OC Register Article OC Gran Fondo VIP George Vargas

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Today’s OC Register interviewed Cameron Jackson, Ride Director for the OC Gran Fondo. I was mentioned in the article as the VIP rider. Below is an excerpt from the article which can be found here in it’s entirety.  Jackson is expecting up to 1,000 riders in just its third year of existence!

“And keeping with traditions of most gran fondos, which means “big ride” in Italian, there will be a VIP rider this year, George Vargas. Vargas specializes in endurance rides such as Race Across America and Furnace Creek. He has completed 24 double centuries and three triple centuries.”

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Come ride with George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas on September 29, 2012 at the OC Gran Fondo 

 

Giro di San Diego – 106 miles 8,100 feet of climbing

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What’s next for George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas?  Giro di San Diego on September 16  106 miles 8,100 feet of climbing.  I will be riding my tandem.  It should be fun with Mount Palomar in the middle of the ride!

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Features of the Route

  • Length: 106 miles
  • Elevation Gain: 8100 ft.
  • Rancho Santa Fe
  • Del Dios Highway
  • Mt. Palomar via South Grade Road
  • KOM/QOM on Mt. Palomar climb
  • Rural East County backcountry
  • Pacific Coast Highway
  • Seven feed/water stations

 


 

I Don’t Have it THAT Bad

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A couple of weeks I was out on a lackadaisical training ride.  I was feeling sorry for myself and then something caught my eye.  To my right I saw a yellow wildflower.  This tenacious little flower was at the base of a massive concrete utility pole.  I pulled over to get a closer look.  I was in awe as I admired its resoluteness.  I looked around and didn’t see sprinklers or any type of irrigation.  I thought to myself — wow this flower’s story is one of perseverance, persistence and downright determination!

So why was I feeling so sorry for myself?  No reason whatsoever!  That little voice inside my head said — GET BACK ON THE BIKE!  From now when I’m down or not feeling so great while training on the bike, on the J-O-B, or life in general, I will think of that little yellow flower surviving against insurmountable odds.

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Nelson Vails stopped by to visit my new gig.

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Nelson Beasley Vails (born October 13, 1960 in Harlem New York) is a retired road and track cyclist from the United States, a professional rider from 1988 to 1995. He represented the USA at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, where he won the silver medal in the 1000m Match Sprint, behind countryman Mark Gorski.

• 2009 Inductee to the US Bicycle Hall of Fame

• 1984 Olympics: Track – Sprint Silver, 1984

• First African-American to win an Olympic Cycling Medal

• 1985 World Championships: Tandem Sprint, Silver

• 1984, 1985, 1986 National Tandem Sprint Champion

• 1984 National Sprint Champion

• 1983 Pan American Games: Gold Medal

• 1980s and 1990s competed professionally in the 6-Day circuits in Europe and the Japanese Keirin events.

• Media Cycling commentator involved in cycling commentator for major TV networks and cycling safety programs.

• Starred with Kevin Bacon in the Columbia Pictures release of “Quicksilver”, a movie about the tough world of bicycle messengers in New York City.

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