AUBURN #- The roads in and around Auburn have been filling with cyclists gearing up for a long summer.
The Owasco Flyer is just a day away, and a summer full of bike races such as the Velo Club Stage Race and The Great Race are lying just ahead.
Cycling has long been an internationally recognized sport with events like the Tour de France and riders like Lance Armstrong bringing cycling to the forefront.
In recent years the sport has been gaining popularity and support in Central New York.
“We are seeing more people get involved in it,” said Bernie Marino, who has been a serious rider for more than 20 years. “There are a lot of people my age, people between 40 and 60, who can't do things like running and are getting involved in riding.”
But the sport is also attracting a new young generation of riders, such as Jason Herrling, 19.
“Where I live it takes a long time to get anywhere so I've always ridden my bike,” said Herrling, a rider for about five years. “But over the years I met a group of guys and started going out once or twice a week with them and I found that I really enjoyed it.”
The sport has also drawn in sportsmen from backgrounds as diverse as runners to bass fishermen.
“I used to be pretty serious into fishing,” Ted Green said. “But all through school I always rode my bike, mountain biking mostly to try to stay in shape. But when I got a road bike I got more and more into it and I became crazy about it. Now whenever I get the free time I really focus on cycling.”
Riders such as Mike Tersegno said they started out as runners, but as time went by found that cycling was by far more enjoyable.
“My knees couldn't take it anymore,” he said. “I started biking to stay in shape and I was cross training for a while to give my knees a rest, but after about a year of doing both I decided to focus on cycling. It just makes me feel more relaxed and I started enjoying it a lot more than running.”
The appeal of the sport has many different roots. For some it is the rush of adrenaline that comes from pushing to go farther and faster all the time.
“For most sports there is a plateau you hit,” Green said. “Whether it is golf or fishing, it always seems like you hit a plateau. But with cycling it seems like as long as you are willing to work there is always room to improve. For me that is what it is all about. I'm always pushing myself to see what I can get my body to do. I can look back on where I am now and where I was a year ago and say that I am satisfied.”
For others there is a peaceful serenity that comes from riding.
“A lot of times I will ride alone,” Tersegno said. “For me it isn't a stressful thing. I like to get out and see the beautiful landscapes we have around here. We really do have a great natural area for cycling with hills and slopes and the trees and all the Finger Lakes. It is truly beautiful to get out and see up close.”
Over the years with the growth of various races, groups of riders have started to really bond together from organizations like the Owasco Velo Club or just loose groups of friends who go out to ride and encourage each other along.
This camaraderie helps as local race season gets closer and riders look to each other to help them get in shape and be at the top of their game in time for competition, which many riders will travel all over the state to attend.
“I do a lot of different events,” Marino said. “I'll travel to places like Bristol to be in the road race there and I go to races in Syracuse. It is great to get out and have a chance to compete and see what you can do.”
Locally, events like The Owasco Flyer, Great Race, Stage Race and most recently the NYS Time Trials have become important and well-recognized events.
“I travel around for other events,” Green said. “But the races that we have here in Auburn are some of the best organized and friendliest that I have ever been a part of. There is a great group of people that work hard to make these races good and it helps make Auburn a great place for cycling.”
With the growing popularity of locally hosted events, riders are hopeful this will lead to an increase in hometown races.
“It would be nice if people had more of an opportunity to get out and see what it is about,” Herrling said. “I think that would help out a lot. Not necessarily even competitive, but just fun events so more people can have a chance to get involved.”
But no matter what reasons anyone has to get started cycling, riders like Marino just hope people take the time to hop on a bike and see things from a slightly different perspective.
“It really is a great sport,” he said. “Anybody can do it. You don't have to race. You can go out and you can do it to stay fit and in shape, you can go out and do it to have fun, but the important thing is that you go out and do it.”
Cycling has long been an internationally recognized sport with events like the Tour de France and riders like Lance Armstrong bringing cycling to the forefront.
In recent years the sport has been gaining popularity and support in Central New York.
“We are seeing more people get involved in it,” said Bernie Marino, who has been a serious rider for more than 20 years. “There are a lot of people my age, people between 40 and 60, who can't do things like running and are getting involved in riding.”
But the sport is also attracting a new young generation of riders, such as Jason Herrling, 19.
“Where I live it takes a long time to get anywhere so I've always ridden my bike,” said Herrling, a rider for about five years. “But over the years I met a group of guys and started going out once or twice a week with them and I found that I really enjoyed it.”
The sport has also drawn in sportsmen from backgrounds as diverse as runners to bass fishermen.
“I used to be pretty serious into fishing,” Ted Green said. “But all through school I always rode my bike, mountain biking mostly to try to stay in shape. But when I got a road bike I got more and more into it and I became crazy about it. Now whenever I get the free time I really focus on cycling.”
Riders such as Mike Tersegno said they started out as runners, but as time went by found that cycling was by far more enjoyable.
“My knees couldn't take it anymore,” he said. “I started biking to stay in shape and I was cross training for a while to give my knees a rest, but after about a year of doing both I decided to focus on cycling. It just makes me feel more relaxed and I started enjoying it a lot more than running.”
The appeal of the sport has many different roots. For some it is the rush of adrenaline that comes from pushing to go farther and faster all the time.
“For most sports there is a plateau you hit,” Green said. “Whether it is golf or fishing, it always seems like you hit a plateau. But with cycling it seems like as long as you are willing to work there is always room to improve. For me that is what it is all about. I'm always pushing myself to see what I can get my body to do. I can look back on where I am now and where I was a year ago and say that I am satisfied.”
For others there is a peaceful serenity that comes from riding.
“A lot of times I will ride alone,” Tersegno said. “For me it isn't a stressful thing. I like to get out and see the beautiful landscapes we have around here. We really do have a great natural area for cycling with hills and slopes and the trees and all the Finger Lakes. It is truly beautiful to get out and see up close.”
Over the years with the growth of various races, groups of riders have started to really bond together from organizations like the Owasco Velo Club or just loose groups of friends who go out to ride and encourage each other along.
This camaraderie helps as local race season gets closer and riders look to each other to help them get in shape and be at the top of their game in time for competition, which many riders will travel all over the state to attend.
“I do a lot of different events,” Marino said. “I'll travel to places like Bristol to be in the road race there and I go to races in Syracuse. It is great to get out and have a chance to compete and see what you can do.”
Locally, events like The Owasco Flyer, Great Race, Stage Race and most recently the NYS Time Trials have become important and well-recognized events.
“I travel around for other events,” Green said. “But the races that we have here in Auburn are some of the best organized and friendliest that I have ever been a part of. There is a great group of people that work hard to make these races good and it helps make Auburn a great place for cycling.”
With the growing popularity of locally hosted events, riders are hopeful this will lead to an increase in hometown races.
“It would be nice if people had more of an opportunity to get out and see what it is about,” Herrling said. “I think that would help out a lot. Not necessarily even competitive, but just fun events so more people can have a chance to get involved.”
But no matter what reasons anyone has to get started cycling, riders like Marino just hope people take the time to hop on a bike and see things from a slightly different perspective.
“It really is a great sport,” he said. “Anybody can do it. You don't have to race. You can go out and you can do it to stay fit and in shape, you can go out and do it to have fun, but the important thing is that you go out and do it.”
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.