1. Who founded the club and how did it come to life?
“With more than 600 members the FWBA is one of the largest bicycling clubs in North Texas. The members are people like you who ride bicycles for recreation, fitness, and sport. The club has riders of all shapes, sizes, and skill levels. All Ages too! What do we do? Recreational bike rides in Fort Worth and the surrounding area. Our members ride bicycles: road bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes, tandems, and recumbents. We offer several types of regularly scheduled rides, so you can choose the ride that best suits your riding skill. Most weekend rides have designated leaders, and maps are handed out at the start of each ride. For newer or less experienced riders, the ride leader makes every effort to ensure no one rides alone.” via http://www.fwbaclub.org/

2. What is your cycling clubs mission?
The club’s mission is to promote a healthy and enjoyable time on the bike.

3. How many members does you team/club have?
The club has several hundred members, I’m guessing we have 200 active members.

4. What is your favorite route in your area? Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides/routes in Texas?
My favorite route in my area is the route out of Weatherford which goes to Springtown. Surprisingly this route has a lot of hills. Once you get out of Weatherford, west of Fort Worth, the terrain changes considerably and the route from Weatherford to Springtown has serious climbs. In particular there is a ride that has 4300ft of climbing in just a 100K route. I thoroughly enjoy the hills. I enjoy the scenery that outs there, the Texas prairie. Once you get on top of some of those hills and you can see forever it seems. The scenery, terrain and climb makes for great ride!

1. One of my favorite rides is Hotter than hell
2. Another ride that I like is the Goat Neck out of Cleburne
3. Lastly, I like the Peach pedal out Weatherford

5. What would be the most valuable tips you can give to a beginning cyclist that would like to get to the next level?
- When you buy a bike, get it fitted. I see people with their knees crunched and no leg extension saying their rear hurts, my first thought is- maybe you’re not adjusted just right.
- Also a good pair of bibs/shorts are a must. Spend your money where you sit! Especially if you are riding for any long length of time. I have no problem spending $200 a pair of shorts! But I always look at Ebay first!

6. What is the best advice someone ever gave you?
One piece of advice that sticks to me most was given to me by another cyclist who unfortunately passed away on a club ride, he told me: Don’t try what you’ve always tried, try something different! If you are riding the same routes or at the same speed, you don’t progress. On the weekends I do slow rides and during the week I go out and ride with a hard charging bunch of cyclists. It allows me to gage my progression and strength and to see how much further I can go when I go out during the week. First time you may last 10 miles, but in a few months you’re making the whole loop with the club. Push past the difficult times and don’t quit right at the moment when success is just on the other side.

7. How does the club make you a better rider?
The club makes you a better in the sense that you’re sharing an activity that you need to share with others. The comradery! Also what makes you totally better is there is always someone there to push you beyond what you think you can do. If you’re by yourself- you have a cyclist demon/angel on either of your shoulders, one saying give up and the other saying keep going. Depending on the day, decides which one you listen to and when you’re by yourself you usually end up listening to the one saying give up and call it a day.

8. What has been your most memorable experience involving your club?
Most memorable experience happened at a Hotter than Hells a few years ago. We ended up staying together as group and a husband and wife riding on a tandem took the charge and we rode their wheel the first 100K, miles clicked off so fast. We were at that point in no time. Then we turned and they left without us. We were all like holy crap we have 40 miles to go and we ended up losing our engine but we still ended up finishing in less than 5 hours. The weather played perfectly- not too hot, wind perfect and a tandem to lead us all a way round. It was the most memorable ride with the club guys. When you’re caught by yourself, it’s a struggle to make it and I’ve made it in around 5 hours and a half. The time I did it with others people we squeezed it in 4 hours and 50 minutes. I haven’t done it since but it was a fun achievement! It takes other people or club members to really knock out a personal best.

