Post Office Box 104871
Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
MoBikeFed is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation
Webmaster email: webmaster @ mobikefed
.org
BikeMO--MoBikeFed's Fall Foliage Bicycle Ride Join us October 18th for BikeMO, the ride that supports bicycle advocacy in Missouri. Beautiful mid-Missouri roads, beautiful fall weather, beautiful fall leaves . . .
Please consider joining MoBikeFed and a number of other organizations for the 3rd annual Missouri Trails Summit Nov 2-4, 2006, in Kansas City.
You can register at the door, just for a day or part-day if you wish.
Look for presentations like these:
* Kansas City Councilman John Fairfield about creating a bike/ped crossing over the Missouri River (KC metro area's recommendation for [possibly] two river crossings recently approved by the Mid-America Council's Board and now under consideration by MoDOT) * KC's Riverfront Heritage Trail * Levee trails * Safe Routes to School * EarthRider's President Michael Gier talking about mountain biking trails * MoDOT Bike/ped Coordinator Caryn Giarratano talking about Missouri's new strategic plan for bicycle & pedestrian accommodation * MoBikeFed Executive Director Brent Hugh about creating bicycle communities * Bicycle tour of the Indian Creek Trail * Urban bicycle ride (5:30 Friday Nov 3rd, sponsored by MoBikeFed--it's free, please join us!) * Trailbuilding school * Wilderness run * Promoting tourism/birdwatching on trails (b-i-g business on the Mississippi River, could be on the Missouri River, too . . . )
Here is Transport for London's advice to bicyclists and truck drivers (translated for the American audience):
"Why are Truck drivers always Hitting Cyclists?" As a cyclist it's nice to think you are always in the right - but have you ever considered that you might be in the wrong place? In fact, you might be in the most difficult place for a truck driver to see you.
9 out 0f 10 drivers involved in a fatal collision with a cyclist say they never saw them.
"Are you blind?" If a truck driver hasn't seen you, it's probably because you have moved into their blind spot when they weren't looking.
There are blind spots on each side of the vehicle - if you are cutting inside, or over-taking as it turns, you can be knocked off or crushed.
"Look out!" Many trucks need to pull out to the left before turning right - be aware of what they might be about to do.
Cycle lanes and advanced stop lines are there to help you - but take care not to get trapped by a truck as it turns.
The simple advice is hold back - a truck might be turning at any corner. Never cut inside.
Advice for truck drivers, on the other side of the leaflet:
"There are too many darn cyclists on the road" More and more people are cycling in the U.S., helping to reduce congestion
Every day, cyclists are involved in accidents - if it involves a truck, it is easy for the cyclist to be badly injured or killed.
As a truck driver, you know that you always try to give cyclists space - but what can you do when you don't see them coming?
"Why didn't you look where you are going" Cyclists are often on your nearside - in the cycle lane or moving towards an advanced stop line.
Many don't realise that, when they try to pass you, there is a point where you cannot see them because they have entered your blind spot.
This often results in them cycling directly into your turning path - with a potentially disastrous outcome.
"You better watch it" The important thing is for you to indicate early, check your mirrors, and keep checking as you turn - in this way you have the best chance of seeing a cyclist before it's too late.
We have had some light rain this past week that meant some additional challenges for bike transportation. Fortunately, I have some rain pants so I came out of it ok. The problem is that if you ride long enough in the rain your feet are still going to be soaked to the skin. So either a pair of Wellington boots is needed for a fresh pair of socks and shoes kept at one’s destination is required. . . .
One issue that has come up on my daily trips by bike is that some stop lights in the turning lane are not triggered by bike. Thus when this happens I am in a situation where I am trying to comply with the law but am forced to go the red light. Hopefully the city will rectify this in the near future. . . .
The month began by attending the Sustainability Fair. At that event I attended a discussion class on techniques for biking in traffic. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical about the suggestion that at every intersection bikers should take the entire lane of traffic. Up to that point my approach had been to either take the lane or to move past cars on the right depending the characteristics of each intersection. But as a result of the class I have pretty much stuck to taking the entire lane and it has worked out well. . . .
