Interview – Ark-La-Tex – Texarkana

 

Who is pumped for another great ride for a great cause? We sat down for an awesome interview with Ride Director, Nick Williamson. Read on for all the details for the Ark-La-Tex Challenge, which takes place this year on April 5, 2014.

 

Ark-LA-Tex Challenge

1.         Why join your ride?

The Ark-La-Tex Challenge is a bucket list ride for all Southerners.  You can ride in 3 states in a mere 70 miles.  We have had so many of our 4 states area cyclists tell us how  much fun our very first ride in 2013 was and how much they are looking forward to the course and scenery in 2014.

2.         How long has your ride been around?

2013 was our very first ride with 115 participants.  With the enthusiasm and a challenging course we are looking for 300+ for our sophomore year of 2014.

Ark-La-Tex 2014

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

Texarkana presently offers a half marathon called Run the Line. This ride is neat because its a half marathon run in 2 states. This gave us the idea of an even larger ride, so several of the Edge City Cyclists (local cyclist club) decided to pull our efforts together and have one ride in 3 states.

Our primary beneficiary is the Texarkana Resources for the Disabled, which is an adult training facility for the disabled.

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

100% of the Ark-La-Tex Challenge goes to the Texarkana Resources for the Disabled. In our first year, we raised $25,00.00 for our charity through sponsorship and riders.

5.         Logistically can you give us an idea of how many volunteers, planning hours and financial support it takes to put on this event?

Approximately 140 volunteers were needed to put on the Ark-La-Tex Challenge. They supplied a hamburger lunch and ice cream after the ride for all participants and gave a  $250.00 prize, for most outstanding rest stops, which were manned by boy scouts and students from Liberty Eylau High School.

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

Our facilities for our Ark-La-Tex Challenge were at the Liberty Eylau High School, a 3A Texas High School here in Texarkana.  We use their cafeteria for lunch, main entry way for registration and showers and bathrooms at their gymnasium.  Facilities, our course and pictures from 2013 can be found on our website, www.arklatex.com and the link to  our Facebook page, which is also on our website.

riders at Ark-LA-Tex

7.         What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

Bringing cyclists and their families to our home in Texarkana, Texas, gives them the opportunity to see our hospitality and wonderful countryside. Plus, being able to give back to our community and Texarkana Resources for the Disabled – that is huge and the most rewarding benefit of all.

8.         What is the average number of participants?

Our first year we had 115. This year we are on the path to welcoming over 300 riders.77102_605223839506000_599574685_n

9.         What can folks do to support you and your mission?

We are always looking for sponsors and people to come and enjoy our wonderful ride. So head out to Texarkana on April 5, 2014 and RIDE!

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

Yes, I am an avid cyclist also.  I ride a Giant TCR Advanced SL 4.  I travel all over the 4  states area, Little Rock, Dallas and Oklahoma on various rides, which I try to do 12 a year of 100k or 100 mile category.

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

In closing, we are growing and are proud of our ride and our city.  If a person wanted to only do 3 states we also have a supported ride that travels 35 miles from start and you  are picked up after your ride of 3 states for an additional fee of $20.00.

Come enjoy our wonderful countryside and ride.

 

Well, there you go! Are you excited yet? We hope to see you all on April 5th. Get it in gear folks!

CLICK HERE – for more information on this ride

Also, don’t forget to check out all the other great rides in our area.

 

Interview- RAAM Cycling Challenge – Marble Falls, TX

Have you ever tried one of the RAAM Challenge events? If not, this would be a great place to start! It’s one of the coolest ride series around, and it’s on March 8th, 2014. We sat down for an amazing interview with the newest host of the event, Jon Reiling.

 

Why join your ride?

First of all, the thing that I am most proud of is that we have something for everyone. All levels of riders. We have a half mile ride, all way up to a 400 mile ride for those qualifying for RAMM. There is also an option to ride solo or as a team. As a team, you can ride it has a 2 man or 4 man team, and split it up between riders.  Additionally, we focus on the community. Texas has an amazing cycling community, which is one of the reasons we chose the Austin event. We want to support the community in all aspects. This year, we are highlighting the city manager, Ralph Hendricks; he was hit on his bike in October. Charity 5K run is going to be done along side the ride as well. There will be beer, wine, and live music preformed by John Anthony Martinez at start and finish.

John Arthur Martinez RAAM Cycling Challenge

How long has your ride been around?

