Tour of Richmond Offers Scenic Ride and Welcoming Feel
Wade and Cathy Carmichael rode in the first Martin's Tour of Richmond in 2012 and look forward to getting back on the course for the second edtion in October.
By: Nan Turner
Through rolling country hills and the scenic landscapes of Henrico, Richmond, Chesterfield, Powhatan, Goochland, Louisa, Ashland, and Hanover, Wade and Cathy Carmichael loved exploring the area while riding in the first edition of the Martin’s Tour of Richmond in October 2012, and they’ll be back again for this year’s event on October 5th.
Wade, a grocery specialist at Martin’s, and Cathy, a special education teacher in the Hanover Country school system, both rode the 59-mile option in the Tour’s inaugural year. Since Wade works for the title sponsor he was one of the cyclists involved with the initial event set up.
“Our experience was excellent,” he said. “We talked with a lot of people, and the way the Gran Fondo was handled was great.”
Cathy and Wade Carmichael in 2012
Both were impressed with the layout of the course, and believe it’s a great way to showcase the region’s beauty.
“It's a great course to ride, it has a good combination of flat areas and hills,” Cathy said.
“We ride in Hanover, so the combination between that area and then going into Goochland and seeing the country is gorgeous,” Wade said.
Prior to the Tour, the husband and wife duo participated in the 100-mile Cap2Cap ride along the Virginia Capital Trail. While they enjoyed the journey, doing a longer ride helped them to see that the full 102-mile Gran Fondo may not be the best fit.
Wade is a former mountain biker who is used to riding solo, and Cathy is a member of the Richmond Area Bicycling Association (RABA). Both are big weekend riders and participated in the RABA Heart of Virginia Ride.
“I enjoy RABA rides because it gives me that time to increase my mileage,” Cathy said.
Cathy’s brother did the Tour with her and Wade last year and Wade says they fit the competitive brother-sister mold.
“I laugh at them. I’ve done plenty of rides but it’s all about enjoying it,” Wade said. “I’m not hammering it, they hammer it. If I’m behind them and something happens it’s going to be a while before they notice and turn around to find me,” he joked.
“I want to beat my time from last year,” Cathy said. “I did pretty well for my first ride. I was pleased but now I’ll know how to prepare myself better for this year, like how to eat a little better before.”
Some of the aspects of the Tour the Carmichaels enjoyed the most include the multi-jurisdictional support, police presence, enthusiastic bystanders, rest stops and post-race food. The Martin’s Tour of Richmond ends at the Richmond Raceway Complex with a barbeque festival complete with beer (for those over 21) and live music. This year participants will be able to do a ‘Victory Lap’ around the actual race track as well.
“I would encourage everyone to do it. It’s a lot of fun,” Wade said. “It's good to get in with a group and have everybody supporting each other.”
In Wade and Cathy’s opinion, it’s the structured support system and friendly, welcoming feel that makes the Tour unique. As the event heads into its second year, they are excited at the impact it has had on the entire Richmond area thus far, and what it has the potential to become in the future.
“It brings the cyclists together from all the different counties and the city,” Wade said. “It breaks down barriers, and with World Championships coming in 2015 this will give us a lot of momentum. We’ve been viewed as much more of an outdoor city, and in the last five years that has come to fruition. These events keep those fires burning, and you don’t want them to burn out.”
For more information on the 2013 Martin’s Tour of Richmond, and to register, visit http://www.sportsbackers.org/events/tour-richmond.