our sports: CYCLING
European Adventure
PC Athlete Wheels Through Europe
SEPTEMBER 2015
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
BY MELISSA MOORMAN
Hunter Hinton has had quite a summer adventure training
and competing on his bicycle throughout Belgium, traveling through the picturesque villages as he gained skills
and experience on his racing bike.
According to his father John Hinton, the experience
has made him quite European, talking about his rides
in terms of kilometers not miles anymore and cavalierly
throwing out names of European cities like Brussels,
Kerken, Bruges, Oudenaarde and Ghent. He holds a
license through USA Cycling as well as an international
license through Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to
race throughout the world.
Hunter was planning on leaving in mid-June to go to
Belgium but after an accident at a race in McKinney in
late May where he broke his collarbone, it looked like he
would b,e staying stateside this summer. But always the
fierce competitor, he rehabbed his shoulder and spent
only three weeks training on his bike before heading
to Europe in July to compete against other racers from
around the world.
In Belgium the towns support and celebrate the bike
races by hosting carnivals in conjunction with several
different races for the different divisions throughout the
week. Hunter competes in the 17-18 year old junior
group. It’s less expensive to race in the European events
costing each rider only 10 Euros, half of which you get
back when you return your number. That is a contrast
to a $20 per race fee here in the U.S. “That’s where you
go to race really,” Hunter said. “That is what they do,
they have 200,000 plus racers there. For every American
racer, they put out ten,” he continued. The junior racers
have restrictions put on their gears to safeguard their
knees. These safeguards keep the bikes going up to 2
miles per hour slower, which is a challenge locally when
he is racing up to adult participants who don’t have the
same junior gears on their bikes.
Hunter’s coach is Christian Williams, of the Williams
Racing Academy located in Wimberly, Texas. He and his
wife spend three to four months a year in Belgium helping riders train and receive “that racing and living experience that can only be had in the heartland of bicycle
racing.” The coach’s house is located in the Flanders
region where many of the races are held.
He took his bike with him when he traveled to
Europe. It’s not hard to ship a bike overseas, according
to Hunter. It’s just a large suitcase with wheels, just over-
56
sized baggage. The bikes that the racers use cost between
$7,000 and $10,000, so it’s much more valuable than the
items most send to the luggage area of the plane. Racing
bikes must be at least 14 lbs. and the lighter the bike,
the more it costs. Racing bikes have between 10 and 12
gears, giving the racers 20 to 22 choices to optimize their
rides. Opportunities exist for partial or full scholarships to
college mostly at smaller schools in states like Colorado
and Tennessee. There are also pro bike riders who earn a
salary from their team along with sponsorships.
His racing career hasn’t been long, beginning at age
13, only three years ago. He began riding with his dad on
a tandem bike when he was nine. The two participated
in their first ride in Aledo, which then led to the Texas
Timed Trials for Hunter. Other races followed including the Hotter than Hell ride in Wichita Falls that they
have ridden several times, races in Dallas, Houston and
College Station.
Hunter likes the thrill and competition that comes
along with bike racing and said on a recent ride he
rode an average of 27 miles per hour for two hours
straight. “The competition never lets down,” Hunter
said. Hunter participates in the Texas High School League
and represents Weatherford High School. The racing
season in Texas begins in February and runs through the
end of September. He hopes to be on the podium at the
State Championship. The Texas State Championship Road
Race is being held on September 26 and 27 in Fort Hood,
Texas.