Tripleshot in the TC

[Alan]

Our little secret is out.
Story pasted below. cheers, Alan


Dawn patrol hits the hills

As the city rolls over for 40 more winks, Tripleshot's fitness fiends are earning their coffee

BY GRANIA LITWIN, TIMES COLONISTFEBRUARY 25, 2010



It's 6 a.m. and black outside, with a cold wind blowing. But 30 cheerful and fiendishly fit cyclists, dressed in pink and green argyle jerseys, are gathered on Fort Street near Royal Jubilee Hospital and ready to roll.

They are planning to do their regular four-three-two ride, which includes climbing Cadboro Bay hill four times, Sinclair hill three times and Mount Tolmie twice.

"It's all about the coffee at the end," says Lisa Hill, who is bundled up in three shirts, a jacket, two layers on her legs, two pairs of gloves, wool socks with booties over top and a hat under her helmet.

She joined Tripleshot Cycling five years ago and is addicted to the 80-minute workout, just like other members of the group who find early espresso-concentration exercise sets them up for the whole day.

The pre-dawn "café destination" cycling group is 100 strong and evolved from an earlier club called the Spin Doctors. They ride five mornings a week, most are men, a handful are women, and ages range from 30s to mid-50s.

"There could be someone in their 20s but it's too dark in the morning to tell," says Hill, who notes that anyone, preferably with group riding experience and reasonable fitness, is welcome to join.

Members come from all walks -- "We have an artist, a writer, several doctors, lawyers, construction people, physiotherapists, developers, real estate agents, technology people" -- and have a common passion for cycling and caffeine.

Hill, 44, senior vice-president portfolio manager at Raymond James, started riding seriously 15 years ago and also teaches a spinning class at the YM-WYCA. "I used to be a competitive runner but injured my Achilles and had to find another outlet. I'm not hard core, but I need a challenge."

And she likes this club because workouts are varied. On Tuesday they meet at University of Victoria for sprint-interval training on Ring Road -- "bunnies are a big issue and sometimes jump in front of us, causing accidents" -- while Wednesday is all about hills and weekends are for longer rides.

Why does she do it?

"Because when we finish we feel like superstars," says the cyclist who rises at 5:20 and is home by 7:30, in time for a quick shower before dashing to the office. "We prefer outdoor riding to stationary biking because the scenery is more interesting, it's social, and the rain, wind and temperature add a challenge.

"This really clears your head." Another plus -- she hasn't changed dress sizes in 20 years.

Artist Galen Davison, 40, could ride any time of the day, but likes the morning rush. "Everyone cheers everyone else on and it's easier to do a hard ride with others," says the former competitive swimmer and father of three sons. "This time of year we see the sun rise at the end of the ride."

General practitioner Dr. Dolores Freigang, 45, and her husband, infectious disease specialist Dr. Eric Partlow, 47, enjoy the range of abilities. "The strong ones are great at pulling the weaker riders. I draft behind them," said the mother of two, who rates herself a moderate biker, but let slip she does four triathlons a year.

"Cycling is great because you can do it well into your 60s and it's much easier on the body than running. The only danger is falling and the worst part isn't the dark, it's the cold."

Club president Peter Lawless, 39, says the pre-dawn patrol evolved so members could ride faster, longer and harder with fewer cars around. "Every rider's wife, husband or partner asks serious questions about our mental health, but what else are you doing at 6 a.m?"

He is riding 400 kilometres a week now, training for the seven-day Giro de Sardinia April 17, a somewhat shorter version of the Tour de France. Also taking part are Victoria's David Spiers and Alan Cassels.

"This club is interesting because the riders are fast, but friendly. You don't show up to a bunch of stone-faced killers in mirrored glasses," says the cyclist, who also coaches wheelchair athlete Michelle Stilwell.

"And we're like the marines. We have a policy to leave no one behind."

Club membership is $32, but anyone can come a few times for free. Cyclists are also advised to be licensed through Cycling B.C., for sport injury and liability coverage. That fee ranges from $42 to $130, depending on whether a person wants to race. (Info: tripleshot

cycling.com and www.cyclingbc.net)

© Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

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[The Princess]

Well, I'm clearly not the most photogenic person in the group. After about 25 pictures taken, they couldn't find ONE that was good enough for the article. Well thank God as I'm not exactly at my best at 6:00 a.m. Mr. Lawless, on the other hand, looked outstanding in his head to toe argyle! Well done Mike (I am a whippet, I am a whippet....I still can't get that out of my head)

[ART BOY]

Looks Great - I see Peter grew a beard for this shot.
this is the article about us right? http://www.timescolonist.com/life/Plast ... story.html

[ART BOY]

actual link to article here: http://www.timescolonist.com/life/Dawn+ ... story.html

[Josh.E]

I hope I can go 20 years without changing dress sizes

[Lister Farrar]

Well I feel a lot better knowing we have 100 members. I thought I was seeing double for another reason...

[Rita]

Re eyesight: I hope you have also noticed that our kit is green, not baby-blue!

[mlawless]

Hey, what is wrong with seeing double? This is an inclusive club so we cannot abide any of that anti-twin talk!

For greater clarity, seeing that I won the race up to the top of Tolmie for the Photo Op, I think I will retire from all further cycling that involves any type of ascent - that way others have a chance to lead up the hill - who knows, maybe this will motivate some of the slower hill climbers - Josh, John, Roland (and everyone who is not me) to work just that little bit harder - Wow, I am so considerate.

Michael

[Plawless]

awsome article everyone. Good work on getting the press out Lisa.

out of curiosity how many hill climbers were out this week?

[jeremy]

only about 8 of us showed up this week, but is was raining pretty good, and there wasn't and cameras around.