February 2017 Edition

From The Permian Basin Bicycle Association

Fas

Remember to renew your membership: here or by visiting Peyton’s Bikes

PBBA News and Events page 2

Big Bend and Terlingua A Ride To Remember page 3

“Cycling a Love Affair” page 6 And a little something for the rest of us ;-) page 8

Acknowledgments and Thanks page 9

February: Big Bend, Bikes, and Love

A Bicycle in the Wind

On a bicycle, freedom's flight Pedaling 'cross the horizon

Reflections of blue in my sight With dreams of lassoing the sun

A girl's spinning wheels leave the ground On a bicycle, freedom's flight

O'er the treetops without a sound Veils of darkness fall out of sight

Wishing in the morning star's light Bright tomorrows, I wait to greet

On a bicycle, freedom's flight My pink beauty with flowered seat Dark days return and tides do rise Still, memories soothe in the night

Two wheels like wings of butterflies On a bicycle, freedom's flight

Copyright © Rhonda Johnson-Saunders

Events

PBBA Club Meeting - February 20th

http://www.pbbatx.com/

Mellow Johnny’s Classic - February 25th-26th http://www.tmbra.org/

Bent Wheel Bash - March 5th http://www.tmbra.org/

PBBA Round Up Ride - March 4th http://www.pbbatx.com/

Texas Cycling Camp with Chris Gescheidle - March 30th - April 2nd

http://motionfit.net/texas-c

ycling-camp/

Club News and Upcoming Events Please come Join us for the PBBA Mountain Bike /

Road Bike Round Up Ride.

Where: Start at the Odessa Mountain Bike Park and go for

approximately a 2 hour Road ride or Mountain Bike Ride.

When: March 4th, 2017, Start riding at 11 AM and Finish around

1 PM.

Lunch and Refreshments will be provided after the ride by the

PBBA at the Mountain Bike Park Pavilion. This is a great

opportunity to meet and socialize with your counterparts, talk

about biking, and make plans for your next big epic ride.

Steve Mitchell – MTB Director

PBBA February Club Meeting

Pasta Dinner 7PM ($5) Program/Meeting 7:30 PM

Abby Magness, Fitness Director at MIssion Fitness will be

presenting a program on Cross Training during the off season.

This is a program that all cyclist can benefit from. After the

program she will answer any questions and work with you hands

on on some of the exercises.

Abby who is the Fitness Director at Mission Fitness Center has a

BS in Exercise and Sports Science, Minor in Nutrition from Texas

Tech University She has Certification from the American College

of Sports Medicine – Health Fitness Specialist, Group Exercise,

200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher, CPR-AED

Kelly Brammer – Programming Director

Big Bend and Terlingua: A Ride to Remember Every year in mid February Kelly Brammer hosts one of the best rides

in West Texas. It’s a ride that tests the mettle of even the toughest

riders. But it isn't just for the billy goats and juggernauts. It is a fully

supported ride that rivals any other in the state for beauty and fun.

From sweeping vistas to intimate dinners and hanging out on the

porch for a post ride (sometimes raucous) gathering on the porch the

Big Bend Ride has something for everyone. The scenery and

camaraderie make this one of the best rides each year. From

watching the sun rise over Bee Mountain to seeing the year’s first

blue bonnets this is always a ride to remember and in my mind it is

the ride that starts the year. Once you've been to Big Bend the

cycling year has truly begun!

I am always inspired and amazed to watch people climb into

Chisos’ Basin. Doug Randel as usual climbs up with such

smooth cadence that he almost seems not to be putting any

effort into it. I pass him by on my first SAG trip to the lodge.

Doug isn’t the first into Chisos’ though that claim goes to the

young guns. Most of VIM racing has made the ascent and

even though it isn’t a race there is a lot of pride riding on who

gets to the lodge first. As Charlie Adams says: “When you get

two people on bikes, especially young fellas, it almost always

turns into a race.” I don’t know the “official” tally but the

rumor I heard is that it was Oscar Salazar who edged out the

competition with an epic downhill run to the lodge.

Sally Owen is almost at the top, just one switchback away from conquering the beast of Chisos’

climb. I stop and she asks me if I know where the hard part is. If you haven’t made this climb let

me tell that it has already been hard. She has already beaten the beast, she just doesn't know it

yet. So I fib and tell her that the worst is over. It mostly is but there is no point in psyching her out

about the steep switchback around the corner. The suffering is about to be worth it because Sally

has pushed herself on her two legs to the top of the mountain and one of the best views in Texas.

Sally wasn't the only Big Bend rookie to conquer Chisos’ Climb. Dan and Shauna Saxton brought

along Gary Wilson (pictured right with Doug Randel) who made a

great showing and cycled with a constant grin. Even the climb up to

Chisos’ as brutal as it wasn’t enough to dampen his smile and

enthusiasm.