Interesting day today. For first time this month I had to go to a work event away from the radio station. Ironically, given what I am part of with my fellow LCDC participants I was broadcasting live from a car dealership helping them to sell cars!! Compared to many of my fellow participants I have a relatively easy commute each day as about 3 1/2 miles of my journey are on the trail. Today, to get to the car dealership I had to negotiate the Business Loop and Providence Road. I took the back route and thank goodness for the Ped bridge over I 70 on Providence, would not fancy that crossing on the bridge with the traffic!
The bicycle is just as good company as most husbands and, when it gets old and shabby, a woman can dispose of it and get a new one without shocking the entire community.
Kelly Fisher Benjamin of Overland Park was selected as one of the candidates to represent the United States at all major international cycling events in 2006-07.
Benjamin is one of eight riders on the women’s endurance squad, and she will race Nov. 17-19 in the World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
When the winners ofthe 2006 USA Triathlon National Club Championship were finally announced early yesterday afternoon, not a soul in the crowd could begrudge the Columbia Multisport Club their victory. The Los Angeles Tri Club, the nation's largest with over 1,300 members and likewise the largest contingent to venture into Boulder City, Nev. for the weekend's festivities, accepted defeat with appreciation and grace. The men and women from CMC has spent $32,000, traveled across the country, and attacked the relentless course with gusto; theirs was victory well earned.
The 4th annual Land Rover PumpkinManTriathlon was the host for the championship, an event that exploded this year thanks mainly to the efforts of Columbia. "L.A. wouldn't have brought 190 athletes to this race if we weren't here," speculated Mark Livesay, race director of USAT's Age Group Nationals this past July in Kansas City and the spirit behind Columbia Multisport. By focusing the club's expansive resources into contesting a title well removed from the Midwest, Livesay and CMC gave some meaning to the word "national"and swelled participation numbers from the 300's of previous years to over 900 this year.
The 2nd Annual Maple Leaf Bike Ride was off to a rolling start Saturday morning at Kellogg Lake with participants from numerous places in the four state area, plus one rider from California. . . .
Chip Curtis is one of the participants, but also helps coordinate the event, and said his wife, Carrie, was the diligent trainer between the two of them. The Curtis family also welcomes their newest member to the family to the event.
"Our 20 month old son, [Nathanial] has been riding in the trailer since he was 6 months old," Chip said. "I'm assuming he's the youngest participant in the ride."
The idea of the event originated from the Curtis family as well. Chip's mother-in-law, Candace Ellett, now resides in China, where she teaches English.
"That right there might give you an idea that she's one to find new things and get involved in new adventures," Chip said. "This was really her idea, but now it has a life of its own."
This year's bike ride hosted 94 riders; last year there were approximately 65 riders. With eight major sponsors and 27 other business making donations, the Joplin Trails Coalition hopes the community will keep the riding interest during the Maple Leaf celebration for years to come.
Mid-Missouri bicycle ride welcomes riders from across Missouri--one of them tells the story of his first "century"
When the frost is on the pumpkin . . . or maybe before then, is a great time to visit the countryside and enjoy views of autumn in Missouri's colorful hills. One great way to really see the countryside is to get out of the car and ride a bicycle. An event called BikeMO, organized by the Missouri Bicycle Federation, is just the ticket for this type of trip.
BikeMO starts in Holt's Summit, Missouri and tours through Callaway County, north of Jefferson City. Callaway County, off the tourist tracks, is a beautiful area to enjoy a quiet pastoral ride. The roads are not heavily traveled; the hills are gently rolling with the leaves at their peak of color in mid-October. This area is close enough to the KATY Trail that you could make a whole weekend of bicycling by riding BikeMO on Saturday, then rolling up to Rocheport for a cruise on the KATY on Sunday.
Last year, Tom Warhover, of Columbia found BikeMO to be the perfect place to attempt his first century ride. As you might guess, a century is a 100 mile ride. It's considered a landmark ride among the bicycling crowd who delight in keeping track of how many they do.
