Racing ’round the Park

WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—Cycling Classics held its Criterium event in downtown Winter Haven on Sunday, bringing the rush of flying cyclists to the normally placid park.

Circling the downtown streets at 30 miles per hour while riding only inches apart, riders in the criterium presented the excitement of competition and the spectacle of human endeavor, as they battled their own limits as well as the competition.

The event consisted of eight races for different classes of youths, and adult men and women, amateur and professional; in addition, there were Kids’ races for 4- to 6-year-olds and 7- to 9’s, plus a variety of children’s activities, as well as local businesses offering food and drink.

The criterium is half of the first annual Chain of Lakes Cycling Classic, organized by Cycling Classics Inc.; the other half was the Alturas Road Race, a day of competition on rural roads in the town of Fort Meade. 

The two-day event attracted as many as seven hundred cyclists ranging in age from ten to over fifty-five; teams from all across Central Florida turned out to compete.

All proceeds from both races will be donated to the Humane Society of Polk County.

Awe-Inspiring Sight

The sight of a pack of two dozen cyclists rounding sharp corners at speeds approaching thirty miles per hour is stimulating, to say the least. The riders are within an inch or two of touching each other, leaning into the corners at what seems an impossible angle, only to snap upright and pound on the pedals to accelerate to the next corner.

A criterium is a race run on a short, closed course. Many criterium races are laid out in simple squares; Cycling Classics opted for a pair of linked rectangles, offering the riders a bit more variety, and also a greater challenge.

Though the course was short, at 1.2 kilometers, the races were long enough to test the riders. The Category One & Two Professional race lasted 80 minutes plus five laps, and after an hour of flat-out exertion, the riders’ faces reflected the strain.

The races involved strategy as well as speed. For instance, in the Pro 1 race, a group of three riders broke away from the pack (called a peleton) and the riders in the peloton had to cooperate to catch them. Teammates worked together, taking turns leading and following (a line of riders is more aerodynamically efficient than a single rider, and can go faster.) But once the breakaway was ridden down, the various teams tried to make the other teams do the work of leading, to wear out their opponents.

While all this maneuvering was going on, a single rider saved up his energy for a massive explosion of speed, gaining half-a-lap advantage. As the race drew to a close, none of the other riders were willing to lead a chase, for fear of getting exhausted and getting left behind, which is exactly what the lone rider counted on. He pedaled home thirty seconds ahead of the peloton, which bunched for a final sprint, content to fight for second and third.

Pedaling a bicycle as hard as possible in a crowd of other riders around a twisting course offers some risk, and a few riders did have accidents throughout the day. Cycling Classics was well-prepared; EMTs were ready to reach any spot on the course, with an ambulance available to assist any seriously injured riders. Luckily, none of the riders received more than cuts, scrapes and bruises, but the quick response by rescue personnel must have been reassuring.

Spectator-Friendly Event

Much of the course circled the park in downtown Winter Haven; spectators sat under huge shade trees to watch the races or rested on benches around the fountain between events.

The course was designed with the two tightest corners right next to the park where most of the spectators set up their tents and lawn chairs; the cyclists sped past only a few feet away. Across the road was a popular local café, where customers sipped frappucinos while watching the races.

The event was blessed with perfect weather. The morning was almost cool, and in the afternoon, light cloud cover took the edge off the sun. The day was warm, but never got hot, and a gentle breeze offered refreshment.

Besides the races, Cycling Classics set up a Kids’ Zone, with face-painting, finger-painting and other events to keep children entertained. The Florida Department of Transportation had a pair of people giving away bicycle helmets and talking about bike safety. DOT employee Sarita Taylor took a break from teaching kids about bike safety to note that, “The average emergency room visit costs $1000; a helmet costs $15 or $20. Which would you choose?

“We want more people out riding bikes, and riding safely,” she said. As she finished fitting one little girl with a new free helmet, Ms. Taylor asked, “What’s the first thing you do when going on a bike ride?” “Put on my helmet,” the child replied.

The Polk County Human Society is the recipient of all proceeds from the event. “Cycling Classic Inc. has been very generous with us,” said Humane Society worker Laura Chaikin.

The Humane Society brought a collection of animals ready for adoption. “We brought these animals from our shelter in hopes that people would come by, take a look, and fall in love,” Ms. Chaikin explained.

The Polk County Human Society has a no-kill policy. Rescued animals are never euthanized; instead, the Humane Society houses them and tries to find them homes.

The Humane Society is building a new facility to house its menagerie of rescued animals and potential pets. The support of Cycling Classics is much needed and right on time.

Getting It Right the First Time

The The First Annual Chain of Lakes Cycling Classic exceeded its organizers’ expectations. More riders than the Cycling Classics crew counted on, actually registered and raced. The timing and scoring systems—exceedingly high-tech, with radio transponders on each bike, accurate to thousandths of a second—worked flawlessly. Volunteers manned all the traffic barriers to keep cars off the track, while others controlled the flow of pedestrians safely across the course. The races went off according to schedule, the racers had all the support they needed, and the competition was fierce.

The Kids’ races were extremely popular, and the children’s activities were busy throughout the day.

Already looking to next year, race director and Cycling Classics founder Bill Cundiff suggested possibly adding a time trial, or making the race a three-day stage event.

Whatever form it eventually takes, it seems certain that the Second Annual Chain of Lakes Cycling Classic will be much anticipated; success breeds success, and this year’s event was overwhelming successful.

For Alturas road race race results, or race results from the criterium, please visit the Florida Road Cycling Association web site.