Classifieds
ForumBikeWriter – October 2010
Click here for the PDF versionOctober 12, 2010
Prez Sez
John Chester
October is the month that we THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS.
My first set of “Thank You’s” goes out to VP Scott Ebbing and Campbell County Cluster Leader Carrie Schneider for all their work on the Great Ghost Rider Ramble. Thank you for all the work you did. The GGRR has a warm place in my heart – it was to be my first “BIG” ride back in 1993. A foot of snow fell the night before the ride – AND PEOPLE STILL WENT OUT AND RODE! I’ve always wondered – how did they see ghost road markings under a foot of snow?
I first volunteered there in 1994 and after a few years ended up running the ride from 1997 to 2005. Eileen McKain kept me having fun as co-chair from 2000-2005. I actually took two years off and rode the GGRR in 2006 and 2007. Now, I’m back to running the main food stop with our Club Secretary and Spokes In Motion Leader – Cindy Male.
Did you volunteer for the club in 2010? In the past, the club would hold a volunteer bash in February, typically at a tennis court with some volleyball thrown in. Some years, attendance was good, others – not so much. When there was a low turnout, financially, it was a large per person expense with the location rental being the major portion. In 2009, Chili Ride leader Brenda Bartko suggested that we try something else – a Thank You bike ride. Toss in a few pizzas afterward and see what happens. It turns out that bike riders like to go on bike rides! So everyone had a great time. All of you that have volunteered in 2010, you will be contacted by your cluster leaders and National Ride Leaders soon.
The club is always looking for a few good men – and women! Volunteers are what bring you all of the rides, the newsletter, the road markings, the new jersey. I hope that everyone thanks all of our volunteers. The easiest way is simple – after your ride – go over and just say THANK YOU. If you want to be really nice – buy them a piece of pie or a cold beverage. But a simple “thank you” is really nice.
September was a fun month on a bike for me – I did a couple of rides in St Louis over Labor Day weekend, even went to my first bike race there. The next week we had our first ever BIKE 2 BASEBALL ride. The following week was the HOPE RIDE and I think I saw about half of the CCC there. It was 82 miles from my house to Hope and I live on the west side. There were a number of folks that drove even farther. There just were not enough weekends in the month to get to do all the rides I wanted to!
If you have any questions, comments or feedback, feel free to contact me at: president@cincinnaticycleclub.org
Remember – GET ON YOUR BIKE, GO FOR A RIDE, its FUN!
–JC
In My Back Yard
Don Burrell
The United States Bicycle Route System
This column features current bike projects and issues going on in our back yard as Cycle Club members and as citizens in our respective jurisdictions of residence. I would encourage CCC members to become involved in these projects when they turn up in your back yard. As cyclists, we have knowledge and experience to guide the good intentions of others and work for the improvement of the roads and paths we ride.
There is a project in the works to identify a nation-wide network of bicycle routes that would follow existing roads and trails suitable for cycling. The intent is to connect major cities and provide routing for long and medium distance bicycle touring. The project is administered by the Adventure Cycling Association (ACA) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and is being delegated to state departments of transportation to implement.
The idea got a false start in 1978 with AASHTO developing the idea and identifying two routes in the eastern states including the ACA (then BikeCentennial) TransAmerica Trail. It went dormant until 2003 and since has identified a network of US Bike Route “corridors” within which roads will be selected for the actual route. Route signs unique to the bike route system have been designed and are intended to mark the routes similarly to federal highway route signs. Routes designated by the states must connect with the route in the adjacent states. State DOTs and advocacy groups are active in defining routes in Virginia, Michigan, Florida and Georgia.
Ohio has three routes crossing the state: USBR 40 (New York to Wyoming) along the northern lake front, USBR 50 (Washington DC to San Francisco) through Columbus, and USBR 25 (Mississippi to Michigan) through Louisville, Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo. In addition to USBR 25, Kentucky is crossed by USBR 76, the original BikeCentennial 76 TransAmerica Trail route created for the nation’s 1976 bicentennial.
Activity here, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, picked up a bit on June 11 when all three state bike coordinators and state advocacy groups met in Cincinnati with ACA staff for a briefing on the program and the route corridors through the respective states. An issue to be addressed is the level of commitment required by local governments through which the route will pass where it will be using streets maintained by cities, townships or counties.