Anyone who has ever ridden with Doug can tell you what a great

cyclist he is and how he often slows down and offers good words and

encouragement. This year a lot of people made the climb and for

the most part it was done safely though there were a few bumps and

bruises do to the switchback turns and leftover deicing materials

from the recent cold weather. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt

and everyone who started the ride finished it under their own

power.

I owe everyone an apology here because I almost missed out on

getting a picture of one of the most epic sights of the entire

weekend, however Von Doria was kind enough to supply us with the picture below.

After lunch I went out to catch the lead pack of young guns and check up on them. I’m an

experienced SAG driver and I usually

have a pretty good idea of how far

different riders will be but I kept going

and going and I wasn’t seeing the lead

pack at all. A full 8 miles farther than I

ever expected I caught up with them.

Rocketing along the desert bottom like

a perfectly balanced machine was a

double pace line. It was mostly made up

of VIM racing but several other riders

were working with them. I slowed my

truck but not much and just followed

along watching them working together

seamlessly and fluidly like a single being

flying across the landscape. It was a brilliant reminder that at its heart cycling is and will always be

a team sport. There was nothing of the individual in what these cyclists were doing. It was all

about the group and everyone was floating along in this two wheeled peloton of perfection. Hats

off to VIM racing and the rest of the young guns.

As tradition holds every group that got back to the Big Bend Resort and Adventures lodge stopped

in on the porch and entry to enjoy post ride recovery drinks that ranged from specialized

concoctions to chocolate milk and some decidedly more adult beverages. It is always a blast to

hang out with the different groups and listen in to all of the recaps and tales. It is an organic

gathering that lasts right up to dinner. People come and go freely and often other tourists stop in

and visit. We met australians, yankees, and even a guy who just returned from Qatar after 30 years

and may or may not have stolen Jasha’s beer.

I went on with this longer than I intended too and I didn’t

cover one hundreth of all the fun we had. Every year I leave

Big Bend wishing that we had more time. As usual Kelly had

arranged for a fantastic dinner and post dinner party filled

with fun and laughter. Again they were very organic affairs

with people wandering in and out. One group celebrated

Oscar Salazar’s birthday while another group of celebrated

Doug and Linda Randel’s 24th wedding anniversary. On

sunday many people went to Lajitas for mountain biking.

There were groups for newbies and more experienced riders

alike. Those who prefer the road went on the second route

toward the vista overlooking Santa Elena canyon. Once again I

have to say a huge thank you to Kelly Brammer, I love this

ride! And here are two of my favorite views. - R. Sloan

Cycling A Love Affair I had a lot of plans to write this vignette of cycling love stories since February is the month of love. But when I set out to collect the stories I found something richer and better than what I’d hoped. I talked to several couples and missed out on one couple in particular that I wanted to interview. However I think I have enough to go by and hope that you are as inspired by these stories as I am.

The first couple I talked to were Pauline Lee and James Mitchell. Prior to this interview I’d never met James but I already knew Pauline from the Midland Triathlon Group now known as 432 Endurance. Pauline is a quiet and unassuming young woman...until you get her on a bike. Pauline on a bike is a force of nature. Ever humble and always kind Pauline is quick to tell you about how and when she met James. They were introduced at a group ride hosted by their employer. Pauline rode it on her “college commuter” and struggled the whole way. She asked around for advice and said that she was quickly directed to James who she was told had helped a lot of people find the right bike. As seems to be the case there was no specific intention to fall in love or form a relationship. Instead they went bike shopping and shopping and shopping. Eventually they took a road trip to Austin where they found the perfect bike. It was on the way back that Pauline says she had her aha moment. She said that riding back she thought of what a great guy

James was. Not just for helping her but for his solid reputation as a cyclist who was always willing to help other people out. She said that there was a kindness and genuineness to James that just impressed her. Poor James never stood a chance. Humble and quiet she may be but Pauline is a fierce competitor and as focused as a laser guided missile once she makes up her mind to pursue a goal. Now don’t get the wrong impression in this case Pauline’s goal wasn’t to make James her boyfriend...oh no her goal was to make herself into a competitive rider. So after buying the perfect bike they started training and riding together. James for his part says that he didn’t have that aha moment where all at once he just knew. Instead it came to him over hours and long miles. Neither of them can point to that magic moment where they fell in love. Instead they just gradually grew together. Pauline noticed that James always rode at a pace that pushed her but never hard enough to lose her. She felt the respect and caring in that gesture. James for his part found that his enjoyment of cycling was magnified exponentially when he shared the experience with Pauline. Together they grew closer and cycling so central to their meeting remains central to their relationship now. Ask either one of them what they love best and both will tell you that it is riding with the other. For Pauline she fell in love with cycling and James...but I’m still not sure in what order.

