SPORTS FLASHBACK 2006: MIT Roadies journey for enjoyable – The Carillon

MIT stands for Mennonites in Tights, though Mennonite affiliation isn’t essential to belong to this leisure biking membership. In reality, there’s a Lutheran or two alongside for the journey. Others, reminiscent of Steinbach lawyer Marcel Jodoin, have nary a discernible shred of Mennonite in them, however are nonetheless welcomed into the fold, as effectively.

Sixteen riders marshalled close to Steinbach’s water tower at 6 a.m. final Saturday morning for his or her weekly tour.

The one frequent thread amongst this group of avid cyclists, aside from the spandex in fact, is their love of biking, a type of recreation that gives train and camaraderie among the many riders.

Saturday morning’s journey was 68 kilometres from Steinbach to Richer and again. According to unofficial MIT Roadies coordinator Jac Siemens, it took 2 hours and 38 minutes to finish, which included a cease for porridge in Richer.

The native group has grown steadily because it started in 2003, when Rudy and Sue Nickel from Steinbach started coaching for a cross-Canada biking tour. About a half dozen cyclists, together with Siemens, have been a part of that group. Now Siemens says there are about 30 individuals on his e mail record who take part within the membership, together with Shannon Sawatzky, who’s coaching for the 2006 Ironman Triathlon in Penticton later in August, returning to the competitors the place she met husband Dale, just a few years in the past.

The MIT Roadies journey Saturday and Sunday mornings from spring till fall, with about 10 or 12 cyclists per journey, though the newest contingent of 16 was essentially the most ever. Generally, the Saturday rides are longer, as much as 100 km, whereas the Sunday rides are shorter, about 50 km.

Generally, they journey about 30 km/hr, staying solely on paved roads. They journey in a tempo line, with the lead rider blocking the wind for the riders following. The bikes are 10-18 velocity street bikes, ranging in worth from $500 to $4,000.

Destinations differ by weekend, with the longer rides to Woodridge, Richer, Deacons Corner, Dugald or St Malo. Shorter rides could embody Grunthal, Kleefeld, New Bothwell or Landmark. The Saturday rides usually embody a cease for espresso and waffles in Kleefeld, pan fries in Woodridge or oatmeal in Richer.

Siemens says their final journey of the 2005 season got here on November 11 on a trek to Winnipeg and again. In spring, the rides are shorter, reminiscent of Kleefeld (36 km) and develop in size because the season progresses.

“We ride in most weather conditions, whether it be cold, hot or heavy rains.”

Some of the MIT Roadies use the membership’s rides as coaching, or as a springboard for different biking occasions, reminiscent of triathlons, run/bike occasions, the MCC journey, the MS journey or the Muddy Waters Century (100 mile) journey.

The advantages of driving are quite a few. It improves bodily health, reduces blood stress, controls ldl cholesterol and for some, leads to weight reduction. Siemens says he has misplaced 30 kilos since he received again on the bike in March.

Depending on time commitments, the MIT cyclists will placed on anyplace from 2,500 km as much as 7,000 km in the course of the season, as Paul Harakal did final yr. Siemens cycled 5,900 km final yr, however has already logged 4,000 km this yr and expects to surpass his 2005.

Last week, along with the Saturday and Sunday rides, there was additionally one on Thursday. Siemens, who rode in all three, admitted he was slightly sore on Monday.

“The best part about riding as a group is the friendships that are built with people outside our normal peer/age group. As we ride along side-by-side, we solve many world issues along the way.”