Tom chose a hybrid bicycle for his century, different equipment than many riders. A hybrid is a heavier model bicycle, a halfway point between a mountain and road bike, with fatter tires than racing machines. He used platform pedals like we had when we were kids and tennis shoes. It's the type of equipment that many people would use for riding around town or for shorter rides on paved trails.
For the first eighty miles he found his ride to be "delightful." People were friendly and the weather couldn't be better. Just outside Fulton, Missouri, at mile 80, he had to climb the biggest hill of the tour and he "bonked." His energy depleted, Tom wobbled into the Fulton rest stop.
At the aid station Eric, a local bike shop owner, said, "This guy needs a Red Bull."
Eric handed Tom two cans of Red Bull which he downed immediately. Upon finishing the drinks, he was asked about whether he really wanted to finish the tour or get a ride back in a van. Re- energized, Tom decided to push on to finish the century. He claims this introduction to Red Bull started him drinking the herbal energy drink regularly.
Since he insisted that he would not quit, Brent Hugh, Executive Director of Missouri Bicycle Federation, hopped on his recumbent bike and rode with Tom all the way into Holt's Summit. Tom said, "Brent was very pleasant and helpful. I don't know if I would have made it without him riding with me."
To compound his troubles in the last twenty miles, a spoke broke on his wheel, but that failed to stop him either. He rolled into Holt's Summit exhausted but satisfied. After recovering, he said that he would ride BikeMO again but with different equipment. Look for the rider in the RedBull jersey.
BikeMO is back on October 14, 2006 starting in Holt's Summit, Missouri. The route was so popular with participants in 2005, that they remarked that they wanted to do it again this year. Bicyclists who like leisurely touring or those who like racing can enjoy BikeMO, the mid-Missouri tour of fall foliage.
Springfield Neurological and Spine Institute is title sponsor of BikeMO. Springfield Neurological supports safe bicycling, education of bicyclists and motorists, prevention of neck and spine injuries, and social change to make bicycling safer and more attractive for transportation and recreation.
Ride details:
BikeMO 2006: Fall Foliage Extravaganza Date/time: October 14, 2006, starting at 9:00 am Starting point: Holt's Summit Plaza just off Highway 54 At Route OO, 154 W Simon Blvd, Holts Summit, MO 65043 Registration opens at 7:30 am SAG support 31, 62, and 100 mile distances For more information and to register, see: bikemo.org Ride organized by the Missouri Bicycle Federation
This video was produced by the League of American Bicyclists for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): permanent link to article: "Safety Tips for Adults video"
posted by Brent Hugh at
10/10/2006 06:57:00 AM |comment on this article
Geek-a-Cycle
The Geek-a-Cycle makes you pedal whenever you want to use your computer.
Must-have for all those who just can't stop riding . . .
permanent link to article: "Geek-a-Cycle"
posted by Brent Hugh at
10/10/2006 06:39:00 AM |comment on this article
Walk to School Day in Columbia--over 800 participants
Monday, October 09, 2006
Ian Thomas of PedNET reports:
More than 800 schoolchildren (along with many parents, teachers and other adults) took part in events organized by PedNet and partners at nine Columbia schools (7 public, 2 private). A pedestrian safety event was coordinated by the SAFE KIDS Coalition at Good Shepherd Lutheran, and staging posts were established by PedNet at the ARC for Columbia Catholic (60 walkers), Russell (100+ walkers) and West Blvd. Elementary (about 100 walkers); Columbia Public Library for Ridgeway Elementary (79); D & H Drug for Grant Elementary (150); Fairview United Methodist Church for Fairview Elementary (160); Lange Middle School for Derby Ridge (103); and Flat Branch Park for Lee Elementary (numbers not available, yet).
Food (paid for with PedNet mini-grants) and a prize drawing (thanks to the ARC and Empire Roller Rink) were provided for walkers at all the schools and the Columbia Police Department provided traffic control for those walking groups crossing major streets. Walking guests included Congressman Kenny Hulshof (whose daughter attends Columbia Catholic), Mayor Darwin Hindman (grandson at Fairview), radio host Fred Parry (son at Grant), Susan Fales (former principal at Ridgeway), and the MU Women's basketball team.
