Pedaling with a Purpose By Mallory Arnold
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or the first time in 27 years of racing, the Tour de Grandview was postponed. Though it won’t return until June 2021, the impact the race has in the Grandview community is immeasurable. Spencer Hackett watched his first Tour de Grandview with his dad in the early ’90s. He remembers being completely in awe of the whole experience; the whirling of pedals, the speed of the pelaton and the electricity of the race. To this day, he is still captivated with the sport of cycling and has served as race director of the tour for the past five years. Hackett tackled the race for the first time in 2009 as an amateur. He rode with a number of Columbus groups years prior, but a surprising incident changed his cycling life for the better. While out on a ride,
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Hackett was hit by a car. He was OK – his bike was not. While shopping for a replacement, an employee convinced him to purchase a cyclocross bike, which is built with the aerodynamics of a road bike but with wider tires and is sturdy enough for touring and off-road use as well. The first summer he participated in the Tour de Grandview, he wasn’t adept at road racing, but that’s the beauty of the tour. The race is set up in categories, from novice to expert, so this way you’re always competing among cyclists at your skill level. Every year, with training, there’s a possibility of moving up a category. This race isn’t just important to Grandview, but to Columbus as a whole. “Columbus doesn’t have a huge dedicated racing scene,” Hackett says. “So getting people together once a year and show-
The tour tests racers of all skill levels
ing off that we have these competitive races is amazing. Hopefully, we can do more in the future, but right now, we get everyone together for this one party.”
May/June 2020 • www.trivillagemagazine.com
Photos courtesy of Brianna Clark
The race may be canceled, but the Tour de Grandview’s impact is immeasurable
