After waking up in the morning, eating a small breakfast and having a big glass of water there is one thing that sticks out as something I could argue to be the best activity to start my day – bicycling. There are many reasons: maybe it’s the young teenager in me wanting to go out into the world to explore; or its the adrenaline junky chasing a dopamine high; or it’s the utopian in me wishing I was living in a largely bicycle friendly city – IE: Copenhagen Denmark or Amsterdam Netherlands; or possibly the health nut pursuing the fountain of youth. But honestly what I believe it is… the cyclist in me reaching out for adventure!!
Adventure I found recently as a cycling spectator when Roanoke, Virginia played host to the the 2023 Amateur National Cycling Championship. It was an adventure just watching! Roanoke VA is doing an excellent job as this is the second year (2022 video). Over the course of a few days athletes had the chance to partake in various cycling challenges. Arguably the most spectacular event was on Saturday night.
The final event of the amateur road national championship, Saturday night, was the men’s amateur crit race. It was a one mile loop, 77 competitors, for 75 minutes on the fastest self-powered two wheeled cycles made. These competitors had likely been strategically cycling and training for years. As a physical therapist I can tell you that the commitment to cardiorespiratory improvement and success in an event such as this requires each competitor to train more than 3 days a week on a bike for hours. The amount of time each day likely varied but ultimately they needed to train to go at approximately 60%+ of their max effort for seventy five daunting minutes and have enough energy at the end to sprint – Not to mention how high their max effort had to be which requires a combination of genetic and trained skill.
This feat shows self control and obedience to an exercise plan that draws my admiration. Their physical prowess on a bicycle is mesmerizing and a true testament to what the human body is capable of doing given the right stimulus. If you’ve never seen this sort of spectacle don’t miss the opportunity if it arises again … and at the end, smile, shake the hand or generally just support those who’ve just completed the task. Or, if you really know cycling, ring that cow bell you brought along!
I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of the riders and asking them a couple questions after the race… In fact, we abandoned our chairs to cheer on the last lap and one of competitor found himself a seat in our chair!
A short interview with each of them revealed some important information. Both of these men travelled on their own dollar to race here including – eats, hotel stays and entertainment. Yes, they are both sponsored but the winnings aren’t significant enough to cover their spendings. This means they do this in addition to their main jobs. That’s a serious commitment to fitness to achieve these results. These guys are phenomenal. If you’d like to learn more the videos below are examples of some of the younger crew who got to race in these races covered by NorCal Cycling‘s YouTube page. Jeff is an excellent commentator and educator about the sport and what it takes to be involved.
As for me, I will just enjoy cycling as a hobby going forward. If you’d like to learn more about the sport locally please leave a comment, reach out, and click the links below…
– First, and my favorite, as we have some mutual friends and similar interests Just the Right Gear
– Liberty University Cycling Coach and their Phenom
– Bike Rental and Local Adventures Roanoke Mountain Adventures
– Anyone from Roanoke might know these guys
– Interested in good health?
– Are you in Roanoke VA and have any injury to rehab?
– More about me? Please click my about page
Dr. Dan, you’re the man!!! This blog is cool! Nice work!
Thanks Rick. It’s a start for sure! Let me know if you’d like to contribute ideas, stories, etc.