Cycling Tips & Stories

Blogger ScooterJ walked 30 miles across the entire Kansas City metro area in the space of 12 hours, taking photos along the way. Some of his comments:

I reached North Oak at 96th Street, begining the first really long straight segment. I was surprised to see other people out walking. . . .

If MODOT doesn't think there's demand for a safe pedestrian/bicycle path across the Missouri River, they need to see this photo.

Though I was in pain and knew that I had blisters, as long as my goals were ahead of me I kept going forward like nothing was wrong. So it came as a total shock to me what happened as soon as I crossed my self-imposed finish line and got into the vehicle waiting for me on the other side. A wave of pain came over me, and I found myself struggling to take even the smallest of steps. . . .

Read the full story and see ScooterJ's photos here. permanent link to article: "Man walks 30 miles across KC metro area"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/29/2006 11:08:00 AM |comment on this article

The Adventure Cycling Association has released af new guide for bicycle touring with kids. MoBikeFed President Joe Torrisi, who is one of the organizers of a middle school bicycle club in the St. Louis area, was a major contributor to the guide. (The Compton-Drew Dolphin Bicycle Club does at least one tour each year).

Bicycle tours provide outstanding opportunities for youth to combine physical and mental challenges, hone social skills, learn about different regions of the world, and gain confidence and a sense of self-sufficiency through experiential learning.

Pedal Pioneers: A Guide to Bicycle Travel with Kids provides a tool for youth leaders to organize their own youth tour. In five sections, the Guide walks leaders through each stage of organizing a trip for kids. The section titles are:

• Trip Design and Development
  
• Turning Kids into Cyclists
  
• Resources and Logistics
  
• Coming Home
  
• Life on the Road
  
• And An Appendix

The Guide covers many of the details that leaders need to know when considering or planning a bike tour with kids, including:

• Partnerships
  
• Route Planning
  
• Group Dynamics
  
• Equipment and CLothing
  
• Food
  
• Overnight Accomodations
  
• End of the Trip Logistics

And much more.

We are developing the Guide in response to numerous requests for information from teachers and youth leaders. We anticipate that the materials, gleaned from the experiences of youth and adult tour leaders, bicycle safety experts, and avid cyclists, will help others to start or refine their own programs.

If you would like to receive a free copy of the Pedal Pioneers, email outreach@adventurecycling.org with:
How you first heard of Pedal Pioneers

• Your name
  
• Organization
  
• Mailing Address
  
• Phone number
  Although the Guide is free, donations are encouraged. You can donate to Adventure Cycling at https://www.adventurecycling.org/secure/give.cfm

More information on the Adventure Cycling web site. permanent link to article: "Pedal Pioneers: A Guide to Bicycle Travel with Kids"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/25/2006 08:56:00 AM |comment on this article

According to a Kansas City Star article:

It'll take more than public service campaigns to solve the nation's obesity problem, according to fitness experts who say neighborhoods must be designed so people can get around without their cars.

Virtually everything American society has done for the past 100 years has made it easier for us to be fatter, said James Sallis, a San Diego State University psychology professor, and others who gathered recently at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting.

"We've built an unhealthy world in a lot of different ways," said Sallis, who was once dubbed an "obesity warrior" by Time magazine.

Sallis contends change will come only when the public demands walkable development, more federal money for parks and bike paths and even a tax on industries that promote sedentary lifestyles (he pointed to video game makers, movie theater chains and even electric Segway scooters).

permanent link to article: "New urban designed needed to combat obesity"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/22/2006 05:19:00 PM |comment on this article

STLToday has a story about DNR's annual Katy Trail ride:

More than 300 bicyclists made an overnight pit stop in Marthasville on Monday after riding 77.7 miles along the Katy Trail.

Bikers set up camp following the first day of Catch the Katy, a 225-mile journey from St. Charles to Clinton in which bikers pedal the length of the trail. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri State Parks Foundation sponsor the weeklong tour through the 2,913-acre Katy Trail State Park.

Melanie Robinson, special events coordinator for the state parks association, said the event gives participants a chance to visit state landmarks, experience nature and learn about the longest developed rail-trail in the country.

The 2006 Katy Trail Ride web site is here. The ride goes June 19-23, 2006. permanent link to article: "DNR's Katy Trail ride kicks off"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/21/2006 02:20:00 PM |comment on this article

Eric Rogers at KCBike.info has an article about how to get a green light:

Most modern traffic signals should be able to detect the presence of your bicycle and put you in the rotation to get a green. This is important because signals on many cross streets will stay red until they detect a vehicle waiting to cross.

