Time trial racing coming back to Celina

If you own a bike, be it of the two-, three- or four-wheel variety, then the Colavita Olive Oil-Zipp Speed Weaponry time trial series welcomes you for a morning of bicycle racing on Aug. 19th at Grand Lake.

Celina is hosting the time trial series for the third straight year, giving bike riders of all ages and experience a chance at cash and prizes with a 25-plus mile course around Grand Lake.

"This is the third time that we have done this in Celina. Attendance has grown steadily and we're expecting a nice crowd again this year," said event director Roger Bowersock. "The cooperation from Auglaize and Mercer counties has been great and we're looking forward to putting on a great race and giving the participants a great experience."

The race will begin and finish on Lake Shore Drive with participants starting their time trial every 30 seconds until all riders have been sent out on the course. The first runner will begin at 9 a.m. and the awards ceremony is expected to begin around 12:30 p.m.

"The nice thing about time trial racing is that it is a race designed to be all about pushing yourself against yourself," said Bowersock. "It doesn't matter if you are a serious racer or just a person who owns a bike and likes to ride (ages 6 to 84 competed during the series in 2011) - we get cyclists of all cuts of cloth. You go at your own pace and you receive a hero's welcome when you cross the finish line, whether it takes you 30 minutes or 2 1/2 hours.

"Another nice thing about a time trial race is that there won't be a fear of the big wreck that you sometimes see at bike races when they all start at the same time and are bunched up," added Bowersock.

The Colavita Olive Oil-Zipp Speed Weaponry time trial series has been in existence since 2007 and is designed to provide everyone with a professional race experience and to attract new people to the sport of cycling. Races have varied from 100-200 participants, making it the largest series in the Midwest.

All participants receive a goody bag at registration with an entry fee of $25 for adults while those who compete under the age of 19 are free. The riders with the five fastest overall times of the day will receive $550 apiece, and $100 dollars will be awarded to the top five in a random age group that will be pulled out of a hat on the day of the race. Door prizes from cycling and health and fitness companies will also be given away. To register on-line, go to www.colavitazipptt.com to schedule a starting time or show up the day of the race and you will be slotted into the earliest available starting time that wasn't already selected by the on-line registers.