Go Where?

(right, Gilmer and Melissa cross over the 100 mile mark near RIA.)

There was no shortage of laughs during 3 days of “primitive” camping, but the ghost stories were awfully weak. So when Melissa suggested that she and Gilmer ride bikes home, I thought it was another attempt at telling a bad story. But no, she was serious. Ride bikes from Waynesboro to Virginia Beach. Gilmer said, “That’s 190 miles and we’d have to get through the tunnel.” So they bargained and decided on 150 miles to Williamsburg instead. As if it was nothing to pick up from camp, jump on bikes and head out for a little 150 mile ride. It was the best story I heard all weekend. They got it done though.

Day 1—road bikes. Coal Road down 664 toward Waynesboro. Left at 610. Left at 608. Left at 56 up Vesuvius climb to Parkway. Down to Montebello store for food. Back up to Parkway. Parkway to Afton (mile marker 1). Down Rt. 250 descent into Waynesboro. Back 624/ 664 to Coal Road. 75 miles.

Day 2—no bikes. Hiked a piece of the AT with Susan and Emory, then did a hike up Crabtree Falls. No one seemed to mind not riding.

Day 3—mountain bikes (Liz, Sally, Mike). Park at Sherando Lake. Take the Park Road to 664. Left onto 664 then left onto Coal Road. First entrance to Turkey Run trail head on left. Up the mountain, up the switchbacks. Left at top to Coal Road, bear right at fork. Left onto Parkway until Slacks Overlook lot. Pick up Slacks Trail to White Rock Gap Trail into backside of Sherando. 3 hours.

Day 3—road bikes (Gilmer, Melissa) Park at top of Afton. Descend Afton on 250 and take 250 all the way to Richmond. Pick up business 250 in the city. Once in Richmond, turn onto Route 60 east. Route 60 into Lightfoot. Afton to Richmond Airport (100). Airport to Lightfoot Wal-Mart (40). Total 140 miles.

In the News

Wes Cheney wrote and photographed a great piece "Richmond Commuter Portraits" that appears in current issue of Dirt Rag. My favorite commuter is Brett, VCU English major:

Paul Flannigan, owner of Conte's Norfolk, showed up on the cover of Link magazine first week of May. There is a short piece inside the mag about how to get started in mountain biking. Correction: Paul's buddy is on the cover, not Paul. The right side photo here is Paul who appears on inside of mag: (photos by Bill Manley)

And here's Jay Davis, up front in this article about the cancellation of Celebration of Life ride last weekend in Virginia Beach: (photo by Bryan Myhr)

Mother of local cycling

We talk a lot about the father of local cycling, the late Peter Teeuwen. It’s time to talk about the mother of local cycling, Pam Zimmerman. She started road bike racing in the 1970’s—long before Greg Lemond even introduced USA to the idea of competing on bikes. She has been on the podium in Nationals, mentored juniors and taken them to nationals, served as a USCF official for years and promoted dozens of local road races. Pam comes from the old guard of national champs Charlotte and Camilla, and she has raced against probably every woman in Virginia since that time.

She and Blaine took over the enormous Grand Slam of Cycling (4 days of professional racing with a $2.4 million local estimated economic impact) in 1993. She continued for the next decade promoting dozens of races through Tidewater Bicycle Association and through her current team, James River Velo Sports. My favorites were the Charles City RR, Pipsico State RR, and of course the Surry two-man time trials.

I have never told Pam how much influence she has had on me. I am a safe rider in training rides and in races, largely because I rode with Pam the first few years I raced. She showed me many times that no risk is worth compromising safety for, though I can’t resist riding at night despite her avoidance of night rides! She taught me how to hold a line and to not be afraid to speak up when someone else can’t hold a line. I have been lost in Williamsburg with her. Pam continues to teach me that racing consistently and having fun, year-end and year-out, are more important than putting it all on the line for one season and burning out. I am not going to say “Thanks Mom” or any nonsense like that, but I am grateful for her influence.

(Above photos by Love2ride and Bob Samuel. Below, yeah, Pam did all that AND worked a full time job.)

Back Downtown

(right, Richard and Gerald pace the peloton in downtown Norfolk.)

Some facts about the Norfolk Cycling Classic, happening this Sunday in downtown Norfolk:

1--The race has been happening yearly since 2000, twice in August, four times in July, once in April and now in May. Tripower promotes the event.

2--Ford was the original title sponsor for the race. They brought oversized superballs in 2000 to give away to kids and many of them ended out getting bounced onto the course--with riders--going fast--no disasters though!

3--We used to have event T-shirts made. Until the year that the T-shirts had typos. We got out of the clothing business after that.

4--We used to have a longer modified version of course closed to traffic for 2 hours before the races. It allowed time for recreational riders to bring bikes and enjoy closed downtown streets. I miss that.

5--The mile-long crit race course was designed by Peter Teeuwen back in the 80's. Lance Armstrong, George Hincapie, Bobby Julich and Rebecca Twigg all raced in Peter's editions early in their careers.

6--The biggest names we have had here in the modern version are Olympian Marty Nothstein, Scottie Weiss, and Candice Blickem. I am sure this is debatable--who do you remember?

7--The race has been teamed up with various partners. For a couple of years, there were the twilight street sprints on the Friday night prior in Portsmouth. Noel Wick Gran Prix happened for a few years on the Saturday prior at Fort Story in Virginia Beach. One year, we had a Friday night prologue at Pendleton in Va Beach, and another year there was a time trial in Smithfield the Saturday before. We have been busy.

8--The race course is super fast except for the 180 in front of Nauticus which brings riders to a near stop. The Elizabeth River wind is always blowing in the face coming down the long stretch to the finish.

9--The most remote racers came from Australia. Bunch of guys on a cross country trip stumbled out of a van and produced international racing licenses. Interesting.

10--Below in the orange is Janet who has been entered in the corner guard hall of fame. Once you have stood in the middle of Waterside Drive directing pedestrain traffic, you'll understand why.

I wonder what others remember about the event? (Photos by Bob Devich.)