9. How do you keep everyone motivated?
We have various rides on the week, changing ride leaders on weekend rides, varying the routes, always a challenging route. One ride leader, Jerry Franks who is in his 70s, rides a Pinarello Dogma with campagnolo bora wheel set. He is just phenomenal! He holds rides into Springtown with all the hills. He purposely sets up the ride to cover all the hills. His nickname is evil Jerry because of that. I call him Genius Jerry because to find all the hills takes a lot of work. I enjoy the challenge he puts out. People that are older can really motivate you. In the club there are professionals, retirees, members in their 60 and 70s, they are out for a good ride and not to hammer around for two hours and to see who they can drop on a hill. There are some very strong 50 and 60s year olds who can hold their own over 25 year olds. We will be riding and here comes this 70 year old passing us on a hill. When you ride behind Jerry and look at his legs you don’t realize they are 70 year old legs, they compete with 30 year olds. He holds such a good pace you don’t realize the age of the rider until you come up beside him and look at him. Then you say to yourself- you look like my grandfather! If anyone tells me they are suffering from bad health, first thing I tell them is get a bike! IN my book that I’ve written called 100 degrees of separation which is mostly about bike riding, I talk about how riding gets you out. Its mind clearing, free therapy. Getting out for a ride and you’re solo, you can think about a solution/problem or nothing at all. Once you’re finished your perspective of anything has changed and you see things with a clearer mind.

 

All images via FWAB’s flickr

Thank you Alan for taking the time to talk to us about your club and sharing your advice, tips and experiences!

Editors Note: This article is from one of our very own Wheelbrothers, who has a fascinating story of determination and goal setting to tell… Ron was actually introduced to the Wheelbrothers group through fellow cyclist, Eugene. We warmly welcomed him, but at the same time, we always joked around with Ron due to him being one of the few people who did NOT have a cell phone (crazy, huh?). And we always wondered why he’d always want to eat at CiCi’s before races vs. somewhere like Olive Garden. Well Ron has since made a profound statement to us and his story is worth sharing.

 

Ron is now RETIRED and makes fun of us for actually having ‘jobs’!

 

He rides in all kinds of cycling events around the country and is a CAT racer.

 

Since he is a ‘Wheelbrother’ we figured it might be cool to hear a little about his journey and his book. 

 

Take it away Ron…

 

I imagine my story is probably no different than yours.  I was a husband and father of two kids that spent more time in the office than I would’ve preferred.  Although this focus on my career led to some success, the price I paid was my deteriorating health.  At 250 pounds and cholesterol numbers off the charts, I knew I needed to make some changes in my life or I’d never see 50.  This commitment to improving my health led me to cycling.  The immediate joy I found on the open road made it easy to stick with my goal of losing weight.  My new found passion of riding my bike resulted in me losing 60 pounds in six months and over time slowly shaving off another 25 pounds to get to my current weight of 165.  Once I got to my ideal weight, I decided to pursue other challenges on the bike such as riding the hardest climbs in the United States.  This quest has taken me from Mt. Washington in New Hampshire to Mauna Loa in Hawaii and all points in between.  Over the course of the last three years, I’ve traveled the United States and have completed 70 of the top 100 mountain climbs; including 36 of the 39 HC (beyond classification) climbs.

So the question you’re probably asking is how does a guy get that much time off to do this?  The answer to that question is found in another passion of mine – personal finance.  I’ve spent my life focused on planning my financial future so I could spend my time doing the things I enjoyed most.  This commitment to financial freedom has allowed me to become completely debt free, build a substantial portfolio and retire at the age of 43.  Achieving financial success isn’t easy but the lessons on how make this a reality are right in front of you in the form of riding a bike.  I know this may sound strange, but the struggles and obstacles you have to overcome to be financially successful parallel the battles you have to face when riding a bike.

Riding in North Texas, the biggest challenge is fighting the wind.  Sometimes it’s at your back and life is good while other times its dead in your face and you feel like this beating will never end.  This is exactly what it feels like when you’re spending, saving and investing for you future.  In the good times, when the wind is at your back, promotions at work are leading to more pay and the stock market is enjoying a steady uptrend which is padding your portfolio.  On the other hand, the head winds of unexpected bills and downward spiraling markets can be demoralizing to the point where you feel the bad times will last forever.

But when you’re riding your bike, why is it that you don’t give up when this head wind is sapping your energy and killing your will to continue on?  Well, when riding your bike, you know that at some point you’ll make a turn and the wind won’t be so bad.  This understanding that the situation will improve in the future gives you the desire to trudge along.  More importantly, you know how great that feeling will be when you cross the finish line and know that you overcame everything that was thrown you’re way and you didn’t give up.  That sense of accomplishment is the ultimate feeling that keeps us coming back for more and what separates living from existing.  Just like climbing mountains, getting to the top results in a lot of pain and can seem almost impossible at times.  But once you’re at the top, that feeling is second to none.  This is exactly what planning for your financial future feels like.  Although you may feel like you took more punches than you gave, if you don’t give up when times are tough, you will achieve your goal of financial independence.

