Coastin’

Our next club meeting will be at 6:30 on Monday, April 2, 2001, at Alfred & Charlie’s, 815 S. New Hope Rd, Gastonia. Newsletter Updates: Contact John Price at 704 867 2669 or at coastineditor@yahoo.com.

 

Ride Schedule  (Beginning after DST on Tuesday, April 3rd)

Monday – start 6:00 – Forestview HS, S. Union Rd (25 miles) course marked with “M”

Tuesday – start 6:00 - Warlick School, Ranlo, (32 miles), pace: 17-19 course marked with “T”

Wednesday – start 6:00 – Forestview HS, S. Union Rd (34 miles) course marked with “W”

Thursday – start 6:00 - Warlick School, Ranlo (32 miles), pace: 17-19 course marked with “H”

Sunday – start 1:30 - Forestview High School, Union Road.  The ride usually follows marked loops, either the 30 mile “W” route or the 50 mile “A” route, and usually has a good turnout. 

 

Multiple Sclerosis Walk - The annual M.S. Walk will be held on Saturday, April 21 @ Lineberger Park in Gastonia.  If interested in being part of the Gaston County Cyclist team, please contact Paula Weant - 865-6193.  We were the largest team last year.  Let's see if we can be even larger this year.  Come walk!!

 

Challenge To Succeed

April 8, 2001 (Sunday) – registration 12:30 pm, mass start 1:30 pm.  Crowders Mtn State Park off Sparrow Springs Rd.  $6 fee ($5 GCC members).  20, 40, & 62 mile ride options.  Ride includes water stops and marked course.  For additional information, see flyer elsewhere in this newsletter or contact Jack Moore at Cycling & Fitness, Gastonia, NC, 704 865 5471, 10-6 weekdays, 10-5 Saturdays.

 

Please Help!  We need 1 more volunteer for this ride to help staff a water stop.  If you can be available between 1pm & 5pm, please contact Jack Moore at Cycling & Fitness, Gastonia, NC, 704 865 5471, 10-6 weekdays, 10-5 Saturdays.

 

 

Relay for Life – April 27th–28th  (American Cancer Society)

This year’s relay for life will be held at Poston Park from Friday evening, April 27th until Saturday evening, April 28th.  Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the event involves teams of supporters walking at designated times around a track to raise money for cancer research and programs.  There’s plenty of entertainment planned.  There’s also a heart-warming ceremony Friday night in which sponsored candles are lit in memory and honor of cancer victims.  Everyone should experience this event at least once.

Our club hasn’t organized a team this year, however, we would encourage everyone to participate in whatever way they can, perhaps as a member of another team or by sponsoring other participants.

 

Race Results -

March 17 - St. Patrick's Day 10K, Asheville - Jim Weant 47:30, Paula Weant 53:34, Ralph Rutledge 54:28,     Melissa Magee 59:30 (3rd in age group).

 

Welcome New Members!

Bobby Baird,  Paula Finney,  Jonathan Whitworth

 

Club Jerseys & Shorts

A big thank-you goes to Matt Derstine for getting our club jerseys and shorts designed and ordered.  After all the requests were received, we had enough orders for men to get both jerseys and shorts.  Although we didn’t have enough orders for women to get shorts, this is the first time we’ve offered jerseys sized especially for women.  Currently, we’re hoping they will be ready about the middle of June.

 

Upcoming Running / Cycling Events

 

Biker-Hiker Weekend  from Jim Weant

Bryson City, Biker hiker weekend is scheduled for July 20 and 21,2001. I have reserved 10 rooms at the Ridge Top Motel (formerly LuCroy) under our club name. we have a special rate of $50 for single and $55 for doubles. They have a limited amount of non smoking rooms so make your reservations early (828-488-6363). Weather permitting, I plan to trail ride Friday evening, hike Saturday morning, ride that afternoon and ride on Sunday. Between all that activity, well you know, rest and such. Come one and all, even if you do not mountain bike, you can tube, raft, shop or just rest and enjoy the mountains.

Editor’s note:  Bryson City is a 15 minute drive from the Tsali Recreational Area in the Nantahala National Forest.  The Tsali Rec Area is home to about 40 miles of the smoothest, least technical, & well marked single track trails that can be found anywhere in the country.  Bordering on Lake Fontana, these trails offer scenic views through a pristine forest.

Assault on Land Harbor

            The fourth annual, Assault On Land Harbor is scheduled for June 2, 2001. The 100 mile ride will begin promptly at 7:00am at Parkdale World Headquarters on South New Hope Road in Gastonia. The ride will end at the Weant and Richardson houses in Linville, NC. To date, I do not have a sag volunteer, but I will probably drop a car, that morning at the bottom of the mountain that some one can drive up. The cost of the ride will $20 nonrefundable and with that we will provide Saturday evening pizza and drinks, as well as breakfast, before our hike on Sunday. Please bring snacks, towels and a sleeping bag unless you have been assigned a bed, then sheets. We should be home that afternoon around 3:00 PM. I will reserve your space upon receipt of your check. They may be mailed to me, Jim Weant, at 2150 Wynbourne Drive, Gastonia NC, 28046.

Warning!  This is a very difficult ride (100 miles, hot weather, & approximately 3000 ft of climbing) and with limited sag support, so you should be well prepared to take on this challenge. I also strongly encourage anyone in the club who wants to start out with us and turn back to do so.

