Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 25, 1993 TAG: 9307250028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The 33-year-old Roanoke resident and mountain-bike lover rode his road bike in a race for the first time. The concoction of gears, tires, a used frame and other parts he's been bolting together for the past two months was a success; Inman won a silver medal in the unlicensed male 30-39 class.
"I love it," he said of his bike.
The criterium, which included racing in several categories, marked the third day of cycling events during the Commonwealth Games of Virginia. The mountain bike race, which Inman will enter, is 11 a.m. today at the Holy Land Recreation Area in Bedford.
The Games' fourth summer closes today with three other events: a cross country run beginning at 8 a.m. at Havens Wildlife Management Area on Fort Lewis Mountain in Salem; powerlifting at 9 a.m. at Northside High School; and the semifinals and final of a mixed doubles tennis tournament, beginning at 10 a.m. at Crystal Spring park.
Tom Bolton of Roanoke won the gold in Inman's race, which took a one-kilometer (six-tenths of a mile) route around the old Norfolk Southern offices. Cyclists pedaled under a 30-minute, three-lap format; they race for a half-hour, after which a bell sounds signaling three laps until the race ends.
Coordinator Vince Seneker said about 200 riders have participated in the three cycling events, which included races along the Blue Ridge Parkway on Thursday and Friday.
Inman used to race his mountain bike in citizens' road races, but he figured it was time to check out a road bike. They are taller than mountain bikes, have smaller gear stacks, thinner wheels and a lighter frame.
"The things you do when you're mountain biking as opposed to road biking are extremely different," Inman said. "Mountain biking around here is really, really tough. There are no easy rolling trails; it's more of a pure endurance [sport]. By the time you finish a two- or three-hour mountain bike race, you need a couple of days to recover. There's more gamesmanship in road racing. That's what always interests me."
Mountain biking remains his preference, and even positive reinforcement from his first road race couldn't change that.
"Heck," he said, referring to his desire to road race, "I could change my mind next week."
by CNB