Cycling: A Tale of Two Bobs

Why Two Guys from the Coasts Fell for Emporia

If you are ever cycling one of the scenic gravel backroads surrounding Emporia, you might encounter another cyclist named Bob.

It could be Bob Claude or East Coast Bob, as his friends call him. Or it could be Bob Spatta, also known as West Coast Bob.

In addition to sharing the same first name, the two men share a love of gravel cycling and a fondness for Emporia, Kansas. So much so that they both put down stakes here. Spatta chose to leave the Bay area and live full-time in Emporia. Claude splits his time between his homes in New Jersey and Emporia.

What did they find in Emporia that drew them from the coasts? For starters, open roads perfect for cycling. Emporia is surrounded by seemingly countless miles of gravel roads traversing the Flint Hills. With stunning pasture and prairie views and much lower traffic levels than most urban dwellers can imagine, the area offers a chance to ride for peak training or pleasure or both.

Spatta loves cycling these roads, but he especially loves taking in the view. “My favorite scenery is this open range out here, where you see the vast green rolling on and on. It’s just a huge wide-open expanse. It’s a lot like sitting in front of the ocean because you can see forever,” he said.

Claude feels it is an experience you cannot find many places. “The expansiveness of the United States is not apparent on the east coast…When you go out to Kansas, you get these wide-open expanses, and it is just so cool.”

Emporia offers a broad array of events year-round. Claude has found he also has a passion for disc golf. He schedules his time in town around the disc golf tournaments, like the annual Dynamic Discs Open and 2022’s PDGA Professional Disc Golf World Championship, in addition to the Garmin UNBOUND Gravel race and other cycling events throughout the year.

When he isn’t working or exploring the local sights, like Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Spatta keeps busy riding with the various cycling groups who have a set ride nearly every evening of the week. It’s been the source of many new friendships for him. He recounted how he was riding along during the recent UNBOUND event, and nearly everyone he passed was someone he knew. They all gave him a warm hello and words of encouragement. He said, “A woman next to me goes, ‘Wow! You have a really big team.’ And I’m like, ‘No. I just know everybody. We all ride together.”

For Spatta and Claude, that community is a significant part of what makes Emporia a great place to spend time. “I feel at home in Emporia, and that’s a cool thing,” said Claude.

Spatta said, “I instantly fell in love with the people of Kansas. The friendliness. The kindness. People wave at each other, even if they don’t know you. It’s awesome! I brag to people about the town all the time and tell them it is an enjoyable, relaxing place where it doesn’t matter who you are, you are going to be welcomed by people who are genuinely nice and friendly. It’s pretty cool.”