"Spring Forward" Training Ride Saturday, March 31

- Beat the clock and "spring forward" with an exciting ride around the Lake Wylie area. The proceeds from this fully-supported training ride will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 30 and 60 mile options. Cost is $10 if your registration is received before March 31 and $15 on the day of the ride. Registration opens at 7:30 with the ride starting at 9:00 from Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. For more information, contact Angie Forbis at adforbis@cs.com.

 

2001 Come See Me Criterium and Road Race April 7 & 8.

Rock Hill,   http://web.infoave.net/~wmerritt/

 

Tour de Cure Lake Norman Challenge Saturday, April 21

- Registration begins at 6:00 with the ride starting at 7:30. Distance is 62 or 100 miles. For more information, call (800)868-7888 or visit www.diabetes.org/tour.

 

Go For Blood - Saturday, April 21

Enjoy a beautiful 10, 30, or 60 mile tour of Union County. Cost is $5 for the 10 mile ride or $15 for the 30 and 60 mile rides. Minimum sponsorship is $50 with all proceeds going to the Union County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Ride starts at 8:00 am from Weddington High School. For more information and to pre-register, contact Leslie Cook at (704)283-7402 or at (704)821-2918. Everyone who raises more than $100 will be entered to win a mountain bike donated by The Bicycle Shoppe. Food, music, and massages at the end of the ride!

 

Tour de Cashiers - Sunday, April 22

 8:00 registration with the ride starting at 9:00. Distances of 11, 25, 50, or 75 miles. For more information, call (800)903-4401 or by e-mail at mvines@dnet.net.

 

Mountain Bike Mania / Mountain Bike Lite April 28 8am

62 or 42 mile ride on mostly jeep roads in Caldwell County.  You must pre-register to ride.  Get info from www.caldwellcochamber.org (click on special events).  Or contact Cathy Rhuberg, Program Director, 828 726 0616, or cathy@caldwellcochamber.org.

 

3rd Annual Gold Hill Invitational / Bear Creek Ride Saturday, May 5

- Distance of 23 or 43 miles. This free ride crosses Bear Creek six times. Donations will be accepted to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. More information to come, but mark your calendars now. Door prizes, barbecue, and entertainment sponsored by Gold Hill merchants and participating sponsors.

 

5th Annual Chief Ladiga Challenge "Rail Trail" Ride (May 5) and 9th Annual Cheaha Challenge Century (May 6)

 "Toughest ride in the South." For more information, visit www.neabc.org/cheaha.cfm or e-mail mpoe1234@aol.com.

 

Apr 7 - Cooper River Bridge 10K Run, Charleston - 843 792 0345.                                                                         Apr 7 - PawPrint 8K, Fort Mill - 803 802 7199.                                                                                                         

April 8 – Challenge to Succeed 20,40,60 mile ride, Crowders Mtn State Park info:  704 865 5471                     

Apr 14 - Come See Me 5K, Rock Hill - 803 329 9622.

April 18 – Boston Marathon

Apr 21 - Charlotte Observer half-marathon, 10K, & 5K - 877 591 9666.                                                                 Apr 28 - Charlotte Skyline 5K - 704 330 6869.                                                                                                           May 5 - Town Day 5K, Davidson - 704 892 7172.                                                                                                          May 6 - May Day Biathalon & 5K, Morgaton - 828 438 4786

May 19 – Assault on Mt Mitchell (to get a ticket, click on guest book at http://members.aol.com/freewhspa/)

April Showers Bring…  Riding in the Rain

by Will Frischkorn, Professional Cyclist for Mercury-Viatel 

In my opinion, riding in the rain just plain sucks.  First, you have to dress as if it's about twenty degrees colder than it is, and you still get cold.  Second, in fifteen seconds or less, your chamois is soaking wet - no need to describe the problems that stem from that.  Third, especially if you are a contact lens person, you have to wear glasses.  They inevitably become so glazed with gunk that you can barely see the puddles and mud and other run-off ahead.  Fourth, every time you take a sip from your bottle you also get a nice mouthful of road grit and most likely some evil little bits of cow manure from the field right beside you that was just fertilized.  Last, but not by any means the least, when you do get home EVERYTHING is dirty and gross.  After hosing yourself and your bike you peel all the outer layers off and hose them again.  Then you run inside, making a beeline for the shower, but still manage to soak any bit of absorbent carpet in your path.  Stripping off your shorts and undershirt you jump into the nice warm shower and finally feel clean, but only after getting all the road grime out of your ears, nose, and eyes.  Then you remember the shorts that were soaking and mud covered that you just dropped on the floor...

That is pretty much what I think about riding in the rain.  One might say that I'm not especially fond of it, and yup, that's right.  If it's a race, I can deal.  Sometimes I even enjoy it, but when it's just a training ride I'd rather sit on the couch and get slow.

 

$$$   F * O * R     S * A * L * E     $$$

 

Raleigh 700 - white, 54cm frame size, aluminum with carbon fiber fork, less than 20 lbs., Shimano Ultegra 18 speed, clipless peddles - $725.00 - call Jim Weant – 704 865 6193.

 

700 Spinnergy wheels with new tires and choice of freewheel(8 or 9 speed)-$350.00 - call Jim Weant–704 865 6193.