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Throw Down wheels in cyclists |
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Tuesday, 07 November 2006 |
by MATT SCHNEIDER
Sports Reporter
An easy-going afternoon bike ride is not what the Appalachian State University club cycling team did Sunday.
The team competed in the Boone Town Throw Down, a cyclo-cross race that consisted of more off-roading than on-roading.
 Active Image | Garrett Price | The Appalachian
Sophomore cyclist Dan Wendover takes on the grueling course.
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The race took place behind the State Farm Fields at the Edminsten Farm.
“The elements were interesting because a lot of races don’t have the
terrain and elevation we have,” sophomore cyclist Lauren Trull said.
Cyclists had to get on and off the bike at various times during the race, even having to walk their bikes up steep hills.
“Getting on and off the back and running with your bike is important,” senior rider Michael Rigby said.
One of the differences between a typical road race and the cyclo-cross race is the pace.
“You have to have a high heart rate intensity,” Rigby said.
The cyclo-cross racing style is also more individual than road racing
because racers cannot draft or coast because of high hills and
difficult terrain.
“On the road, you can sit in the pack and usually finish the race,” Rigby said. “Out here, there’s nowhere to hide.”
Several Mountaineers placed in the race, including Rigby who won the race.
Senior Travis Hurt finished in seventh place and senior Noah Niwinski followed right behind him and finished eighth.
On the women’s side, Trull finished fifth.
The cyclo-cross bikes are also much different than usual bikes that are used for racing on paved roads.
“The bike themselves look like road bikes with the funny looking handle
bikes, but they have mountain bike tires, and road bike frames,” Rigby
said.
This is the first and only cyclo-cross race of the season for Appalachian.
The team continues to prepare for its spring road season, and the
cyclo-cross race is a good way to prepare physically, Trull said.
“It definitely keeps you in shape over the winter,” she said.
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