The tale of a cyclist – Part 1

March 2016 – Cycling and Safety – We All Share a Responsibility

 

Figure 1 - That's me in Bluetown, TX on a 200KM Ride
Figure 1 – That’s me in Bluetown, TX on a 200KM Ride

Richard Cavin, is a technology professional who lives and works in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of South Texas and is also an avid cyclist. He started cycling at the age of 57 and has ridden his bicycles over 35,000 miles in his four and a half years of cycling.

The tale of an ordinary citizen, a cyclist…..past, present and future. Why safety and awareness are so important.

Remember when you were young and full of energy? Maybe you are still young and full of energy but a lot of us are not young anymore, but still young at heart.

As a kid do you remember riding your bicycle when the world was not so crazy, hurried and complex? I do! Some of us remember those times well and have very fond memories. Tassels on the handlebar ends, baseball cards in the spokes to make motor sounds, connected to the fork via mom’s clothespins! Our favorite stickers on the bicycle frame, you name it, we lived on the bike! Yes those were the days. Life seemed much simpler then and less hurried.

As the years passed, the advancements in technology and society, automobiles have become much faster and sophisticated. As we’re all aware, technology has taken over the life of the majority of our society. Distractions are numerous: family, kids, friends, radios, phones, tablets, our jobs; you name it.

While the technology behind cycling has also advanced: one basic fact remains, people ride bicycles and those people are even more vulnerable to accidents today. A cyclist will lose the battle of a collision between almost any other object, whether it is the ground, a curb, a tree or a motor vehicle. Does it always have to be that way, maybe not……..

So why do people continue to cycle today? Maybe it is the love of the sport, the exercise, the feeling of enjoying the outdoors, the social aspect of meeting and riding with friends or as a primary means of transportation. Well as it turns out it is for all those reasons and more.

Have you ever wondered what type of people ride bicycles? Are they normal, productive members of our society? Yes they are! While some cyclists may have different viewpoints, they are in general outstanding people and citizens. Our society is challenged with many health issues related to complacency and lack of physical activity. Cycling is one way to reverse that trend. How many times have you heard we are an obese society, the facts are there to prove it.

For me, the love of cycling re-entered my life in May of 2011 after my wife passed away the previous year. I needed something to do besides work to fill that huge void in my life. Somehow I found cycling and I’ve embraced it tremendously. The activity has been great; but the friends and contacts I have made have been the greatest and most unexpected benefit. I’ve met so many people from all walks of life: housewives, college students, lawyers, police officers, preachers, laborers, teachers, technicians, engineers, business owners, touring cyclists from all over the world and numerous others. So yes we are out there riding our bikes.

I guess I should get to the point of this short article: that of safety on the roads. How would you feel if you accidentally caused an injury, minor or even fatal to one of these cyclists? I believe you’d probably feel pretty bad and heartbroken. What if one of your friends had been killed or suffered severe injuries by a negligent car driver? I have experienced firsthand the loss of a close cycling friend and known others who have suffered serious injuries.

So yeah, cyclists are normal and productive members of society. Sure we make mistakes riding our bikes and sometimes those mistakes can be fatal. Some cyclists stupidly ride through stop signs and red lights, SHAME ON US!!  As a cyclist we should always assume that drivers “don’t see us”, let’s face it we must ride defensively at all times. The same goes for all of the automobile drivers out there. Watch out for us, pay attention to the road, quit texting and looking at your phones when you should be driving. If you’re tired, been drinking or should not be driving ask for help or just stop! Do not drive…. Yeah we’re all guilty of driving when we should not, me included, let’s all try our best to be more responsible.

So I’m asking everyone to just remember the next time you see someone on the road on a bicycle….be aware. Our goal should be to share the road, yes give us a wide berth, it only takes a few extra seconds to be careful and smile because you have allowed us all to make our roads a better place to ride.

Responsibility is important, both for cyclists and drivers. Otherwise that next person who gets killed or seriously injured might be one of your friends and a parent….

The region where I live, the Rio Grande Valley of Texas is such a great place to cycle because of our climate, let’s all try to make it safer for everyone.

If you’d like to discuss cycling, have any comments about this short article and suggestions send me an email.

Until next time, Be Safe and Ride On!

Richard Cavin

Harlingen, TX

South Texas Regional Brevet Administrator (RUSA)

Email: rwc5830@gmail.com

www.rgvrandos.org

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rgvcyclingfriends/

 

 

Bluebonnet Express Ride Report

By Peter Radowick

 

The yardsticks used to measure a successful road cycling event vary depending on  which side of the saddle you sit. Race organizers want to attract enough riders to, at minimum, break even and have a drama-free event. Cyclists want value for their entry fee. They want course options, smooth roads, a little swag, and, in Texas anyway, a perpetual tailwind blowing them down the road.

Cyclists are a self-sufficient bunch, but when they need additional help it’s a sigh of relief that greets the cavalry when the SAG vehicle rolls up. At Sunday’s Bluebonnet Express in Waller County, near Houston, the Northwest Cycling Club delivered a flawless, behind-the-scenes SAG operation for an event of 2,200 riders.

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“We’re a well-oiled bicycling machine,” said Sara Green, president of NWCC. “This is our 27th year to put on this race and our club takes pride in taking care of all riders.”

