Aaron’s/L5Flyers' Rheingans Wins at Sebring 2nd Straight Year!
Aaron’s/L5Flyer ultra endurcane racer Rick Rheingans rode 470.1 miles to win the first major road ultracycling event of the season in Sebring, Florida on February 18-19. Bike Sebring is the first 24 hour road race on the national calendar of the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association. Bike Sebring includes four different divisions: 12-hour drafting, 24 hour drafting, 24 hour recumbent, and a 24 hour non-drafting for traditional bikes. The non-drafting event serves as a qualifier for the Race Across America (RAAM). Men who ride more than 425 miles and women who ride more than 400 in the 24 hours qualify for RAAM.
Racers were treated to great Florida weather with sunny skies and a high in the mid-80s (and mid 50s at dawn). At 6:30 am everyone started on the long loop – about 100 miles on quiet roads through orange groves. On the way back temperatures heated up and the wind was picking up a little (maybe10 mph). Once back in Sebring racers do a 12 hour loop on low traffic roads. This middle loop has one hill (maybe 150 ft) but otherwise it is pretty flat. At around 6:00 pm, the 24 hour racers move onto the track at the Sebring International Speedway for the rest of the race. The track is about 3.7 miles long and flat.
Rick competed against 33 other cyclist in the traditional RAAM qualifier event. He averaged 20.5 mph during the first 12 hours and 19.5 mph for the entire race, getting off the bike only once. His 470 miles was 30 miles more than second place finisher Bryce Walsh, and 45 miles more than Rick’s total last year. It was also further than any of the 36 riders in the 24 hour drafting event. Rick plans to compete in several other 24 events throughout the year and is hoping to compete in the 3,100 mile Race Across America in 2007.
