Toyota-United Pro Cycling Mens Team in Town

[gilahiker]

The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Mens Team is in town for the Tour of the Gila. I was down at one of the local watering holes this evening when the men's team came in for dinner. About 15 minutes later I realized their chase vehicle, a custom-painted blue-and-white Toyota Prius with bike rack and radio antenna (sorry folks, I didn't have my digital camera with me...nor do I have a camera cell phone), was parked directly outside. The sides in the back are painted with "Hybrid Synergy Drive" in large letters and a large HSD logo. Great looking vehicle! Based on a quick peek inside the vehicle when I left the bar it looks like they have everything but the leather seats (I'm not sure what 2007 package it is and they didn't really seem to know).

Their team captain said they just got the Prius January 2007 and love it. They are surprised by how comfortable and roomy it is. They kept telling me they were surpised at how much it holds considering they have been using a Toyota minivan for years. They're getting about 40mpg average with the bike rack, radio antenna, and an average of three people in the vehicle (they've had as many as 6).

By the way, The Toyota men's team standing is 2nd place going into day 4 tomorrow, which features the Downtown Silver City Criterion. It's the break before "The Gila Monster Road Race" scheduled for Sunday where Men Pro 1 cycle 105.7 mile loop up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Visitor Center ending in Pinos Altos with a total climb of 9.131 feet (for more information go to: www.tourofthegila.com). I've checked the website for any photos that capture the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Mens Team's Prius, but did not see any. If I get a chance, I'll try to take a photo of their Prius and post it.

Oh, gas is $3.15 at all of our stations in town. As always on the gas temperature map, Grant County (SW NM) and the areas around Santa Fe are the highest gas prices in NM.

Gilahiker

[PriusByrds]

Here's a link to a picture. You have to look hard to recognize the vehicle as a Prius.
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/...gallery-gila073

[PriusByrds]

Here are a couple of other links to thumbnail pages that show the Prius team cars:
http://www.toyota-united.com/index.php?opt...=34&lang=en
http://www.toyota-united.com/index.php?opt...=34&lang=en

[gilahiker]

Thanks PriusByrds! I won't stress about taking a photo. Up close and personal, the car looks fabulous!

[gilahiker]

And far better than the Toyota minivans they've used at past Tours of the Gila!

[darelldd]

While I'm thrilled to see them using the Prius for team cars, the sad truth is that pro bicycling accounts for WAY too many gasoline miles. For a 1,000 bike race, more than 100,000 gasoline miles are generated. Ug. You go to watch a race go by, and the first thing that happens is that gas cars go zooming by for the first 20 minutes, and THEN the peleton zips by in a matter of four seconds, and the show is over. Would be so great to see bicycling go back to being... bicycling.

[Squint]

I know the Tour of CA (at least last year) bought enough carbon offsets to cover all the vehicle miles.

[Mr07touring]

Here's a link w/ a pretty good pic of the car if you scroll down and click on it - the Synergy swoosh looks really good.
http://www.toyota-united.com/index.php?opt...=34&lang=en

[gilahiker]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ May 5 2007, 10:07 AM) [snapback]436037[/snapback]</div>

While I'm thrilled to see them using the Prius for team cars, the sad truth is that pro bicycling accounts for WAY too many gasoline miles. For a 1,000 bike race, more than 100,000 gasoline miles are generated. Ug. You go to watch a race go by, and the first thing that happens is that gas cars go zooming by for the first 20 minutes, and THEN the peleton zips by in a matter of four seconds, and the show is over. Would be so great to see bicycling go back to being... bicycling.
[/b]

Darelldd, in many cases that is true...but when you're cycling 107.5 miles in rural, unpopulated, national forest and designated wilderness--like on the Tour of the Gila's Gilamonster Road Race and 99 mile jaunt up to Mogollon--support vehicles are a must (along with ambulances and the like). Most of the chase/support vehicles being used this year by teams and individuals on the Tour of the Gila seem to be the smaller, fuel efficient models, although there are some vans and trucks. It is what it is, and with the Tour of the Gila, it's better that at least some vehicles, like ambulances and EMTS, are spaced out along the course due to the conditions I noted earlier.

By the way, thanks Mr07Touring! Great pic!.

As of Day 4, the Toyota-United Mens Pro Team was in first place in the pro men's team. I haven't checked today's final tour results.