The Bluebonnet Express SAG group holes up in a teachers’ lounge at Waller High School. It’s serious business manning the phones – there’s no allowance for idle chit-chat. SAG drivers may drop in to grab a snack, but mum’s the word for everyone else as the team works the phones to keep track of trouble spots and cyclists in need.

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Jeanette Tyler, Trey Walker and John Polk are experienced SAG cops who do the heavy lifting.  Calm in the pressure cooker throughout the scheduled seven-hour event, they work with a team of 14 SAG drivers and two passenger van drivers, coordinating their every move. As of noon, with the course to be open for three more hours, “mission control” had fielded distress calls from 26 cyclists.

 

“It’s usually an inexperienced rider who just gets tired, especially in windy conditions,” Green said. “Our guys help fix a lot of flats but there are bigger issues too, like a broken spoke.

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“If somebody has to pack it in for whatever reason, our SAG guys will transport them to an area where we have two 15-person passenger vans. When one of the vans is filled, we bring them back to the start/finish location.”

 

Fortunately for everyone involved, the SOS calls diminish as the day goes on and the final call count numbers 27.

Club member Samuel Wu in yellow helps fix flat
Club member Samuel Wu in yellow helps fix flat

On this day, the NWCC SAG team got an early start. The three phone coordinators, 14 SAG drivers and two van drivers met in a nearby truck stop (the one with a big beaver on the sign) and everyone got their marching orders and hit the road.

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Northwest Cycling Club is one of the biggest and best clubs in the country. In the Bluebonnet Express and the Katy Flatland Century – coming in July – it puts on two of the most popular rides in one of America’s biggest cities. It was named the USA Cycling Club of the year four times – in 2005, 2012, 2103 and 2014. It does a lot of things right in the name of promoting cycling.

 

One of the best things it does is take care of riders when they need it most. And isn’t that what teamwork is all about?

 

THE BIKE RIDE ACROSS TEXAS: A LEARNING LABORATORY

Coleman Patterson, Ph.D.
Director of Leadership Studies and Professor of Management and Leadership
Hardin-Simmons University
Abilene, Texas

 

THE BIKE RIDE ACROSS TEXAS: A LEARNING LABORATORY

As a management and leadership professor, I am constantly looking for ways for my students to implement and practice the theories and principles that they read about and study in class.

Simulations, case studies, group projects, various types of research proposals, internships, and experiential learning activities are typical methods used by educators in my field.  Most of those techniques are limited in their effectiveness—because many tend to be short-term, lack realism, require minimal buy-in and involvement, allow for free-riders, and incur a relatively low cost of failure.  The challenge for educators is to find projects and experiences that allow students to truly experience the skills and principles of leadership, teamwork, and organization in a controlled educational environment.

I remember first presenting the idea to students on June 25, 2009.  The date is memorable because it was the day that Michael Jackson died and we were watching the news reports on the television at the DFW airport while waiting to depart for summer school in Vienna, Austria.

The idea was for a student-organized “Bike Ride Across Texas” (BRAT) workshop class.  Students would be responsible for all of the planning, organizing, and execution of the project.  Unlike many classroom and extracurricular projects, this one would be real—more than just a simulated organization.  The routes, equipment, food, safety, lodging, finances, training, and personnel requirements would all have to be determined and secured before the trip could happen.  Drawing upon the leadership theories and concepts studied in their courses, student participants would have to use their communication, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, leadership, strategy, planning, and motivational skills to successfully complete the project.   It seemed like an interesting and complex project for the students to tackle.

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It took more than three years for the right combination of people, interest, and opportunity to come together.  Beginning in January 2013, six students began meeting on Thursday mornings to work through the details of the project.  Students slowly began charting the route (with the help of Texas DPS), securing bicycles, finding places to stay, soliciting donations, and getting their legs in shape.  They also set up three visits to local schools during the mid-point rest break in Abilene to talk with elementary students about fitness, healthy living, and bicycle safety.  They also arranged to participate in Abilene’s celebration of “National Bike to Work/School Day” at City Hall.

 

By the time the ride began, we had four bicycles loaned to us by Biketown in Abilene and had secured lodging at churches, hotels, bed and breakfasts, cabins, and a national park along the route.  In total, we spent only $30 on lodging and bicycles for the entire trip due to generous donations of sponsoring churches and organizations across the state.  A number of individual and corporate donations covered the remaining gas and food expenses.

We left campus on May 11th to drive to El Paso to spend the night in bunk beds in the gym of Grandview Baptist Church.  We began a 100-mile ride to Guadalupe Mountains National Park on the morning of Sunday, May 12th.  The nervousness and anxiety of the expedition quickly faded as we left El Paso and headed up and over the mountains on the outskirts of town.  It didn’t’ take long to implement our planned system of riding and gain confidence on the road.

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The six students and two faculty members traveled in two vehicles.  We formed two teams of four riders.  The plan was to have two people ride for 10 miles while two others supported the riders with a vehicle.  While one team of riders was pedaling, the other team would drive 10 miles ahead and begin a similar 10-mile leg.  This “leapfrog” relay method of riding would allow us to cover a lot of ground in a relatively short amount of time.

 

We took turns riding and providing support throughout the first day.  By 3:30 p.m., we had reached Guadalupe Mountains National Park, our destination for the evening.  A relaxed evening and cool night in tents (temperatures in the 40s) gave us time to reflect and gain confidence in our ability to complete the trip.  We had 100 miles behind us and nearly 800 to go.

