Cycling in and around Union County, NC
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Nicole and I decided it would be a good day to leave the tandem home and ride single bikes. Let me say first, that Nicole is ok and went to school this morning without any fuss, more details later.
It was an amazing turnout for the Bee Team rides. There must have been 40-45 riders there. The normal group was split in two and left about 5 minutes apart. The beginner group left after that.
Please note that the rides during the summer months are 30 and 45 miles
The Bee Team mid-winter to mid-spring rides will be the same time and place every weekend, excluding monthly event rides. If the temperature if below 40 when the ride is to begin it will be a show and go ride.
Start Location: Waxhaw Elementary School, 1101 Old Providence Road, Waxhaw, NC 28173
Brian Rau, a resident of Champion Forest in Waxhaw, NC was killed Sunday afternoon when a motorist crossed the center line on Cuthbertson Road and struck him head on. Mr Rau is survived by a wife and two daughters.
According to some sources, Brian had just recently returned to cycling after several years off the bicycle. He was on his way to meet other cyclists for a Sunday afternoon ride. The accident happened sometime around 3:30 PM.
There are unconfirmed reports about the cause of the accident and the sequence of events that led up to Brian’s tragic death. I will only post what I can confirm.
If any of my readers have any stories about riding with Brian, please post a comment here. I would also ask that if anyone has any suggestions on how we may reach out to his surviving family post comments also. More details as they become available.
Charlotte.com posted this article:
Cyclist killed in Wesley Chapel
ESTHER ROBARDS-FORBES
erobards@charlotteobserver.com
WESLEY CHAPEL –
A bicyclist was killed Sunday afternoon in Wesley Chapel, in western Union County, after being struck by an oncoming driver, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Brian Charles Rau, 46, of Waxhaw, was biking north on Cuthbertson Road about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the accident report.
A 2001 Mazda van driven by Lisa Ann Ray, 46, of Waxhaw was traveling south. Her vehicle crossed the center line and struck Rau, the report said.
Ray, 46, was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
Rau was transported by ambulance to CMC-Union. Ray was taken to Presbyterian Matthews.
Mike Torralba contributed.
Just a few people showed up at the Waxhaw Elementary School on Sunday afternoon. It was in the low 50′s and overcast. Nicole and I did not want to ride very hard. The lack of sun made it feel colder than it actually was. Otherwise the ride was fairly uneventful. we did take a harder pull down part of Old Highway and Crow Road. No pictures, no Garmin Edge data, just a ride.
Today we had a rough start on the tandem. Shortly after leaving our house we hear what sounded like a gunshot, the rear tire blew off the rim causing the tube to blowout. When we get to the start the first thing to do is change the tube. While putting the wheel back on the brake cable comes off the travel agent. We tell everyone to go and that we would catch up. While enroute to catch up we drop the chain going up to the big ring. What a way to start a ride.
Well here it is 2007 is finally over. Had to get one more ride in this year. Weather was perfect, company was good. Too many hills in the middle. After 35 miles we hit a bunch of rollers on Landford Road. Started to drop back but Micah and Jeff helped drag me back to the group. The last climbs were tortuous. Here are the specifics:
If you are looking for a route out of Matthews that will wind you through rural Union County, this is the one for you. The distance is about 54 miles a little shorter if you take one of the suggested cutoffs. Starting out at Plantation Market (McKee & Matthews-Weddington Rd) you will travel south connecting eventually to South Rocky River Road. Over to Mineral Springs on Crow Road (no Union County ride is complete unless you take Crow Rd). Into Waxhaw on Potter / Waxhaw Hwy. If you want to avoid downtown Waxhaw and the climb up Rehobeth Road, just use Sims Road. Remember to turn left at the end of Sims. Loop around to 521 then ride back toward Charlotte, through Marvin and Weddington, then finally back toward Matthews on Matthews-Weddington. There are a few rollers but no big climbs.
The Cureton rides start out riding through Waxhaw and work their way around to Van Wyck and back. The longer routes go a little further down towards Lancaster. These routes incorporate a lot of the local area routes. They are all marked with Y’s and directional arrows. There are three routes including 38, 50, and a 58 mile options.
Start Location: Cureton Town Center (Corner of Providence and Kensington Roads)
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