Joy Sutton and Jen Whatley, Tandem Champions

Joy is a Category 1 racer. She has volunteered in many important ways to LGBRC that ranged from serving on the Cat's Hill Committee, avidly racing, organizing rides and advising new racers. She has moved to New Zealand, but supports and keeps in touch with LGBRC.

When asked what first attracted her to riding, she says, "I got my first "ten speed", a Gitane "Tour de France" with Reynolds 531 double butted tubing and sew up tires in 1971 for my 16th birthday. At the time, bicycle racing and touring was a very new activity in North Florida."

"I entered my first race, an unsanctioned (public) university campus criterium in 1972, where I endured my first crash into a pile of Schwinn Varsity bicycles. After that I toured extensively throughout the south, and even got a license and did some actual ABL (the predecessor of USCF) races.

After moving to California in 1975, I discovered that I had no ability to compete in climbing races, but did enjoy doing the 1976 Davis double century. After that, college, career, and other interests led to a 21 year hiatus in my cycling. Publicity surrounding the 1997 "Low Key Hillclimb" series drew me back into competitive cycling. Since then it has been three solid years of fun slowly improving my skills and fitness. Not to mention having a lot of great times training with my LGBRC pals."

Her Greatest cycling achievement: finishing in the top 10 in the pro peleton at the 2000 Wine Country - Graton road race. She says, "I was dropped on the middle of the 3rd lap, but time trialed for 22 miles to get back into the lead group. Then I beat several famous pros in the field sprint. It just doesn't get any better than that. Much more satisfying than winning a local race."