4 guadalupe pass

The second day on the road was mostly peaceful and quiet with episodes of heavy truck traffic while heading to Kermit, Texas.  Arriving about 4 p.m., we had conquered another 100+ miles of the route and got to enjoy a relaxed evening at First Baptist Church—Kermit.  We talked with a reporter from the local newspaper, uploaded lots of pictures and stories to Facebook, feasted on fajitas, and made a DQ run before going to sleep in the fellowship hall of the church.

The third day presented us with our first road construction detour and the need to fall back on contingency plans.  Having already scanned the entire route using Google Earth, we quickly changed course and continued to roll ahead.  A favorable wind and pleasant temperatures allowed us to go much further than anticipated.  We made it almost all the way to Snyder, but returned to Andrews, Texas for a wonderful and luxurious night at the Casabella Bed and Breakfast.

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On the fourth day, we made it back to the Hardin-Simmons University—a day earlier than expected.  We were greeted on campus by a fantastic group of supporters who cheered on the students as they reached the mid-way point of the trip.  A restful Thursday and school presentations on Friday helped prepare us for the second half of the journey.

11 ktab mid point

On Saturday morning, we set out from Abilene to Graham where we spent the evening at the Best Western Plus and Hockaday Guest Ranch.  Sunday’s ride ended at a rider’s family home in McKinney.  Deer Lake Cabins in Scroggins, south of Mt. Vernon, was the layover point on Monday night before completing the trek to Texarkana on the following day.  Heritage Baptist Church in Texarkana put us up in hotel rooms in Texarkana.  Our university’s development office treated us to a celebration dinner at Outback Steakhouse in Texarkana.

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On the final day, we drove back to Abilene to complete our journey.  We were all genuinely sad that the adventure ended.  We half-jokingly talked about pulling a “Forrest Gump” and ride past the state line and to the ocean.13 final day

 

In all my years of teaching, working, and traveling with college students, the BRAT has turned out to be my all-time favorite educational experience.  It was real, it was a challenge, it was a team effort, it was an adventure, it provided a well-deserved sense of accomplishment, and it was fun.  We got to enjoy a beauty of Texas that is missed when speedily driving across the state in automobiles.

The 2013 BRAT provided us with many lessons. We learned first-hand about skills and principles of leadership, management, and teamwork, and even more about the joys, trials, and adventure of long-distance cycling and the beauty of Texas as reflected in its landscape and people.

14 finish line

In future articles, I will describe some of the special experiences that made our first and subsequent rides across Texas interesting and meaningful.  To learn more about our trans-Texas ride and see pictures and read stories from our adventure, visit www.BikeRideAcrossTexas.com.

 

 

Ride Interview – Bluebonnet Express 2016 – Waller, Texas

By Peter Radowick

Thousands of cyclists have long had the dates April 16-17 circled in red ink. That’s the weekend of the BP MS 150, a 180-mile trek from Houston to Austin. Some 13,000 pedalers are expected in what is billed as the largest ride of its kind in North America.

But first things first. With a month to go, there’s still a lot of heavy lifting cyclists must do. And that’s where the 27th annual Bluebonnet Express comes in. Next Sunday, March 13, some 2,000 cyclists are expected to depart Waller Stadium, northwest of Houston, on one of six route and distance options. (For MS 150 rookies, the Bluebonnet Express starting point in Waller is also one of the launch sites for the two-day ride to Austin, so newbies can get familiar with the area roads a month in advance.)

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But even for those who have no designs to ride to Austin, the BBX, as it is known in shorthand, is a red-letter date in its own right. Presented by the Northwest Cycling Club – named USA Cycling Club of the Year in 2005, 2012, 2013 and 2014 – the BBX is a first-class ride in every sense. A fun route that is well-staged, BBX is laid out so that cyclists are able to spread out quickly. Ride options are 25, 35, 45, 55, 65 and 75 miles.

Daniel Sanchez and Lynda Polk, co-directors of the BBX, gave us the scoop on the Bluebonnet Express, including the buzz on Texas wild flowers cyclists might find along the way.

  1. The Bluebonnet Express is coming up next Sunday, March 13. Is it too late to register online? At this point, would one be better off registering the morning of the ride?

Online registration is open until Saturday and we recommend registering online. It is a lot easier than the hassle of doing it on Sunday morning, when the entry fee goes up. That said, onsite registration is available.

  1. BBX is one of the signature events for Northwest Cycling Club, a four-time USA Cycle Club of the Year. How long has this ride been around and have the loops changed much?

This is the 27th year of the ride and the course is changed a lot during those years. We tend to move the course to safer and smoother roads over the years and we made slight adjustments in the routes this year.

  1. What strengths and event-day expertise does NWCC bring to this event?

The club has a tremendous amount of experience putting on this ride since we’ve done it so many times. We are a large, active group, so we know what cyclists are looking for and want in a ride like this.

  1. How many riders are you expecting this year?

Perhaps as many as 2,000. It is very hard to predict how many cyclists will show up. We have had a big range in Sunday walk-up registrations in the past, anywhere from 200 to 800. We had 2,550 total registrations last year and we had good weather so that helped a bunch. This year we are lagging just behind last year’s registration place so we’re expecting at least 2,000.

  1. Given its proximity to the MS 150 ride in April, do you get a lot of cyclists that use the BBX as a training ride or is it a destination event in its own right?

