Cycling Tips & Stories

Scott Atkinson of Springfield was selected by lottery to participate in this year's Ironman Triathlon World Championships. According to the News-Leader article:

The 41-year-old pediatric ophthalmologist from Springfield was selected to compete for the world title through a lottery drawing that drew nearly 5,000 entries worldwide.

Atkinson will be one of 205 lottery entrants in the field of 1,700 of the world's fittest athletes for the Oct. 15 competition

permanent link to article: "Springfield's Scott Atkinson to compete in Ironman"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/24/2005 02:22:00 PM |comment on this article

St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Dave Luecking writes:

Bicycling nearly killed me, and except for the grace of God, modern medicine and dumb luck, my name appears in print on this page instead of in marble under a tree somewhere.

Read the rest of Dave's story, including how he learned to stop at stop signs, here.

If bicycling seems very dangerous to you, like it was for Dave, the Bicycle Doctor recommends this prescription . . . permanent link to article: "How one bicyclist learned to ride safely"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/24/2005 02:18:00 PM |comment on this article

With Bike to Work Week in progress (May 16-20) and Bike to Work Day (Friday, May 20th) at hand, the Springfield News-Leader has some good advice for getting started with bicycle commuting:

[Lori Tack of Ozark Greenway's] suggestion for making the experience one worth repeating: "Plan ahead."

"Spend a nice Saturday or Sunday afternoon riding your route ahead of time," Tack suggested. "Know how long it will take at your pace. If you test-ride it, you'll feel more comfortable."

And map out a bike route, which is not necessarily the route you would take in your car.

"Some people think riding to work means riding down Glenstone," Tack said. "There are roads that are better to bike on." . . .

Riding with a buddy is a good idea, too, said Bruce Adib-Yazdi, Springbike's president. "Someone that has done this before can coach you through what to expect, how to maneuver safely on city streets."

Don't let distance keep you in your car seat, either. Tack notes that most people in Springfield have a commute to work of less than five miles. "Considering how many people live close to where they work, it's so do-able," Tack said.

"Fresh air and light exercise before work makes the day nicer," Adib-Yazdi said. He said biking to work might take a little longer than driving, "but if you're only going five or six miles across town, it is only incrementally longer." He said it takes him 10 minutes to drive to work, only 17 to bike. "And now I don't have to go to the gym."

Remember that the League of American Bicyclists maintains a comprehensive list of National Bike Month activities (including activities for Bike to Work Week). permanent link to article: "Bike to Work Week: How to get started"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/19/2005 05:52:00 AM |comment on this article

Bike to Work Day is coming soon. Here is a great bike-to-work event planned by Centralia Mayor (and MoBikeFed member) Jerry Parmeley:

The Mayor of Centralia, Missouri, Jerry Parmeley, will be honoring National Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20, 2005.

National Bike to Work day is the last day of the work week during National Bike to Work Week. National Bike to Work Week is a week that is set aside every year to encourage workers to cycle to work. Cycling decreases cost for fuel and saves our atmosphere from dangerous emissions. Cycling to work also allows the worker the chance to exercise before work by scheduling exercise into their daily lives.

Cycling is important to the Mayor and to honor the conclusion of National Bike to Work Week, the Mayor will be cycling from the City Hall in Centralia to his employer University of Missouri Health Care. Mayor Parmeley works in the Integrated Technology Services (ITS) Department at University of Missouri Health Care. The ITS department is located in the Quarterdeck building at 2401 LeMone Industrial Boulevard. Mayor Parmeley will be cycling down Route Z until Rangeline Road, turn right on New Haven Road, and then a right on LeMone Industrial Blvd. Mayor Parmeley will be leaving the Centralia City Hall around 5:30 a.m. and is anticipating arriving at ITS at approximately 7:30 a.m.; the length of the ride is approximately thirty (30) miles.

You are welcome to ride with Mayor Parmeley or check in with the Mayor along the route. The Mayor will be available for interviews before and after the ride. Please support the Mayor in his effort to promote bicycle safety and fitness among today's society.

Mayor Parmeley's email is: parmeleyj [at] health.missouri.edu permanent link to article: "Bike to Work Day: Centralia Mayor to Bike to Friday"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/17/2005 10:24:00 PM |comment on this article

Missouri Bicyclists,

Remember that the Ride of Silence is happening May 18th, 7PM across the country (and indeed, the world) as well as at four locations in Missouri: Kansas City, Springfield, St. Charles, & St. Louis.

The Central Ohio Bicycle Advocacy Coalition (which is sponsoring a local ride in their area) summed up the reason for the ride perfectly:

Purpose - The Ride of Silence is a slow group ride, akin to a funeral procession, in total silence. The ride is a safe, responsible, professional and mature response to the aggressiveness, intimidation, and carnage that cyclists face on the roads we ride. It is a means to:

- remember and mourn those killed by motorists,
- raise awareness that our community has, and supports, a large population of cyclists,
- show the public that cyclists are not going to stop riding on the roads,
- point out that we ask for respect from motorists,
- remind motorists that we wish only to SHARE the roads.