Well, out of the challenge series event, we are new. We are going our 3rd, but RAAM has been around over 25 years.

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

I came on this year to focus on the challenge series. The name RAAM is well known, but the Challenge series is lesser known and thought of only to be involved with riding 3000 miles. But they are separate events, and this is about helping to remove that stigma. We want people to be outside, riding, and enjoying the ride. We are trying to brain a consistent experience.

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

It takes a lot! We have about 35 to 40 volunteers just to handle the start and finish and the aid stations. We are always open to people taking charge of an aid station. We have help from the Chamber of Commerce, and the community, and it is a massive undertaking. Venders, police, camber of commerce, all help out. It is a huge event that we have to make sure everything is safe. But, I will say, you get done, you are exhausted, but you see so many people who had fun, and see those who took on a personal challenge.

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

map of RAAM Cycling Challenge 2014
400 mile map

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

It has taught me how much work goes into these events! When I do triathlons, I find myself high-fiving all the volunteers and forgetting about my time.

What is the average number of participants?

Since we are a new event, we have been seeing about 100 to 200 participants. Our goal this year is 250-500. We would love to have 2500 to 3000 in the next few years.

RAAM Cycling Challenge

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

The biggest thing is, spread the word! The number one thing they can do it show up and have a great time! The second thing is to bring you friends and family and let us know and break the stigma.

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

I ride a Specialized S Work Tarmac. I live right at the base of the Rockies and love riding every chance I get! I’m waiting to get the snow to leave.

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

I would like people to know we have 7 different Challenge Service events. We have a lot of people who come, from all over the US to these events. They make wonderful vacations. We also have people who come from all over the world who come to qualify for RAAM, because this is one of the only 400mile races in the US. We kind of take a European approach to this, and make sure our distances are accurate. Our 100 and 200 distances are perfect for people training for an Ironman and other such events.

 

CLICK HERE – for more information about this ride.

Well, that’s all for this interview. Make sure you hurry and register for this great event! Don’t miss out Wheel Brothers!

Don’t ever say girls can’t do that!

Kathryn Bertine racing

 

If someone believes they are limited by their gender, race or background, they will become more limited. –Carly Fiorina

What does professional cycling, an enthusiastic sports journalist and an inspirational film all have in common?

You are about to find out!

As you know, Wheelbrothers are truly passionate about the sport of cycling for both men AND women. Professional and hobbyist, beginner to expert. Regardless of where you’re at, we are here to be your rock and support you in your journey – wherever it may take you.

One woman in particular is a true inspiration for not just women, but everyone in this sport. We have followed her for a while and she has accomplished remarkable things, both as an athlete and as an advocate.

That woman is none other than Kathryn Bertine.

Kathryn is a professional cyclist. And she is also the director of the documentary, Half the Road. Kathryn has an incredible story and the Wheelbrothers recently had the opportunity to interview Kathryn about the movie, her journey and what it means to be a woman in the world of professional cycling.

Her words are filled with determination, innovation and ultimately, the quest to prove an age old assumption in women’s sports, wrong.

Here is Kathryn, on cycling, equality and filmmaking…

So Kathryn tell us a little about your background? Have you always been a cyclist?

No, actually, not at all. I mean I was always into sports, but not specifically cycling. I’ve been cycling for about 7 years. What actually started me down the path to cycling was my job at ESPN. I was a sports journalist, writing a column there [titled So You Wanna Be an Olympian?] which started me down the path to becoming an Olympic athlete in the sport of cycling.

Now I know you have the movie out, but didn’t you write a book also?

I have written 2 books, All the Sundays Yet to Come and As Good As Gold – both are sports memoirs.

So the movie just opened right? How was the premier?

half the roadYes, it just opened January 29 in Tucson, AZ. It was a great premier – we had about 500 people attend. Everyone from cyclists to non-cyclists. I had people who were not even athletes telling me that they loved the film. One of the most inspiring things was the fact that people felt like the film was more about equality and not just cycling. The feedback was so uplifting that this film truly does appeal to a wide audience.

And about the movie itself… what was your inspiration for taking something like this on?

The idea really came from being in the sport – my firsthand knowledge of the obvious imbalance in women’s sports. Because I am a part of women’s professional sports, I figured I can tell the story best, myself. Any filmmaker needs to educate themselves about their subject matter – and for years I wondered ‘why doesn’t someone make a film about it?’

