Column: Organized biking events do more than raise funds

The Herald-Sun
Oct 26, 2004 : 9:03 am ET

Organized group bicycling events are a fun way to share your enthusiasm and curiosity about bikes with fellow cyclists. On Saturday, you have the chance to take part in welcoming two new biking events to the Triangle area.

Capitol Broadcasting and the American Tobacco Historic District are hosting the “Halloween 100,” a supported distance ride covering 100 kilometers (a little more than 62 miles) of scenic roads through Durham and Orange counties. A 100k ride, also called a metric century, is not a race. Just finishing a ride of that length is an accomplishment, so there is no reason to add the pressure of who can do it the fastest. The start and finish staging area is the American Tobacco Campus and the ride kicks off at 9 a.m.

If you’re not sure you can handle all 100 kilometers, you might try the 50k ride. Both rides are supported and begin at the same time. Support includes official escorts, planned rest stops (with food and drink), emergency medical staff on site, and a bike mechanic at the start/finish and the first rest stop. Peter Anlyan of Capitol Broadcasting says: “We encourage riders of all [abilities] to come out and ride. These supported rides offer cyclists the opportunity to take the road in as controlled an environment as possible.”

Beginning at 9:30, there is a Family Fun Ride down the American Tobacco Trail. Kids of all ages are welcome to participate and there are planned stops along the way with entertainment and, of course, candy. It wouldn’t be Halloween without it.

Most races and noncompetitive cycling events are really fund-raisers for medical research, environmental protection or charitable organizations. In keeping with this tradition, funds raised by the “Halloween 100″ go to support Habitat for Humanity of Durham as well as the expansion of the American Tobacco Trail.

If you’d rather get muddy and competitive on Saturday, then head down to Sanford, where the Triangle Cyclopaths are hosting an endurance mountain bike race at the Devils Ridge mountain bike course. The 12-hour “Dance with the Devil” runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The idea behind a 12-hour mountain bike race is that racers ride in a loop, and the racer (or team) who rides the most loops in 12 hours wins. The Devils Ridge course is a 4-mile loop, so a fast rider may complete more than 20 loops during the race. Since it’s getting darker earlier, you’ll need a set of lights to finish the race.

Racing for 12 straight hours? Mountain biking in the dark? Why would I want to take part in this madness? Tammy Kaufman, an accomplished mountain bike racer from Wake Forest says, “Racing seems to provide the impetus for me to push my own personal limits, to try to achieve things that ordinarily would seem far beyond my grasp.”

But, it’s not all about winning for Kaufman. “I started racing initially just to see if I could. I still do it because I’ve made a lot of friendships with other racers,” she says.

Dave Anderson, another racer from the Triangle, adds that the spirit of endurance races is sometimes different than other cross-country mountain bike races. “I’ve noticed a lot of camaraderie in [endurance] races. Finish times are typically six to 12 hours, so people tend to help each other out a lot more.”

Both events require helmets and you need to certify that both you and your bike are in good working order. It’s standard practice for event organizers to require you to sign a waiver or release form when registering.

If you’re as busy as I am, you probably ride by yourself most of the time. Events like these are a great contrast; you’re surrounded by hundreds of cyclists who all love to ride as much as you do. Riding solo gives me an overinflated sense of my abilities; riding with others is usually a humbling experience. Racing keeps me honest.

As Tammy Kaufman says, “It also gives me the chance to be endlessly amazed at the capacity of the human body, mind and spirit, and to marvel at the wonderful beings that we truly are.”

Column: Bike tour promotes national greenway

The Herald-Sun
October 7, 2004

DURHAM — Gene Mayhall of Durham writes in to say that he and his wife have ridden their bicycles on greenways — linear parks — all over the United States and even Canada. “Durham’s American Tobacco Trail (ATT), while not the longest, is one of the very best,” says Mayhall. “We’re lucky to have it.”

If the East Coast Greenway (ECG) is successful with its plans, the ATT along with the South Ellerbee Creek Trail in northern Durham will become part of the longest greenway project in the country. The East Coast Greenway is an effort to build a continuous 2,600 mile path stretching from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Fla.

