The Round Up Club and Other Life Lessons: Vicki’s 25-Year BRAG Journey

Picture this: You’re grinding up a Georgia hill so slowly that another cyclist passes you—on foot, walking his bike uphill and moving faster than you’re pedaling. Most people would dismount in embarrassment. But Vicki Thompson of Woodstock kept pedaling, determined to prove she could conquer any hill on two wheels. That determination has defined her 25-year history with BRAG, along with an obsession with round numbers that led to the creation of “The Round Up Club” and enough stories to fill a Georgia novel.

That same tenacious streak showed up from day one. Back in 1999, her then-husband, already a BRAG veteran, encouraged her to try the Spring Tune-up Ride at Lake Tobesofkee in Macon. Vicki had two non-negotiable positions: she was going to ride, and she absolutely was not wearing cycling shorts. The ride featured what she describes as a “HUGE hill getting out of the park”—not exactly the gentle introduction a first-timer hopes for. But she conquered it in regular shorts and her own fierce determination.

By Monday morning, she was in a bike shop buying her first pair of cycling shorts.

“There’s something about that first organized ride that either hooks you or sends you running,” Vicki reflects now. “That hill could have been the end of my cycling story, but instead it became the beginning of everything.”

Bike Riding with Purpose

After 25 years of BRAG adventures—both as a rider and as part of the behind-the-scenes team handling registration and logistics—Vicki has developed what might be cycling’s most practical training philosophy: approach each day not as a daunting 55+ mile ride, but as a series of 15-mile segments between rest stops. Many BRAG cyclists know Vicki from her years of work ensuring smooth registration and logistics, but her rider’s perspective has always informed her approach to helping others have the best possible BRAG experience. “I am a rider that ‘rides to eat,'” she declares unapologetically. Her typical BRAG morning begins with the essential quest for that first cup of Cafe Campesino coffee, followed by a light breakfast and an early 7:00 AM start.

This segment-focused approach reflects a deeper evolution in her relationship with cycling. In her early years, it was “always about speed—how fast can I ride and be able to finish.” She didn’t take time to “smell the roses.” But time and wisdom have transformed her approach: “I now ride to enjoy my surroundings and don’t worry so much about how fast I am going.”

This shift from speed-focused to experience-focused cycling embodies what makes BRAG special—it welcomes riders at every stage of their journey, whether they’re chasing personal records or simply chasing the next view.

The Round Up Club: A Friendship Forged in Competition

Among Vicki’s countless BRAG memories, one friendship stands out for its beautiful combination of camaraderie and competition. She formed a 20+ year cycling partnership with another BRAG rider, and their competitive spirits led to the creation of what they dubbed “The Round Up Club.”

“We were both competitive and really didn’t want the other to get more miles,” Vicki explains. “So if we stopped at say 46.6 miles, we had to ride around until the odometer turned to 47 miles! Every time, never failed!” This delightfully obsessive attention to round numbers became their signature ritual—a testament to how cycling friendships can blend rivalry with support, and how the smallest shared quirks can become the foundation for decades of connection.

Small Town Encounters and Big Canyon Discoveries

BRAG has served as Vicki’s tour guide to Georgia’s hidden gems. Through various routes, she discovered Providence Canyon—”the little Grand Canyon”—and was amazed that such beauty existed in her home state. But perhaps her most memorable small-town encounter happened during her first century ride, with Metter as the overnight destination.

Stopping at a country store for a cold drink, she found local men playing checkers who asked about her destination. When told she had 15 miles to go to reach Metter, one local corrected her: “you don’t have but 4-5 miles to go.” Vicki tried to explain the concept of a century ride—that she needed to complete 100 miles even though the direct route was shorter. The locals “just shook their heads and looked at me and said I was crazy!”

It’s a perfect encapsulation of how BRAG riders interface with small-town Georgia: with patience, humor, and the understanding that sometimes your passion looks a little crazy from the outside.

Wisdom Earned in the Saddle

Twenty-five years of BRAG experience has given Vicki a treasure trove of practical advice. Her top rookie mistake warning involves clip-in pedals: “EVERY rider has fallen over because they didn’t unclip soon enough… if it happens to you, you just fall over in slow motion. Doesn’t hurt you, only embarrasses you!” Her essential gear recommendation is surprisingly simple—a mirror. “It is a given that I would NEVER ride without my helmet, but I never leave home without my mirror. I feel safer when I am able to know what is behind me or beside me.”

But her most crucial advice for newcomers goes deeper than gear: “Get yourself in the best shape with lots of mileage under your belt and sufficient hours sitting on the bicycle seat before undertaking BRAG.” She specifically recommends riding three high-mileage days in a row to ensure comfort in the saddle. This preparation, she promises, will make BRAG “a much more memorable experience for you. And, you will meet some of the nicest people in the world!”

The Confidence to Spread Her Wings

BRAG’s impact on Vicki extends far beyond those Georgia back roads. “I think my participation in BRAG events has given me confidence over the years and allowed me to spread my wings to participate in other state rides.” This confidence-building aspect of BRAG—the way it empowers people to tackle challenges they never imagined—represents one of the event’s most valuable but often unspoken benefits.

Today, when she’s not cycling, Vicki can be found walking, playing bocce ball in her neighborhood, reading, keeping grandkids, and volunteering. But every year, she returns to BRAG for the same reasons that have sustained her for 25 years: “I enjoy seeing the friends I have met over the years, the camaraderie of the group, and the riding itself.”

The Essence of a True BRAGger

When asked to complete the sentence “You know you’re a real BRAGger when…” Vicki’s response captures the beautiful absurdity that develops among people who spend enough time together: “You put a pickle on your PBJ sandwich at the rest stop!” It’s the kind of inside knowledge that marks someone as part of the BRAG tribe—not because they’re fast or strong or experienced, but because they’ve been there long enough to discover the unexpected flavor combinations that somehow work.

If BRAG had a theme song, Vicki would choose “Bicycle Race” by Queen, “Because I want to ‘ride my bicycle!'” It’s a perfect choice for someone whose 25-year journey began with stubborn refusal to wear proper cycling shorts and evolved into a quarter-century of friendship, discovery, and the hard-earned wisdom that sometimes the best way up a hill is on foot—and that’s perfectly okay.

Vicki Thompson embodies the BRAG spirit: welcoming, persistent, evolving, and always ready for the next adventure, even if it means riding an extra four-tenths of a mile just to see that odometer hit a nice round number. After all, that’s what The Round Up Club would demand.