1/7/2004 by Ted Ingraham
One of the neat things about riding with the Freewheelers is the interesting people you get to meet. Beyond the (local) cast of characters, there have been opportunities to develop friendships with riders from other countries who visit the area.
Many of you know Italian Antonio Ginannone who was a club member for two years. A fellow named Khaled Ali visited this fall and rode with us a few weeks. Khaled was especially interesting since he is a Lebanese Muslim, lives in Saudi Arabia, and is an Australian citizen who is fluent in five languages. We had some interesting discussions and great rides he is strong rider! Khaled contacted us through our "loaner" program since he was traveling without his bike.
This background is provided in order to share emails Antonio and Khaled sent recently. Even if you didn't meet them, the emails are interesting. Antonio's link has some interesting pictures and Khaled sends a good race report.
Hello to all of you,
I hope you are going to have a very Merry Christmas, and a great holiday Season. Martina and myself are fine. It was a very good year: busy with work and I was able to enjoy very much also the cycling season. I became member of a team (www.biesseteam.it) and we had a lot of activity. Every month we use to make a ride in a different area and always a little away from our cycling territory. We also make a 4 day ride when is summer vacation time (this year it will be in Tuscany) and in addition to that we use to make also 4 or 5 club races. Of course we have also several young guys that participate to the official races organized by the cycling federation. Now I'm involved in the 2004 program, and I 'll have to work a lot in the web page that isn't updated from a year.
I still hope that some of you will make a vacation over here joining us in one or more of this adventures, and I would also like in future to bring a few guys from here to Ohio and bike with you over there.
The weather here it is nice, a little colder than usual but sun shining every day. We have now this long Holiday Season that will end on January 6, and after that back on bike again.
I renew my best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a very prosperous 2004 to all of you, your families and the people you love
Antonio e Martina
And from Khaled:
I hope you are enjoying the start of the new year. Have a happy one... Things are still quiet here. The new year has started with lots of hopes - at least from my side. Not that I am sure they could be fulfilled. However, If hoping is what we can do, then why not.
Since we last spoke, I had the chance to participate in one race - 120 Km in Bahrain. The race was on a 4 km section of a major road. At one end a sharp U-turn after a short hill, and the other a small roundabout (total 8km of both ways). We had to do it for 15 times. The course had a cross wind which made matters worse. the riders were mainly from UAE (national team) and Bahrain's team. There were about five from Saudi Arabia's team including me. The race started with about 20 riders from UAE and about the same from Bahrain and us - around total 40 - 45 riders in total.
I did my best to see what their strategy was from the beginning. Just after the first lap attacks started relentlessly - one finishes, the other starts... The teams had some very strong riders. I staged a couple of breakaways, but none of them would react since they would only assist their teams, then I would have to go back. The teams were well dedicated to help themselves and not us. However, I was successful to drag five riders with me after about 5 laps - two Bahrainis and two from UAE joined and one Saudi. We got away working together up until lap 10. It was very tough work as the group behind us organized themselves and chased until they caught up. The reason we got caught was that the Saudi and another Bahraini could not keep the pace. Those two UAE riders were so strong like horses on very high intensity the whole way. I was wondering how long I could keep up with them, but being stubborn, I did not give up.
The group got back together. We were down to about 25 riders after 10 laps. Only one Saudi rider and myself were left from Saudi Arabia. Therefore, we were only two among two teams that would not help us. Due to the cross wind, the two teams would make their two draft lines in a way that the last riders are just on the edge of the road so that myself and the other Saudi could not get in. At the same time making attacks to which I had to constantly react otherwise they would get away. I did a very good job in bridging many gaps when no one else would. I ended up for five laps behind the two teams mostly taking my own wind. Every time I try to get in from the front I get pushed to the back, otherwise I could tangle my bike with others...
Anyway, we rode together to the end. I ended in a final sprint at a position of 8. In all, I enjoyed the race. We averaged about 37.3 km/hr - very good speed considering the cross wind, the U-turn and the hill. Anyway, it was very tough for me. I had not exerted my muscles like that for a long time. Sorry, If I write too much about a race I had, but I assume being a rider yourself you enjoy knowing details. I think all cyclists like that...
My regards and Happy New Year to your family and all the friends.
Khaled