Click here for details about the Missouri locations. Starting points:

Kansas City
Location: Parking lot north of 63rd & Brookside (behind Breadsmith), Kansas City, Missouri.

Springfield
Location: Start in parking lot at NE corner of Boonville and Olive.

St. Charles
Location: Kingshighway and Jefferson

St. Louis
Location: Meet in front of the History Museum (at the corners of Lindell and DeBaliviere) on the North side by the fountain.

permanent link to article: "Ride of Silence, May 18th, 7PM in 4 Missouri locations"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/15/2005 07:37:00 PM |comment on this article

National Bike to Work Week is May 16-20, 2005 and Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 20th, 2005.

There's no better time to try breaking that bike out and riding on into work.

Here is a roundup of some of the bike to work week activities around Missouri:

Kansas City's CommuterDude has excellent suggestions for getting started biking to work:

When asked the primary reason many avid cyclists did not also commute to work by bicycle, the answers were pretty much centered around not having enough time. I'm as guilty as anyone in this department -- with two kids & two jobs, I'm surprised I have time to do ANYTHING, much less rely on a bicycle as my primary mode of transportation. I used to be skeptical, until I sat down and thought it all through. . . .

As soon as I realized the benefits and sudden LOSS OF STRESS in my life from riding to and from work, the planning and organizing became very much a part of the fun --- it can happen for you, too!

St. Louis
Join Trailnet's Bikers Wanted Challenge (chance to win a free bike!) and participate in Bike to Work Day activities.

Kansas City
The Bicycle Commuter Challenge is in its third year. Every day you ride during bike to work week you're entered in a drawing for prizes. Top individuals & teams also win prizes. Registration deadline May 15th.

Columbia
Columbia Missourian writer Kyle Rogers has been documenting a week spent traveling by bicycle only. Columbia Mayor Hindman's Bike, Walk, and Wheel Week (celebrated May 7-14) started with 700 participants in 2002 and has only grown over the years. The PedNet page has more details.

Springfield
Springfield's Bike to Work Week Challenge is organized by Ozark Greenways. The News-Leader article has details.

Statewide
Remember that BikeMonth.org has a long list of activities happening throughout May, National Bike Month, in Missouri.

permanent link to article: "Bike to Work Week--May 16-20, 2005"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/14/2005 08:28:00 PM |comment on this article

According to a Springfield News-Leader article:

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has named the Frisco Highline Trail May's rail-trail of the month. Missouri's southwest rail-trail is featured on the group's Web site, complete with pictures and a detailed description of its rapidly expanding trail length and popular rural landscape.

Missouri's fastest-growing rail-trail is currently 16 miles from Springfield to Walnut Grove, with another completed mile at the northern trailhead in Bolivar. In late September the trail will open 18 additional miles to the public. Once completed, the entire trail will extend 35 continuous miles for recreational use by walkers, bicyclists, equestrians and runners.

permanent link to article: "Springfiled Rail-Trail honored"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/14/2005 03:10:00 PM |comment on this article

Kansas City's Pitch Weekly covered Saturdays Mayor's Tour of Raytown/Poker Run:

A mayor on a bicycle? We're not bluffing.
It's not every day you get a chance to chase the mayor on a bicycle. Not legally, at least. At the Mayor's Tour of Raytown, Sue Frank straps on a helmet for a 16-mile "poker run" bike ride.

The public is invited to join her on routes ranging from 1.5 miles to 45 miles.

Along the way, cyclists pick up playing cards at various rest stops; at the end of the course, riders with the best hands win sweet prizes.

The event raises money for the Raytown Emergency Assistance Program, which helps folks with their daily living expenses, food and school supplies.

Cyclists leave at 8 a.m. from [ Faith Presbyterian Church ( 83rd Street and James A Reed in Raytown)] after paying $10 a person or $20 a family. Helmets required, people. For registration information, call 816-353-3653.

The ride was also covered in the Kansas City Star and Kansas City infoZine.

Note that 25 mile and 45 miles routes are self-supported after the first 16 miles.

[Obligatory disclaimer: your faithful webmaster is involved in organizing this ride.] permanent link to article: "Mayor's Tour of Raytown 8AM May 14th"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/13/2005 10:08:00 AM |comment on this article

This week's issue of Pitch Weekly features the ACME Bicycle Company, which is in Kansas City's Crossroads District. (Incidentally, ACME is a MoBikeFed Bicycle Business Member.)

The Pitch article talks about the bicycling philosophy of ACME owners Sarah Gibson and Christi Lynne:

"First off, we have more highway miles per capita than any other city in North America -- we don't have to deal with traffic congestion," Gibson says. "Second -- our cost of living, our cost of housing, is such that we have more disposable income to spend on gasoline." But this Acme realism is easily countered by Acme optimism.

"If one person took one [bicycle] trip a week," Gibson says, "to the library, the grocery store, coffee, whatever -- "

"The whole power structure would change," Lynne finishes.