That’s a good question. I don’t think it’s necessarily a destination event. I think it’s more of an event that cyclists in the area like to do because it has a good reputation. We do get a lot of MS 150 riders but not as many as you might think. We have about 23 percent returning riders from our previous NWCC-sponsored rides, the Bluebonnet and the Katy Flatland Century in July.

  1. The MS 150 traditionally gets a lot a new riders. Is the BBX geared up to accommodate numerous rookie riders training for their first multi-day ride? What are some of those accommodations?

Our registration web site pages at BBX.bike contain safety expectations for all riders. We also help them by providing adequate SAG service and rest stops. We also provide ride marshals, as per MS 150 guidelines. So we try to provide the same service they will get on the MS 150.

The BBX is a fully supported ride.  It includes five rest stops on course, plus one at the start/finish, that provide riders with porta-potties, water, Gatorade, cookies, PBJ sandwiches, pretzels and granola bars. Rest stops are manned by the Boy Scout Troop 202. There are about 14 SAG drivers patrolling the course to help riders who have flats or need transport. We have a dedicated SAG phone line that riders can call to get help.  Northwest Cyclery Bike Shop, our club sponsor, provides bike mechanics at every rest stop.

We hire 16 officers from the Waller County Sheriff Department to provide traffic control at busy intersections so cyclists will have a minimum amount of stopping and safer access at intersections.

A post-ride lunch is included with each entry. A lunch consisting of pitas, soup and salad will be provided by Pita Pit.

Finally, showers are available for cyclists at Waller Stadium.

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  1. How many loops are there in BBX?

There are actually only two routes: a 75-mile route and a 25-mile route. But by looping the course we end up with six different routes available with distances between 25 and 75 miles. It’s pretty neat.

  1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you characterize the course difficulty, with one being easy and 10 being a beast?

Well, it is pretty flat out here but there are a few hills going to Belleville. I would rate the 75-mile course a 3, and, of course, the 25-mile course a 1; It’s real flat, the biggest hill on it is the bridge going over Highway 290

  1. What plays a bigger factor on participants, hills or wind or something else?

That one’s easy, the wind. It can change direction at any time or increase.We have found that the hills don’t move much! They pretty much stay the same size. (LOL!) Of course, the biggest factor is rider conditioning.

  1. Logistically can you give us an idea of how many volunteers, finances and planning it takes to put on this event?

We have about 250 volunteers working on the ride including those who work on Friday and Saturday at registration/packet pickup. The ride usually cost us around $35,000 and we plan for it all year long.

  1. What can family and non-riding friends do to support BBX?

Come on out and cheer for your friends and family, especially at the finish line.

  1. Does BBX have a charitable component?

We are a nonprofit organization. As such, we support many charitable causes: youth cycling, building mountain bike trails and the Alkek Velodrome, to name a few.

  1. As event co-directors, will you be able to ride?

We wish we could but we’ll be too busy!

  1. After a mild winter, Texas wildflowers may bloom early. Can BBX riders expect to see bluebonnets along the road?

There is a good chance of that. We understand on a ride last weekend in Austin they saw bluebonnets, so we suspect we should see some, too.

  1. Anything else you’d like to tell folks about this ride?

C’mon out and ride. The weather forecast looks fantastic!

 

 

World’s Hardest Cycling Climb

Ron Hawks is at it again! This time his adventures took him to Hawaii.
Always enjoy reading about his adventures!
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When cyclist talk about the greatest climbs in the world, most can agree that Alpe d’Huez is the most famous, Passo de Stelvio is the most spectacular and Mt. Ventoux is the most iconic.  But when the discussion turns to the most difficult, this climb leaves no doubt to which climb is number one.  The undisputed heavyweight champion that wears the crown as the world’s most difficult climb is Mauna Kea.  Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, this climbs rises from sea level to 13,800 feet in 42 miles.  Although the average grade of just over 6% doesn’t sound like much, how you achieve this grade is anything but easy.
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The first 27.5 miles of this climb, which has an elevation gain of 6,500 feet, is a steady climb with a few variable sections of flat to steep rolling grades.   This section is consistent and challenging but never overly difficult.  It’s not until you get to the turn-off to the Mauna Kea access road that this climb shows its teeth.  The next 14.5 miles is the business end of the climb with grades that will make you wish you never heard of cycling up mountains.  In a word, the statistics for the last 14.5 miles are unbelievable.
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To better describe the final 14.5 miles, it’s best to break it up in 3 sections as each one is very unique.  The first 6 miles which ascends to a visitor center ascends 2,600 feet with an average grade of 9%.  This may not sound like much but there are two 1 mile sections in this climb that have average grades around 14% to 17% with a maximum of 20%.  Once you get to the visitor center, which sits at an elevation of 9,200 feet, you may feel like you’ve been put through the ringer, but unfortunately all you’ve experienced is an appetizer.  The next 8.5 miles are the closest thing to hell that you will ever experience.  I’ve personally done every major HC/beyond classification climb in the United States and several in Europe, but nothing has ever prepared me for what I was about to do.
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As you leave the visitor center, the paved road ends and you are greeted by a soft gravel road comprised of dirt, rocks and volcanic sand that can barely be traversed with a mountain bike let alone a road bike.  This section is just under 5 miles long with an average grade over 11% and a maximum grade of 25%.  There were times that when I looked up the road, I thought the incline I was seeing was an optical illusion as the steepness of the road didn’t look real.  When riding this section of the climb, the challenge is trying to keep your bike upright as you’re constantly trying to find a section of road where your bike doesn’t sink causing you to spin out and ultimately fall down.  Of course your speed is probably around 3 to 4 mph so if you fall, your problem wouldn’t be hurting yourself but rather trying to get back on your bike and start pedaling again up a steep grade in loose sand and gravel.
Once you mercifully make it through the gravel section, you may feel a sense of euphoria as you now have a paved road all the way to the summit.  Of course that euphoria, which is probably due to the high elevation, is quickly dashed as you realize that the next 3.8 miles will require you to climb another 2,100 feet with an average grade of almost 10%.  If the mere thought of these statistics weren’t enough to scare the bejesus out of you, the giant switchback that’s in front of you as you approach the summit will make you cry uncle.  To be honest, I’ve seen a lot of switchbacks in my time of tackling beyond classification climbs, but this one looked like as escalator in terms of steepness.  After getting to the base of the switchback, just past the 13,000 foot elevation marker, I came as close as I’ve ever come to quitting a climb!  The only thing that kept me going was the old saying  “pain is temporary, but glory lasts forever”.  With those words echoing in my head, I did the final death march to the top.  Once I made it through the switchback, I made visual contact with the observatory as this massive landmark that I could barely see as I started my ascent from the ocean in Hilo was now right in front of me.  As I took my final pedal strokes to the summit, I looked to the heavens and gave my Dad a salute as this was a climb worthy of a great man who watched his son ascend this monster climb.  Although I didn’t hit my goal of a ride under 6 hours, I was pleased with my time of 6 hours and 28 minutes.  Without a doubt, Mauna Kea is a very special climb.  The memory of this ascent is something that that I’ll remember for the rest of my life as I can now finally add the world’s most difficult climb to my resume.