What were some challenges that you faced with directing your own film?

Biggest challenge = being basically a 2 person show! It was me and my cameraman. The first hurdle was a budget. We built a budget thru crowdfunding on indie go-go. We put it out there and were completely blown away by the demand. We had donations coming in from across the world – which showed us that people wanted to make this happen.

Even though the budgeting was challenging, it was also a truly outstanding feeling when the support came pouring in like it did.

Well we are very excited to see the film… what take-aways would you like to tell our readers?

First, I believe any successful film would be teaching people about something – a great film would make people truly feel that journey. This journey started out as a documentary on women’s cycling – but it quickly morphed into a statement on where we are in regards to fairness and equality.

So I’d like to think that this film achieves a larger picture – how women are treated in general.

It’s definitely a niche we need to improve.

So this film is a way to get into the past, present and future of women’s cycling.

And also, second, we will be doing a theatre run between now and July – after July, it will be available for purchase on DVD.

 

Thank you so much for your time Kathryn!

We are proud to support you and your movement empowering women and women’s sports!

Follow Kathryn online at http://kathrynbertine.com/ and on twitter at @kathrynbertine.

 

Interview – Pedal Thru The Pines 2014 – Smithville, TX

Hey WheelBrothers! Are you a fan of quiet forest rides, but still enjoy the company of others? Then this is the perfect ride for you! Gear up for the 2014 Pedel Thru The Pines, taking place on March 8, 2014. Here is our exclusive interview with the host, Charlotte Pietsch.

 Pedal Thru The Pines 2014

Why join your ride? 

1.      It’s a great way to support the Center and the services we provide and have a fun day.

2.      The event is also a recommended training ride for the BP MS 150 event in April. We have worked with the BP MS 150 Lone Star Chapter for at least 10 years now and are a very good steward of their ride criteria.

3.      And the third reason to do our ride, each year we change our ride t-shirt and have many folks that look forward to receiving a t-shirt as they collect the Pedal ride shirts!

 

How long has your ride been around?

12 years

 

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

The motivation behind creating the Pedal event was to offer a unique fundraising event for the Center that no one else was doing in our rural area. The proceeds raised from the Pedal event help provide critical services to victims of domestic and sexual violence in our 4 county service area of Bastrop, Colorado, Fayette and Lee counties.

 

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

Proceeds from the event help support a wide range of services; some of the services are 24 hour hotline services, emergency shelter, counseling services, crisis advocacy, protective order assistance, court and hospital support,  resource and referral to other social agencies,  school based prevention focusing on healthy relationships, bulling, teen dating violence, parenting  and anger management classes

 

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

We work on this event all year long, it takes up to 75 volunteers to help support the event. We do offer sponsorships to local businesses and that helps defray some of the cost of putting the event on.

 

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

The start and finish live are located at Vernon L. orchards RiverbendPark, located on Hwy 71 in Smithville, Texas. All rest stops are stocked with water, Gatorade, and snacks for the cyclists.

 map of Pedal Thru The Pines 2014

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

There are several for me- To see the cyclists come out, support the Center and have a blast doing the ride. Also to see returning cyclist that we have formed friendships with, and to see those that are new to the sport of cycling enjoy completing the ride and see the success on their faces as they cross the finish line. Another rewarding thing for me is the event’s longevity and knowing that cyclists look forward to doing our ride each year, and that the volunteers that we have come back year after year to support the event.

 

What is the average number of participants? 

The average number of participants of course depends of the weather, if we are having great weather we will see 1500, if it’s rainy, windy and cold we will drop to around 800.

 

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

I think the best way to begin to support any non-profit or issue focused event is to learn about the issue that you are going to support by participating in the event. The mission of the FamilyCrisis Center is to be the expert resource and service provider in eliminating domestic and sexual violence in Bastrop, Colorado, Fayette and Lee Counties. I think having an awareness of the issues of domestic and sexual violence can help everyone. One in three women (and one in four men) will experience some form of abuse in their life time, it is important to know who in your community offers services. You personally, may never need these services for yourself, but it could be that you have a friend, a sister, a mother or aunt or neighbor who will need these critical services.

 

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

I do ride, I have a Jamis bike. I have been riding for several years now and enjoy getting out and riding the back roads of Bastrop and Fayette counties when I can.