Much like going out for a ride on your bike, where it feels like the hardest part is getting suited-up; throwing your leg over the bike and clipping in for that first peddle stroke, the first step to financial success is just getting started.  If you want to learn how to take charge of your future and achieve your financial goals, check out my latest book Climbing the Financial Mountain.  In this book, I explain the process I personally followed to own my financial freedom and spend what precious time I have left doing what I love the most – riding my bike.

For more information about Ron and his latest book, go to www.climbingthefinancialmountain.com

When was the last time you finished a race and said, “Boy am I glad I got that cavity repaired – it made me perform so much better!”

Unless you’re a dentist, probably never, right?

In fact, oral health is usually the last thing any athlete thinks about when preparing or training for a race or game. But studies are showing that it should not be last on the list. Actually, your dental health does have a direct correlation to your performance, not just in cycling, but in any and every sport.

This point was proven back in September of 2011 with a study conducted on triathlon athletes. This study confirmed what researchers have suspected all along – that athletes are at a high risk for cavities and other dental diseases.

The study, a combination of a questionnaire and an oral examination, was done on a sample of athletes from the New Zealand Dunedin triathlon club. It was aimed at identifying risk factors for athletes and dental diseases.

Here’s how it went: The athletes first filled out a questionnaire about their training, oral health and diet. Then they participated in the oral examination. What they found was a group fitting a very high risk profile for dental cavities and diseases.

1) 83.9% of the athletes consumed sports drinks while training

2) 48.4% described their consumption of these drinks as “little sips, often, from a bottle”

3) 93.5% reported eating during training

And 4) only 3.2% of the athletes viewed their training as high risk to their oral health

So just what do these numbers mean?

Being in an “at-risk” group means you have a greater chance of developing cavities and dental diseases than the majority of the population. It becomes of greater concern for athletes because of the impact that oral health problems have from a training standpoint.

¨Sports performance can be affected by infections caused by poor oral hygiene. For example, periodontitis causes inflammation on teeth and soft tissues; however, if the infection goes to the bone there is the possibility that it could spread through the bloodstream, causing harm to another organ in the body,¨ explained Dr. Telma Rubinstein, a dentists at Prisma Dental Center.

Oral health is extremely important to athletes, so to maintain optimum performance levels, here are some things to keep in mind:

The impact of dehydration. Repetitive dehydration can spell disaster for your teeth and your performance. Whenever the mouth gets dry to the point of dehydration that means saliva is greatly decreased as well. Saliva is what keeps your teeth bacteria-free, without it, it creates a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria. Athletes are at a greater risk for dehydration because of the excessive water loss that occurs with training or racing.

Avoid the sports drinks. Sports drinks are marketed as “replacing the electrolytes lost in rigorous physical activity.” Unfortunately, they are also loaded with sugar, containing between 4 – 5 heaping spoonfuls of sugar per 5 oz. serving. Considering the study mentioned previously, while athletes are drinking the sports drinks, at little increments at a time, they are constantly flushing sugar over their teeth. The constant flow of sugary substances means that the teeth are bathed in acid over and over again. If electrolyte loss is your concern, the better alternative is to drink water and eat a banana. Bananas are packed with potassium which is an electrolyte. Plus, its carbohydrate content speeds recovery after strenuous exercise.

“One little cavity isn’t a big deal.” This is a statement said by millions of people around the world to avoid going to the dentist. The truth is, cavities are a big deal, even little ones. And they are an especially big deal for an athlete.

Picture this: You are training for a race. You like to drink sports drinks during your training. You drink water too, but more often grab a bottle of Gatorade. As a result of sports drinks, a little cavity forms. You don’t even notice it. Then with the repetitive use of sports drinks, it gets bigger. Every once in a while you feel a pain, but it’s not enough for you to go in to the dentist. You continue to train for the race. Before you know it, you are actually feeling a lot of pain in your tooth. It’s gotten so bad that you are having trouble with your workouts. Finally you go in to the dentist. He has bad news: your “little cavity” has morphed into a giant abscess and now it requires a root canal to fix. Plus, he also notices bacteria forming along your gumline, which could mean gum disease.

So one little cavity is a big deal. In fact, they don’t get better, only worse.

The best bet for optimal performance for any athlete is prevention.

Avoid the things that have been scientifically proven to put you at a high risk for dental disease and do the things that are good for your teeth.

