Eight riders showed up for the rain drenched start ... and two riders, Marcos Lazzarotto from Blacksburg and Bernie Sanders from Roanoke, made Virginia bicycling history last Sunday by completing the Suiride course - 116.8 miles and 15,225 ft of climbing!
Congratulations to both of these elite riders for completing the toughest group road bike ride in the history of Virginia! The other starters were Wake Fulp, Barry Pugh, Mark Smith, Wes Wilmer, Rob Garry and Rob Issem.
Stay tuned for more news from the ride as well as WDBJ 7 television news coverage of the ride later this week.
Many many thanks to Wes Best and East Coasters Bicycle Shop for opening the shop and making coffee for the riders, Patrick and John Oberg for their amazing neutral support for the first 30 miles, Rick Woods, owner of Woods Family Heating & Air Conditioning for generously donating 150 bicycle water bottles, Laura & Annelise White for setting up & staffing the mile 65 rest stop, and thanks to my beautiful wife Lisa Thomas, son Andrew Issem and step-son Mark Thomas for supporting me during the many hours of my planning, preparing for, and participating in the event.
I didn't finish the Suiride course this past Sunday because my friend crashed hard at about mile 70, so ... I'm going to be attempting the Suiride again this coming Sunday 8/26.
My wife's going to drop some bottles off for me in the woods at mile 65, but that's it. No other support. If anyone wants to join me they're welcome to, and my wife could drop your gear off in the woods too.
Also, the 8/26 ride will start from the Bike Sherpas Touring Co. headquarters (my house) 3228 Lawndale Rd. promptly at 7:30am. We'll ride 1.3 miles to East Coasters (the official course start/end point) and immediately start the Suiride.
There will be no fanfare 8/26. Just bicycles, riders and lots of incredible mountains.
Stay tuned for more news from the ride as well as WDBJ 7 television news coverage of the ride later this week.
Many many thanks to Wes Best and East Coasters Bicycle Shop for opening the shop and making coffee for the riders, Patrick and John Oberg for their amazing neutral support for the first 30 miles, Rick Woods, owner of Woods Family Heating & Air Conditioning for generously donating 150 bicycle water bottles, Laura & Annelise White for setting up & staffing the mile 65 rest stop, and thanks to my beautiful wife Lisa Thomas, son Andrew Issem and step-son Mark Thomas for supporting me during the many hours of my planning, preparing for, and participating in the event.
I didn't finish the Suiride course this past Sunday because my friend crashed hard at about mile 70, so ... I'm going to be attempting the Suiride again this coming Sunday 8/26.
My wife's going to drop some bottles off for me in the woods at mile 65, but that's it. No other support. If anyone wants to join me they're welcome to, and my wife could drop your gear off in the woods too.
Also, the 8/26 ride will start from the Bike Sherpas Touring Co. headquarters (my house) 3228 Lawndale Rd. promptly at 7:30am. We'll ride 1.3 miles to East Coasters (the official course start/end point) and immediately start the Suiride.
There will be no fanfare 8/26. Just bicycles, riders and lots of incredible mountains.
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| Wet ... but riding! |
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| Bernie & Marcos nearing the Mt. Chestnut summit ... on their way to making history! |
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| Wake, Barry and ... did I mention visibility was an issue? |
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| Mark, Barry and Rob ... into the woods. Riding the short singletrack trail from BRP MP126 to Raintree Rd.. |
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