 

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

The Pedal event is an well organized ride, we have a seasoned SAG Team, great rest stops, wonderful volunteers, and we have awesome routes. We have the support of local law enforcement and community and we provide a fun day for cyclists to enjoy. Thanks WheelBrothers for thinking of us and for the opportunity to share a little about our ride.

 

CLICK HERE – for more information about this great ride!

Hope to see you in the pines! WheelBrothers out.

Interview – Tri-County Hill Hopper – Round Top, TX

If you have not been to the Tri-County Hill Hopper in the past, you will not want to miss it this year! This ride is for a great cause, plus it’s a nice way to prep for the BPMS 150. Hear directly from Jill Hughson about this amazing, long running, ride.

Tri-County Hill Hopper 2014

Why join your ride?

The ride raises money for Camp LIFE and the Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center.

Tri-County Hill Hopper 2014
Tri-County Hill Hopper 2014

How long has your ride been around?

This year marks the 11th year of the Tri-County Hill Hopper. We average about 500 riders and officially offer 3 route distances (20, 36, 67), but you can do a 50 mile route by cutting out “the loop”.

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

The ride started as a fundraiser for Camp LIFE, a unique and inclusive camping adventure for children with disabilities and their siblings. This year the ride will be also be benefiting the Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center.

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

The funds raised in the past have been used to purchase supplies for the two Camp LIFE weekends held twice a year.

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

It takes approximately $10,000, 30 volunteers and 3.5 months of planning to make this ride a success.

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

While we do not have a map of the start facility, we do have a map on the website of where the start location is as well as route maps.

map of Tri-County Hill Hopper
map of Tri-County Hill Hopper

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

Seeing the riders, having an injury -free event, and knowing the money is going to a great cause.

What is the average number of participants?

500 riders

 

riders at the Tri-County Hill Hopper
Riders at the Tri-County Hill Hopper

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

Come out and ride!!

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

It’s a lot of fun, great scenery and helps a lot of families!!

 

CLICK HERE – for more information on this ride.

Thanks for reading another awesome interview! See ya there!

Fellow cyclist accident is a touching reminder of why we can never back down on safer roads for cyclists

bike safety

Back in January, Wheelbrothers was notified of a bad road accident involving a fellow cyclist in Houston. While we are always saddened when something happens to one of our own, this accident was especially disheartening as these cyclists did absolutely everything right that day – from their safety precautions to their use of wearable ID’s.

We were fortunate enough to get to chat with one of the riders involved in the accident. Wheelbrothers retells the story of what happened to Patrick* and Sam* that day. Plus Patrick offers some great reminders of safety tips for every cyclist to be aware of, for every ride and at every experience level.

 

Your kids may complain or feel silly wearing that bike helmet, but a recent story brings home how important this—and following other bike safety rules—is.

This incident took place on January 1, 2014 in the Houston area. Patrick and Sam were both avid bike riders with years of riding experience and solid safety records. Sam was even a member of a Houston riding club—the Northwest Cycling Club. The two were starting the year with an ambitious goal, to ride 100 miles. Seventy-five miles into the ride, tragedy struck when the two were hit by an elderly driver who was not paying attention to the road. Later the woman said she “just couldn’t see them,” and she didn’t even realize she had hit someone after it happened.

Patrick and Sam liked using that stretch of road for their rides because there was typically very little traffic to worry about. However, even though there were not usually a lot of cars, the two were obeying all the proper safety precautions—they were riding in single file formation and all the way to the right, almost all the way onto the shoulder.

“We did everything right,” said Patrick. “We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

As a result of the accident, Patrick has a broken pelvis and is now recovering with a walker. Sam, who was knocked unconscious when the car hit, is still in a wheelchair and faces months more of recovery time.

Their story shows that it is important to know how to protect yourself when riding a bike. Many cities and states have laws in place to protect cyclists, such as the law in Houston that says drivers must leave a 3-foot cushion between their car and the bike rider. However, even if such laws exist in your town, you shouldn’t depend on them for your safety (unfortunately, say bicycle riders in the Houston area, this law is not being enforced by police).

Patrick and other riders offer up some helpful advice for cyclists:

  1. Make sure you stay to the right, as far as you are able.
  2. Ride in single file.
  3. Use all safety equipment that is available, including a well-fitting helmet with a rear-view mirror so you can see what is happening behind you without turning around.
  4. Do not wear headphones—you need to have all of your senses tuned into what is going on around you, and you need to be able to hear if a car is coming up right behind you.
  5. Wear a road ID that has your contact and medical information etched onto it.
  6. In your riding jersey, carry a laminated ID and your insurance card.
  7. If you are a bike rider, make sure you have enough uninsured/underinsured coverage on your auto insurance policy. This will help cover any medical bills that the driver’s insurance won’t cover, and is also a good idea when sharing the road with uninsured drivers.

