Coastin’

Our next club meeting will be at 6:30 on Monday, July 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 (& Run) Schedule (Through September, 2001)

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

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

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

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

Sunday – start 6:30am – Bi-Lo @ Hudson & Union, ride 2-4 hours, 18 mph avg, no course is marked but will usually ride in Crowders Mtn & Kings Mtn area. Call John Price 704-867-2669 Saturday evening until 10pm to confirm plans because this ride will sometimes be canceled because of other plans.

Sunday – start 1:30pm - Forestview High School, Union Road. The ride usually follows marked loops, either the 30 mile “W” route or the 50 mile “A” route. Warning – turnout for this ride generally diminishes from June through September many people are making special weekend plans or riding in the

Monday & Thursday run – start 6:00pm – Food Lion @ Ashbrook S. New Hope Rd pace & distance will depend on who shows up.

Club Jerseys & Shorts –Wednesdays

If you can make the Wednesday night ride, wear your club jerseys and shorts!

New Member

Steven Bartley of Tega Cay has joined the club. Steven also made a donation to support the bike club. Thanks Steven and welcome to the club!

Race Results

Murray’s Mill Bike Ride June 6, 2001: Participating were Margot Rott & Troy Bush, Paula & Jim Weant, Dorothy & Ed Keane, Melissa Magee & Ralph Rutledge, Suzanne Clemmer & Ronald Hutchins, and John Price. Ride distances of 33 & 64 miles were offered on an ideal June day with temperatures below 80 deg. The ride fee included great rest stops & lunch and ice cream after the ride. This is an annual event so plan on it next year!

Special congratulations go to Suzanne Clemmer. Already an accomplished runner, Suzanne completed her first “organized” ride at Murray’s Mill. Nice going, Suzanne.

Blood, Sweat & Gears June 23, 2001: The 3^rd annual edition of this event sponsored by the Watauga Red Cross featured 50 & 102 mile ride options. About 350 riders participated, with approximately 300 doing the century route which featured approximately 10,000 feet of climbing, including the tortuous climb and treacherous descent of Snake Mountain. Finishing 1^st was Chris Harkey in 4:52.

Participating from our club were the following: Bill Gintert 5:26 9^th overall, Troy Bush 5:51 42^nd, John Price 6:07 61^st, Margot Rott 6:23 (top 10 for females), Jack LaMarre.

Though doping controls and hematocrit testing haven’t filtered down to our ranks from the professional racing scene (yet), Margot decided not to take any chances on having too many red blood cells and donated blood less than 3 days before the event.

4^th Annual Assault on Land Harbor June 2, 2001: Sponsored by GCC’s Weant & Richardson families, the ride covered 93 miles from Gastonia to Linville. The day started cloudy and turned clear, staying unseasonably cool for the entire day. Riding some or all of the ride were Troy Bush & Margot Rott, Jim & Paula Weant, Ralph Rutledge & Melissa Magee, John Price, Chris Baucom* 1^st time rider, Michele Jarbeau, Jack Moore, Tim Knight, Scott Moss* 1^st time rider, Hal & Charlene Angel, and Chuck Richardson.

Thanks go to Jim Weant for organizing the event & weekend activities, marking the course, & providing return transportation, the Weants & Richardsons for their hospitality in Linville, Chuck Richardson & Tim Knight for cooking pancakes Sunday morning, and Paula Weant for providing the Official participant certificates.

A special thank-you goes to Ronald Hutchins & Suzanne Clemmer for providing a rolling support vehicle all the way to Linville!

Upcoming Cycling Events

Biker-Hiker Weekend (July 20-22, 2001) 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.

Time Trials Lowe’s Motor Speedway (June 29, July 27, August 15, September 20) Sponsored by the Tarheel Cyclists and Humpy Wheeler of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. 10 miles long. $5 members, $8 non-members. For more info. see http://www.tarheelcyclists.org or call John Talani 704-504-1875.

For June 29 event, gates open at 7pm, registration closes & event starts at 7:50 pm

For July 27, gates open at 5:00 pm, ride starts at 6:30 pm. Sign in and enter at tunnel and proceed as directed.

