GDB Ride / Leader Profiles – Joe Rohner
by Paul Brown
Welcome to "GDB Ride Leader Profiles". If there's a ride you've heard about... or haven't, and have considered doing it... but haven't, we hope that this monthly series will give you some more insight as to the type of ride (and ride leader) that's out there, so you know a little more about what to expect when you finally jump in!
In this inaugural article, we'll feature Joe Rohner, and his "Best of the Northwest" ride, a 50 mile ride through the towns north of Grapevine Lake.
Some participant comments about this ride:
"Scenic, excellent pace, no drop, great ride."
"Joe ia a great group leader."
"Lots of rolling hills, regrouped often."
"Good route, long open stretches"
"I'm tired… but happy! What's for lunch?"
Due to Joe's involvement with the "Best of the SOUTHwest" weekly ride (which he also sometimes leads), the Northwest ride only happens when there happens to be a fifth Saturday in a month - but it's worth the wait.
Here's our interview with Joe, direct from the Ride Leader's Mouth:
Q: How long have you been involved with GDB?
JR: 6 years.
Q: When and why did you start doing "road" riding?
JR: GDB had the tent set up and recruited my wife and me one time we were riding around White Rock Lake. It sounded like fun, but we realized our hybrids wouldn't be able to keep up unless we upgraded to road bikes. We never regretted it…Fast is fun! "I feel the need... the need for speed".
Q: Do you personally ride year-round?
JR: Yes, unless I get a better offer.
Q: What and how many bikes do you have?
JR: Two. A Trek Madone 5.9 that I bought last July (I really wanted a Lamborgini but my wife wouldn't let me spend $150k on a car. This was the next best thing). I also have a Bianci Volpe (nicknamed the blue beast) cyclecross bike that I use on White Rock Trail.
Q: Do you ever bike commute?
JR: No. I work out of the house when I am not traveling out of town. My wife won't let me ride my bike in the house and it would take too long to get to my out of town assignments on a bicycle, particularly the overseas ones.
Q: What has been your favorite ride you've done outside of Texas?
JR: We took a trip with Backroads to Britany and Normandy in France. Everyone needs to see Omaha beach once in their lifetimes -- it is truly awe inspiring. The food was fantastic and the country was beautiful.
Q: What's your favorite Texas Bike Rally to ride in, and why?
JR: Lance Armstrong's Ride for the Roses. Pretty expensive but it is well organized, you get to see Lance and it is for a great cause.
Q: What's the longest continuous ride you've ever done? Would you do it again?
JR: 120 miles from the north rim of the Grand Canyon through Zion National Park to the town of Springdale outside the main entrance. Absolutely.
Q: Survey -- What's your favorite:
• Jersey -- I am a South Park addict. I have a SouthPark jersey with Kenny, Kyle, Cartman and Stan on the front with a picture of Cartman on the back saying "Ah man, you guys suck"
• During-ride food -- Trail mix
• During-ride drink -- Water or gatorade
• Rally Rest-Stop Food -- Chocolate chip cookies!
• After-ride food -- Mexican food
• After-ride drink -- Ice tea…Lots of it.
• LEAST favorite Rally Rest Stop food or drink? -- Bananas. I hate bananas!!!!!
[OK, enough about Joe - let's get his description of the Northwest ride]
Q: When and where is the start point for the ride you lead?
JR: Best of the Northwest starts at the Big Buck Brewery and Steak House next to Outdoor World in Grapevine.
Q: Does the ride occur year-round, or seasonally?
JR: Year round, 4 times a year. It is on the 5th Saturday of months that have 5 Saturdays. (December, March, June and September.)
Q: What is the typical distance, flat cruise speed, and overall average?
JR: It is a 50 mile ride through the towns north of Grapevine Lake (Bentonville, Argyle, Copper Canyon, Flower Mound). It is pretty hilly. Flat cruise speed is about 18mph. Overall average is only about 13-14 because there are a lot of hills that brings the average down quite a bit.
Q: How many people typically participate in your group rides?
JR: So far we have averaged about a dozen riders. I hope to get more because it is a really great ride. I don't like riding in the city that much. I really prefer more rural routes; the scenery is more interesting and there are fewer cars. The Best of the Northwest and the Best of the Southwest both have very rural routes. It means a longer drive before the ride but well worth it.
Q: Describe the typical ride, painting a mental picture for us:
JR: Huh? You been studying Zen or something? Come ride with us and paint your own picture!!!!
Q: OK, that was admittedly silly -- What things about your ride do you enjoy the most?
JR: The camaraderie. The exercise. The scenery (no, I don't mean biking chicks with tight butts in spandex….well on second thought, that too!)
Q: We won't go there, since this is a family show… What's your favorite memory of a past ride you led?
JR: Well there was the time I ran over a squirrel when I was leading a ride from the Fort Worth Stockyards to Benbrook Lake State Park. He darted right out in front of me and got his head caught under my front wheel. Killed the little bugger right there on the path. He almost took me down with him. Of course all the rest of the people on the ride had to stop and look. James Loomis accused me of being a cold-blooded killer. As a result I got a little squirrel decal and stuck it on my bike frame, kind of the way that WWII aces painted symbols on their planes representing all their kills.
Thanks, Joe Rohner!!!!!
