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Post-Standard,
The (Syracuse, NY)
July 5, 2001
Section: Neighbors
West
Edition: Final
Page: 12
COOL LAKE VIEWS
FOR SWEATY RACE THE 17-MILE RACE BENEFITS THE BORODINO COMMUNITY PARK
BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT.
Magin
McKenna Contributing writer
Sporting the tattoo of a
bicycle chain around her left ankle, Mary Thomas pedaled the final
stretch of last week's Giro of Otisco Lake Bike Race barefoot.
The 33 year-old science teacher at Marcellus High School accidentally
jammed her back wheel into the bike's gears while climbing a 10 percent
uphill grade that ended Saturday's race. So,
Thomas decided to walk.
She hoisted her defunct bike over her shoulder, and handed her
cumbersome shoes to a spectator.
Her luck changed when another biker pedaled by and hurriedly fixed
Thomas' wheel.
She rode to the finish line sans shoes, finishing fourth in women ages
28 to 40.
"It was really hard to do," Thomas said, smiling. "These
pedals are uncomfortable."
Skaneateles resident Gianfranco Frittelli organized the race to benefit
the Borodino Community Park Beautification Project, which is currently
making gardening improvements to land near the Borodino Methodist
Church.
With racers paying between $15 and $20 to participate, the project
raised more than $1,000, Frittelli said.
Bicyclists launched into the race at 10 a.m., peeling past the historic
Side Hill Schoolhouse at Stanton and Willowdale Roads.
They rode north on Willowdale to Route 174 to the Otisco Dam, and then
headed south on Otisco Valley Road.
From there, they went west through four other roads, winding back around
11 a.m. to the school house.
The last 0.6 miles of the ride was uphill.
Jeremy Clay, 24, of Tully, sped past the finish line at about 10:45.
Reid Gurnee, 23, trailed Clay by about four bike lengths.
The exhausted and sweat-drenched men shook hands after the race,
exchanging jokes about their close match and the uphill trek.
"You just want to collapse," Gurnee said, wiping sweat from
his face. "Its a real hard push."
Frittelli awarded Clay with a first-place trophy. The race was divided
into six age groups, ranging from 13 to 65. Top winners in each group
received trophies.
Marcellus High School student Danielle Dorfer, 16, won first place in
her age bracket 13 to 17, she said.
She trained for the race by cycling from her home in Onondaga Hill to
Skaneateles. She also practiced a few times on the course, she said.
When Dorfer crossed the finish line, her family and friends cheered
loudly. Despite their excitement, Dorfer only had one word for the
moment.
"Awesome," she said.
Illustration:
Photo<
Frank Ordonez/Staff photographer<
JEREMY CLAY of Tully looks for a resting spot after completing
Saturday's Giro of Otisco Lake Bike Race.
Copyright (c) 2001 The
Herald Company
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