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Ride Review: Mont Ventoux

Ask any cyclist about Mont Ventoux and they can probably recognize it instantly. Although it has only been used in the Tour de France since 1951, it is one France’s most monumental climbs. Unfortunately, the mountain gained even more fame because of tragedy when, in 1967, a British rider lost his life as he approached the summit. Despite this misfortune several people travel to Mont Ventoux year round to tackle this ride.

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We rolled out around 8:30 in the morning from our hotel in Malaucene and had a nice casual ride to the base of Mt. Ventoux in Bedoin.  This is the classic side that the tour uses, which is 21.8 km’s (13+ miles) and 5,300 feet of continuous, so I knew it was going to be a tough climb but extremely memorable.   Even though statistically the average grade up Ventoux is 7.5%, that figure is a little misleading.   To elaborate, the first 6 km’s are a gentle 4% average grade which means there will be pain up the road and that pain is in the last 16 km’s which are brutal 9% average grade.

After fueling up and getting my bottles ready, I started the ascent up Ventoux.   Right from the start, I noticed there were a lot of people doing the climb along with a solid flow of traffic.  All total, there were probably 300+ people cycling up Ventoux ranging from kids to senior citizens.  With all these cyclists, this ride had the feel of a rally which made the climb even more special.  Of course the congestion made it a little nerve racking, but everybody was very considerate and you never felt any pressure from the cars to get over.  I guess even the vehicles understand that this is the mighty Mt. Ventoux and the ultimate king of the road are cyclists.

 

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The first 2 km’s were had a gradual grade and the only easy section I was going to see over the 22km climb.  At around 5 km’s, you hit a nice switchback and find yourself entering the lower forest.  This is where the climb starts its most difficult stretch where the grade stays above 9% with extended sections of 11% and 12% over the next 10 km’s.  Although the forest was very beautiful, it was hot and the sweat was just pouring off of me.  While climbing these steep sections, I knew I didn’t want to push myself too hard as I was concerned about cramps as anyone who’s ridden in high humidity knows is a real concern.  To be safe, I decided to slow down about ½ mile per hour to ensure I could tackle the rest of this magnificent climb.

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At the half way point, I refueled again and got back after it.  Surprisingly enough, I started feeling stronger and decided to kick up the speed.  With about 6 km’s to go, the forest started to thin and you were able to get your first view of the top of Ventoux punctuated by the famous communications needle which is an amazing sight.  Once through the forest, the landscape turns from a lush green forest to a barren landscape of white dirt and various rock formations that are as far as the eye can see up the pristine road that snakes its way to the top.  I’m not sure if it was the cooler temps which were aided by the elevation and wind, but I started feeling stronger.  Truth be told, it was probably the sight of the top that really got me motivated.  At this point, even though the grade is still around 7% to 8%, I started flying up the hill holding 9 mph.  With every peddle stroke, I felt stronger and excited.  Once at the last 1 km, where the grade hit 11%, I knew I was almost there.  At the last switchback, I got out of the saddle and hammered my way to the top.  I did it, Mt. Ventoux in 1 hour and 57 minutes.  Not a bad time considering I purposely went a little slower at the bottom to be safe.  I wasn’t the one hour pro’s do but anything under 2 hours is considered very good and the benchmark for above average cyclists.

