profiles Text by SEBASTIAN BONNARD and OLIVIA MILNE
ROAD CYCLING
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Photos by OLIVIA MILNE
A QUARANTINE TREND REVIVES A PALY CLUB
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HIZZING DOWN A HILL in Pescadero with aching legs and an immense sense of pride building in his chest, Palo Alto High School senior James Fetter completes the Everest Challenge after what feels like an interminable 14 hours. This endurance challenge, often attempted by professional bikers, requires one to cycle up and down a mountain as many times as it takes to reach the combined elevation of Mount Everest — approximately 29,000 feet. “At 6 a.m. I started riding, and I didn’t finish until 8:30 p.m.,” Fetter said. “It felt super good to complete a huge challenge A NEWFOUND PASSION — Junior Sebastian Acceta chooses long like that.” distance cycling as his quarantine exercise. Additionally, there has been Although few Paly students engage in such strenuous rides, a spike of Paly riders looking to go outside and enjoy nature. “I really got road cycling has dramatically increased in popularity over the past into it during the first week of quarantine,” Acceta said. “It’s so relaxing and a great way to get out of the house.” few months due to the limited exercise options with COVID-19 regulations. “I was hoping we could just bike there [Cañada Road], and Not only do these cyclists benefit from the workout, but get to know each other while enjoying our shared interest,” Fetter also from the socialization and natural tranquility that their rides said. provide. Northern California is home to numerous scenic bike rides At the start of this school year, Fetter and senior Alex Selwyn varying in difficulty and length, many of which are frequented by decided to recharter the Paly Biking Club, founded in 2018 by students. Kevin Cox (Class of 2019), after seeing the recent increase of “Santa Cruz, San Gregorio State Beach and the vast Portola interest in the activity over the summer. Valley are some of the most popular locations for rides among Members of the club include athletes of various sports who experienced students while developing riders can enjoy the picked up cycling as a result of canceled accessibility of Arastradero and Foothills,” practices, from runners like Fetter and junior Ben Antonow said. Selwyn, to swimmers, water polo players, It [road cycling] is a Although the rides’ difficulty and and volleyball players. location may differ, most riders use the app perfect way to exercise Motivated by the sport’s accessibility Strava to monitor their trips. The app helps and her love for the outdoors, senior and and take advantage of bikers track distance traveled, maximum club member Catherine Reller began cycling the amazing nature and average speed, as well as heart rate. over the summer. “Strava is almost like a social media “I really like the outdoors in general around us.” platform, where you can post your activities and throughout quarantine I used my dad’s and see a map of what you’ve done,” — BEN ANTONOW, junior Antonow said. “It is a really useful feature old bike to go on rides,” Reller said. “That’s when I really picked up road cycling as a to see where you have ridden and how far method to exercise and hobby.” you’ve gone.” New bikers also discovered similarities to running in As many riders plan to continue this activity past quarantine, the aerobic effort exerted while biking, as well as a whole new members of the Paly Biking Club hope that other students take up dimension of leisure while exercising. cycling as an opportunity to safely go outside during quarantine “Biking is more relaxed and less competitive [than running], and appreciate the great outdoors. it also helps you bond with others,” said Jimmy Miller, a junior on “The Paly [Biking] Club is new, but we hope its recency won’t the cross country team. take from its ability to attract new members,” Antonow said. “It The club is planning on meeting every other Sunday to go [road cycling] is a perfect way to exercise and take advantage of the on group rides on Cañada Road, with 25 students involved so far. amazing nature around us.” v
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