Assemblies were held at several of the schools during the previous week during which music (thanks to the Jingle Sisters) and skits (West Junior High School drama class) promoted walking to school.
Brent Hugh, executive director of the Missouri Bike Federation and a member of the Missouri Safe Routes to School advisory committee, said people walking builds community support for safer streets and sidewalks.
“The more people who walk, the less traffic there is, which makes it more appealing for even more people to walk,” Hugh said.
Walkers at each school had the chance to win prizes in a drawing held at each school. Portia McLaurin, a Grant second-grader, won two tickets for a free roller-skating session at Empire Roller Rink.
“I’m very happy,” Portia said. “I already know how to rollerblade, but now I can learn the four-wheel kind.”
The trail, not nearly as famous or as long as the Appalachian Trail, nonetheless offers 350 miles of rugged, backwoods country through the biologically diverse Ozarks.
The Ozarks' peaks lie at an altitude of just 1,200-1,800 feet, but they constitute the only significant highlands between the Appalachians and the Rockies.
''For Missouri, it's the closest thing to a Colorado experience you can get,'' said S. Scott Whitaker, president of Gateway Off-Road Cyclists. ''It's very secluded, a true wilderness experience with great big hollows and creek bottoms.
''The fall is definitely my favorite time. With fall colors, the vistas become even more extraordinary.'' . . .
Ozark Trail is divided into 13 sections of about 20 to 30 miles in length, each taking its name from a natural feature, except for the Karkaghne, a mythical creature in forest folklore. While some trail sections that go through wilderness are off-limits to anyone but hikers and backpackers, other parts are also open to off-road bicyclists and equestrians.
(Rural Missouri Magazine is a sponsor of BikeMO this year and they have donated two "Rural Missouri" bicycling jerseys that we will be giving away at BikeMO.)
You know, this could be a great way to get those rural folks on YOUR side when you're out enjoying Missouri's beautiful rural roads.
Other states have discovered that developing bicycle tourism in rural areas is a great, low impact way to stimulate rural economies while still preserving the rural way of life that residents in those areas prefer.
Members of the informal Easy Riders mountain biking group meet Tuesday afternoons year round for recreational biking on trails at Binder Park. A trail across from the boat ramp offers a 3.5-mile loop ideal for beginners.
The members welcome experienced riders as well as anyone new to mountain biking. They remember when they, too, were beginners and appreciated suggestions on how to handle obstacles, bridges and anything else they might encounter on the trail.
Although Terri Zumalt has ridden bicycles all of her life, she began mountain biking at Binder just three years ago. Thanks to advice from other riders, she hasn't wrecked on the mountain bike trails - “I don't want to break anything,” she said - and her skills have improved steadily. She feels more confident.
“I can ride over things that were really difficult to ride over at one time,” she said. “Some of the stuff looks really scary when you first see it, but once you have practice riding down it or attempting to ride down it, it gets easier.”
According to Jefferson City's Parks and Recreation guide, Binder Park offers 12 miles of trails suitable for mountain bikes. A map at the park's tackle shop outlines the trails, and a map of the park appears online at www.JeffCityMO.org. A trail off Edgewood Drive adjacent to the Greenway offers another 2.3 miles for experienced riders.
"We live in a time when there is a lot of consumption. Our kids spend a lot of their time in the car and eating these very highly processed foods and so on. All of those things contribute to a less sustainable system … and also to poor fitness for children," the private-practice physician said.
"Kids spend way too much time being hauled around in the car," Thomas said.
The Overshiner family of Columbia already practices one of Thomas’ key recommendations - get the kids moving under their own power.
Gina Overshiner, 40, and kids 8-year-old Max and 6-year-old Anna Rose decided to ride their bikes on the 2½-mile round trip to and from school. The kids plot their daily mileage on a map of the United States.
"We’ve been charting our mileage" between Lee Elementary School and their home near Broadway and West Boulevard "to see if we can ride to New York City. We’re about to East St. Louis," Overshiner said.
Thomas says today’s culture is all about consuming, which is bad for the environment and for children.
organized "Take a Kid Biking Day" in St. Joseph on October 7th.