Mont Ventoux

 

At the top, the scene was amazing.  It was like a party where everybody was excited about the journey to Ventoux.  At the summit, people were lining up to get their picture at the top of Ventoux.  I was able to get an individual picture as well as one with several members of the Trek Travel group.  After descending down from Ventoux, couple of the guys wanted to do a double and go up Ventoux from the other side.  Although I was up for it, the heat at the bottom was over 90 degrees and I was concerned about pushing it too hard knowing I still had several big days ahead of me.   Even with those factors in my head, I still decided to at least do half of the climb.  Tired and hot, I held a steady pace up the back side of Ventoux and turned back after 10 km’s to meet everybody for lunch.  After a pleasant 15 mile ride back, I got off my bike at the hotel and enjoyed a nice dip in the pool talking to my co-cyclists about an amazing day with over 8,000 feet of climbing.

 

Alpe d’Huez

Ron is one of our Wheelbrothers and is one of those individual that just LOVES the idea of riding hills.  Well, hills and mountains that is.  This summer he had the opportunity to travel to France and cycle along Tour de France roads.  While there he apparently found some ‘hills’ as well and made it up one named Alpe d’Huez.  He was kind enough to do a short write up for his travels up Alpe d’Huez which we hope you will enjoy as much as we did.  Later on this week he will add his story about Mt. Ventoux.

Enjoy!

 

As I sit on the train from Paris to the Pyrenees, I can’t fully embrace all that’s before me.  Sure I’ve done every HC climb in the United States and have been actively checking off challenging climbs since 2010, there’s something magical and just plain intimidating about what I’m about to encounter.  I don’t know if it’s the climbs themselves or what they represent.

Alpe d'Huez

For starters, being here in France by itself is a little overwhelming.  I’ve never been in a foreign country before and not understanding the signage or the language spoken by the populous has really taken me out of my comfort zone.  But coming here to ride my bike up mountain passes, this should be right up my ally.  I mean, let’s face it, this is what I do and it has been my primary focus for the past 5 years.  Yet again, something about being in France and tackling the same climbs that have been ridden by the best riders in the world like Merckx, Hinault, Armstrong and Contador really puts into perspective that I’m riding on hollowed grounds.  It’s the glory and enormity that really makes me pause.  Not to so much out of fear, but out of the respect that I have for each of these mountain passes.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that I can’t believe I’m here and  what I’m about to do.

Fast forward.  After a great week of riding, the day I’ve been waiting for had arrived.  Sure we’ve done a lot of famous climbs from the Tour de France, but none of them had the prestige and notoriety as Alpe d’Huez which is considered the most well-known and revered climb in the entire world.  And after seeing the 21 switchbacks in person the day before in the van ride up to our hotel, it’s easy to understand why this is the ultimate climb for any cyclist.

While having breakfast, we noticed that the top of the mountain was all fogged over and that rain, which came down most of the night, was still in the forecast for today.  With that said, our guides told us that some of the ride today over and down the Col du Sarenne would be cancelled.  Although we were disappointed, we all knew how dangerous that descent would be even in good weather as the road is technical and in pretty bad shape.  Besides, the climb we came to do was still on the agenda and quite frankly that’s all that mattered.IMG_5188

After making our way to the bottom, we took one final group photo before we fueled up and did the 1 km soft pedal to the base of Alpe d’Huez.  All week I had been thinking about this climb and told my guide that my goal was under 1 hour which is considered the benchmark for elite cyclist.  To achieve this goal, one has to hold a pace of 14 km’s per hour over an 8% grade.  This translates to speed of 8.7 mph which is a pace that I’ve never done on an 8% grade.  In fact, my normal speed up this kind of grade is more like 7 mph so I knew the odds were against me.  Even though I told myself that any number below 70 minutes would be incredible, I was still holding out hope that riding up this climb would give me some additional motivation and strength that seemed impossible based on all my previous rides up a grade like this for a sustained period let alone 14 km’s.

After doing a short 1 km warm-up, I was quickly at the bottom were the timing starts at the base of the climb.  The road sharply turns to the left and all of a sudden you’re on the climb to the first switchback.  Very quickly you realize that this is not going to be just any climb.  As to be expected, Alpe d’Huez grabs your attention with a punch in the face as the grade hits 11% and stays at double digits for the first 3 km’s.  Although this wasn’t a surprise, it was hard to find a rhythm.  I knew I couldn’t go too hard too early and risk the chance of fading as the climb progressed.  On other hand, if I went to slow in order to preserve myself, the chances of me making my one hour goal would be out the window in the first 10 minutes.  With that said, I maintained a hard pace of around 12 km’s per hour which quickly proved to be enough to not only pass everyone in my group, but my two ironman friends.

After making it through this very difficult bottom section, my guide came up along me and decided to take the lead as he was afraid that I may be going too hard.  Going too hard I thought to myself?  Of course I was going too hard but what choice did I have if I was going to reach my goal.  At this point, the drizzle turned into rain and the visibility with my glasses on was so poor that I took them off and put them in my jersey.  This made every switchback a little more challenging and prevented me from hitting each one with the vigor I normally do as I was concerned about the bike sliding out from under me.  On most climbs this wouldn’t be as big of a concern but since the Tour was just there a few weeks earlier, the painted names on the road were made even slicker with the rain so caution had to be given.

Around switchback 13, they start from 21 and work their way down to 0, I started to feel exhausted.  With my guide slowly pulling away from me, I decided to drop to my lowest gear and try to recover.  Now with my speed around 11 km’s per hour, I’m starting to see my goal slip away as the mountain is taking its toll on me.  When my guide slowed down for me, he asked if I wanted to stop, I quickly told him no and that I was trying to recover my legs and get my heart rate down from 170 bpm.  After a ½ km recovery, I felt better and started to pick up the pace.  Just passed the half way point I saw the 10th switchback and told myself to remember where I was and that this mountain deserved everything that I had and then some.  No matter how much it hurt, it was only for an hour.  The pain I was feeling would only be temporary but the glory of this climb would last forever.

