Bruce Abdenour, 62, a retired liquor store manager, rides a swooped-design Schwinn and used to carry his provisions in a trusty backpack. The backpack got ripped off at a youth hostel in Prague. He now has panniers for the Sicily ride. Bruce’s favorite cycle memory is camping in the rain in the Depths of Mordor on Whidbey Island.
John “JC” Costello, 62, a Metro bus supervisor and a party line Democrat, rides a red “Scorpion,” a German-made recumbent tricycle from which he flies the tricolor flag of Ireland. In small towns, amazed youngsters cluster around JC as if were Santa on a sleigh. What in tarnation is that?
John DeRocco, 54, an investor, all-around athlete and Italo-Americano extravert, is the Chippings' answer to Lance Armstrong. Fueled on salted peanuts and finocchio (the exotic Italian vegetable with the crisp hint of licorice), Gianni can climb any mountain. Better yet if there's some poor sucker to catch and pass. A natural networker, Gianni is ever alert for the best antipasti, fava bean pasta and stock market deal. His motto: Sempre avanti.
Bill Dunning, 65, a retired printing project manager and the oldest Chipping, is also the most dedicated biker. He owns no car and never drives. Instead, Bill cycles everywhere on his LED illuminated, 1991 Trek hybrid. He logged 4,600 miles last year mostly on Seattle city streets. An all hours, all weather cyclist, he cuts a stunning figure when wearing six layers of polyester, fleece, lycra and rubberized plastic.
John DeRocco, 54, an investor, all-around athlete and Italo-Americano extravert, is the Chippings' answer to Lance Armstrong. Fueled on salted peanuts and finocchio (the exotic Italian vegetable with the crisp hint of licorice), Gianni can climb any mountain. Better yet if there's some poor sucker to catch and pass. A natural networker, Gianni is ever alert for the best antipasti, fava bean pasta and stock market deal. His motto: Sempre avanti.
Dino Enell, 63, a retired engineer, a Whidbey Island land commissioner and a guy who can true a bike wheel in a gale, once claimed his knees fell apart after 40 miles. Now he can have a late breakfast of plain oatmeal and still whip off a 100 miles. He did the 2009 STP on a 35-year-old tandem with salvaged parts.
Scott Fraser, 63, has sold real estate, operated a daycare, piloted planes and driven a bus but it is cycling that really turns him on. On his comfortable Novara, Scott puts on the headphones, rubs down the seat warmer, leans forward on the elbow bars and cruises. He ain’t fast. But he gets there. He does the STP in the rain and the Chilly Hilly in the snow.
Nick Jahn, 62, a photographer, painter, organic gardener, and grass-fed beef eater, rode a 14-speed Trek with 40 pounds of camera equipment the length of Ireland. At one point on the Chippings 2004 Irish ride, he crashed into a stone wall yet soldiered on. He did 125 miles the first day of the 2009 STP, fell into a deep sleep and woke up on the gym floor at Winlock High School.
