Staying Fit and Keeping Active
When the pandemic hit, Carlos Vieira, Jr., knew he needed to find a release for all his pent-up energy. Wanting to stay fit but also needing something that would give him a challenge, Carlos purchased a bike and hit the trail (he hadn’t owned one since he was a teenager). A few short months later, Carlos became a founding member of the Urban Cycling Group. A new cycling group created out of the pandemic by two friends, Derrick Rippy and Kyron Copeland.
The group was created last spring as a way for people to exercise safely in the outdoors while maintaining healthy social distancing. Their first organized ride was held on Memorial Day weekend, with around 20 riders (only a handful were cyclists). Today, Urban Cycling Group has grown to 100+ members strong, with no signs of slowing down.
Carlos leads beginner rides Tuesday mornings out of Dorey Park
“I was surprised at how big the cycling community is. Cyclists travel all over the country. It’s a huge community.”
Carlos demonstrates how to check tire pressure before each class.
Cycling Leads to New Way of Life
Carlos could not have predicted what a huge part cycling would play in his life over the next 12 months. What initially started as a potential new hobby quickly transformed into a way of life. Carlos just celebrated his fifth-century ride and takes monthly trips to Miami for new cycling adventures. He has become quite the cycling advocate, promoting the benefits of cycling and active living and sharing his love of cycling and knowledge with others.
Wheels Up - A Way to Give Back
Carlos hosts a weekly beginner class at Dorey Park every Tuesday morning at 7 am. He covers everything from proper tire pressure and changing gears to safety gear and trail etiquette. Each class includes a 5–10-mile ride on the Capital Trail. If you’re thinking about giving cycling a try or just looking for a motivational kickstart, you should definitely check it out! Don’t own a bike? No problem, Carlos even provides those. You just need to let him know ahead of time. If you can’t make it on Tuesday, don’t worry. Urban Cycling Group offers free public rides with various routes, distances, and speeds. Check out their “Come Ride With Us” rides at www.urbancyclinggroup.org/ride-calendar
Return trip to Dorey Park, Virginia Capital Trail
What’s next for Carlos? “My goal is to complete a century ride in all 50 states!”
He already has several states knocked out. Good luck, Carlos!
Thank you, Carlos, for sharing your Trail story with us!
Do you have a Trail story to share, email us at info@virginiacapitaltrail.org.