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I guess these little speeches in my head to help me up this mountain must have motivated me as I got my speed to over 15 km’s per hour.  Once I made it through the small village of Huez, I had 5 km’s to go.  This was the do or die section as I knew once I made it to the city limits of the next village, Alpe d’Huez, the grade would ease and allow me to make up some real time.  Sure enough we hit this section and my speed was over 24 km’s per hour.  After making it through the two roundabouts with a little caution as I didn’t want to crash before the finish, I hit the 500 meters to go sign and could see the finish line ahead of me.  I got out of the saddle and gave it everything I had.  With 200 meters to go, my legs felt like concrete and my heart rate exceeded 180 bpm.  When I finally crossed the finish line, I barely had enough energy to stop the clock on my computer.  Once I looked down, I was pleasantly surprised to see that my time of 1 hour, 1 minute and 16 seconds.  Even though it wasn’t under an hour, it was pretty damn close and a lot better than the 70 minutes I was expecting.

RH19

After getting a chance to reflect on the climb, I quickly realized that I gave Alpe d’Huez everything I had.  Sure there were a few moments were I needed to catch my breath, but the effort I put in over the course of an hour was the hardest I’d ever done in my seven year cycling career.  All in all I was proud of the effort and the result.  This was an amazing climb that I can’t wait to come back and tackle again.

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Ride Report – La Vernia Wild West Hammerfest Bicycle Ride 2016

Why join the “La Vernia Wild West Hammerfest Bicycle Ride”? Hammerfest is a Bike MS: Valero Ride to the River Recommended Ride. Riders will be greeted by our friendly, small town atmosphere. Three great routes to choose from, with gentle rolling hills, fantastic support on the route and at our fun and well-stocked rest stops. Support the Greater La Vernia Chamber of Commerce (GLVCC), and La Vernia Veterans Memorial project (20% of ride proceeds go to this effort). This year we have improved/safer ride routes, upgraded event shirts, a new free HEB KidZone & Bike Rodeo, to include more families and children in the event. For the Bike Rodeo, kids ages 5-10 can register to be a part of the rodeo, which will include stations to learn bike safety, navigation aspects, as well as a mini ride around the park track. (Pre-registration for the rides, and the bike rodeo is required, on the website: www.laverniawildwesthammerfest.org ) We’ll have music, food, vendors and fun throughout the day. There is no fundraising required to ride in Hammerfest and our ride fees are kept low. Registration is via active.com, accessible from our website.

la vernia wild west

How long has the event been around? 

This is Hammerfest’s 8th annual event.
What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it? 

The event was begun to raise funds for the La Vernia Historical Association to benefit the La Vernia Veterans Memorial Project and is hosted and benefits the Greater La Vernia Chamber of Commerce – the Chamber assists the growth and development of the businesses in the La Vernia area, learning opportunities for small business owners, and scholarships for seniors from La Vernia High School. The event also benefits the La Vernia Veterans Memorial Project, with 20% of event proceeds going to the project. There were a couple of years that other nonprofit organizations hosted and benefitted from the event – Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Lone Star Chapter and Arthritis Foundation.


Can we get a TCX or GPX file included for download? 

Over 63% of folks say they are more up to attend a ride for which they have information about the routes for their on-bike devices. Yes, they will be available soon on our website and facebook. (we are finalizing the routes now and will have those files soon.)

la vernia
The length of the longest route is 69 miles at The La Vernia Wild West Hammerfest

Do you have a a map of the start facility showing registration point, parking, all toilets, water/snacks, start line?

Yes.
Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event? 

The event is coordinated by a committee consisting of the board of the GLVCC, and is grateful to have the help of 40-50 volunteers (adults & youth) to help produce the event. It takes nearly a year to plan. If successful, the event brings in over $27,000 in revenue and around $20,000 in expenses.

What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?

Being able to support the La Vernia Veterans Memorial and the Chamber initiatives. And, inviting many veterans to ride the ride as our guests.

la-vernia-wild-west-hammerfest
Participants at last year’s ride

What is the average number of participants per year?

How many riders do you assist during the average race? We’ve had from 200 to over 800 riders, over the years. We expect over 500 riders this year.

What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event?

Having to cancel one year because of the weather.not ours, but Texas hurricanes that forced our police/EMS command to be re-assigned.

What can folks do to support you and your mission? 

Become a sponsor – we have great benefits and marketing opportunities for our sponsors. Volunteer to help at the event. Ride in the ride, either alone, with friends or family members, work friends/teams – we even have a 2-mile family ride, so folks don’t have to choose one of the big rides to participate. What is most help for is for folks to share our website and facebook page with other riders. Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/LaVerniaWildWestHammerfest

What is your role in this race and to the success of it?

I volunteer to help coordinate sponsorships and help market the event. (It’s really not necessary to focus on my efforts AT ALL)
  
Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area? Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides in Texas (besides your own)?

I do not ride, and no one on the committee are riders (LOL). We depend on the help of this year’s Official Bike Club: Gold’s Gym Team Gold. They came out to ride our routes and make recommendations for safer routes, and other rider preferences. Team Gold is coordinated by Jim Saunders.