Regular visits to your dentist (meaning twice a year), brushing twice a day and flossing every day will ensure that your athletic performance is not hindered by poor oral health.

This might seem like blatant advertising but if it has been more than 6 months since your last dental visit, call Dr. Marchbanks the Wheelbrothers team Dentist in Arlington, Texas.  As an athlete himself, he will consult with you so your dental health is in tip top shape for optimal sports performance.  Oh yeah… his number is (817)261-2747

The horrible explosion, felt from 50 miles away on Wednesday, left thousands of people with losses they may never be able to replace.

As Texas riders, when something like this happens, we all want to pitch in and help in any way we can.

The WacoTrib.com printed a list of helpful places and phone numbers to contact if you need information about a friend or loved one or if you want to donate to the relief effort.

This is a partial list of ways we can help (the full list is on the website), but it’s a great place to start…

• Pointwest Bank has opened a fund for victims of the explosion. The downtown West location, 200 W. Oak St., is accepting all kinds of donations. Waco locations here:http://www.pointwestbank.com/default.aspx?v=904fb084-af7c-4e58-b551-2bfab5d0c1e8
• Carter Blood Care Center in Waco will accept donations beginning at 9 a.m. Find locations here: https://ww2.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/geo
• American Red Cross crews from across Texas were sent to the site of an explosion at a fertilizer plant near Waco where multiple injuries have been reported. Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster said her group is working with emergency management officials in the town of West to find a safe shelter for residents displaced from their homes. To donate blood, find a location near you.

And, the 11^th Annual Ride for Heroes this weekend in Aledo is another way to help. Benefiting firefighters from 3 areas and the Parker County Center of Hope, the Ride for Heroes supports those first responders who help whenever they are called upon. The timing of this ride couldn’t be better – besides being a great time to show your support for firefighters and the Center of Hope, the weather and scenery should be ideal. Wheelbrothers is very excited to be a proud supporter of this ride. Here is an interview we did last year with Ride for Heroes with some details about the organization.

Won’t you join us on Saturday, April 20 to ride and help a good cause?

More information can be found on the website Ride for Heroes.

 

Photo courtesy of: Juan Carlos Hernandez

Join in the cycling fun and help injured veterans lead healthier lives!

Fort Worth, Texas, March 26, 2013 – The Ride 2 Recovery Honor Ride is spinning into Fort Worth on April 14, and you can join in the cycling fun to support America’s healing heroes. The Honor Ride-Clay Hunt, sponsored by Bell Helicopter and presented by Chevrolet, is a self-paced, non-competitive ride to be held on April 14, 2013. Injured veterans and the general public can ride one of three distances – 25, 51 or 104 miles – all of which begin and end at Billy Bob’s Texas – Historic Fort Worth Stockyards.

Joining the riders will be Ride 2 Recovery board member and former Army Chief of Staff General George W. Casey, Jr. (USA-Ret.), Medal of Honor recipient Sal Giunta, and injured U.S. Army veteran Juan Carlos Hernandez. “I’ve seen the real benefits of cycling for injured veterans. Ride 2 Recovery helped me, so it’s great to be part of this program,” said Hernandez, who handles VIP rider assistance for Ride 2 Recovery. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders also will be part of the day’s event, leading the cheer of support at the beginning of the ride.

The physical aspects of the ride are challenging, but the real recovery it provides is mental. “I’m part of this program not only because I get such a charge out of seeing these men and women break through barriers, but also because of the camaraderie we all experience,” said U.S. Army Rt. LTC David Haines, chief operating officer of Ride 2 Recovery. “I was in the Army and was injured in Baghdad. I had 35 surgeries and discovered that Ride 2 Recovery is not just about getting healthy again. It’s about building lasting friendships and a network of great people who can really help.”

The second annual Bell Helicopter Honor Ride – Clay Hunt will honor the service, values and memory Sgt. Clay Hunt, a sniper with the U.S. Marine Corps who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite years on the military lines, he may have fought his most vicious battles at home. While he fought depression and post-traumatic stress, he also sought to help others. He volunteered in Haiti with Team Rubicon, built bikes for Ride 2 Recovery injured veterans, and appeared in a public service announcement for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Hunt took is life on March 31, 2011, two years after battling post-traumatic stress (PTSD) and his fight against the physical, emotional and psychological effects of war.

The Honor Ride-Clay Hunt is also the finale for cyclists in the UnitedHealthcare Ride 2 Recovery Texas Challenge. More than 200 injured veterans and their supporters will ride in the seven-day, 385-mile Challenge bicycle ride beginning in San Antonio on April 8 and ending in Fort Worth on April 13.

