Five Riders Killed, a Community Shattered

It was chilly as the cyclists gathered at first light at the M Resort in Henderson, Nevada. Early morning rollouts are common in summer to avoid the searing desert heat, but on this December day, the group had another reason for a dawn departure: the Nipton Loop. An annual tradition in the hard-core Las Vegas riding community, the Nipton Loop isn’t a regular training ride: It’s 125 miles of rugged, rolling, basin-and-range country, exposed to near-constant desert wind. Once you reach Searchlight, there are no bailout points, no shortcuts if the legs don’t feel good. There was little chance of that in this group. Shawn McWilliams, a veteran marathon runner and relatively recent convert to road cycling, joined the ride with a friend. He planned to turn around at Searchlight for an out-and-back century. At the start, he only knew a couple of riders personally, but recognized others, locally famous on Strava. “They were all shooters,” he says. [View in Browser]( [Bicycling]( [SHOP]( [EXCLUSIVE]( [SUBSCRIBE]( [Five Riders Killed, a Community Shattered]( [Five Riders Killed, a Community Shattered]( It was chilly as the cyclists gathered at first light at the M Resort in Henderson, Nevada. Early morning rollouts are common in summer to avoid the searing desert heat, but on this December day, the group had another reason for a dawn departure: the Nipton Loop. An annual tradition in the hard-core Las Vegas riding community, the Nipton Loop isn’t a regular training ride: It’s 125 miles of rugged, rolling, basin-and-range country, exposed to near-constant desert wind. Once you reach Searchlight, there are no bailout points, no shortcuts if the legs don’t feel good. There was little chance of that in this group. Shawn McWilliams, a veteran marathon runner and relatively recent convert to road cycling, joined the ride with a friend. He planned to turn around at Searchlight for an out-and-back century. At the start, he only knew a couple of riders personally, but recognized others, locally famous on Strava. “They were all shooters,” he says. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [When This Bike Shop Manager Was Diagnosed With Brain Cancer, Cycling Kept Him Balanced]( [When This Bike Shop Manager Was Diagnosed With Brain Cancer, Cycling Kept Him Balanced]( Being on two wheels defines Bruce McCarthy’s life, and he didn’t let cancer knock him off. [Read More]( [17 Best Bike Locks for Every Scenario]( [17 Best Bike Locks for Every Scenario]( Whether you’re just ducking in for a coffee or leaving your bike out all day, there’s a lock to help keep your rig safe. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] [The Only 5 Gym Machines You Need (Plus 3 You Should Avoid)]( [The Only 5 Gym Machines You Need (Plus 3 You Should Avoid)]( ... because the gym floor can be an overwhelming and intimidating experience. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [His First Jersey Was a 5XL. Cycling Helped Him Gain a New Outlook on Life, and Lose 200 Pounds]( [His First Jersey Was a 5XL. Cycling Helped Him Gain a New Outlook on Life, and Lose 200 Pounds]( “Cycling has become so much more than a way to get exercise. It has become the physical and social center of my life.” [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Kevin Clark, the Drummer in ‘School of Rock’, Killed by a Driver While Biking]( [Kevin Clark, the Drummer in ‘School of Rock’, Killed by a Driver While Biking]( Clark, 32, was still performing as a drummer and had just started a new band. [Read More]( [23 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein]( [23 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein]( While they don’t contain as much as animal sources, adding them to your diet can only help your performance. [Read More]( [Alternate text] [Alternate text] BICYCLING SHOP The Latest from the Bicycling Collection [Climb!: Conquer the Hills, Get Lean, and Elevate Every Ride]( [Climb!: Conquer the Hills, Get Lean, and Elevate Every Ride]( [Shop Now]( [Kettlehell: Full Body Burn Kettlebell Workouts]( [Kettlehell: Full Body Burn Kettlebell Workouts]( [Shop Now]( [The Beginner's Guide to Strength Training — Digital: Workouts and Techniques to Get Stronger]( [The Beginner's Guide to Strength Training — Digital: Workouts and Techniques to Get Stronger]( [Shop Now]( [Kettlehell Sweatpants]( [Kettlehell Sweatpants]( [Shop Now]( [Alternate text] [Build Your Best Body Ever in Your 40s and Beyond]( Follow Us [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Notice/Notice at Collection]( Bicycling.com ©2021 Hearst Magazines, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019