Riding 600 laps in six hours around a closed bicycle track would seem to be a mind-numbingly monotonous endeavor.
It’s 21,600 seconds of starring at the same concrete track with no variation in scenery lap after lap.
But for local ultra endurance rider Doug Chivington, the Major Taylor Velodrome at Indy Cycloplex in Indianapolis has proven to be more mentally challenging than riding from Cincinnati to Toledo in a day.
“When I am riding cross country, there are times when you can coast and take somewhat of a break,” the 60-year-old cyclist said Wednesday as he prepares for two world record attempts on Friday.
“I’ve ridden 200 laps in one practice session and more than 200 miles overall. On the velodrome, there is no stopping. You are constantly pedaling and working to navigate the corners.
“The mental aspect of this will be a little different and tougher.”
Starting at 8 a.m., Chivington will take to the track with it 28-degree banked corners and its short 8-degree banked straights to set records for a six-hour ride and for 200 kilometer distance in the 60-69 age group.
He will be provided nutrition and hydration every 15 minutes by his team as he seeks to reach his goals.
The Bellefontaine resident said he has always been drawn to endurance sports particularly running in his younger days. Since retiring from Honda in 2019, he has taken up full-time riding spending about 20 hours a week training and riding year round.
Chivington already holds two world records for riding from Cincinnati to Toledo in a day and he has hired a coach to help him improve his performance.
But it’s not just about pumping through the gears and riding in the breeze. Chivington has a cause — the Resurrecting Lives Foundation.
“I’d feel guilty if I was just doing it for myself because it takes so much time so having a cause makes it more fun and motivates me even more,” he said.
The non-profit foundation is based in Dublin, Ohio, and provides holistic resources for veterans who suffer from traumatic brain injuries or post traumatic stress disorders.
“They focus on therapy and holistic living to help the veterans get off medications,” Chivington said. “So far we’ve raised $10,000 for Resurrecting Lives.”
For Chivington, the foundation’s work is especially important, as he has a son who sustained a brain injury while serving in Iraq.
To follow, Chivington’s effort on Friday visit online https://www.facebook.com/TeamChivington.
For more about the foundation, visit https://www.resurrectinglives.org.
