Five Questions
We are asking club members five questions and this month we turn to Doug Parrow.
Doug has been one of the Salem Bicycle Club's most active, tireless volunteers and proficient rider for years. He's performed most every club task possible and annually regularly ranks among the top cyclists in total miles.
Here are Doug's Five Questions.
Q1: What is your favorite local ride?
Club members who are regulars on the Tuesday Keizer Morning rides know that one of my favorite routes is to Silverton via Edison Road. The route features a mix of hills — none overly long or steep — and quiet roads. It enters Silverton on a fun downhill.
Q2: What is the best out-of-town ride you've ever experienced?
It’s hard to pick one best ride. The three tours that I took to see portions the Tour de France were epic. We had the opportunity to ride many of the major climbs in the Alps and Pyrenees that have been included in the race over the years. There was nothing quite like riding up Alpe d'Huez in the morning ahead of the race. It seemed everybody in France was either along the road or on their way — bicycling, running, walking — toward the top and, as we approached the finish line (either through enthusiasm or sarcasm at the sight of riders moving a third the speed of the real athletes) the spectators were pounding on the barricades and yelling “Allez, Allez, Allez.”
Q3: Do you prefer to go uphill, downhill, or keep it level?
Downhill, definitely downhill, but it has to be earned. No motorized trips to the top of a hill, just to be able to coast back down.
Q4: What's the best part of being a club member?
The camaraderie, particularly at coffee stops. The opportunity to connect with other club members at a mid-point stop is invaluable. The other benefit of the club is the ride schedule that dictates the time that I need to get moving in the morning to join a ride and prevents me from getting sidetracked by other, unimportant things like yardwork.
Q5: Why do you ride?
To stay healthy. It’s the one form of exercise that I have been able to sustain and bicycling has had the added benefit of allowing me to see many places at a speed that has allowed me to take in the scenery—except on the way back down from an epic climb.
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