A Special Kind of Cyclist

It takes a special kind of cyclist to enjoy pedaling for a week through Colorado’s high country with each day’s ride being 60-100 miles over routes that include long leg-burning climbs up steep mountain roads.

Lynette Havens, a longtime friend and former faculty colleague at Aims College in Greeley,
Colorado, is one of those special cyclists.

She’s also the perfect role model for anyone who wants to challenge themselves with a lofty cycling goal and then work hard to accomplish that goal while overcoming any obstacles that might arise.

Havens has completed the week-long Ride the Rockies bike tour twice (2008 and 2012) and has also ridden numerous one-day cycling tours along Colorado’s Front Range.

However, there’s more to her story than just putting a lot of miles on her bike.

For starters, this 57-year-old grandmother has only been cycling for eight years and completed her first Ride the Rockies during her third year of cycling.

Prior to getting a bicycle, she was a recreational runner who occasionally competed in 5K and 10K fun runs until bad knees forced her to give up running.

She had her first knee replacement in 2009 and the second this past July.

“I’ve completed one Ride the Rockies with two bad knees and another with one artificial knee,” said Havens. “I’m confident that I can do it again with two artificial knees.”

When she decided to get serious about cycling her objective was to train for something ‘big’ and Ride the Rockies was what she decided to focus on.

“I’m motivated to ride long distances because of the satisfaction I feel when I’m done,” said Havens. “It’s always a lot of fun to do, especially the climbing.”

“I remember looking at my bike hanging on the back of the car after completing the last Ride the Rockies and feeling absolute amazement that such a machine could take me over the Rocky Mountains. I couldn’t help but feel an enormous sense of pride.”

Havens does different types of cycling workouts depending on the time of the year.

During warm weather she rides 3-4 times per week on bike trails or on the rolling roads around her home in Greeley, and she also does workouts on hilly routes through the Front Range foothills.

Most of her training rides cover 30-40 miles at a pace of 16-18 mph on the flats and 12-13 mph on moderate inclines.

“I remember when my speed on the steeper climbs was about 4 mph,” notes Havens. “ I can now maintain 8-10 mph on a fairly serious uphill.”

Starting in October of each year and continuing through the cold winter months in Colorado, Havens rides her bicycle inside on a stationary trainer while using a video training program called Spinervals.

“The video program is designed to train participants all winter long while varying the training distances, cadences and focus," said Havens. “The shortest indoor ride workout using the videos is one hour and there is generally a two- to three-hour ride during each week.”

“After the six months of using the indoor cycling program, I’m in really good shape and ready for serious outdoor cycling when the season starts in the spring.”

Havens also notes that the physical benefits of her cycling workouts extend beyond just being able pedal up steep roads easier.

“My resting heart rate is much lower than it was a few years ago, I have definitely increased the muscle tone in my legs, and my overall endurance had increased considerably.”

When you think ‘long distance cyclist’ and ‘high mountain roads,’ the first athlete that comes to mind is typically not a petite 57-year-old lady with two artificial knees.

Think again — this lady is the real thing and she has the ride results to prove it.

Lynette Havens is a special kind of cyclist.

Upcoming Events
Nov. 1: 30K of the Dinosaur trail race, roadlizards.org
Nov. 1: Six Hours of the Dinosaur mountain bike race, angelobike.org/6hour-dinosaur
Nov. 15: West Texas Masochist Run II, roadlizards.org/events/masochists-relay-run/
Dec. 13: Red Nose Rudolph Jingle Bell Run, roadlizards.org