Ty Culp is an FAA technician and competitive cyclist who covers 250 miles a week on his $3,000 Trek bicycle. He consistently finishes as a top ten finalist when he cycles competitively. Culp will participate in at least 15 races in the coming year.

The two cyclists have something in common: they are both members of the Grand Strand Cycling Association (GSCA).

"Our group is open to people of all ages, abilities, and disciplines," said membership chairman Bobby Doty after a recent Saturday morning group ride in Conway. "From hard-core racers to recreational cyclists, we just want to bring everybody together."

Established just five months ago, the club has a number of ambitious goals for 2001. A training program for members is under development, and the use of heart rate monitors will be the program's first topic. The group's Web site is now online, thanks to Webmaster Culp, and its newsletter is in the planning stages. The GSCA will also sponsor a 100-mile Tour Ride during the Conway Riverfest in July.

Perhaps most important of all, the group plans to promote safer and more accessible cycling conditions on the Grand Strand.

Share The Road

"I've been yelled at, honked at, flipped off. I've had food thrown at me, and I've had people try to run me off the road," said Richard Kerner, GSCA president and owner of Bicycles and Gear in Myrtle Beach. "I've even been slapped. And when you're slapped by someone in a car moving at 40 MPH, it really hurts."

Like several of his fellow club members, Kerner has also been hit, on his bicycle, by automobile drivers who didn't know how to safely share the roads with cyclists. "We're working with state officials from the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation to have Share The Road signs put up in a few different places," he said. Kerner and his fellow GSCA members hope that these signs will remind drivers to give cyclists plenty of room.

However, Kerner acknowledges that cyclists don't always ride safely. "Anybody riding a bike needs to wear a helmet, stop at stop signs, and to ride with traffic, not against it," he said. "Plus, a lot of people ride at night with no lights or reflectors. Maybe we need to educate the police about these things, so that they can educate people who don't ride safely." Kerner's plans for the GSCA also include sponsorship of safety rodeos at local schools, where children will provided with simple tips for safe cycling.

"If we get a big group together, we'll be able to go to our city councils to improve cycling here," Doty added, "to widen road shoulders and create bike paths on new roads. We want to invite everybody who rides a bike to be a part of it."

Open To All

There's a place for everybody in the Grand Strand Cycling Association. Five levels of ability are posted on the group's Web site; they range from relaxed (10 MPH) to racing levels (21+ MPH). Riders from all levels are welcome.

"Riding with these guys has made me a better cyclist," commented Doty. A participant in five short triathlons last summer, he wanted to improve his speed and stamina in the cycling portions of future events. "I can remember when it was hard for me to do 20 miles. Now we're doing 50 or 60 miles at a time."

"Some people see racers in clubs like this and they're intimidated. But they shouldn't be! There are beginners in this club, too," added Culp.

Bill Thiele isn't a beginner. In fact, he's been an avid cyclist for 21 years. The 56-year old director of taxes and treasury for AVX Corporation is getting into shape for competition in the new year. "Freedom, challenge, accomplishment," he replied, when asked why he likes to ride.

Mary Crowe cycles to stay healthy. "It's not about riding as fast or as far as you can," she said with enthusiasm. "It's about using cycling to maintain a level of fitness."

With the benefits of low-impact exercise in mind, Crowe has begun to encourage her father to begin cycling again. Riding a bicycle, she pointed out, is a great activity for many senior citizens. "Everybody knows how to ride a bike. You just get back on!"

The next meeting of the Grand Strand Cycling Association will take place at Bicycles & Gear on December 12, 2000 at 7 p.m. Call 626-2453 for details. Ride schedules and other information are available at www.strandcyclist.com.