Touted as an urban alternative to the Appalachian Trial, the East Coast Greenway will be an off-road and mostly paved connection between the major cities of the eastern United States.

Greenways provide opportunities for recreation, relaxation and transportation. Like a road, a greenway establishes a connection between where you are and where you need to go. Like a park, greenways draw to them people looking to relax or workout.

Like all good ideas, the East Coast Greenway requires a lot of planning and work. That’s why right now seven people, including Carroll Webber of Greenville, N.C., are bicycling from Maine to Florida to raise money for and awareness of the greenway’s mission. For the first annual East Coast Greenway Tour, each rider is raising $10,000 to help build new sections of the path. The group as a whole is bringing to the nation’s attention the potential greenways possess for bringing communities, even cities, closer together.

Bill Bussey, the North Carolina state chair for the East Coast Greenway, says, “I just think it would be neat to be able to ride a bike from Durham to Washington, D.C., to New York City, or even to Key West.” In the near future, you may be able to do just that. Many cities along the way already have paths which have been designated part of the official greenway route. In these cities, the seven riders are biking those paths. For much of the route, however, they’re riding on roads parallel to the proposed route. When they reach Key West, it will be the first time anyone has ridden the proposed route in its entirety.

The group rides into Durham via the South Ellerbee Creek Trail on Tuesday. They will spend a day of rest on Wednesday and leave via the American Tobacco Trail on Oct. 14. On Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m., the Carolina Tarwheels are hosting a potluck dinner for the tour riders at the Armory in downtown Durham. This event is open to the public, and if you bring a dish, no RSVP is required. Donations will be accepted.

The American Tobacco Trail, the South Ellerbee Creek Trail and Durham’s six other greenways have already proven themselves vital to our community’s wellness. Their users reflect the diversity that makes Durham so strong; from wheelchairs to Litespeeds, from walkers to commuters. Nearly everyone can use greenways; that’s one of the things that makes them such a good investment for the community.

The ECG is unique in that it requires municipalities to work together in ways they normally don’t. “When you link greenways together,” says Bussey, “you get more bang for your buck.” A well-designed greenway can be a regional attraction. Imagine the potential for a trail spanning the entire East Coast. If the East Coast Greenway successfully links Maine with Florida, then the combined effect will truly be greater than the sum of its parts.

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TO LEARN MORE For more information on local greenways, contact Bill Bussey at 545-9104. You can also visit the East Coast Greenway’s web site.

it’s never been so close…

I know, I know… It’s 10 months away, but I’m already planning to go.

The 2005 Single Speed World Championships will be held in Pennsylvania, next August. It’s been in Germany, England, California, and rumors are that in 2006 it will be in New Zealand. So, seems like PA might be as close as it’s going to get to NC.

Should be fun…

  SSWC 2005 Headquarters Sept. 16, 2004

State College, PA

The Single Speed World Championships for 2005 will be held in State College,
PA on August 20th & 21st. This year will mark the first ever visit to
the East for the SSWC and promises to offer a challenging course in the East
Coast tradition. Racers can expect challenging climbs, rock strewn ridges,
and fast, tricky descents.

As usual, the event will focus around the main event (25+ mile single loop)
designed by local single speeders to highlight the finest trails available.

Back from past years will be the Derby to help decide the location for
2006- be ready to throw down.

Men’s and women’s titles will be decided on the now infamous
Go-Cart track (from the East Coast Single Speed Championship of the Universe)-
racers will have to qualify for the opportunity to battle in the cars, eliminating “Pro” racers
from an easy day of it.

We would also like to offer any professional bike racer under suspension
for illegal drugs by the UCI free entrance into the event. Yup, we know your
pain and would like to offer the rare chance to attain a World Title while
under suspension. In fact, let us know your favourite drugs and we just might
be able to have some waiting.

Also, Jan Ulrich - patron saint of single speeding. With that grinding
single speed climbing style, watching you push those gears brings a tear
to our eyes…free beer for you, my friend. You are our hero and a true single
speeder at heart.

 

I’m not sure why single-speed mountain bikers have such a great sense of humor.