Just about anyone who has made a Wednesday night or Sunday afternoon ride from Peyton’s has met Danette Beals. Danette is an unofficial and natural ambassador of cycling and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Bike MS rides. Danette is so friendly and outgoing that she even got me to come out of hiding and get on my bike. Danette’s love for cycling is infectious and highly contagious. Spend an hour riding with her and she’ll have you training for an MS 150 before you know it. So it is only fitting that much like Pauline, it was love that led Danette to cycling. Danette’s husband Ray has MS. Before they got married Ray had told Danette about having MS and if you know nothing else about Danette know this: she has grit and she is not intimidated by anything. She took it in stride and wasn’t about to let that deter her from marrying the man she loved. She said that a lot of people asked her if she was sure that she knew what she was getting into and she assured them all that she was. However she said that the week she Ray married that he had an MS episode and she got her baptism by fire. Where some people might have broken

Danette dug in and started gearing up to fight. She researched MS and discovered the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and decided to get involved. She started with Walk MS but two people were about to change her world. Andy and Betty Shaffer introduced Danette to bike MS. Ray laughs and mentions how Danette was intimidated (she gives him a look that says nothing intimidates her) by the seats and how uncomfortable everyone looked. She decided in 2012 to go see Andy and Betty off on the Cactus and Crude MS 150. She said that she was very moved by the experience and that they decided to meet everyone in Big Spring for the day 1 dinner. Both Ray and Danette talk about the overwhelming experience of the dinner the camaraderie and passion of the cyclists. Danette was hooked and didn't even realize it yet. She talked to Andy and Betty about giving it a shot. They were very encouraging and she credits them with getting her started on the road to being the cyclist that she is today. They started training in the fall and Danette quickly found that she loved cycling. They trained off and on through the fall and spring. Danette was uncharacteristically filled with doubts and worry about whether or not she could ride the distance. Again she credits Andy and Betty with riding with her and teaching her techniques and skills, but she also credits them with believing in her and teaching her the most important part of riding an MS event: the people you ride for. Andy and Betty are well known for reminding people that you only have to suffer for a few hours on the ride and then it's over but the person who has MS is stuck with it until we find a cure.

So the big day came and Danette started out with all of the adrenaline but she says she was a bundle of nerves. Ray tells it differently. Ray said that Danette showed up ready. He said that she had all of the outward calm of a seasoned pro. When the ride started he said she took off like a rocket and never faltered a bit. For Danette that first ride comes down to one thing: the climb up the caprock. She said that the whole way she kept thinking that she wouldn’t make it but then she would think of the training she had done with Andy and Betty and their words: you only have to do this for a short time, remember why you do this. For Danette love led her to cycling and she found that she loved it too. She rides regularly and there is no doubt that she loves the sport and if you’ve spent any time at all around her and Ray there is no doubt that they love each other. There are plenty of other couples that I would have liked to interview and a lot more love stories that can be found in our club and community but as these two stories show, there can be no doubt that cycling is as conducive to love as love is to cycling. It seems to be a natural thing to find that in and among the miles and hours of freedom that cycling is itself a love affair.

As Promised a little something for the rest of us

Acknowledgments and Thanks Special thanks to: Rhonda Johnson Saunders for permission to reprint “A Bicycle in the Wind” Adrian Boddy for permission to reprint “Consolation” Pauline Lee & James Mitchell and Danette & Ray Beals for sharing their stories with us BIg Bend Program, SAG, and Food: Kelly Brammer, Sandra Wade, David Ham, John Beane, Randall Sloan Big Bend Resort and Adventures for hosting our Club during the Annual Big Bend/Terlingua Ride http://www.bigbendresort.com/ La Kiva for hosting our club dinner at the last minute and the owner for entertaining us http://la-kiva.com/ Doug Randel for being a class act and awesome guy VIM Racing Team for the awesome paceline and sportsmanship Dan Saxton for leading the introduction and beginner Mountain Bike Ride at Lajitas First time Big Bend Riders: Gary Wilson, Leslie Latimer, Sally and Chuck Owen, Sandra and Jeff Wade Pictures: John Beane, Sandra Wade, Dan Saxton, Randall Sloan, Ray Beals, Von Doria and Pauline Lee Happy Birthday to: Oscar Salazar Happy Anniversary to: Doug and Linda Randel If you would like to see a special mention or birthday wish please email me and I’ll add it to the newsletter. All submissions to the newsletter should be sent in before the second friday of the month in which you would like them to be included. Please allow additional time for reprints in order to get permission from the copyright holder/author. Thank you Randall Sloan

- ranwayslo@gmail.com

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