Team Bacchetta
Team Bacchetta Member Bio - Jim Verheul
Name: Jim Verheul
Sex: Serially monogamous again soon, I hope.
Gender: Male
Age: 40
Location: Westlake Village, CA
e-mail: jverheul@alumni.usc.edu
Phone number: 805 750 1786
Riding Background:
Rode to school and back, even in snow, from the age of 7. won the first race I ever rode in ’86. Worked in a bike shop and lived bikes from '87 to '94. President of 2 cycling clubs. USCF cat 4 official. Race director of at least 30 races. Rode hundreds of road events and a few dozen MTB races.
How did you get into Recumbents?
Back pain got me off of DFs. Rehab on a recumbent excercise bike, with no back pain, had me looking for something like it but with wheels.
How did you get asked to be a TEAM BACCHETTA team mate?
In June of '03, after 4 months on a Vision R40, I wanted something I could go fast on, climb on, and go on local training rides with my old DF buddies. I test rode a couple Bacchettas, was really impressed with the handling and the speed, and bought an Aero. 6 weeks later I went to the NA Crit champs near Chicago. The next day I went north for the last day of the Stevens Point rally. I met Kevin Keuhl (sp?), Mark Colliton, and Rich Pinto in the parking area before the morning ride. We went through the traditional and required," NOoooo, you're the strongest guy here!" ceremony. I was hoping it would be an easier ride cuz I was tired from Saturday. The road was bumpy and full of holes, so I rode away from the group so as to be able to pick my own line on the unknown road. Eventually Kevin and Keith Santiago ride up. I introduced myself to Keith as we were antagonist on the net. We hit it off by the end of the ride. Kevin kept attacking on every climb, then coasted everywhere else, and it drove me nuts. So, I tried to get them to ride smooth on the flat ground but kept dropping them. I had to keep waiting for them at intersection, as I was too dumb to bring a cue sheet. Finally Keith decides to take it easy, and we snack a bit. I flatted later on a pothole and rode in with Rich. Kevin must have said something to Rich, cuz he gave me a jersey and invited me to lunch. So Rich fires up his GPS to find lunch, but thats another story. After a loooong lunch, they hit the road and I rode the afternoon loop, alone, with a cue sheet, and in a horrendous downpour. Fun weekend.
What Bacchetta do you ride?
CarbonAero and Corsa Alta.
HPV:
'03 3rd IHPVA North American Recumbent Criterium Championships
Arlington Heights, IL, Stock Class
'04 IHPVA North American 1 Hour Road Race Champion
Portland, OR, Stock Class
'04 2nd IHPVA North American 200m Championship
San Jose, CA, Stock Class
'04 2nd, HPV Fun Day Lap Race
San Jose, CA, Stock Class
'04 3rd, IHPVA North American 1/2 Hour Road Championship
Waterford, MI, Stock Class
’06 1st Stock and 2nd Overall in Lap Race,
Bent Up Cycles/Windwrap Fairings Track Race
San Diego, CA
ULTRAS:
'06 1st Sebring UMCA 12 Hour Challenge, Recumbent 40-49 Male
Road Races:
'04 2nd Stock Class and Overall, Wasco Wild West 75 mile Road Race, The Dalles, OR,
Time Trials:
'05 1st Recumbent, 5th overall, Piru TT, Piru CA
’06 1st Unfaired Recumbent, Fiesta Island TT, San Diego, CA
Criteriums:
Dozens of Primes and 2 wins at Camarillo Thursday Night Training Crit 2003-2006.
Invitational Rides:
'05 16th Race Across Florida, Crystal River, FL, Pro12?
Events planned to attend for the rest of 2006:
Bent Up Cycles / Windwrap HPVA race & Fiesta Island TT 5/13-14 San Diego.
Wasco Wild west Road race, 5/20 The Dalles, OR
Track Fun Day, 6/25 San Jose, CA
RAO, 7/22-23 Oregon
Piru TT & Bent Up Cycles / Windwrap HPVA race, Encino, CA 8/5-6
HTH, 8/25?
Bacchetta West Coast Rally & Bent Up Cycles / Windwrap HPVA race & Piru TT, Encino, CA 11/4-5