While the Gainesville cycling community as a whole felt the impact of the death of two cyclists and the injury to four other riders last December, when they were run over by an asleep-at-the-wheel driver, that pain was felt sharply in the Gainesville Cycling Club's Gliders ride group, and 1997 has been a year of physical and emotional healing.
The two riders killed in that crash -- Margaret Raynal and Doug Hill -- were regulars in the Glider lineup. Margaret was ride leader and a founding member. Charles Hinson, one of the most seriously injured of the survivors, was also a regular and the husband of another Glider founder, Evelyn Hinson. Lauri Triulzi and Jessica Green, who were also injured in the crash, had ridden with the group on their regular Saturday and Sunday rides.
"I lost my core who got me riding, there was a big hole," says Tim Strauser, one of the Glider founders, who still leads rides.
Tim recalled how the group was started -- their common link was their riding speed -- "A group that rode at a particular pace" which in the beginning was 15 to 16 mph, but didn't stay there.
"After a month or two we all got stronger, and we found ourselves going faster than we said we would," Tim says.
That improvement came from friendly competition.
"In the sense we'd push each other to get stronger, it was competitive in a good way," Tim says.
Barry Gibbons, also one of the founders, agrees that the rides have had a different feel since December as old members have dealt with the tragedy and new riders have joined.
"She (Margaret) was one of our ride leaders, she was really a bright spirit. It was really nice to ride with her, and she was fun to be with," Barry says.
The Gliders typically ride in a pace line at about 18 mph, on rides ranging from 40 to 60 miles.
"I think the camaraderie and the closeness of the group are improving," Barry says.
Barry says one of the things he likes about the group is its diversity.
"There's a pretty good mix of ages," he says.
And the conversation during the rides can be eclectic as well, Tim says, with topics ranging from riding and jobs to politics, birds and wildflowers.
Both Barry and Tim say they would welcome new riders to join the group. They have been starting the rides from a variety of places, but Tim says by August they hope to settle in on the Plaza of the Americas on the University of Florida campus as a common takeoff point in hopes of building ridership.
"It would be helpful if more people showed up for my rides, there would be encouragement there," Tim says.