July 4 – Fabulous 4^th Metric Century Tryon Middle School, Polk County, NC 8:00 am $20 http://www.polkcounty.org Many area riders do this event each year. The route is very hilly, and most people want a special granny gear. The route travels some beautiful countryside, and is very well supported.

July 8^th Dog Days of Dallas Metric Century by Gaston County Cyclists

Date: Sunday, July 8^th Time: Registration 7:00 am – 7:50 am; Ride starts at 8:00 am

Location: Courthouse Square, Dallas Cost: $7 for GCC/GRR Members; $8 for Non-members

Course: 25-, 45 & 65 mile routes

See the flier enclosed or call Melissa Magee @ 704-263-4542.

MS 150 Breakaway to the Beach, Sept 22 & 23

Rich Perlman is inviting all club members, friends and family to join his team, the Coasters, for the MS-150 Bike Tour, Breakaway to the Beach this September 22 and 23. This is a huge event, typically 1500 riders, and extremely well supported with SAG and great volunteers. Most importantly, it supports a wonderful organization, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. For more info, contact Rich at 704-813-1893 or perlman@cadpath.com, or the MS Society at 704-525-2955. You can register by phone. Remember to register as a member of the Coasters team!

Other Rides

July 4 Fabulous 4^th (63 miles & hilly) Tryon, NC 828-859-6340 www.polkcounty.org

July 4 9^th Annual Firecracker 100k Cary, NC www.thespincycle.com

July 4 One-time-ride 30-35 miles (maps provided, no support, pack a picnic lunch, swimming afterwards) Duke Power State Park, 8:00am. Directions: I77 N to Exit 42, follow signs to swimming area of park. Joe Browder 704-814-4027.

July 15 NCBC Summer Rally Ted @ 919-362-1832 or www.ncbikeclub.org

Aug. 4 Tour de Furniture, High Point, NC Sponsored by Red Cross 336-885-9121 ledbetterj@northstate.net

Aug. 11 Off the Cliffs Metric, Kinston, NC 252-523-6881

Aug. 11 Bike Fest 2001: Rural Heritage Tour Hillsborough, Durham, NC 919-687-5066 www.tarwheels.org

Aug. 18 Blue Ridge Brutal 100 W. Jefferson, NC 336-246-4483 ashecivictr@skybest.com or www.ashecivic.com

Aug. 19 Hilly Hellacious 100, Asheville, NC 828-891-9658 http://www.blueridgebicvcleclub.org

Aug. 26 Dog Daze Ride, Greensboro, NC 336-852-3972 blitzcat@mindspring.com or www.twbc.com

Sept. 6-9 Great Peanut Tour, Emporia, VA 804-348-4215 www.3rddoor.com/gpt.htm

Sep. 16 Bridge2Bridge, Lenoir, NC 828-726-0616 www.caldwellcochamber.org or cathy@caldwellcochamber.org

Sep. 29 Daniel Hibbits Memorial Joy Ride for Autism, Winston-Salem 336-725-3911 FulpTxServices@cs.com

Oct. 6-13 Cycle NC “Mountain to the Coast" 919-361-1133 cyclenc@mindspring.com or http://www.cyclenorthcarolina.org

Oct. 13 Tour de Pig Lexington, NC 336-956-2952 kav@barbecuefestival.com

Oct. 14 Press on Regardless Gaston County Cyclists, Doug Fleming 704-854-9899 mrnobody @ gridusa.net

Oct. 20 3^rd Annual Crowder Mt. Leaf Tour Picnic 30-45 ml leisurely ride; pack a lunch for a stop on Crowder Mt. Tarheel Member contact: John Talani 704-504-1875jtalani@carolina.rr.com

