Welcome back, Alissa!

WWCGP is so happy to have Alissa Weigand as our chief referee again! She says “I am excited to be a part of WWCGP again this year. This will be my third year working this event. I love the positive energy of this event! WWCGP sends a positive and powerful message that women are a driving force in today’s world.”

Alissa has been involved in cycling for many years, including going to the 2003 Tour de France on a cycling trip and spectating at the 2015 World Championships in Richmond, VA. She became a USA Cycling Official in 2015,  later earned an upgrade to a Road B official in 2018, and also has a Motor C official license. A highlight of her career so far was to be the time board official for the 2021 Pro National Championships in Knoxville, TN. She also was a volunteer at the 2015 World Championships in Richmond and worked in the Tissot timing truck for the Elite Men’s time trial. She is currently the other half of the NEBRA Officials Assigners team.

In her spare time, she enjoys riding her motorcycle, hiking, running, knitting, reading, and spending time with her three nieces. In her professional career, she has worked in the healthcare industry in leadership roles for the past 25+ years.

What No One Tells You About Cycling

by Vivienne Bailey

You ever try something because people tell you it’s good for you and will improve your health, blah,  blah, blah? Yeah, we aren’t going to talk about that in this post.  

Of course, those things are important, but it’s about getting on your bike and the first time you realize  you enjoy it beyond getting on it to get fit. In this short post I’m going to talk about things that no one  tells you about cycling.  

Let’s start with the name. When you start cycling, especially if you are “ahem” a certain age, it’s about  “biking.” Biking to get fit and to improve your health, get around town in an easy and inexpensive way.  It’s also fun to do with friends and family. Once you’ve put a few miles under your belt, you start  referring to it as cycling and you’ll feel the need to buy kit.  

Which brings us to our next point. Gear.  It never stops at just the bike. As you get  better and faster and want to ride beyond little trips to the park or jaunts to the grocery store, you’ll now need all the gear,  clipless pedals, jerseys, a better helmet, those funny shoes, the right kind of shorts, and a knowledge of your lower anatomy and dimensions that is unparalleled. I  could go on about the gear but, suffice it to say, it can get expensive. Let’s not even mention the inevitable realization that you may have outgrown your bike.  

Then there’s the amount of time you’ll want to spend in the saddle, on your bike outside, training,  mountain biking, whatever your choice. You’ll need to spend the time because you’ll want to be faster,  fitter, and stronger! It will no longer be about looking better, feeling better or losing weight. It will be  about that feeling you get when you’re on your bike, flying down the road under your own power,  feeling free and strong.  

At the end of the day, what no one tells you about cycling is that it can be life changing. No, you don’t  have to become a racer. All you have to know is how to get on your bike and ride it to your heart’s content. Hop in the saddle, change your life.