If you had to come up with a David Letterman style top 10about the race, what would it read like?
 
#10 – Visit three counties in one great ride.
#9 – Enjoy La Venria cuisine by visiting one of our local restaurants.
#8 – Help raise funds for local student scholarships and veterans memorial.
#7 – Spend time with your family on the 2-mile family ride.
#6 – Shop while you’re visiting La Vernia & help our improve our local economy and support our local small businesses.
#5 – Enjoy a high level of safety & support while riding.
#4 – See our beautiful La Vernia City Park.
#3 – Bring family so your kiddos to enjoy fun activities and learn bike safety at the new HEB KidZone & Bike Rodeo.
#2 – Chance to encounter royalty, pirates or other themed fun during the ride.
#1 – Watch a bunch of non-riders spend 10 months working to produce a great event and make sure riders and families have a great day.

The #1 Way for Cyclists (or any athlete) to Get and Stay Healthy

You sweat. You push your limits. You expand your lungs and tone your muscles into a habitual rhythm. You self-motivate and ride; And you sweat. It’s a beautiful thing, a man (or woman) and their bicycle.

When you’re not hovering over your handlebars, you might be pressing bells or stretching or using a treadmill. You may even be dieting. All these things amount to good intentions, but they aren’t nearly as important as one key to health every cyclist needs: water.

Water makes the cyclist, intense water splashing cyclist in dark. cyclistmag UK
Water makes the cyclist. (Source: cyclistmag.co.uk)

Water does so much more than sedate your thirst during or after a ride. Our bodies are at least 66% water. This means water is virtually a part of every body function. Your muscles are between 70% and 75% water, which maintains their elasticity. Aqua also lubricates bodily tissues and supports joints, keeping your body fit and ready for its next ride.

Additionally, our lungs are, surprisingly, made up of 90% water. As you pedal and breathe, you expel moisture in your every exhale. That’s why it’s vital to replenish hydration so you can continue to grow your breathing capacity and elongate ride lengths.

Woman cyclist indulging in water during warm ride.
Woman gushing water into her mouth on a ride break.

Dragging feet and making excuses to skip a ride or two? You may be dehydrated. Our brains are over 95% water, and when it’s lacking our mental clarity and alertness are compromised. If you need some added motivation, skip the caffeinated morning routine and drink a couple big glasses to boost your brain and mood. Also, taking a ride near a waterfront has been shown to increase overall well-being and create a positive association with riding. This is a great tip for newbies, so if you have friends or family who are just getting started with the sport, suggest a route along a local lake or creek to keep them inspired.

Your digestion, especially the breakdown of oral bacteria and soluble fiber, rely on proper hydration. Water also detoxes the body, boosts the immune system, softens food in the intestinal tract, and makes minerals and nutrients easier to absorb. Plus, you’ve got to replace the water you sweat out after every ride!

Wat is only drink for a wise men. -Henry David Thoreau
(Source: www.sparkpeople.com)

US citizens manage to use around 346,000 million gallons of fresh water daily, and a healthy, hard-working, or physically active person can drink 3 gallons of water (don’t fall back on the “8 cups a day” motto from childhood.) You want to keep those hydration levels up and never feel thirsty, as by the time your body’s begging for it, over 1% of its aqua volume has been lost.

If all these numbers don’t have you swimming in reasons to skip the sports drink and fill that bottle with clean, cool water, nothing will. As the old Slovakian proverb goes, “Pure water is the world’s first and foremost medicine.”  Only with water can you maintain your optimum health and keep on riding.

Ride Interview – Peach Pedal 2015 – Weatherford, Texas (July 11th)

Whether or not you’re already considering heading out to Parker County Peach festival the weekend of July 11th, consider contributing by way of joining the Peach Pedal 2015. It aids in supporting the community and also offers scholarships for Weatherford College students. WC’s Vice President Brent Baker gives us the juicy details below.

 

peachPedal

 

Why join your ride?

For the great views, friendly people, and the Parker County Peach Festival!

 

How long has your ride been around?

27 years

 

What was the motivation behind starting the ride and who benefits from it?

I wasn’t part of the group that started the ride, but it was started as a compliment to the Parker County Peach Festival. This is my 12th (and final) year to direct the ride. We have a great group that’s taking over in 2016!

In 2015, all proceeds go to the Weatherford College Foundation, which funds college scholarships, and the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, which promotes the Weatherford community.

 

How have they been able to utilize funds in the past?

College scholarships, activities of the Weatherford Chamber, etc.

 

Logistically can you give us an idea of how many volunteers, finances and planning it takes to put on this event?

We have approximately 300 volunteers at our rest stops, driving SAG wagons, at the start/finish, etc. We also rely heavily on our area law enforcement, EMT’s, etc.

 

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

I love seeing a big ride like this come together as a success. It’s a great feeling. It’s also a great feeling hearing from folks who would otherwise not come to Weatherford. People keep coming back year after year, so we feel good about the results.

 

What is the average number of participants?

We average 2,100 to 2,200 riders each year.

 

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

Just come out to the ride and tell others about it!

 

Do you ride, and if so, what kind of bicycle do you have?

I ride a little, but I need a new bike!

 

Anything else you’d like to tell folks about this ride?

Thanks to Wheel Brothers for being a great resource. The cycling community in North Texas is awesome—great folks!