Super Senior Cyclists
Several members of the Sacramento Wheelmen have joined a unique riding group that most of us will probably never even dream about: bicycling more than 3,000 miles in one year after the age of 70. “These people are our 2007 super senior cyclists and our hats certainly go off to them,’’ said Wheelmen President Dick Nussbaum. “There’s not a whole lot else to say except WOW! and a hearty congratulations.’’ Honored at the club’s February membership get together were Carl Kauk, 79, (7,399 miles); Tom Goodwin, 82, (6,953 miles); George Koch, 80, (5,674 miles); Ronald Brown, 70, (5,394 miles); Bob Backer, 74, (5,165 miles); John Abbe, 80, (4,469 miles); Doran Simmons, 75, (4,128 miles); Bob Hawkins, 71, (3,934 miles); Ed Delano, 77, (3,815 miles); Harry Jones, 78, (3,417 miles); Gerald Rohlfes, 75, (3,286 miles); Bob Woodward, 70, (3,130 miles); and Joe Kremer, 78, (3,083 miles). Each of these individuals have countless stories to share about bicycling, life adventures, politics and whatever else you want to talk about.
Just don’t expect them to slow down and wait on you.
CWJ
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Carl Kauk (top mileage) with Dick Nussbaum.
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Tour De California to start in Sacramento?
It’s no secret the recent Tour of California would like to become a mega-event on par with the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana and the chief executive officer of the Sacramento Sports Commission is making sure it’s no secret the possible expansion offers a tremendous opportunity for the city.
John McCasey told the Sacramento Wheelmen at the club’s February meeting that consideration by event organizer AEG Sports to start the race here is a strong incentive.
“In the near future we hope a start and overall finish, too, takes place in Sacramento,” McCasey said. “We have great cooperation in the city and county and we really rely on and work well with the experts in the field.’’
The biggest race in North America for the past three years, the 650-mile eight-day Amgen Tour of California started with a 2-mile prologue on Feb. 17 at Stanford University in Palo Alto and ended on a circuit around the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Stage 2 featured the tough vertical challenge of Trinity Grande before riders rolled east past Lake Berryessa through the cities of Winters and Davis and turned north adjacent to the Sacramento River then across the Tower Bridge to the Capitol Mall in Sacramento. There cyclists engaged in a final three-lap sprint through the downtown.
“This year organizers thought Palo Alto was a better starting point for the selected course but now AEG is looking at no less than three route proposals and a possible longer Tour,‘’ said McCasey.
Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, says his organization is scouting locations and he thinks it can be accomplished soon. He says the race could begin in San Diego and end in either San Francisco or Sacramento in as early as 2009. “We’re taking a hard look at it.’’
McCasey told the Wheelmen that even if the Tour route remains unchanged next year the Sports Commission is focusing on turning the Sacramento Stage into a bigger community event not just for cyclists but more of a festival weekend. “We want to try and build something that is ours,’’ he said.
Events such as the Princess Promenade, a cycling ride for women and girls sponsored by Citrus Heights businesswoman Janae Noble and scheduled on the American River Bike Trail in October is just one idea. “We’re open for suggestions, there’s a tremendous opportunity for us all,’’ McCasey said. “And we are well informed on the proposed Tour of America (a 28-day professional bicycle race) and although it’s still very tentative we’re going to try and help.’’
The Sacramento Sports Commission is a joint city-county advisory board created in the 1980s to attract and develop major professional and amateur sporting events in the capital region. Those efforts have helped bring among other events collegiate and world class track and field championships, NCAA basketball championships and professional volleyball and professional bicycling to the city. Regatta rowing boat races are also scheduled to debut.
CWJ |
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John McCasey of the Sacramento Sports Commision addresses the Wheelmen.
The Tour reaches Tower Bridge.
Aaahhhh... the coast.
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