 

The importance of wearing a helmet really hits home by what they found after the accident. Sam’s helmet had been cracked right at the top, indicating that that is where the head hit the ground and that the helmet absorbed the impact. Even with the helmet, there is a significant wound, meaning the helmet was protection from even worse injury or even death.

Although Patrick and Sam are still recovering and face a long road ahead of them, they owe their lives to the fact that they wore helmets and did what was in their power that day to make their ride as safe as they could.

*Names have been changed.

 

Interview – Plane Great Ride 2014 – Mongomery, TX

It’s that time of the year again Wheel Brothers! Time for the Plane Great Ride 2014! Neil Moore was kind enough to share a little about this ride with us. With amazing scenery, Plane Great is one you will not want to miss.

 

Why join your ride? 

We think we have some of the best routes around.  If you like beautiful scenery and lots of support then this is the ride.

Plane Great Ride 2014

How long has your ride been around? 

Ten years.

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

We had a growing BP MS150 team (Continental Airlines Team) and during a downturn in the airline industry we lost most of our company support.  We had a lot of members that were passionate about cycling and the causes we support so we decided to try putting on this ride.  Some of the proceeds fund our logistics cost for the United MS 150 team and some go to the United We Care fund (http://www.crowdrise.com/unitedwecare).  In addition over the years we have invested in the equipment needed for these events which allows us to provide logistics support to other charity rides.

beautiful scenery of Plane Great

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

 Last year we provided logistical support on the BP MS150 to over 200 riders and we provided equipment and rest stop logistics for the ADA Tour de Cure, Tour de Pink, Novemberfest, and Tour de Rouge.

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

We start planning in October of the previous year and have approximately 150 volunteers.

Do you have a map of the start facility showing registration, parking, all toilets, water/snacks, start line? I don’t have a map of the start facility, but the start venue is perfect for this type of event. 

 Everything is in the same area so riders don’t have to do a lot of walking.

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event? 

 I think just seeing the 150 volunteers coming together to make the event successful.

What is the average number of participants?

1400

Riders enjoying Plane Great Ride

What can folks do to support you and your mission? 

 Come out on March 2nd and ride.

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

 I do ride and I have a road bike.

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

If you do the 67 mile route there are some fantastic views as you crest the hilltops coming into the town of Anderson.

 

CLICK HERE– for more information about this awesome ride! Don’t forget to register before you miss out.

 

See ya on the hills, Wheel Brothers.

 

Interview – Ride For Refuge 2014 – Austin, TX

Hey Wheel Brothers! If you love attending races that benefit our local community, and support a great charity, the Ride For Refuge is right up your alley. Interested? Check out this interview with Erica Schmidt, the host of the event. Mark your calendars for February 8, 2014!

Ride For Refuge 2014

Why join your ride?

All proceeds from the event will be used to support refugees, asylees and survivors of human trafficking from around the world starting new lives in Texas.  Each rider will receive a free raffle ticket for prizes including $100 gift certificates to Uchi restaurant; Sway restaurant and a free stay at the Driskill Hotel.

How long has your ride been around?

The Ride originated in Canada as a grass roots ride for all levels of riders. Traditionally,   the ride in other cities is informal and supported by the communities where they ride. Ride for Refuge has been going strong for ten years. This will be Austin’s second Ride for Refuge.

Riders can range from “just bought a bike” to seasoned bikers.

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

After having suffered torture, indignity and political oppression, refugees, asylees and survivors of trafficking come to the central Texas area to start new lives. They do this with very little funding from government sources. Ride for Refugee proceeds help these brave people start their new lives in their new country. We are trying to help them to live independently with dignity.

Ride because you Care - Ride for Refuge 2014

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

Funds from the ride are used here in our Austin office to help new arrivals establish self-sustainability.  We help get them all the necessary documents needed to make them U.S. citizens. We also provide funds for housing, while they learn English and look for employment. Our main goal is to establish full self-sustainability for these refugees within 90 days of arrival.

You can visit our website at rstx.org to see how the money is used and understand better the people we serve.

