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Page Last Updated 1/13/2010
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News
and General Interest
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12th Annual Polar Bear Metric Century was another
BIG success!!
Ok, it WAS a little cold out there (about 24 degrees at the start - brrrrrrr),
but 250 intrepid riders came out and rode and the weather was clear.
THANKS to the MANY volunteers who made this event another success
AND to those who came and supported the event by riding -- We SALUTE you!!
* Click here to for photos from the event: 2010
Polar Bear Ride Photos
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8-26-09 TTT at Lowes
Motor Speeday - the RRRC road dogs set a new club (team time-trial) record
of 20:52:34.
Awesome effort by Patrick Ahern, Jason Huff, Britt Dinsdale and Earl
(the whip) Gillon. Way to go, guys!!! We're very proud of you!!! An incredible
demonstration of teamwork!!!
Our own Ron Donson shot video of the event -- here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qCidW2D9hM
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Sign up to be on the RRRC Team for the MS-150 in Greenville this year
(October 3-4): RRRC
Team Signup (MS-150)
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An open letter from
Bill Wiseman to the club:
RRRC More Than Just a Cycling Club
Like many bike clubs the Rocky River Road Club is a recreational cycling
club whose objective is to promote cycling activities. The club offers
the opportunity to bring together like-minded people who wish to share
the sport of cycling with others. With an emphasis on fitness riding,
club members believe in nurturing and respecting one another's abilities
and work together to improve cycling skills for safe riding in a group.
What makes the Rocky River Road Club very different from many other clubs
is its involved and caring members. Members that extend their friendship
far beyond the bike activities and show they really care about one another
and the community. The charitable nature of the RRRC members is also very
apparent with the financial aid and volunteer efforts provided to many
of the local charities to help them meet their objectives.
I'm so proud to be a Rocky River Road Club member. I can tell you first-hand
about the generosity of the RRRC members and how they rallied to help
a fellow club member. Just after Thanksgiving 2008, I suffered a serious
cycling accident that resulted in me be being hospitalized and then confined
to a wheelchair for a number of months. Immediately upon hearing of my
accident and situation, members of the RRRC called my wife, Ginnie, offering
help. As soon as they learned that I would be spending time in a wheelchair,
they got busy. A group of club members lead by Chuck Huffstetler, Patrick
Ahern and Tom Soos, built a wheelchair ramp for me.
With the RRRC's Polar Bear ride scheduled for the next weekend, a group
of members unselfishly gave up their Saturday and came together to build
a wheelchair ramp. Lead by Chuck Huffstetler and Patrick Ahern, the team
worked well together, put in a hard day and by late afternoon had completed
a truly impressive 45 foot long ramp with two landings and many unexpected
finishing details. Everyone that sees the ramp is impressed with the design
and quality of the work. This is not the first time the RRRC members have
worked their construction magic. Previously, they built a wheelchair ramp
for Tom Soos, who had also been injured by a cycling-car accident a few
years ago.
Many thanks to the members of the RRRC for your messages of encouragement
and support through this very difficult time, to the construction team
for the special wheelchair ramp to make my recovery easier and quicker
and all those who supported Ginnie with assistance and gifts of food.
I'm so blessed by your friendship and grateful for your many acts of kindness.
The RRRC construction team included:
Chuck Huffstetler, Patrick Ahern, James Alexander, Ron Donson, Earl Gillon,
Andy Good, Mike Gunning, Frank Holder, Mark Hutcheson, David Kingsbury,
Mike Mabry, Tom Soos, Rich Tsui,
As a member I urge you to volunteer and help the club
continue the member and community services. I've always been proud to
be a Rocky River Road Club member and can say that being a member has
many benefits. Real Rocky River Road Club members understand that the
club goes far beyond just the bike.
Thank you fellow Rocky River Road Club members
Bill Wiseman
- Pictures of RRRC club members building Bill's New
Ramp
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2009 Polar Bear
Metric Century Update!
The 11th Annual Polar Bear Metric Century ride went off
without a hitch -- with 464 registered riders in fact -- WOW!
THANKS TO EVERYONE to everyone who came out and rode or
volunteered to make it a success!!
Click here to see Ron's photo's of the event: 2009
PBMC
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2009 Polar Bear
CYCLOCROSS RACE
Saturday January 17th (the weekend AFTER the RRRC Polar
Bear Metric Century) at N. Mecklenburg Park, Huntersville - click
here for details.
Here are the Photos from the event: 2009
Polar Bear Cyclocross Race
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Blood,
Sweat and Gears, 2008 |
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Greek
literature is blessed with many great stories of monumental challenges,
self sacrifice and betrayal. The 2008 edition of the Blood, Sweat and Gears
produced a story that would fit well with the Greek classics. It was the
story of a man's drive to celebrate his birthday with an epic effort on
the roads of the Blue Ridge Mountains. |
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Race day started in the village of Valle Crucis
with more than 1,000 cyclists assembled for the BS&G. A large
group of men, dressed in the glorious colors of the RRRC, were gathered
in the school parking lot planning their strategy for the upcoming
effort. Located in the center of this group was the man they would
carry to victory; David "Il Piranha" Kingsbury. After
a few words the group quickly realized that the pleasant day they
envisioned was not what Il Piranha had in mind. Upon the sound of
the gun firing, the team burst off the starting line to take the
lead of the 1,000.
