WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE - Spokes Magazine
WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE - Spokes Magazine
WORLD NAKED BIKE RIDE - Spokes Magazine
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SENSORY OVERLOAD AT BIG BEAR<br />
by Danielle Chmielewski<br />
As a newcomer to the cycling community, I traveled to Hazelton,<br />
West Virginia, June 13-14 for this year’s 24 Hours of Big Bear<br />
not as a race participant, but as a fan...for two teams of friends,<br />
each at opposite ends of the experience spectrum.<br />
Team People’s Meat Racing has been in existence for nine years.<br />
Conversely, Team Fatdumb just finished their second race, with<br />
two new recruits. All together, both teams and their entourage<br />
totaled 24 people. Twenty-four people joined together for 24<br />
hours of racing, cheering on teammates, sitting around a campfire,<br />
and sharing a love and enthusiasm for mountain biking.<br />
With 24 people at our campsite, there was always someone<br />
going out for a lap, coming back from one, and a surplus of supporters<br />
to encourage the riders around mile three, on which the<br />
trail was visible by way of the edge of the campground.<br />
Since it was my very first year experiencing this event, I was on<br />
sensory overload most of the weekend - tracking through mud,<br />
feeling the heat from campfires, watching the LeMans style<br />
start, hearing event founder Laird Knight’s voice over the loudspeaker,<br />
and yelling my lungs out in support of my teams.<br />
I was in awe of the pro solo riders, who, in many cases, did<br />
more 12.7 mile laps in less time than it took some entire teams<br />
to do. Equally as inspiring were the young kids who participated<br />
in the 24 minutes of Big Bear; they were fearless and courageous<br />
in their own right - and much more than I can say for my<br />
few weeks of experience on my new road bike.<br />
From rookies to returning riders, amateurs to pros, women in<br />
pink plaid skirts and knee-socks to white polyester Elvis suitclad<br />
men, the 2009 24 Hours of Big Bear brought 174 teams and<br />
their followings together for a weekend of biking, comradery,<br />
and spirited fun.<br />
Next year I’ll be 24...perhaps that’s a sign to test the trail.<br />
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