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Get to Know the New Ride Leaders, part 5 ~~ Patty Wilson and Sebastian Villamil

News

Kathy Crampton

Monday, 18 October 2021

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Here is the final installmemnt of our series to let you know about our newest LWA Ride Leaders.

The LWA has now had ten members become Ride Leaders since the Spring. You may have already met some of them on a recent ride. All have filled out a questionnaire as part of the process, and here we share some of their answers (some edited) with our cyclists.

1) Meet Patty Wilson:

I love gravel rides but around here it's usually paved roads with some gravel segments. Sometimes I'll ride on a rail trail or canal path, and occassionally on some easy mtb trails. I love hills but I'm a slow cyclist, typically riding 11-13 mph depending on the terrain.

I started cycling to improve fitness in 2012 - first with a hybrid bike and then went to a gravel bike in 2015. I'm a year-round cyclist, fall/winter is my favorite time of the year to ride (I know most people think that's strange!) I've participated in regular group rides with CBBC but not so much in the past few years as I've been training for the Unbound gravel 200 mile event that will take place in Kansas in early June. I've been riding about 4000-5000 miles a year plus a lot of sessions on the trainer. My longest ride has been 150 miles.

I like to encourage cycists of all levels, and to have fun in a social group setting. Also to promote more inclusivity in cycling. I've participated in some gravel events, group rides, and training camps in the mid-west and it was so nice how friendly and encouraging other cyclists have been. There really is a "gravel community". I'd like to pass some of that along. I recently moved to Pennsburg and am looking forward to riding with LWA.

2) Finally, for this season's group of new Ride Leaders, Meet Sebastian Villamil (aka Soby).

I started cycling in 2019 as a way to get back into fitness and lose weight. So far, I’ve been successful at losing over 40 pounds of weight and I am still fighting to maintain a healthy lifestyle and lose some more. Cycling has always been a part of my life but recently I have become more passionate about the sport as it combines adventure, fitness, and fellowship. The type of rides I enjoy the most are long distance with moderate climbing. I make part of two rides every week for the Fitness Central club, TNSR (Tuesday Night Stress Reliever) ride and Covered Bridge C group ride on Thursday. I also like to participate in various organized rides, most recently I rode the metric century French Creek Iron tour and will be riding the 100 mile ride of the Covered Bridge Classic in Lancaster, PA., and the city to shore ride for MS.

I would like to be a ride leader to assist in keeping planned rides from becoming cancelled due to the ride leader's absence when they are absent due to vacation, injury, or any other personal reason. I would like to become a ride leader as well to be better educated in safety when serving as a ride leader to other cyclists and help support and improve the sport in the Lehigh Valley.

I am well versed in technology and can assist anybody with issues with their GPS computer or any other cycling related app. I was formally trained in CPR for my job, but I no longer hold a certification to do so. Nonetheless, I have been able to assist injured individuals in the past and I know the importance of acting fast and calmly under stressful situations.

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Get to Know the New Ride Leaders, part 5 ~~ Patty Wilson and Sebastian Villamil

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Kathy Crampton

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