One day 10 years ago, Rob Brokaw got on his bike and took the Lost Bridge Trail five miles from his Rochester home to the Illinois Department of Transportation headquarters.
He was pretty pleased with how well his first ride went. Then he realized he still had to ride the five miles back home.
Even so, he was hooked on cycling. He wore out that first bike and moved up to a fancier road bike. Over time, bicycling made a noticeable difference.
"The first time I picked up a bike, I weighed about 80 pounds more than I do now," he says.
Brokaw recalled that first experience recently after finishing a time trial ride on the New City blacktop south of Rochester.
The distance is still five miles out and five miles back, but these men and women are pushing the pedals to the metal.
"You are right up against (the threshold of your endurance)," he says. "You are going wide open, pushing your own limits."
Since 2007, cyclists of all ages and abilities have gathered once a month on New City Road, not far from Sangchris Lake, to test their level of fitness by going as fast as possible for just over 10 miles.
Brokaw had the second-fastest time, covering the distance in 23 minutes, 49 seconds, for an average of 27.34 miles per hour. The top rider, Justin Armstead, averaged 28.12 miles per hour.
Last year, the top riders competing in the Tour de France averaged just over 30 miles per hour over a time trial course of about 24 miles. (Speaking of thresholds of endurance, this year's edition of the Tour de France started Saturday and continues through July 25.)
Riders last Wednesday near Rochester ranged from 18-year-old triathlon competitor Jake Buescher of Sherman to 68-year-old Senior Olympian Lois Jazo.
Buescher topped 24 miles per hour, and Jazo averaged just over 17 miles per hour.
Brokaw says cycling is a sport without age restrictions.
"That's the thing about cycling," he says. "It doesn't have any age limits because there's nothing that is really bad for you." 
Team sports are out of the question for most people at some point, and running can be hard on those with bad knees.
Brokaw says cycling forces you to eat better. To keep an edge, cyclists stay away from fast food, concentrating on fish, other meats and vegetables.
"And we have a few beers once in awhile, too," he says with a smile. "That doesn't hurt you."
Why they ride
Jazo is preparing for the Senior Olympic cycling competition coming up in July.
"I'm the oldest one here, and I'm out here with all these great cyclists," she says.
Jazo says she competes mostly against herself, but lets the competition push her to get better.
"The time trial just builds up your endurance. I do it for the Senior Olympics, and I try to push myself."
Buescher is a college student at Loyola University in Chicago.
He competes in triathlons and mixes up his running, biking and swimming workouts to stay in top condition.
"I'm swimming, running and biking four times a week," he says.
Usually, on workout days, he combines two of the three. The cycling time trials provide more of a speed workout, he says. 
"It's a good way to measure if you are improving, because it's the same track every time," Buescher says. "You race against yourself, and you see how you are doing against other people."
Participants start in 15-second intervals, and the fastest rider earns the right to leave the starting line last.
"There is a bit of prestige in starting from the back," says Steve Schien, who organizes the time trials after finishing up his day job at BikeTek, 957 Clock Tower Drive.
Timers start the stopwatch on a mobile phone, clicking "lap" every time a rider crosses the finish line so all are timed together.
"We used to do this the hard way - on paper," Schien says with a laugh.
Brokaw says everyone is welcome, from cyclists with a basic road bike and a helmet to riders with carbon-fiber bikes with solid wheels that knife through the wind.
"It's just a nice bunch of people," he says.
Fast, but nice.
Chris Young can be reached at 788-1528.
Top Photo: Rich Saal/The State Journal-Register -- Rob Brokaw's commitment to the bicycle has paid dividends. He's lost 80 pounds and can hold a pace of over 27 mph in time trials. He regularly rides in the New City Time Trials on Wednesday evenings.
Photo Two: Rich Saal/The State Journal-Register -- Participants in the New City Time Trial line up, check their watches and prepare to take off on June 23.
Photo Three: Rich Saal/The State Journal-Register -- At the New City Time Trials, time is kept using a stopwatch application on a cell phone.
More Photos:
Rich Saal/The State Journal-Register -- Participants gather to hear results from the New City Time Trial on June 23.
Rich Saal/The State Journal-Register -- Steve Schien, left, checks with time keepers, Brian Robison, center, and Brennon Kershaw before the beginning of the New City Time Trial on June 23.
Chris Young/The State Journal-Register -- Riders in the New City Time Trial leave the starting line in 15-second intervals.
Chris Young/The State Journal-Register -- Jake Buescher, 18, of Sherman cruises to the finish the June 23 time trial south of Rochester.