In September, USBR 25 between Cincinnati and Dayton was tentatively selected on a field tour with the ODOT, Cincinnati and OKI Bike Coordinators. Entering from Kentucky on the Purple People Bridge, the route would follow the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route spur (an ACA route) from downtown to the Little Miami Scenic Trail via Gilbert, Victory Pkwy, Madison, Erie, Murray and Wooster Pike. Once on the trail, the route would travel to Xenia where it would proceed west on the Creekside Trail into Dayton. Once state and area folks pin down the route to Toledo, the Ohio Dept. of Transportation will coordinate with Kentucky and Michigan on the border crossings. Local interests are also working on the Kentucky section to Louisville.
For more, contact me, Don Burrell: dburrell@oki.org and also visit the Adventure Cycling US BRS FAQ and Map sites.
Bicycle Safety and Advocacy
Jim Lindner
Road Hazards
I emailed Ed Fisher, Park Services Director in charge of road maintenance on September 30th about a dangerous 3″ wide crack on the right side of Valleyview Drive (Winton Woods Park) going up the hill from Springdale Rd. This crack ran some distance in the direction of travel and could have easily trapped a bicycle tire.
He responded within an hour,
“Thanks for bringing to my attention, I will look at location immediately and get back to you with a resolve as soon as possible”.
His response came on October 4th:
“Mr. Lindner,
Our Park District engineer has looked at the road edge crack and has a plan to route and fill with asphalt. The work is scheduled to be done within the next 10 days and we will then watch to see if road movement causes it to reappear. I will send you a note when work is complete.
Thank you for contacting me,
Ed”
I wanted club members to know that he was very responsive to this problem. I had mentioned it to maintenance workers along the road this summer, but it was bothering me that I would be riding over the area this winter and I did not expect a change. This positive response encouraged me to remind others to report potholes. In Cincinnati call 591-6000 or email CustomerService.PublicServices@cincinnati-oh.gov. Be prepared with; the general location, size, depth, and exact location.
Ready for the “Cooler Season”
The summer is gone and fall is beginning. I rode only 25 miles on The Great Ghost Rider Ramble but the last 10 my daughter and I felt we were being chased by the weather. Our last big ride together was The Chili Ride and the first time we were SAGed off a ride by my wife. Both the rides were cold and I know neither of us wanted to be wet again. She refused the raincoat but kept insisting I should ride faster. There was a sense of accomplishment to getting back under our own power and beating the weather.
I am a year round commuter. I don’t take a month off. When I had a leg swell up last year from a Bakers Cyst I asked my doctor how long I should wait to get back on the bike. His comment was that I should not have stopped riding. The riding is good for my health. I also ride because it is fun and economical. I have been questioned about riding in the winter so I figure this is a good time to fill people in on what I think I know about winter commuting.
Getting started in winter commuting is easiest if that is not when you start commuting. I rode all summer, will ride through the fall, and just won’t stop for the winter. I do choose my territory. I don’t ride when it is raining in the morning. I want a hot shower after a cold wet ride and will call my wife to pick me up if it is raining as I am leaving the office. Spring and Fall are really the best times for me to ride as I can always add clothing to stay warm even on the coldest winter days, but on a hot summer day modesty limits how much clothing I can remove to stay cool.
I also remember riding in the winter as a child. I would ride up a snow-covered hill till the bike lost traction and turn into a fall. With luck and practice I would stay up and ride down the hill to try again. It was a game to see how far I could ride up the hill without falling. I don’t say I have any additional skill beyond normal, but I am willing to test my brakes and balance, when no one is watching, and when cars are not around. I am not afraid of falling on snow as the padding of the extra clothes and snow reduces the chance of injury. On the really bad days the traffic is minimal and I can ride with less risk of getting hit by a car. I also found that the traction of my mountain bike tires is better than what most cars have. At the speeds I am going. I know I don’t get so much momentum that I will lose control and slide through an intersection, like a car can easily do. Once you have tried riding on snow you may find that you agree that it does not take incredible skill. The biggest thing to watch is traffic. It may be the time to ride on a sidewalk. Yes, it is normally more dangerous to ride on a sidewalk than the street, and this is not what I normally advise, but when the cars have compacted the snow to an icy glaze they can not make a quick turn onto the sidewalk to hit you. On the fresh sidewalk snow you may be able to outrun them. If they are backed up on the road the sidewalk can be clear of all traffic. I do equip my mountain bike with knobbier tires and call them snow tires so I can ride in snow.
