Gearing up for a good cause: North Coast Church team trains for cross-country fundraising bike ride

By: GARY WARTH - Staff Writer | Thursday, May 10, 2007 9:18 PM PDT ∞

Eight members of North Coast Church in Vista are shifting gears in their approach to raise money for their congregation's community service ministry this summer.

Seven men and one woman from the church have formed a team to participate in the grueling Race Across America, a bicycle race that leaves from the Oceanside pier June 12 and ends in Atlantic City, N.J., about a week later.

"When they first said, 'cross country,' I said, 'You've got to be kidding me,'" team member Ron Downing said about being considered for the challenge.

With teammates Jeff Holmes, Chelsea Pearson and husband Jeff Pearson, Pete Penseyres and brother Jim Penseyres, Joe Torres and John Tyner, Downing is training on stationary bicycles and on the road every day.

A recreational cyclist, Downing has logged up to 200 miles in a day, but this race will have the team riding about 480 miles a day, 24 hours a day.

"We're planning six and a half days on the road," Downing said.

So far people have pledged $30,000 to the team, which also has about $10,000 in donated supplies to help in their training and trip expenses. Money raised will go to a variety of services sponsored by North Coast Community Services, the community-outreach arm of North Coast Church.

Billed as the world's toughest bike race, the route goes through 13 states and includes deserts and mountains. Solo riders leave June 10 and push themselves to the extremes, sleeping between 90 and 120 minutes each 24 hours.

Team riders have it just a bit easier. Cyclists take turns on the bike, and while one person is riding, the others are in a van down the road, sometimes even having time to catch naps in motels.

North Coast Cycling is one of eight teams in the eight-member category. The teammates each ride in 30-minute shifts.

Member Pete Penseyres is the current world record holder for the fastest solo performance in the race. He holds three records, itself a record for the race he has ridden in seven times.

Penseyres' brother, Jim, is a two-time Purple Heart recipient and a retired U.S. Marine corporal who lost a leg in Vietnam. He holds the record for the fastest time in a solo Race Across America performance for a cyclist with a prosthesis.

Torres, a former Marine who has competed in about 30 triathlons, is riding in his first Race Across America with the team, and said he is inspired by the Penseyres brothers.

"When you're tired and beat and look over and see Jim putting in a full effort, man, that's phenomenal," he said about his teammate with a prosthetic leg.

Torres also is in awe of the brothers' past cycling accomplishments.

"If your lifelong dream was to play professional football, and here you get on the same team as a Hall of Fame quarterback, that's what it's like being on the same team with them," he said.

Participating on the team also is an extension of the spiritual fulfillment he has in his own life, Torres said.

"I think the best way to minister to others is to set an example," he said.

The race draws riders from around the world, and this year includes several from San Diego County.

Riding solo in the race this year are 23 men and five women, including Patty Riddle, 60, of La Jolla. There are 13 two-person teams, which include George Vargas of Encinitas and Janet Christiansen of Poway, and 18 four-person teams, including Scott Needle of Carlsbad.

The eight-person category also includes Team ViaSat, whose members include Greg Nesler of Oceanside, Ken Larson of Escondido, Steve Schaefer of Carlsbad and Brad Exmeyer of Oceanside.

North Coast Cycling is the only team representing a church, and team cyclists see a spiritual reason behind their motivation.

"As we are supporting all the community service efforts, it is not just to do good deeds," Downing said. "It is to represent Jesus. To 'Do what He did.'"

Downing said racing to raise money for the ministry is a way of showing God's love. "It gives us credibility," he said. "It is demonstrated love."

Chelsea Pearson also see a spiritual aspect. "All the money we're raising to do this will go to the different shelters and rehab facilities in North County," she said. "It's awesome to be able to give back to the community."

Pearson completed the Oceanside Half Ironman last March with her husband.

"We had to get in shape for that one, but nothing like this," she said.

She said she sees her training as a form of sacrificing for her church and for God.

"We're all in this together," she said. "They call it a race across America. I think how in life, people race to get to the finish line. But there's no finish line. This is a way we can race across America to show God's love."

For more on the team, visit http://www.northcoastchurch.com/service/raam/index.htm.

-- Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.