Thursday, July 30, 1998

Tour de ‘Toona: more than a race

By NIKKI PETROWICZ
Collegian Staff Writer

College Avenue echoed with the sound of music, cheers and cowbells as the Tour de 'Toona paid its premier visit to State College yesterday.

Click for a page of additional Tour de 'Toona photos

Besides providing State College residents with the opportunity to witness a world-class bike race, the event also offered rollerblading, mini-bike racing and live music to a crowd of all ages.

The most diehard cycling fans huddled around the start and finish at the corner of College Avenue and Allen Street -- the hub of the attractions.

Spectators race between laps of the Tour de ‘Toona yesterday. B103 and The Bicycle Shop, 441 W. College Ave., sponsored the spectator race. (Collegian Photo/Laura Chiles)

The men's bicycle race was launched with a gun early yesterday morning, while the women started pedaling in the afternoon.

The course consisted of five 12-mile laps. Most cyclists could be expected to loop back around the intersection of the College Avenue and Allen Street roughly every 30 minutes throughout the race -- where fans waited to offer their enthusiastic support.

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"My friend has ridden that first hill many times and says it's worse than it looks," said resident Jim Ruiz. "For the athletes to climb it over and over is very impressive."

Others considered more technical aspects of the competition, especially as members of the Saeco-Timex team slowed down and created a barrier to prevent opponents from taking the lead held by their first-place team member.

"I had no idea there was such strategy involved," said State College resident Doris Mack.

Kendra Wenzel of team Saeco Timex pulls ahead of the crowd during the early stretch of the fifth lap in the Tour de ‘Toona yesterday on College Avenue. Wenzel took first place in the race that attracted many cycling fans to State College. (Collegian Photo/Michael T. Hoover)

In addition, the athletes had to cope with an unpaved section on East Aaron Drive, said Jim Mann, executive directive of Downtown State College Partnership Inc.

"Roads like that cause a number of flats," Mann said. "And in a race like this, once you're flat, you're done."

One of events to keep spectators entertained between laps was the Cycle Madness Race sponsored by the Bicycle Shop, 441 W. College Ave. The winner, Jim Twoey of the Student Book Store, 330 E. College Ave., walked away with a new Schwinn bicycle.

Other downtown attractions included the Rollerblade Demo Van, offering beginners and experts the chance to outfit themselves in Rollerblades and safety gear; a Kid's Challenge Bike Course to teach children the basics of bike safety and a live music stand, featuring the rhythms of John Cunningham, The Original Soul Project and The Fables.

"We need to have outdoor bands like this playing downtown all the time," said John Muckelbauer (graduate-English). "Normally I'd be hanging my head on the way to teach my class, but today I heard the music and thought, 'Wow, this is going to be a great day.' I love the whole festive general atmosphere."

Muckelbauer wasn't the only spectator enchanted by the outdoor bands. Most spectators were impressed with the way State College handled the whole event.

"It was really well-organized," said Hisham Abulhassan (graduate-architectural engineering). "I just don't think they publicized it very well. There wasn't a lack of interest; there just wasn't enough publicity. More hype probably would have brought more students."