Ride 2 Recovery, a program produced by the Fitness Challenge Foundation, supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs for injured veterans, featuring cycling as the core activity. From indoor spinning training at military installations to multiday, long-distance rides, Ride 2 Recovery helps injured veterans heal through the challenge of cycling long distances using hand cycles, recumbent cycles, tandems and traditional road bikes. The funds raised by Ride 2 Recovery support outdoor cycling programs and Spinning Recovery Labs at Military and VA locations around the U.S., as well as local rides for healing heroes. Funds also support the equipment donated to each healing hero participating in the events, including bikes that require modification due to injuries.

Ride 2 Recovery has established Project HERO programs at 34 military installations and three VA sites. Through these on-site programs, Ride 2 Recovery partners with the facility staff and cadre to create personalized and progressive programs to fit the needs of the individual patients and promote a fuller, quicker rehabilitation.

EVENT DETAILS:

WHEN: Sunday, April 14

7:30 a.m. Registration and Packet Pick-up. 9:00 a.m. Ride Start

Note: Registration and Packet Pick-up also available on Saturday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sun & Ski (4941 Overton Ridge Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76132, 682-747-0418)

WHERE: Billy Bob’s Texas – Historic Fort Worth Stockyards - 2529 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, TX 76164

REGISTRATION: Pre-registration highly recommended. Sign up at: http://www.active.com/cycling/ft-worth-tx/honor-ride-ft-worth—clay-hunt-2013

• COST: $75 – per rider
• $125 – per family – 2 adults same household and no limit for children
• $10 – Kids’ Honor Bike Race only – 200-meter, closed course
• No cost to injured military, active duty or retired
• Teams: - $300 – 5 riders for the price of 4 / $600 – 10 riders for the price of 8

A portion of the registration fee is tax-deductible and includes tech shirt, route slip, SAG support and rest stops.

CPSC helmets must be worn at all times by all riders.

About Ride 2 Recovery

Ride 2 Recovery, a 501(c) 3, helps injured veterans improve their health and wellness through individual and group cycling at military bases, as well as on seven long-distance challenge events staged each year. Cycling has proven to be a catalyst in the recovery process by providing a new physical challenge while concurrently helping to cope with the mental challenges.

Ride 2 Recovery major sponsors include UnitedHealthcare, Chevrolet, Raleigh Bicycles, USO, United Airlines, U-Haul, Macy’s and Rudy Project.

For more information, visit Ride2Recovery or follow us on Facebook or Twitter at @Ride_2_Recovery

1. Who founded the club and how did it come to life?
Owners and friends of Austin Tri-Cyclist came together in 2012 to found the women’s racing team Snapple-ATC Racing, co-sponsored by the Snapple Triathlon Team. In 2013, the team was renamed ATC Racing and now includes a men’s road team and triathlon team in addition to the women’s road team.

Photo Credit: Flashbax Twenty Three Photography

2. What is your cycling club’s mission?
The members of ATC Racing are dedicated to growing the sports of road cycling and triathlon through competition and volunteering. The women’s road team is particularly focused on improving the quality and standing of women’s bike racing in Texas.

3. How many members does your team/club have?
The women’s road team is a tight-knit group of seven riders who actively compete in Texas Cup races and local criteriums. The men’s team, more informal in structure, also consists of seven members.

Photo Credit: Flashbax Twenty Three Photography

4. What is your favorite route in your area? Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides/routes in Texas?
The Saturday morning ATC shop ride, which has earned the reputation of the fastest group ride in Texas, is where we like to train when we’re not racing on the weekends. We also regularly join the Wednesday morning Gruppo VOP ride, another one of Austin’s most fast-paced and challenging group rides. Bike lawyer Brad Houston, Gruppo VOP’s founder, is one of our team sponsors. In the off season, we meet at Austin Tri-Cyclist at 2pm on Thursdays for a women’s winter training ride, with varying routes.

 

5. What would be the three most valuable tips you can give to a beginning cyclist that would like to get to the next level?

1. 1. Ride as much as possible, focusing on quality workouts, but remember to enjoy yourself, too. Training and racing are supposed to be fun.
2. 2. If you’re planning to race for the first time, or would like to improve your racing skills, join local group rides to get a feel for pack riding and race tactics without race-day pressure, and don’t hesitate to ask questions.
3. 3. Get involved in the racing community – nothing challenges you as a rider more than competition against stronger or more experienced cyclists. Even by watching a race, like the Driveway Series, you can learn a lot.

