Casual cyclists may be curious about how fast top racing cyclists can go. Generating about 0.7 horsepower, a top cyclists can average over 30 mph. Sprinters can go more than 40 mph, which requires over 1.5 horsepower. Riding down the bike trail at 16 mph, in contrast, requires only 0.2 horsepower.

Even at that pace, however, you will burn off about 900 calories riding the 26 miles from Loveland to Morrow and back. Do that four times a week, and you'll burn off a pound of fat a week. Cycling can't be beat for this sort of calorie burning. And you get a relaxing tour of the countryside at the same time.

Racers will be burning over 5000 calories during the five-hour road race. To keep from bonking, they must eat during the race. A feed zone will be set up on an uphill section, where food sacks will be handed to them. Will the feed zones for the Police Mountain Bike race serve doughnuts? In fact, a lot of officers are trimming down nicely from their bike assignments.

Racers know better than to train at 30 mph on a narrow trail used by skaters, dog-walkers and children. Until high speed lanes are added, they must go out on the roads. While this annoys some motorists, and some cyclists abuse the privilege, it is legal. And for those of you with a road rage problem, remember that some of them are police officers. More on this in a future column.

With the date of the event moved up, the organizers are scrambling to get ready. The races will be exciting for spectators, but even more exciting for those involved in running them. Hundreds of volunteers are needed to stage these events. A wide range of assignments are available; check the race website (www.qcw.org/nats) for more information or call Betsy Neyer, Race Director, at 421 8200.

For a taste of local cycle racing, take a ride out to Morrow and watch a road race this Sunday, March 29, at 10:00 A.M.

------

Curt Austin maintains the web pages for the Queen City Wheels at www.qcw.org and can be reached at curt@AustinImage.com.

© 1998, Curt Austin