ride for enjoyment,” Kiser said. “I don’t challenge myself with a routine. I enjoy the aspect of being able to ride with people and go faster than I would on my own. Riding makes me feel like a kid again.”
As a former spin instructor and personal trainer for 10 years, Kiser started out as a runner, competing in events ranging from a 5K to marathon distance with her husband Kris. After having two daughters, Skyler, 13, and Trystin, 12, it became a weekend family affair with the Kisers regularly showing up at popular Peaman and Team Mango events.
Along with most athletes living with the Ironman World Championship race course right in their backyard, Kiser caught the triathlon bug — eventually fulfilling a dream by becoming an Ironman finisher in 2008 and ‘09. Aside from that, Kiser and her husband kept busy and fit throughout the years competing in Lavaman Olympic distance triathlons, Ironman 70.3 Hawaii races, and organizing the annual (Tri)ptophan Turkey Day Triathlon on Thanksgiving weekend.
While many athletes turn to triathlon as a way to cross-train to minimize overuse injuries, Kiser, who endures back pain from scoliosis and related hip pains from two hip surgeries a few years back, felt that training for triathlons actually became the source of hers.
“I was always fighting injuries,” the 40-year-old said of her years competing in triathlons. “With cycling I don’t find that I get injured. In fact, none at all. And it is something Kris and I can do together.”
And now, while solely focused on cycling and riding four or five days a week for an average of 120 miles, none were surprised seeing the Kailua-Kona resident warming up on her bike for Saturday’s inaugural Ronde Von Kona bike race.
The cycling event, organized by Carl Koomoa with Team Mango Races, featured four stages over two days. Adding to the level of difficulty was the 12-hour span separating each event — making recovery a crucial factor.
Despite the cumulative fatigue, Kiser’s tenacious competitiveness and ability to grit through a high pain threshold while pushing to the max helped her win three out of the four stages in the women’s division. And after the combined times were tallied, Kiser placed third overall in the general classification standings among the men — an impressive feat for someone who is just out for a joyride.
“I wasn’t sure how my body would react to four stages so I was cautious during each race,” Kiser said after competing in her final stage. “But I enjoyed it because we never had this type of event and I thought it was a bit exciting that it started the same day as the Tour de France.”
What’s next for the Ronde Von Kona women’s champion? Hills, hills and many more hills.
“I’m planning to do Pedal Till Ya Puke up Kaloko and the Mauna Loa time trial,” Kiser said with a smile. “I used to dislike hills before but now I like it. It allows me to enjoy seeing different parts of the island.”
With Kiser topping the women’s division at nearly every cycling event she enters, you can bet to witness a braided ponytail tearing up the scene on Queen Kaahumanu Highway for many more races to come.