FREE! VOL 41 ISSUE 8 41 YEARS OF CYCLING COVERagE BICYCLEpapER.COM WINTER 2012 BOOK REVIEW Road to Valor, a True Story REVIEW BY CLAIRE BONIN necessity — he needed a way to com- mute to school to finish his 6th grade have read many cycling books about education. Always taking the longest Ilegendary and famous cyclists. and hardest way to his destination, he Biographies, autobiographies, ego- soon attracts the attention of the local boosting or heart wrenching recol- bike shop owner who couldn’t shake lections of the good, the bad and the him off his wheel, even when everyone ugly, we’ve seen many ex and current else had been dropped. However, his pros take to prose to tell their stories, father wouldn’t let him race until he some with more success than others. reached his 17th birthday, due in part Although few are really gripping to Bartali’s fragile health. and fascinating, Road to Valor is one Turning pro only four years after of them. attending his first race, Bartali’s un- The book is about the legendary orthodox and jumpy climbing style Italian racer Gino Bartali, a three-time wreaks havoc on his competitors who Giro d’Italia and two-time Tour de couldn’t match his constant change of France winner. What makes Bartali’s pace. Fame and wealth came along, story unique is not only the 10-year as did his younger brother Giulio time span between his 1938 and 1948 who followed in his footsteps — the PDX Handcycling Series — Tour victories, but what he did during two would dream of dominating the PDX Handcycling Series — the war and how he inspired a nation racing scene, sharing victories around on the brink of collapse. the world — that was until Giulio Putting More People on Bikes From a young age, Bartali was died in 1936 following a crash during An initiative of Oregon Disability Sports and Incight the eight-week series enjoyed tremendous success and should fascinated by bicycles. Learning to an amateur race. After considering return in 2013. Photos by Alex Broc of Lil©Photography ride in secret, he earns money to get quitting, Bartali decides to pursue his first bike at the age 12, mostly out of SEE "BOOK" ON PAGE 10 BY CAILEY NICKERSON quite a few attendees brought their own handcycles, RACING making it apparent that people were not only excited ortland International Raceway featured a new sport about trying this new sport, but many in the disabled Casual CX ... Pon its track this summer, catching the attention of community were already hip to it. locals and professional athletes alike. With an encourag- The initial goal of the series was to introduce hand- No Commitment, Just Fun ing push from nonprofits Incight and Oregon Disability cycling to the area and give an opportunity for those Sports (ODS), handcycling has made its stake in the with varying degrees of mobility the chance to try a BY CHRISTINE SOJA in a cross-specific workout such as Portland community. new sport. What Incight and ODS weren’t expecting, Wednesday nights at the velodrome. Every Tuesday night from July 10 to August 28, and what the series somewhat became, was a platform have a confession to make: I am a Yoga helps with strength and balance, Oregon Bicycle Racing Association (OBRA) donated for trained handcyclists to connect with each other and Ineophiliac. That is to say, I like to which is key to maneuvering the bike one of their scheduled hours on the track to the PDX share their experiences. try new things. I get bored with rou- over and around obstacles and slick Summer Handcycling Series to help promote the use of Wilde says the initial turnout started with 15 people tine and I like a new challenge. I also off-camber turns. handcycles. Jennifer Wilde of Incight, an organization on the first day and reached 50 during week four when have a second confession to make: I I have made a special place for that helps people with disabilities live more indepen- Drew Carney of KGW Portland covered the series. Nei- am fiercely competitive. This can be ‘cross in my heart, knowing that I dently, says sharing the track made for an all-inclusive, ther Suhr nor Wilde expected such a successful turnout. a challenge because it’s difficult for want it, but also acknowledging that community-oriented experience. Paralympians Craig “We weren’t even sure we’d make it through the me to get good at anything before I the responsibilities of family and work Blanchette and Will Groulx were also present every [planned] eight weeks,” Wilde says. become bored with it and then move render me unable to fully commit. So week, pedaling the two-mile loop alongside first timers As word spread, each Tuesday saw more people