To ride on the colder days your clothing is critical. The hands, face, and feet are most important to take care of as they really don’t generate a lot of heat with the exercise, but are exposed to the worst of the wind. Any speed on a bike generates cooling wind so wind and waterproof protection is important for the above-mentioned parts. I find my legs generate enough heat that simply breaking the wind and wicking away the moisture is all I need on most days. I wear tights most days and put on jeans or wind pants over them as a next step. For the coldest days I have some thick polypro long underwear that look like sweat pants that I wear under pants. My limit on temperature is 10 degrees F. I figure if I got a flat at temperatures lower than that I likely could not change the tube before my fingers got numb and I would hate to call my wife out, if it was that cold. I have tried 5 degrees and I can do it, but there are not that many below 10 degree days to say I am going to be called lazy for skipping them.
I read that 25% of Minneapolis bike commuters ride through the winter. I doubt the numbers of winter riders are that high here, but there are some of us. Perhaps it is not that there are so few winter commuters, but that there are a lot of recreational riders who I do not see riding in the winter. As I am riding in part for my health I don’t see why more recreational riders don’t take up bike commuting to extend their exercise season. Winter riding is not for everyone. I do recommend good lights, reflectors, and reflective or visible clothing. In addition to some very bright lights I use a reflective vest.
If you are aware of a commuter, or other rider, that rides in the dark without be-seen lights please contact me or Glenn Talaska. The “Blinky Program” has lights available for riders who need them. The lights are available from charitable contributions through The 7-Hills Bike Racing Team. The CCC collects funds at many of their events for this program.
Bike 2 Baseball – Post Game Report
John Chester
We had 32 Reds Riders (not my cute name for it – don’t blame me!). Rides were organized from Hartwell and Columbia-Tusculum. Many more folks came on their own from other areas of the city. We have had requests to have routes from Northern Kentucky and other areas for next year.
I’d like to thank the following for arranging the first BIKE 2 BASEBALL:
- Danny Cooper
- Shannon Senger – Cincinnati Reds
- Jim Coppock – City of Cincinnati
- Jason Reser – Reser Bicycle Outfitters provided the bike racks.
Regrettably the event competed with the My Old Kentucky Home Tour and the Sun Flower Revolution. I’ve had many folks come and say that if they weren’t at those two, they would have been riding their bikes to the Great American Ball Park.
At the time of this writing the Reds were in the playoffs. When the team recovers from the blow, we’ll meet with the Reds to select three dates for 2011 Bike 2 Baseball games in May, July and September. With the CCC being involved in the planning, we’ll avoid competing with other major bicycle events. The Reds have stated that they will create a webpage for us that links to all three games and lists all of the starting points. A nice partnership is being created.
GO REDS!
Cluster News:
Little Miami Cluster
Kevin Armstrong
On October 5th, the Little Miami Cluster had their annual meeting and picnic. It followed a shortened version of the Tuesday night ride. The cookout of hot dogs, hamburgers and brats were enjoyed by all on a wonderful fall evening in Nesbit Park. The meeting and elections were held immediately after. With Irvin and me deciding to step down after years at the helm, Fred Ferguson has decided to take the reins. I have no doubt Fred will do an excellent job and Irvin and I are still here to support him. If anyone would like to assist Fred as Co-Cluster leader please let us know.
The cluster had its final all club ride a few weeks ago with the annual Four County Ride. It was extremely well attended on a crisp fall morning. The ride takes the riders through pretty countryside full of rolling hills, small towns and one covered bridge. Thank you to all that participated.
Next year should be another banner year for the cluster with all of the same rides as this year. Irvin and I would like to thank everyone, especially the volunteers that donated the time and effort for doing everything from leading rides to painting routes, for making our job as easy as it was. Your support made it all worthwhile.
Be safe and ride smart.
October Commuter Miles Update:
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