Taking A Ride In Rosalia Cyclists, Including Masters Racer Bates, Converge On Community For Regional Championships

There’s nothing unusual with a person spending $4,000 on a car, right?

How about using it to buy a motorcycle? No big deal.

What about spending $4,000 on a bicycle?

Hmmmmmm.

To many people, that may sound ridiculous.

But to those involved in racing bicycles, it is a fair price for what they get out of the sport.

Spokane’s Baddlands Cycling Club is promoting Saturday’s Masters Regional Championships in Rosalia in which several Spokane racers will match up against top racers from Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Alaska.

A companion event is the Washington State District Championships on Sunday, also at Rosalia.

One of the masters racers is Hugh Bates, a 50-year-old Spokane man, who has been racing for 13 years.

“It will be a real test to see regionally what the other masters are like relative to Washington state,” Bates said.

Masters cyclists are 30 years and older.

Bates will race in the 50-54 age group for the first time this year at a distance of 49 miles.

In the 45-49 age group, Bates won the road race and criterium in 1993 and the time trial in 1994.

Saturday’s event is a road race.

“My style of racing is to do the best I can as a master cyclist,” Bates said. “If that means winning the event, then that’s great.”

Seniors, ages 18-29, and juniors, ages 9-17, as well as the masters will also have the chance to compete in the Washington State District Championships on Sunday.

At the request of the United States Cycling Federation, the organization that sanctions the two races, Baddlands will be promoting both events for the first time.

Since its origination in 1989, Baddlands Cycling Club has grown to 60 members, including 42 licensed racers.

“This is the biggest race our club has ever put together,” Baddlands president Alex Renner said. “We weren’t sure what race we were going to do this year. Then the USCF called and asked if our club was interested. It wasn’t much of a decision.”

Making the weekend a family affair, Lenny Wavra, 47, and son Jeremy Wavra, 13, will represent Spokane during the two days.

Jeremy is the reigning state champion for 10-12 year olds and will move up into the 13-14 age group this year.

“Jeremy is doing so well,” Lenny said. “I think he’ll be in the medals.”

On both days, racers will compete in different categories depending on their age and sex, with winners in each category receiving 50 percent of the purse, which depends on the number of racers entered, a winner’s jersey and a gold medal.

Medals will be handed out for the first five finishers in Saturday’s event and for the first three in Sunday’s.

According to Bates, racing competitively takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

“I try to ride every day or a minimum every other day,” he said. “Training is a year-round endeavor. It’s not something you can do just five or six months a year.”

Bates combines riding with weight training, running, cardiovascular exercises and a healthy diet to stay in racing form.

“What it comes down to is training your weaknesses and racing your strengths,” Bates added.

Residents of Rosalia are extremely excited to be hosting the races, after a smaller race Baddlands put on there last year turned out so well.

“We were honored and happy that they wanted to come back,” said Kelley Messinger, president of Rosalia’s Chamber of Commerce.

“We wanted to get a town that was more cycling-friendly and didn’t have a lot of other things going on,” Renner said. “Those that raced last year found out that Rosalia (offered) a neat course and that’s why they’re coming back.”

As for preparing for the grueling course, Bates has definite plans for the day before the race.

“A last-minute tuneup and as much rest as possible,” he said.

Saturday’s racers will start between 11 a.m. and noon, depending on the cyclists’ division. Sunday’s racers will start between 11 a.m. and 12:20 p.m.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CYCLING SCHEDULE Saturday Masters Regional Championships Races start between 11 a.m. and noon. Specific times not yet set. 71 miles: Master men 30-39; senior men 1,2,3,4,5; senior women; junior men; junior women. 61 miles: Master men 40-49. 52 miles: Master men 50 plus; master women. Sunday State District Championships Times: 11:10 a.m. - Senior men 1,2,3,4,5. 11:20 - Junior men 10-12, junior women 10-12 and 13-14. 11:30 - Junior men 13-14 and 15-16, junior women 15-16. 11:40 - Master men 30-34 and 35-39. 11:50 - Master men 40-44 and 45-49 Noon - Master women 30-40 and 40 plus, junior women 17-18, all senior women. 12:10 - Master men 50-54, 55-59 and 60 plus. Distances: 81 miles: Senior men 1,2,3. 49 miles: Master men; master women; senior men 4,5. 12.5 miles: Junior men 10-12; junior women 10-12; junior women 13-14. 24 miles: Junior men 13-14; junior men 15-16; junior women 15-16.