at- onto something new. But, sometimes let’s be casual. I’m here to have a good and the recently hooked. tend and age, gender and abilities ranged from adults a girl just needs to have a little fun. time, and I know that ‘cross is OK Blanchette, a two-time national handcycling cham- to children, the able-bodied and to those with various It’s hard to find the time to get into with that. Let’s try not to complicate pion, holds 21 wheelchair racing world records, while mobile disabilities. The mixed demographic, Wilde says, shape, and too easy to get lost in the things, no strings attached. I’m here Groulx is a member of the Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby helped tremendously in regards to teaching and inspiring endless cycle of not feeling fit enough to enjoy myself, get a solid workout, Team and recently took home his second medal in the 2012 people new to the sport. to compete. Then along comes cyclo- and go home satisfied. I prefer calling London Paralympics. He cross-trains with handcycling. She recalls one family — a father, his paraplegic cross, the perfect sport for this type it "Casual CX." Guidance from these pros and participation was free daughter and her sister — trying handcycling together of weekend warrior. Casual CX is a commitment to of charge; the only requirement for attendance was hav- for the first time. “The PDX series,” she says, “gave the Category 4 and beginner races are show up, do my best and be happy ing a properly fitted helmet. ODS supplied the majority paraplegic girl a chance to try something new in a safe just 30-45 minutes long, about half the with that; to commit to just one race of the handcycles, which ranged in models to fit varying environment, and her family a chance to share a perspec- duration of a spin-class. Cross training at a time, ride my heart out, and re- needs. Though the series was put on with the novice in tive and experience they might not have had otherwise.” during the week can consist of run- member that results are only another mind, Trisha Suhr, executive director of ODS, notes that SEE "HANDCYCLING" ON PAGE 6 ning and biking, maybe participating SEE "CASUAL CX" ON PAGE 3 AROUND THE REGION HEALTH INDOOR TRAINING Find out about North Fork, Cholesterol: Why should You take care of your bike Muddbunnies and Siskiyou cyclists know about their HDL all year, now it's your turn for Velo's latest activities. and LDL? maintenance. BUTTER BUTTER PG 2 PG 4 BUTTER PG 9 AROUND THE REGION Muddbunnies Expand their Reach The Future Seems Bright BY CAILEY NICKERSON weekly rides on trails including Tiger Mountain and Duthie Hill Bike Park near Issaquah, as for the North Fork Trail A new breed of bunny has well as Tapeworm in Renton. BY CAILEY NICKERSON According to Diana Lofflin, the Washington surfaced in Vancouver, BC. Diana Walker, operations manager and co- State DNR recreation communication man- Conditioned for speed and owner of the organization, says the rides will be As trail users, we don’t often question the ager, unauthorized trail building may cause agility, their unique love of led by Washington residents Emily Sabelhaus, ownership of our favorite spots. On a hike or environmental degradation and pose liability mud and tolerance for pain Christina Chacaron, and Sasha Visconti, who ride, we might come across a little slice of para- issues. Whether the trails and structures were set them apart from others are current Muddbunnies members. They plan dise free of human vestige and can’t help but feel safe was thus irrelevant to the DNR’s reasons of their kind. Spotted by trail to move on to clinics and trail maintenance as a sense of private ownership. “This is mine,” we for closing them down. users in the Canadian Pacific popularity increases. Walker and other mem- think, even though somewhere region, rumors have spread bers are confident the new chapter will mirror in the back of our minds, reason of their migration to the Seattle area. You have its predecessor’s. reminds us we are all too wrong. been forewarned. Meet Muddbunnies: the all “Women everywhere are dying for some- Residents of Whatcom County, ladies’ mountain biking club of North Shore thing like this,” she explains. quickly becoming a mountain Vancouver. Despite the rugged nature of Vancouver’s bike mecca for Washington State, A squad focused on encouraging fe- North Shore trails, Muddbunnies is not exclu- have recently been forced to face male mountain bik- sive to the aggres- this reality. ers, Ryan Petersen sive biker. Walker On April 2, 2012, the Wash- founded Muddbun- says their mission ington State Department of nies in 2005.