What Are the Reno Wheelmen Twilight Series and Air Center Crit?

Updated

The Reno Wheelmen Twilight Series is a criterium race series run at Air Center, with separate A, B, and C category races and lap primes. The Air Center Crit is the individual criterium within that series — the club's own race notes describe the final 2026 Air Center Criterium as part of the Twilight Series, drawing 35 riders from Reno, Sacramento, Truckee, and the Carson Valley.

How the race format works

Criteriums are short, multi-lap races on a closed loop, which is why the Reno Wheelmen notes track laps, lap times, and primes rather than point-to-point distances. From the published race notes for the final 2026 Air Center Criterium:

Category Field size Laps Notes from the race report
C 6 riders 12 Averaged about 2:20 per lap; Riley Kuhlman led early and won both primes
B 14 riders Not stated Fast start; Garrett Olsen's early break was absorbed on lap 3
A 15 riders 25 Multiple 1- and 2-rider breakaways with sub-2-minute laps before lap 17

Two details are worth knowing if you're new to this format:

  • Primes (pronounced "preems") are mid-race prizes, often cash, awarded on a designated lap. In the B race, Bubba Melcher took the first cash prime; in the A race, lap primes went to Paul Levy, Colin Dyson, Isaac Miller, Lucas, Elliott, and Jose.
  • Lantern Rouge is the honor for the last finisher who completed every Air Center race that season — in 2026 it went to Matt Mansur.

The club also notes that the C and B fields faced a stiff headwind on the final straight, and that the wind calmed for the A race. Course conditions like this are part of why criterium results can hinge on positioning rather than raw fitness alone.

Who races, and where they come from

The race notes list riders from Sacramento, Truckee, Reno, and the Carson Valley, so the series is not limited to Reno Wheelmen members. Categories span juniors through seniors — Carson City junior mountain biker Riley Kuhlman won the C race, and junior racer Bryce Card won the B race ahead of senior riders Mike SnuHer and Tim Bright. Kyndra Riddle, the only woman in the B field, finished 4th.

Where results and race notes are published

Race notes and results appear on renowheelmen.org after each event. The homepage has pointed to "Twilight Series Race Results" and "Air Center Crit 25 August 2026 Race Notes," and also lists "Cyclocross Race 1 tickets available here" — so the site is the place to check for both results and upcoming event ticketing.

Other rides the club organizes

Beyond the race series, the site's headings show recurring group rides: MWF Ride, Reno Wheelmen Wednesday Group Ride, Bike Night Reno, and The Friday Lunch Ride. If your interest is participation rather than racing, those are the entry points to look at.

Practical takeaways

  • If you want to race: the Twilight Series uses A/B/C categories, so you can enter at a level matching your experience, and primes give you something to contest even if you're not racing for the overall win.
  • If you want results: check renowheelmen.org after each event for race notes and the Twilight Series results page.
  • If you want to ride rather than race: the MWF, Wednesday, Bike Night Reno, and Friday Lunch Ride listings are the club's regular group rides.
  • If you want to join the club: the site's membership page is linked under "JOIN." Pricing and membership terms aren't stated in the material available here, so check that page directly for current details.