Press Release
Freewheelin': Every Doug has his day
Birmingham News
April 21, 2010
The pro women rode a fast and aggressive race in Anniston, with several moves off the front, like this trio diving into the first turn past the banner. (Photo by Doug Daughhetee)
Great cycling weather coincided with great cycling events last weekend as hundreds of riders enjoyed nearby centuries like the Old Howard 100 in Marion and the Cheaha Challenge in Piedmont, and road races like the Sunny King Criterium in Anniston and the Foothills Classic, also in Piedmont.
At the Sunny King crits, the accompanying Noble Street Festival helped draw a large crowd to witness a full day of racing which culminated in the men's and women's pro races Saturday evening. The pro events attracted a high quality domestic field with a sprinkling of international talent like the Fly V Australia men's team. Fly V riders Ben Kersten and Allessandro Bazzana took first and third, but for real race reportage, check out www.velonews.com, www.cyclingnews.com or www.dailypeloton.com.
Criterium racing involves short courses with many corners. This puts a premium on bike handling and demands frequent braking and acceleration. Back when I had my fling as a road racer, this incessant cut and thrust proved anathema to me. The few times I tried crit racing, I soon got spit out the back of the pack like a melon seed. At Anniston, though, I was successful in staying off the front for lap after lap, thanks to a key change in my riding position – from bike seat to back seat.
Credit "networking." Trading pulls with a group of guys at Sylacauga's Marble City Century earned me a ride-along invitation from Ronnie Garrett, an Anniston cyclist slated to serve as a pilot car driver. Thus it was I found myself kneeling backwards in a Mustang convertible as Ronnie hurled it around the downtown streets, horn blaring, clearing the way for the pro women.
Sharing the back seat with a real photographer and his $2,500 lens, I gamely took dozens of bad photos with my pocket point-n-shooter, but mostly I just enjoyed my unaccustomed perspective on the race. An unbiased observer (my wife) noted that on every lap I went by grinning like a dog with its head out a car window, so she figured I was having a good time. She was right.
Local Events
On Saturday, May 1, the Tour de Blue starts at 7:30 a.m. from the Birmingham Bicycle Company shop. Routes of 50, 75 and 100 miles extend into St. Clair County, followed by a post-ride lunch. This event will help the Urology Health Foundation provide free prostate cancer screening and care to those in need. To register, or to simply make a donation, go to www.active.com/donate/tourdeblue.
May 8 will bring two new events - the Ironworks Century (register at www.bump.org), starting at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, and the Lincoln 100 SuperSpeedway Bike Ride, which will start with one lap of the famed Talladega oval (e-mail lprd@centurytel.net for info).
May 15-22 will be AMBA week (www.amba1.com), seven days of rides based in Auburn exploring area points of interest. May 15 is also the 150 mile Ride of Love (www.campsam.org/rideoflove.asp) from Tuscaloosa to Alexander City, a fund-raiser for Camp Smile-A-Mile.
Sometimes things got a little too aggressive.
(Photo by Doug Daughhetee)
A nice crowd of spectators was on hand for the Sunny King Criterium.
(Photo by Doug Daughhetee)
Not everyone at the Noble Street Festival paid strict attention to the racing, though.
(Photo by Doug Daughhetee)