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

The planning for the ride started last March when with deciding which dates would viable for a nice ride in Austin. Staff, interns and volunteers at Refugee Services of Texas donate their own time to prepare things like logistics, donors and gather riders. As the event gets closer, the planning increases from monthly to weekly meetings with Ride Directors two months out. During this time we are all working hard to get the word out and seek support for the Ride for Refuge

We strive to keep everything for the ride donated as each dollar counts towards helping the families we serve.

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

The start and finish are at the Yellow Bike Project http://austinyellowbike.org. We foresee the total ridership to be around 200 riders and so this will be a rather small event.

Map of ride for refuge

What is the most rewarding experience of hosting this event?

The amount of community support for our organization during the Ride for Refuge can be humbling, as this is also support for the families we serve. We also love watching beginning riders bike ten miles and the pride on their faces.

What is the average number of participants?

We had 150 in 2012 and hope to reach 200 in 2014. We use approximately 40 volunteers in the event as well

riders getting ready for Ride For Refuge 2014

What can folks do to support you and your mission?

You all can ride, volunteer or support a team with a pledge to raise funds for our refugees.  You can also go to rstx.org to find out about volunteering throughout the year.

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

Kay rides a Bianchi road bike.

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

This is a fun, laid back ride put on by an organization, which has been in Austin for over ten years now and has helped settle over 500 families in the Austin area.  By joining the ride and supporting Refugee Services of Texas you can make a real difference in the lives of the refugees, asylees and survivors of human trafficking who are striving to live independently in Texas.

 

I great ride, for a great cause. Hope to see you all there!

CLICK HERE  for more information about the Ride For Refuge

 

Cycling 101: Pedaling

 

Wheelbrothers is excited to have Shannon Burke as a guest today. Shannon shares a little about pedaling and what a major impact it has on your performance…

Cycling 101 Pedaling

 

There are many different ways to become a better cyclist, but one of the easiest and most effective ways is to simply focus on pedaling. While everyone understands the importance of pedaling in propelling you forward, not everyone understands how proper technique and cadence can improve your overall experience on the bike.

Next time you ride, put your mind on your pedal stroke and think about these aspects of pedaling:

  • FORM: Are my toes pointing down? When we first learned to ride a bike, we simply pushed down on the pedals. In doing so, most of us acquired the habit of pointing our toes when pushing. That’s actually inefficient and limits how your leg muscles engage in pedaling. Try to keep your feet flat. A proper pedal stroke is similar to wiping mud off the bottom of your shoe. (Because we are so prone to pointing our toes, it’s sometimes helpful to exaggerate dropping your heel down.)
  • CADENCE: How fast am I turning the pedals? Most new cyclists pedal slowly in an effort to conserve energy. However, if you’re trying to maintain a certain pace (for example on a group ride), pedaling slowly will require you to push a bigger gear, which means that you’ll be using your muscles that much more. Instead, try maintaining the same speed at a higher cadence, which means that you’ll need to shift into an easier gear and pedal faster. That will quicken your heart rate, but it’s better to tax your cardio than your leg muscles, which tend to tire out quicker. If you have a computer that tracks your cadence, try to keep it above 90 rpm.
  • CONSISTENCY: Am I pedaling at a consistent pace? In addition to using a higher cadence, it’s important to maintain a consistent cadence. Waffling between pedaling fast and slow will wear you out much faster than finding a rhythm and sticking to it. The key is to use your gears. If you’re going uphill, rather than slowing your cadence and pushing harder, shift to an easier gear so that you’re maintaining the same cadence and level of effort. Similarly, if you’re going downhill, shift to a harder gear to maintain the same cadence rather than sitting up and coasting. Get comfortable shifting often!
  • FULL CIRCLES: Am I only pushing down? Another habit we acquired as kids is only pushing down when pedaling. We had flat pedals and pushing down was our only option. These days, there are toe cages and shoes that clip into your pedals. These have a huge advantage over simple platform pedals because they allow us to pull up as well as push down when pedaling. The key to efficient pedaling is to pedal full circles, pushing through on the way down using the quads, and pulling up on the other side using the hamstrings and glutes. Remembering to pull up with each pedal stroke will dramatically improve your ability to ride longer and climb stronger!

 

Shannon Burke is the owner of Velo View Bike Tours, offering basic skills clinics and personal instruction, guided Central Texas road & mountain bike rides, and four and five-day bike vacations in some of the most beautiful places in the country.