Cyclists find way to mix travel with exercise

Ever driven down a road only to have a group of bicyclists dressed in full “Tour de France” gear whiz by you at a high rate of speed?

If so, chances are, you’ve seen members of the Tri-parish-based Bayou Country Cyclists in action.

The non-profit group, consisting of about 75 members, was founded in 1993 and is an affiliate of the League of American Bicyclists.

It was organized by a group of friends who had one thing in common – bike riding.

But since the emergence of Lance Armstrong and his seven Tour de France titles, club member Gary Hutchinson said the sport has become even more popular.

“We have a lot more riders now,” Hutchinson said. “We started out with maybe five or six. The overall knowledge of cycling is getting better. I guess Lance Armstrong helped with that, winning the Tour seven times and just finishing third again after being on a three year hiatus.”

Hutchinson said he got into riding as a way to relax and stay in shape while attending college. He took a 10-year hiatus but decided to get back in it three years ago and joined the club.

However, he’s noticed a big difference in bike technology.

Hutchinson said at one time the bikes were made of steel, and many were a little heavier.

Today, all the bikes are made of carbon fiber, making it very lightweight and aerodynamic.

“The equipment is so much better now than when I first started riding,” he explained. “It’s all set up for speed now.”

According to Hutchinson, the purpose of the club is not to race, but rather to promote cycling as a fun activity in the Tri-parish area.

The group provides a chance for cycling lovers to get together once a week and do what they love. Rides can range anywhere from 20 to 100 miles.

“It’s such a nice social event,” he said. “You meet some really good people. It’s such a diverse group of people that ride from normal everyday Joes to doctors and lawyers. It’s just open to anyone at any age. We have people that ride with us that are 60, 70 or 80 years old and can ride at a very good pace.”

But the club doesn’t just confine itself to the Tri-parish area. Throughout the year, it schedules rides with other bike clubs from Baton Rouge, Lafayette, St. Francisville and the New Orleans area to name a few.

In fact, this weekend the group will participate in the Tarpon Triathlon in Houma on Saturday before bolting to Abita Springs to ride on Sunday.

“It’s all to promote cycling activities in the area and throughout,” Hutchinson said. “We hold some local rides here in town. We have scheduled rides pretty much every weekend in town at various locations. It’s a great way to meet other people from out of town when we go there as well.”

Riding is more than just leisure to the members. It’s also a way for them to exercise and stay in shape.

“I had a conversation with a neurosurgeon out of New Orleans and he said this is the best exercise you can do for the rest of your life,” Hutchinson said.

The club is divided into three riding levels – Levels A, B and C. Beginning riders start in Level C, which is a 10 to 14 mile per hour average on flat terrain.

With a little more experience, a rider becomes Level B, or intermediate which is a 15-20 mile per hour average on a flat terrain. Level C is the advanced level with average speeds of over 20 miles per hour.

The advanced level consists of the “Green Team” whose captain is local restaurant owner Christiano Raffaffi, owner of Christiano’s in Houma.

Raffaffi said the Green Team members don’t only ride once a week. They meet every morning at daybreak to ride.

“We don’t really race, we just ride, he said. “We do it as a hobby and pastime but we are pretty fast riders. It’s generally the more experienced riders. We ride between 22, 23 and 24 miles per hour at a time.”

No matter what the level, all riders are required to have the proper helmet.

Uniforms, shoes, gloves and anything else can be worn at the rider’s discretion.

“We got a lot of our equipment from Bayou City Cycles,” Hutchinson said. “Of course we can buy things on the Internet. There is a company that specializes in making stuff. Right now we are working on having some new uniforms made for our group.”

In the near future, Raffaffi said the group would like to do fundraising work for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Houma.

Several of the riders are contemplating forming a four-man team to participate in the ultra-marathon cycling association which rides over 400 miles across Louisiana.

Hutchinson is one of the riders considering the option.

“It starts in north Louisiana and they ride to Grand Isle,” he said. “It’s about a 430-mile straight ride and they do it within a 12 or 15-hour time frame. That’s something I’m looking into.”

The club always welcomes new participants and they encourage anyone who enjoys cycling to ride along for one or two of their rides.

Anyone wanting information on the club can contact the members at their Web site, www.bccbike.org.

“This has evolved into a true sport,” Hutchinson said. “But we are organized to help promote cycling. It’s something everyone should consider.”