Two Different Women with Much in Common

The Houston Big Ring Challenge October 25^th and 26^th gives Houston mountain bike racers the opportunity to show their skills to their friends and family.  Local racers, like Cynthia Stewart and Vicki Strouz, are taking advantage of their lead in their beginner’s age group to step up to Sport class for the remainder of the season and beyond.  Both ladies are in just their second season of racing and chose to cat up in an effort to gain experience and challenge.

   Cynthia only has one blemish on her racing resume this season, (if you call second place a blemish) and 3 first place finishes.   Vicki is in a solid second place with two second place finishes and a third.  Both women are married and have one child each.  Not your average mothers though.  Vicki has raced in several 12 and 24 hour races and Cynthia, in an effort to get into better shape, attended a military style boot camp in Memorial Park.  She would show up at 5:00am to be yelled at to run, do push-ups sit-ups and other boot camp style exercises.  The effort has shown in her racing efforts this year.  Cynthia is also the secretary of the Greater Houston Off Road Biking Association and Vicki’s husband Gary who is also a racer is on the GHORBA Board of Directors also. 

   In one of the closer races in the TMBRA Subaru Fall Cup Series is in the Expert Master Men 40-49 age group where two Houstonians are battling it out for first place.  Derek Garrett, of the Bike Lane Houston/ Cannondale team is currently leading Pete Stewart   by 42 points.  Pete has made his quest for excellence on a single speed bike at many of the races, that’s right one speed.  This race should go to the wire with neither racer having an advantage at this event. 

   In another class, Beginner Men 40-44, Houstonian Kevin Mitchell, in his first season of racing is leading the board after four races with steady performances after two second place finishes at Kerrville and X-Bar’s mud fests.  Kevin is a GHORBA member and participates in trail work parties and events to help further the cause of mountain biking. 

  Pam Avery is another Houston racer that is currently in second place in the Sport class Women 40-99 classification.  Pam is a strong rider who is undefeated this fall series but she missed the first two races of the season.  After winning Huntsville and Lake Bryan she has her eyes set on the prize at the Houston Big Ring Challenge.  Pam has an advantage on this course as she won the time trial here in the spring at GHORBA’s first annual Fat Tire Festival. 

Come out and enjoy the races at Double Lake Recreation Area Saturday and Sunday October 25^th and 26^th.  From Houston take 59 north to Cleveland. Take SH 2025 North west for 14 miles towards Cold Spring Texas.  The entrance is on the right.  Admission is $5.00 per car.  For more information go to www.ghorba.org.