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EW IN OTHER NEWS 78 "It's a small but deeply deranged group," he joked. Some of the others interested in the sport include Stephen Slade, MD, Marguerite McDonald, MD, Scott MacRae, MD, and Mark Kontos, MD, he said. Dr. Vukich makes it a practice to cycle whenever he attends confer- ences, contacting area bicycle shops ahead of time to see about renting a bike and possibly securing a tour guide. "Without fail the people who work at bike shops are nice and outgoing and always want to help," he said, adding that for about $50 you can find someone to take you on rides around a city. Even though he has already ridden all over the world, Dr. Vukich envisions more cycling adventures ahead. One place on the agenda is Puglia in southern Italy, known for the rustic feel of the countryside, the food, and the wine. "That's high on my list of where next," he said. "But you don't have to go to Italy—Bryce Canyon is also beautiful. There are many rides in America that are just gorgeous." Riding in the wine country of California is still one of the areas that Dr. Vukich finds most memorable. "A lot of people don't realize that the grape leaves turn color in the fall—they're deciduous," he said. "If you go in the fall after the harvest, you can get these waves of beautiful color—it's very much a sensory way of approaching travel." For those who have not ridden a bicycle in a while, Dr. Vukich recommends reintroducing yourself. "It's that joy of being a child and of motion and freedom," he said. "I don't think we ever lose that." EW Contact information Vukich: javukich@gmail.com One of their most memorable trips was to Vietnam. "They're hur- tling into this century in so many ways," he said. "You don't have to go too far off the beaten path to get into areas that are very traditional." Cyclists there can experience the lushness and beauty of the country, while seeing how many Vietnamese people are living, offering a chance to meet them in an open way, he said. "It's a great experience in terms of riding along the coasts to get to the agricultural areas where there are rice paddies on either side of elevated paths that are used for agricultural purposes, which are also great bike roads," Dr. Vukich said. "We rode into very rural areas where, without fail, we were met by people who were genuinely nice and looking to interact in a positive way." Over the years, Dr. Vukich has also taken part in some classic cycling climbs that are part of the Tour de France. "I've had the opportunity to summit Mont Ventoux three times, Col du Tourmalet once, and also Col d'Aubisque," he said. "Those are very difficult climbs that are a challenge to anyone." These 16- to 18-mile climbs at an 8% to 12% incline are tests of mettle, he said. "You're rewarded with the views and the satisfaction of having done it," Dr. Vukich said. Ophthalmic view In addition to joining vacation tours with groups of strangers, Dr. Vukich has arranged to meet up with other ophthalmologist cyclists. He noted that on one of the Tour de France trips, he assembled a band of 18 ophthalmologists who had become friends over the years, spurred in part by cycling. were closed to vehicular traffic. "You get to ride on the same route with all of the chalk messages on the road. There are a lot of people who have been sitting all day waiting for the Tour so if anyone on a bike comes by, they'll hoot and holler, bang their cowbells and egg you on," Dr. Vukich said. "Then you pull over, find a place to sit, and watch the race go by." Since that time the Vukichs have cycled in Croatia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Australia, and France several times, including the Normandy coast, as well as the Pyrenees. In addition, they have tried their luck at the epicenter of bicycle culture, the Tour de France route, riding just hours before the racers themselves, when the roads August 2014 Index to Advertisers APACRS Page: 35 Phone: 65-63278630 www.apacrs.org Alcon Laboratories Inc. Page: Cover 2, 3, 21, 22, 44, 45, 46, and 47 Phone: 800-862-5266 Fax: 800-241-0677 www.alconlabs.com Beaver Visitec Int. Page: 51 Phone: 781-906-6926 Fax: 781-906-7992 www.beaver-visitec.com Diamatrix Ltd. 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Page: 27 Phone: 855-776-9322 Fax: 941-556-1850 www.rpsdetectors.com Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited Page: Cover 4 Phone: +44 (0) 273 205 401 www.rayner.com Rhein Medical Inc. Page: 13 Phone: 813-885-5050 Fax: 813-885-9346 www.rheinmedical.com Stephens Instruments Page: 30 Phone: 800-354-7848 Fax: 859-259-4926 www.usiol.com TearLab Page: 5 Phone: 855-832-7522 Fax: 858-812-0540 www.tearlab.com Tecfen Medical Page: 20 Phone: 805-967-1153 Fax: 805-967-1295 www.tecfenmedical.com TRIOPTICS GmBH Page: 61 Phone: 49-4103-18006-0 www.trioptics.com ASCRS/ASOA Information 2015 ASCRS Symposium and ASOA Congress Page: 17 and 63 ASCRS ReACT Page: 25 ASCRS SideXSide (formerly Winter Update) Page: 11 ASCRS MediaCenter Page: 53 ASCRS Membership Page: 31 ASCRS Film Festival Page: 29 EyeWorld Digital Page: 56 EyeWorld Digital Daily Page: 71 " I've had the opportunity to summit Mont Ventoux three times, Col du Tourmalet once, and also Col d'Aubisque. Those are very difficult climbs that are a challenge to anyone. ... You're rewarded with the views and the satisfaction of having done it. " Dr. Vukich's continued from page 77