Life Time Fitness members mastered the road this Labor Day.  In Flower Mound, Texas, they showed up eager to ride.  Sean Thompson conducted a clinic on pace-line and drafting and fielded member's questions.  After the instruction, it was time to hit the road. The group started out together and then split so that beginners and experienced members could find a comfortable pace.  Great day and great way to spend Labor day.

For the first time you can watch the whole race ONLINE.  We will follow here next week with members stories and video footage.  In addition to the 80+ Cycle Club members, there are three big names racing in this year's Life Time Fitness Leadville Trail 100.  Here's the tale of the tape:

Name: Lance Edward Armstrong

Age: 37

Height/Weight:  5'10; 165

Home:  Texas

Biggest Achievement:  Tie.  Whooping the heck out of cancer...  OR seven consecutive Tour de France victories (1999-2005)

Charity: Live Strong;  cancer research/fitness programs

Point of Interest:   Born Lance Edward Gunderson

Name:  Floyd Landis

Age:  33

Height/Weight:  5'10;  150

Home: California

Biggest Achievement: 6 first place finishes in 2006 including a "victory" at the Tour de France that was overturned

Charity: various through Team Ouch Cycling

Point of Interest: Grew up Mennonite and wore sweatpants in his first bike race (won regardless) because his religion forbade wearing shorts.

Name: David Wiens

Age:  44

Height/Weight:  6'2; 185-190

Home: Colorado

Biggest Achievement:  Beat Landis in the Leadville Trail 100 in 2007 by just under 2 minutes and Armstrong in 2008 by just under 2 minutes.  6 Consecutive Leadville 100 victories and a Cycling Hall of Fame Induction...  1996 Bronze Medalist

Charity: founding director of the non-profit Gunnison Trails.  Dedicated to enhancing singletrack bike trails on public and private landshttp://lasrosadas.com/

Point of Interest:  While he has won and won again and again...  David mentions nearly every time he talks about the Leadville 100 that it is truly not about the people in the front it is about every single rider on the mountain.  Also, he limits himself to only one of his wife's cookies a week going into race week.

Name:  Life Time Fitness Cycle Clubs

Born:  To Ride

Height/Weight:  Various

Home:   Your Local Life Time Fitness Club (but, spends most of time in the cycle studio and on the trails)

Biggest Achievement:  Riding strong every week 

Charity:  Life Time Fitness Foundation

Point of Interest:  Easy to Join and Fun Every Ride

Saturday, August 15

8:00 a.m. - noon*

If you can’t be at the Leadville Trail 100 in person, be there in spirit as you experience your own intense endurance-training ride. Use this 62-mile (100K) ride to help you prepare for a future 100-mile ride—or just come along for the fun and a great workout. Then meet back at LifeCafe to refuel with 25% off shakes and smoothies. Sign up at the Fitness Services Desk.

The following club locations will be hosting this event.
* Event times may vary by location. Variations are noted below.

Life Time Fitness partner Velo Vie has released the new Vitesse 300 LTF edition.  The Arizona based bike maker is excited about expanding their relationship with Life Time Fitness and delivers a sleek new bike custom designed for members and employees.  Now Life Time Fitness Cycle Clubs (and all other members) can ride out on the same bike as the Amore e Vita team.  If that's not enough incentive, don't forget that your membership allows you heavy discounts (up to 50%) through Member Advantage.

“The launch of the Vitesse 300 LTF is the next step in our partnership with Life Time Fitness,” said Homayoon Farsi, Velo Vie CEO. “We are excited to offer one of our top-of-the-line models customized exclusively for Life Time members as we extend our commitment to support the cycling clubs at their health and fitness resorts nationwide.”

Life Time Fitness members have the option of either customizing the full configuration of the Vitesse 300 LTF or choosing one of the three pre-configured models (entry, middle, serious riders).

Here's a quick rundown of Vitesse 300 LTF features:

•    State-of-the-art-carbon tube joining techniques
•    Ultra high modules carbon tube w/ each one painstakingly laid up by hand
•    Precision machine-mitered joints
•    Unidirectional high modules laid up at the joints
•    BB30 bottom bracket
•    Ultra-high modules carbon fork with carbon dropouts
•    Hand-tapped and faced-bottom bracket for perfect bearing alignment
•    Seat tube, designed w/ V300 signature look, deflects air around rear wheel
•    Available in six  sizes: 47, 50, 53, 56, 58 and 60

I may just have to get one myself...   Be sure to check back often for more exclusive Team Amore e Vita content and ongoing news about our relationship with Velo Vie.