ALAN LEY
Hometown:
We moved to Bentonville from Colorado Springs, but I grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Occupation:
I’m learning about being an editor for Bike Arkansas. I have been a part of Bike Bentonville and Arkansas NICA, and I am working with Coach and Athlete Development for International Triathlon Union (ITU) and USA Triathlon. But it goes without saying that being the best dad I can be is my top occupation!
Where I ride:
I ride on the roads, trails and gravel roads and when it’s cold or rainy I ride the indoor trainer. The last six months I have been riding on the gravel roads around Avoca, Cave Springs and Rogers. “Gravel grinding,” as it’s sometimes called, is a superb workout. Unlike trail riding that’s similar to intervals, gravel riding provides a longer more steady-state workout. That provides strength and endurance without the short breaks. I like the benefit-to-risk ratio of gravel riding and the beautiful Arkansas backroads. A typical week this summer has been three gravel rides and two mountain or road rides lasting 75 minutes to 2 hours.
The playlist:
I don’t listen to music when I ride, but I do when I’m working on my cars or driving. If the garage door is open you may hear Credence Clearwater Revival, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Coldplay, Whitesnake, Aerosmith, Golden Earring, Led Zepplin or Buffalo Springfield.
The Bike:
On gravel and the trails, I ride an all carbon ORBEA Alama hardtail. For the road I saddle up on an old aero BLUE bike that was the sponsor of the 2004 Olympic team or the very light Cervelo R5 that fits me perfectly. I switch bikes around like my riding. Indoors I have an old aluminum TREK permanently mounted (or rusted) to an ancient Cat-Eye Cyclometer. I have covered that trainer with buckets of sweat and it keeps on working.
Why I ride:
I used to ride to race. That was all that mattered—speed and fitness. Then I rode with my son, Nathan, when he raced until I couldn’t keep up anymore. Now I ride for fitness, fun, a little social riding and ‘cause I just like to ride.