Read Eric's article to find out how. permanent link to article: "How to get a green light"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/17/2006 08:11:00 PM |comment on this article

Adventure Cycling is working on a new route commemorating the Underground Railroad:

You might be wondering, “Why an Underground Railroad Bicycle Route?” Adventure Cycling saw a great deal of attention generated from the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In creating this bicycle route, we discovered the historical event became the impetus for more Americans to dust off their bikes and get back into cycling. The bicycle is perfectly suited to exploring the landscapes and mindscapes of historical figures and events. The pace of the bicycle permits travelers to appreciate their surroundings and brings them closer to the pace at which Americans moved prior to the advent of motorized transportation. A query of our membership with regards to other potential bike routes with a historical alignment showed a large interest in the Underground Railroad.

The proposed route passes close to the Missouri bootheel.

If you have ideas or questions about the route, the Adventure Cycling Forums have a discussion area about the Underground Railroad route. permanent link to article: "Adventure Cycling working on new Underground RR route"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/10/2006 03:58:00 PM |comment on this article

The Maryville Daily Forum covered the Border Raiders 2006 tour, which wrapped up today:

Being involved with a variety of fitness programs throughout her life has helped Lori Stiens achieve many goals.

Being able to participate in the eight-day, four-state, 450 mile Border Raiders bicycle tour that made its way through Maryville on Wednesday is one.

Originally from Maryville, Stiens lives with her husband Kevin and three sons, Kelly, Cody and Zach, who are supportive of her fitness endeavors.

"My family are just used to me," Stiens said. "I call and check in every evening with them when I'm on a long-distance tour to let them know that I'm safe. They always like to hear my stories when I get home."

Read the rest of the story here. permanent link to article: "Border Raiders tour wraps up"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/10/2006 09:08:00 AM |comment on this article

Dean Baker writing in Harper's Magazine proposes a way to reduce the number of miles driven:

[T]here is one thing we could do now that would change how people consume gasoline. We could switch from the current way in which people pay for auto insurance to a pay-by-the-mile system. Such a switch might reduce annual gasoline consumption by as much as 10 percent, without raising the cost of insurance for an average driver. The key is to change the way that people view the cost of driving their car.

Currently, auto insurance is viewed as a fixed expense. People pay the same amount for their insurance no matter how much they drive. This means that when someone is comparing the cost of driving to work with the cost of carpooling or public transportation, they won’t factor in the cost of insurance, because they will pay the same whether they make any particular trip or not.

This would change if drivers paid for insurance by the mile.

permanent link to article: "Insurance by the mile to reduce miles driven?"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/07/2006 10:43:00 PM |comment on this article

The Lakeside Cycling Club in KC northland invites members to join their club, email list, and rides.

According to their brochure, "Lakeside Cycling Club consists of cyclists in the KC Metro Northland. We have been in existence for 6 years and have had varying levels of membership over the years. Our goal is simply to promote safe cycling and enjoy the fellowship of cycling as an organized group."

The club has weekly rides and participates in special events.

For more information, visit the club's web site. permanent link to article: "KC area Lakeside Cycling Club invites members"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/06/2006 01:48:00 PM |comment on this article

According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, police officer Michael Butler has given away nearly 400 bicycles to elementary school students:

The annual bike giveaway began with discussions with teachers about student motivation when Michael and Ronda Butler's daughter, Brianna, now 14, attended Hempstead - her father's alma mater.

Although a good report card should be its own reward, Butler recognized that some students need further inspiration.

Butler established three benchmarks for a child to qualify for a bike: good grades, emphasizing improved classroom performance from one report card to the next; citizenship - helping fellow students to learn; and attendance.

permanent link to article: "Officer gives away bicycles to students"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/05/2006 01:49:00 PM |comment on this article

Saturday, June 3rd, 2006, is National Trails Day and trails organizations around Missouri are celebrating with events over the weekend.

The KCStar and Kansas City infoZine have listings of events in the Kansas City area.

In Jefferson City, “Hiking for Everyone!” a Runge Nature Center program for all ages, goes from 10 a.m.-noon. The progam, which celebrates National Trails Day, includes a hike on the center's trails. Reservations required; call 526-5544.

permanent link to article: "National Trails Day Saturday, June 3rd, 2006"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/02/2006 05:29:00 PM |comment on this article

The Maryville Daily Forum had an article about the Border Raiders tour:

The Border Raiders Bicycle Tour begins Saturday in Lawrence, Kan., and will meander the four states while cycling through the past.

"It's a bicycle tour, but we've also combined it with the history of the border wars of the 1850s," said Randy Breeden, an organizer of the event.

Breeden estimates more than 100 people will be involved in the tour, which will take eight days to complete, also ending in Lawrence. It will have overnight stops in Atchison, Kan.; Falls City, Neb.; Nebraska City, Neb.; Hamburg, Iowa; Maryville; Savannah; and Weston.

"Some do it for the bike ride, and some will do it for the bike ride and the history," Breeden said. "But this trip is 500 miles, so you have to be in it for the bicycling."

permanent link to article: "Border Raiders launches weeklong tour"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/02/2006 05:16:00 PM |comment on this article