Using gas prices as a timely example, the women lay down a perfectly sensible vision of a more sustainable, more bicycle-friendly Kansas City. One in which, for example, the Plaza has a bike rack and Main Street is painted with a commuter lane for two-wheelers. This vision stems not so much from liberal sentiment, though that's definitely present. (Acme's logo is a peace symbol.) For Lynne and Gibson, bikes are the purest, simplest way to fix a lot of our problems, from pollution to obesity.

Read the complete article here. permanent link to article: "Acme Bicycle Company featured in Pitch Weekly"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/12/2005 07:42:00 PM |comment on this article

Sergeant Dave Teem of the Newport (OR) Police Department has written an excellent article about sharing the road with bicyclists:

Whether motorists agree or not, bicyclists are using the highways, roadways and streets. ORS 814.430 lists specific guidelines, but essentially the law states that, "Bicycles have a right to the road." Instead of asking yourself why the bicycle is there, go into your normal defensive driving mode and formulate a plan of action (not reaction). Are there any obstructions that could cause the cyclist to suddenly change his line of travel? Remember, most debris that cyclists may be trying to avoid isn't visible to passing motorists. Is there anyone behind you in case you have to make emergency maneuvers? Are cars approaching from the other direction?

permanent link to article: "Excellent article on sharing the road with bicycles"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/11/2005 07:51:00 AM |comment on this article

Columbia Missourian writer Kyle Rogers took Columbia Mayor Hindman's challenge to participate in Bike, Walk, & Wheel week. From the report of his first day:

Leaving the car in the parking garage might turn out to be one of the smartest things I do this week, because I’ve discovered that I become more productive and efficient with my time when I’m on the bike.

I left my apartment earlier today because I anticipated all of my errands would take me a little longer. I wasn’t as careless when I packed up everything I needed for the day. Leaving something behind would’ve been a little more inconvenient. I actually looked forward to running all of my errands because they weren’t errands anymore. They were just stops during my bike ride.

In the end, I got everything done sooner than I thought and had time for a long lunch. I had the peace of mind that comes with completing a “to do” list, plus that which comes from being outside all day doing something active.

permanent link to article: "Columbia's Bike, Walk, and Wheel Week gets started"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/10/2005 09:11:00 PM |comment on this article

How much is bicycling worth to the economy? Researchers in Wisconsin have been looking into this question:

A preliminary study estimates that the state accounts for nearly 20 percent of the nation's bicycling industry, with a total impact on the state economy of $764 million to $834 million a year.

That estimate is probably conservative, say the study's co-authors Chuck Strawser, of the Bicycling Federation of Wisconsin, and Tom Huber, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator with the state Department of Transportation.

The study is being prepared for the Governor's Bicycling Coordinating Council, and it's designed to measure the impact of bicycle factories, such as the Trek cycle works in Watertown, plus spending by two-wheel tourists using the state's many trails and at various cycling events held in Wisconsin.

The total estimate includes the industry accounting for $556 million and 3,418 jobs and tourism bringing in anywhere from $208 million to $278 million. . . .

The top tourism estimate of a $278 million impact would represent 3-4 percent of Wisconsin's $11.7 billion in tourism and recreation revenue in 2003. . . .

The study notes there can be other positive impacts of bicycling that may not be measured in terms of the economic impact, such as fostering "a sense of neighborhood and community,'' improving health and reducing pollution and even boosting property values in areas near bicycle trails.

How much does bicycling impact Missouri's economy? No one has study this question so we do not know in detail.

But we know that Missouri bicycle shops employ over 1000 and almost $100 million in sales each year (this includes only bike shops, not big box retailers, or bicycle tourism, or any other aspect of bicycling's effect on the economy). permanent link to article: "Bicycling industry means $750 million to Wisconsin"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/08/2005 10:41:00 PM |comment on this article

Kenneth Walker, a Kansas City bicyclist, writes:

Since becoming active in the cycling community the last two years, I frequently look to make connections between cycling and African-Americans. This has proved to be more difficult than I thought. As a new racer, while I admire Lance Armstrong and many of the other cyclists of today, quite naturally I look for others who look like me, that are participating in the sport…with limited success. As I continue in this endeavor, I have uncovered little information on black racers in this country…and it has made me take a deeper look into the psyche of sport in this country... which raises even more unanswered questions for me. Until recently, one of them was…who was Major Taylor?

Read the rest of Walker's article on Major Taylor on the Slimenundgrossen web site. permanent link to article: "Who was Major Taylor? And Why Don’t We Know Him Better?"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/05/2005 11:13:00 PM |comment on this article

The Capitol City Cycling Club (a MoBikeFed member club) has a snazzy new web site. Check it out! See their latest news here. permanent link to article: "Capitol City Cycling Club's new web site"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/04/2005 10:36:00 AM |comment on this article

permanent link to article: "Give yourself a $2,500 raise . . ."
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/03/2005 06:41:00 PM |comment on this article

How to build a bamboo bicycle--just the frame, of course. permanent link to article: "How to build a bamboo bicycle"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/01/2005 06:13:00 AM |comment on this article