Pedal About Rochester
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Most people have ridden a bicycle as a youngster, but many leave behind cycling once they’re able to purchase their first car.
That’s true for Rochester resident Fernando Galiana, 55, a production manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific in Penfield.
He had bicycled as a child but over time, bicycling became less of a priority. Life gets busy, and often, physical recreation is pushed aside. A few years ago, Galiana decided to get back into cycling for its physical benefits.
“I borrowed a friend’s bike and got back into it,” he said.
He did a little more than “get into it.”
Galiana became such an avid cyclist that he now serves as vice president of the Genesee Valley Cycling Club.
Though most of the members are younger than 55, he said that a handful are around his age.
The group promotes bicycle road racing in Monroe and surrounding counties. It was founded in 1979 and became affiliated with USA Cycling since 1983. Genesee Valley Cycling Club promotes events such as Spring Giros Training Series (a giro is a bicycle tour), GVCC Classic Road Race, G-Tour, a weekly Tuesday and Thursday night training series and Junior Cyclocross Clinics.
The organization’s membership levels are $35 for all Spring Giros, $20 trial membership (not giro eligible), $110 full membership. Student membership is free.
Galiana likes cycling in the Rochester area as “it’s so easy to get outside of town and the roads here are very good and low in traffic. You can ride for miles in beautiful scenery.”
He encourages anyone interested in picking up cycling as a 55-plusser to “just do it!” — as the Nike advertising campaign famously put it.
The Rochester Bicycling Club includes cycling for recreation, health and transportation, not just racing.
Founded in 1967, the organization promotes cyclist rights and safety on roads and trails. Member cyclists include those interested in touring, racing, mountain biking, tandem models, recumbent and e-bikes.
The organization’s ride events include the Rochester area, Finger Lakes and Southern Tier. Their varied terrain of the region keeps the mix of ride types varied as well, from flat to hilly. Some rides are as short as 10 miles; others surpass 100 miles. The club welcomes members ranging from new riders to seasoned ones.
The club also hosts social outings including picnics, dinners and a mid-winter gathering.
Just for Giggles Cycling is a Facebook-based group that hosts rides and notifies the public about fun rides hosted by other organizations in and around Rochester. The page is meant for the cyclist not interested in racing but in enjoying non competitive riding in groups to boost safety and camaraderie.
The Rochester Gravel Collective is the local chapter of a self-described “ride what you brung” cycling group of racing and riding enthusiasts. The organization focuses on keeping bicycling accessible to under-represented groups. The Rochester Gravel Collective holds scheduled events like workshops, rides and social events. Membership ranges from free to $75 for families.
For more information:
• Genesee Valley Cycling Club https://gvccracing.com
• Rochester Bicycling Club rochesterbicyclingclub.org
• Just for Giggles Cycling www.facebook.com/groups/jfgcycling
• The Rochester Gravel Collective https://thegravelcollective.com/rochester