Kim Bear is no stranger to hopping onto her bicycle and riding miles and miles at a time. She's become highly competitive since a bicycle race back in the early 1990s in Leadville, Colo. — a race she says was a disaster.

"I saw advertising for Leadville ... and I said, 'Jan, we should try this,' " Kim Bear said, referring to her husband, Jan Bear. "I didn't make it. I hated it. As soon as we started driving back, I said, 'I'm never going to do that again, I hated that.' "

But she just couldn't stay away, and has been competing in races around the world ever since. From Colorado to New Zealand, Kim Bear has tackled races that range from 50 miles to eight-day tours across Europe.

Closer to home, Kim Bear has entered the Santa Fe Century, a 100-mile bicycle tour around the Santa Fe area, every year for the past 10 years. For her the Century is a family event, and this year will be no different. She will ride with her "extended family" — local women's bicycling groups the Spokettes and the Pedal Queens — in the May 17 tour.

The Pedal Queen and Spokette family includes Kim Bear's 19-year-old daughter, JJ Bear, as well as Michelle Martinez, Christine Woolsey, Jill Janov, Karen Wolfe-Mattison and Monica Niess.

A good influence

Karen Wolfe-Mattison said she hadn't really explored the world of cycling until she started taking a spinning class from Kim Bear at El Gancho.

"I actually got into cycling because of (Kim)," Wolfe-Mattison said.

Wolfe-Mattison said Bear's bicycling stories, which she tells during class, made her excited about the prospect of riding.

"Kim makes spinning so fun," Wolfe-Mattison explained. "Her stories of doing her biking and her races are so inspiring, it makes you want to get out there and try it."

Once Wolfe-Mattison decided she was in, the training began.

The weather this past winter — and even in the spring — made it difficult to train for the Century outdoors, so Bear modified a spinning class at Genoveva Chavez Community Center to help others train for the event.

It was there that Wolfe-Mattison met some of the other women that they would be riding with — all members of the Pedal Queens.

Joining the Pedal Queens or the Spokettes makes riding more accessible to women, Bear said.

"We actually have it set up so the rides are classified as beginner, medium and advanced," Bear explained. "It just gives women more confidence to go out if they know the ride is going to be led like that."

The Spokettes — the racing group that branches out from the Pedal Queens — gave Bear's daughter, JJ, the confidence to get more into cycling. The University of New Mexico freshman said she got into cycling her last two years in high school because of her athletic parents, but decided to do her first Century this year.

"They're really influential," JJ Bear said about her parents. "They never force us to do anything with them; we just kind of wanted to do stuff because they're doing it ... My dad is really intense, but he would never make us do everything he does. But by having him be so motivated, it motivates me to do more."

She said she enjoys riding with her mom and her sister, Samantha Bear, who will not be riding in the Century this year.

"It's been really fun," JJ Bear said. "I love riding with (mom). She's probably my favorite riding partner. She's really encouraging when I'm down on myself. This weekend, I started out kind of slow because my legs aren't used to it, but she's really encouraging and she always waits for me. She'll let me go behind her and draft off her, and she always feeds me well."

Although JJ Bear said she hasn't been training as well as she should, she works out vigorously and does triathlons. The Century will be her first 100-mile ride.

The women have all enjoyed training together, Kim Bear said.

"This is pretty much the common ground," Kim Bear said. "Our lives are so different — I'm a nurse practitioner, Michelle is a graphic designer and JJ is a student — it's amazing how you have this one little thing in common. It makes it pretty interesting."

Bringing the Century to S.F.

When Willard Chillicot first moved to Santa Fe 24 years ago, he got involved in a local bicycling club that was in the process of planning a Century race. He took part in the planning but quickly became the main organizer.

"The bike club did not pursue it very aggressively," Chillicot said. "I decided to do that and this is our 24th year."

Chillicot said the idea of 100-mile bicycle tours is not unique to Santa Fe.

"Centuries are generic events that have gone on all over the world," Chillicot said. "There's nothing special about Century bicycle events."

Chillicot stressed that the event isn't a fundraiser, which is why the entry fee is lower than other bike races throughout the country.

"It's organized by bicyclists for bicyclists," Chillicot said. "There is no other beneficiary for the Santa Fe Century."

All proceeds go to putting on the race, he said. The Santa Fe Century Committee purchases things such as water bottles, T-shirts and food for the riders.

But there are a few things that make the Santa Fe Century unique.

"First, Santa Fe is a destination town and people come from all over the world to Santa Fe, and if they happen to be cyclists, then they get a double benefit. They come to this town, and they can ride a Century event that has one of the most scenic routes of any event in the West," Chillicot explained.

The food stops also distinguish the Santa Fe Century event from others.

"I believe that our food stops are the best-supplied stops of any event," Chillicot said.

The Century attracts approximately 2,800 riders each year, with around 1,300 from Colorado alone. But Chillicot expects that number will be lower this year.

"With the current economy, I don't know if we'll hit 2,800," he said. "Hopefully we will, but the economy is having an effect."

Post-tour perks

Although the 100-mile race might take the women upward of six hours, there are some things they are looking forward to after the race is over.

"My favorite food I can only really eat when doing these races is the banana Power Bar," JJ Bear said. "I'm looking forward to eating those throughout the race."

Kim Bear is looking forward to her customary after-ride present.

"I always buy myself a new present," Kim Bear said with a smile. "I'm already thinking I'm going to buy myself a new jersey."

Wolfe-Mattison is going to head to the Coyote Cantina shortly after she finishes the ride to drink some post-tour margaritas.

"Then I'm going to have my massage scheduled," Wolfe-Mattison said.

For information about the Pedal Queens, visit www.pedalqueens.com or e-mail info@pedalqueens.com.

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.