Upcoming Running Events - North Carolina

6/30/01 Summer Breeze 5k Charlotte www.runcharlotte.com

7/14/01 Athletic Quilt Street Light 5k Morganton rmurray@hci.net

7/21/01 Harrisburg 5k Harrisburg 704-455-5368

7/28/01 Run For Your Life 4-mile run Charlotte www.runcharlotte.com

8/11/01 Great Waldensian Footrace 5k & 10k Valdese 828-879-2116

Upcoming Running Events - South Carolina

7/4/01 FireCracker@8:30am 5k Hilton Head Mark Weisner 843/689-3440

8/4/01 Hot Summer Night@6:30pm 5k Columbia Mark Bedenbaugh 803/799-4786
8/25/01 Race For the Ark@7:45am 5k Summerville Lori Herman 843/851-2591
8/31/01 Midnight Flight@9:30pm 5k Anderson Mike Morris 864/261-6275
9/1/01 Huntington Beach Road Race@9:00am 5k Murrells Inlet Helmut Schmoock 843/357-6929
9/3/01 Applefestival Classic@7:30am 10k Westminster Wayne Terry 864/972-3354
9/22/01 Run For Sight@8:45am 10k Mullins Dr. Franklin Mason 843/464-9652
10/5/01 Harvest Moon@8:00pm 5k Parris Island Bill Brown 843/525-3301
10/13/01 (?)Taco Bell Cure@8:00am 5k Florence Jimmy Tassios 843/777-3093
10/20/01 (?)Ocktoberfest@9:00am 5k Walhalla Bill Nichols 864/638-3906
10/27/01 Great Pumpkin@9:00am 5k Rock Hill Dan Wellbaum 803/329-6913
10/27/01 Governor Cup@tba 13.1m Columbia Donna Desportes 803/929-1996
10/27/01 BI-LO Run For Kids@9:00am 10k Greenville Gordon Seay 864/467-0085

You know you are a Bike Weenie if...

You hear someone had a crash and your first question is

"How's the bike?"

You have stopped even trying to explain to your wife why

you need two bikes...you just go buy another one and figure

it will all work out in the divorce settlement.

You buy your crutches instead of renting.

You convert your car's brake & gas pedals to clipless.

You refuse to buy a couch because that patch of wallspace

is taken up by the bike.

You have more money invested in your bike clothes than in

the rest of your combined wardrobe.

Biker chick means black spandex, not leather, and a

Marinoni, not a Harley.

You empathize with the roadkill.

Despite all that winter weight you put on, you'll skim weight by buying titanium components.

You use wax on your chain, but not on your car.

Your bike bag consists of an outdated Power Bar, one tire

lever, a questionable patch kit, a run-over spoke wrench, an

all-in-one, a rusty alien wrench, change with god knows

what stuck on it, a couple of tubes without a clue which one

has a hole, and that peanut butter sandwich you swore you

brought on the ride two weeks ago, all tucked into a bag the

size of your fist.

You yell "On Your Left!" when passing another car.

Your bike has more miles on its computer then your car's

odometer.

You wear your riding gloves when driving your car.

Your bikes are worth more than your car.

You buy a mini-van and immediately remove the rear seats

to allow your bike(s) to fit.

When you move to a new area the first thing you look for is a

bike shop.

You have more bike jerseys than dress shirts.

You take your bike along when you shop for a car - just to

make sure the bike will fit inside.

You start yelling at cars to "hold your line."

You view crashes as an opportunity to upgrade components.

You clean your bike(s) more often then your car.

You can't seem to get to work by 8:30 AM, even for important meetings, but you don't have any problems at all meeting your buddies at 5:30 AM for a hammerfest.

You spend weeks during the summer spraying arrows on the

sides of roads.

You can tell your wife, with a straight face that it's too hot to

mow the lawn and then bike off for a century.

When driving your car you lean over the steering wheel, just

like an aerobar.

Your kids bring a rear derailleur to "Show & Tell".

You tailgate a semi-trailer to get the drafting effect.

You use the Yakima or Thule Fit catalog to pick your next new car instead of Consumer Reports.

You and your significant other have and wear identical riding clothes.

You regard inter-gender discussion of your genital pain /size

/shape /utility as normal.

Your New Years resolution is to put more miles on your bike

than your car, and you do it