From this point Il Piranha started driving his team
of 15 men (yes, that's a large team, but this is not a UCI sanctioned
event) to levels of suffering that would have landed most people
in prison. His words were clear and strong, "give me anger
in your pedaling".
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The first sacrificed were be Bob Kerns and Paul Greer.
Their job was to pull our group up Shulls' Mill Rd. and into Blowing Rock.
They did their job well; driving the peleton at an alarming pace. Pleased
with their efforts, they pulled off the lead and drifted to the rear.
Upon reaching Il Piranha's position they looked to him for approval, but
received an unexpected response; his only words were: "you disgust
me".
Next to take the lead was Tom "Il Grande Ungherese" Soos. He
was to deflect all wind from the face of our leader for the next forty
miles. His effort was inspirational. All attempts to pass us were futile
due to the extreme speed Tom generated. But, we all knew his time would
come to an end as we approached Snake Mt. Not known as a climber, Tom
was ordered off the front. As he passed backwards he did not dare to look
at our "task-master" for fear of reproach.
We all feared the Snake and we knew that the next riders chosen to lead
would live in purgatory for the next several miles. But who would it be?
The answer came soon enough when Chuck "Chupollini" Huffstetler
and Lee "Lawn Fairy" Hallman assumed their positions. The two
of them offered a Herculean effort in pulling us up the Snake. Upon reaching
the summit, their usefulness spent, they were discarded and allowed to
join the other "untouchables" at the rear. A series of nameless
faces would now fill the void at the front, sacrificing themselves for
the birthday boy.
The final chapter of our epic struggle was fast approaching as we were
to take a right hand turn onto the road that would lead us to Mast Gap.
It was at this point that Mike
"Herminator" Gunning asked a telling question. Where is David?
We all knew, but only Chupo would find the strength to spit-out the answer.
We have been "short-cutted". Yes, this story had all the elements
of a Greek tragedy; even the betrayal. We rode to the finish, ate our
sandwiches and never interrupted the celebration of the multitudes that
surrounded" Il Piranha".
Happy Birthday David.
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ROCKY RIVER ROAD
CLUB RIDER FIGHTS EPIC BATTLE AT
LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY
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This NASCAR track has seen many great rivalries
in its time; Petty vs. Yarborough Earnhardt vs. Waldrip, but their
battles were minuscule compared to the epic struggle displayed
Wednesday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Chuck Chupollini Huffstetler waged a war against
his inner demons over the ten mile distance that is the Lowe's
Motor Speedway Time Trial.
Children cried at the anger Chupollini applied
to the pedals of his bike; young girls squealed and fainted at
the very sight of his massive legs powering him to unheard-of
speeds down the front stretch.
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"We were convinced that the track
record would be broken" stated
Rick McCall, Director of Marketing for the CCTTA. But, this monumental
effort came to
a disastrous end on the last lap when the shear torque of pedaling shattered
the chain of Chupollini's
bike into a thousand pieces.
"There would be no joy in Mudville; for poor Chupollini had struck
out".
Asked for a comment after the failed attempt Chupollini would only say;
"get me a stronger chain".
The Lowe's Motor Speedway Time Trial Series consist
of nine races held from April through October.
The Carolina Cycling Time Trial Association, an all volunteer, non-profit
organization, conducts the races.
The races attract a wide range of competitors from beginner to state,
national and world champions.
If you would like more information on the CCTTA and its races, please
visit our website: www.carolinatt.org.
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Click
here to view pictures from the Lowes Time Trials
What a great
showing we had. Check out these great pictures from your hard
core teammates. Thanks to Ron Donson for taking the great pictures.
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The
Rocky River Road Club is a USCF sanctioned club based in Northern Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina. The club consists of racing and social riders
whose primary goal is to promote the sport of cycling by encouraging safe
and responsible cycling.
The club sponsors the Annual
Polar Bear Metric Century which benefits the Ada Jenkins Community
Center located in Davidson, NC.
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If you are out on local roads
and have problems with a motorist you can call 704-878-3100 to obtain
immediate assistance. It's always a good idea to carry a cell phone
when cycling.
Click
this link to report incidents of Road Rage or Aggressive Drivers
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Want to be added to the RRRC
Friends mailing list?
Click this link and
we will add your e-mail to the RRRC Friends mailing list.
We periodically send e-Mails informing members and friends of special
training rides, events, etc.
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Click
here to notify us of any broken links etc.
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Rocky River Road Club
PO Box 1435
Davidson, NC 28036
www.RockyRiverRoadClub.org
Contact us at:
rockyriverroadclub@gmail.com
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