81-year-old Richland woman cycles to top of time trials

Evelyn Painter of Richland didn't enter the Chinook Cycling Club's time trials planning to be No. 1.

But the 81-year-old cyclist has held onto first place in the weekly time trials since the series started in March.

The competitive cycling club holds time trials every Tuesday evening for six months ending in September, said cyclist Linda McLean of Richland, who is in fifth place. The club rotates the types of timed rides between 5-mile, 10-mile, 40-kilometer and hill climb routes.

Riders accumulate points using a system that gives handicap points for female and older riders, she said.

Painter credits her age and gender for her standing in the series.

"I'm just a regular rider that has a big handicap," she said.

It's true Painter isn't the fastest of the cyclists, said Steve Canaday, of Pasco, Chinook Cycling Club's time trial coordinator. But the handicap system was designed to give everyone a fair chance at competing against each other for the top slots.

"She rides exceedingly well for her age," he said.

Canaday said the time trials are the club's most popular event. This year, 86 people are participating.

Diana Spangle of Richland said Painter will go out and bike the 40-kilometer route with 20-mile per hour winds and still find something positive about it.

"She's just a little jewel," said Spangle, who is in fourth place.

Spangle remembers Painter's first hill climb, in which she had to walk up the last bit of the hill. When Painter came back into the finish line after her first time making it up the hill without having to walk, she waved her arms in the air like an Olympic winner and told Spangle, "I made it all the way!"

After riding the first 40-kilometer race in the time trials, Painter said she thought, "Never again."

But she did it again, and said she has noticed improvement in her cycling since she started the time trials. She decreased her time on the 40-kilometer route to less than two hours.

Painter said she used to help time cyclists for the series about 30 years ago when her husband Bill and son Mark were involved with the club.

Painter has bicycled recreationally for about 30 years. She's a member of the Tri-City Bicycle Club and has done bike tours with its members in the past.

But this is the first year Painter has belonged to the Chinook Cycling Club. Painter said her son Dave prepared everything for her to join the club and time trials, so she agreed to give it a go.

The time trials started with six Painters involved, but she said they've dropped down to one representative of each of three generations -- Painter, her son Dave and her granddaughter Lexi, 27.

The retired Richland School District teacher said she's doing more than she thought she would when she started the time trials.

She estimates she bikes about 50 miles a week. She also volunteers at the Friends of the Richland Library store in the library, participates in three book groups, plays bridge and hikes with the Fun, Fit and Over Fifty Folks.

Painter describes herself as "the least talented athlete" in her family. But her family is a talented bunch.

Bill, 87, has the record as the oldest man to reach the summit of Mount Rainier. He climbed the peak at ages 81, 82, 83, and 84. Son Mark is a competitive cyclist; Jimalee, his wife, competes in triathlons; and Lori Selby, Dave's wife, is a biathlon and cross country skiing champion, Painter said.

Mark Painter said his mom didn't always have the notion or opportunity to be as active as she is now.

He said other cyclists have come to admire her during the time trials. And she's overcome challenges such as the difficult hill climb.

Craig Groendyke of Richland, who is in second place, describes Painter as the real gem of this year's time trials. He admires how well she has been doing and said it shows that cycling can be a sport for all ages.

Painter isn't afraid to go out and cycle, McLean said.

"I just hope to be able to do what she's doing when I'm her age," she said. "I want to be like Evelyn."

Canaday said there is friendly competition among the cyclists, each hoping to move up. But Groendyke said the real competition is against their own personal time records.

The cyclists look out for each other during the time trials, which makes it feel safe and adds to the camaraderie, Spangle said.

And Painter said other riders yell out encouragement to her as they pass by.

The time trials continue through this month, with the last of the 27 rides Sept. 28.

"Wouldn't it be great if she held first place all the way through?" Spangle said.

This story was originally published September 7, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "81-year-old Richland woman cycles to top of time trials ."