 

6. What is the best advice someone ever gave you?
For me personally, the best advice I received as a beginning cyclist was from cycling coach and former pro cyclist Jen McRae. She was describing a 1k flyer, saying that it was important to attack as if there was no doubt that you could get away and stay away. I think that translates to most aspects of bike racing—you have to commit to any move you make 100%, or it won’t be successful. The worst thing you can do in a race situation is be afraid or second guess yourself.

Photo Credit: Flashbax Twenty Three Photography

7. How does the club make you a better rider?
Being on a team changes your outlook on racing. You’re part of something larger than yourself, and that improves everything from your race-day performance to your commitment to everyday training. You always want to do your teammates justice out on the course, and by working for them and with them, you learn a tremendous amount about race tactics and the limits you can push yourself to. There’s nothing better than sharing victory with your team.

Also, our women’s team is coached by cat 1 cyclist Gray Skinner, who leads team practices and provides structured workouts. Having a dedicated and knowledgeable coaching resource improves our performance as a team and as individual riders.

8. What has been your most memorable experience involving your club?
I’m the co-captain of the women’s ATC Racing team, but my husband and I are expecting our first child this May, which means that I’m sitting out most of the 2013 race season. Being sidelined has given me the opportunity to play the role of observer, leaving me with an even greater appreciation for my teammates’ efforts and accomplishments. At the Ultra Provocatorio Invitationale in January, an informal five-person, 98-mile time trial, the determination on my teammates’ faces as they were tackling the last 20 or so miles of the race was something that really inspired me—they were working together, encouraging each other at different points to push through the pain. I love that I’m on a team with a group of women who understand what it means to be athletes and are willing to go the extra mile…or 40, 60, 100 miles, whatever the race distance may be…for one another. Getting back into race shape post-pregnancy is actually something I’ve really been looking forward to—I can’t wait to ride with them again.

Photo Credit: Flashbax Twenty Three Photography

9. How do you keep everyone motivated?
With competitive road cycling, you can’t afford to be too out of shape, or you’ll find yourself off the back in the first few miles. Racing, which offers equal opportunity for embarrassment and glory, is always a good kick in the pants when it comes to training—all you have to do to get yourself out of the door on a less-than-optimal day is think of your competitors. And being on a team just adds extra incentive, because you have an obligation to your teammates to perform at your best.

 

10. Anything we’ve missed that you like our readers to know about?
To learn more about our team, check out our website at www.atcracing.org and read our race reports on the Austin Tri-Cyclist blog. We love to help beginning women cyclists get their feet wet in racing—email us at contact@atcracing.or to join us for a training ride.

1. How did the club come to life?
The Greater Dallas Bicyclists club started in 1970; this will be our 43rd season. It started as just a local group of riders that organized mainly for safer rides.

2. What is your cycling clubs mission?
Our cycling club mission is to promote health and fitness in a social atmosphere, nurture new riders, maintain and develop safer routes in collaboration with local authorities, and to do community service projects as they apply to our other goals.

3. How many members does you team/club have?
We have approximately 400 members.

4. What is your favorite route in your area? Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides/routes in Texas?
Favorite Local routes are: White Rock Lake, the DFW Airport Ride, and the Downtown Dallas Thursday Night Ride.
Top three favorites in Texas are: Easter Hill Country Ride, Lancaster Country Ride (our Rally), and Beauty and the Beast (Tyler Club).

5. What would be the three most valuable tips you can give to a beginning cyclist that would like to get to the next level?
Ride with folks stronger than you, who agree to be patient. Watch your diet, and eat properly for riding. Practice strength building ride exercises on your own to build muscle, better bike handling.

6. What is the best advice someone ever gave you?
Don’t overlap the wheel in front; and always follow the big guys (better drafting!).

7. How does the club make you a better rider?
Group riding is inherently safer. Makes you more disciplined.

8. What has been your most memorable experience involving your club?
Working our Rally, the Lancaster Country Ride. Fun to give back to other riders during this event!

9. How do you keep everyone motivated?
We vary the ride routes a bit, put in new ‘impromptu’ rides often, collaborate on non-riding events to build friendships, and other interests.

Join the Greater Dallas Bicyclists on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greater-Dallas-Bicyclists/182189711819483

Interviewed: Mike Eipper