The BikeWriter – May 2011

Pres Sez, May 2011

John Chester

MAY IS BIKE MONTH!

Well, April turned out to be more of a “Build an Ark” month, than a get on your bike and ride month. As of this writing (April 25, 2011), April 2011 was the wettest April on record and the FOURTH wettest month on record in Cincinnati. I don’t know about you, but I had a number of bike rides I planned on going on rained out, as well as finishing one in a thunderstorm.

MAY IS BIKE MONTH!

This month will be our Spring National Ride: The Chili Century. VP Scott Ebbing has stepped up to run the ride this year. I encourage all of our club members to grab a friend and your bike and come out to Goshen on Saturday May 21, 2011. Remember – all of the good things that the club does for the cycling community comes from the profits of our National Rides. We get continual requests for funds, as well as the “why doesn’t the club do…” questions. Well, if we want to do these, then we need riders at The Chili Century!

MAY IS BIKE MONTH!

Have you found a recurring CCC Ride that you love? If so, have you seen a new person at that ride? Remember how you felt that first night? Scared? Apprehensive? Well, consider “Taking one for the Team” and walk over and say hello to the new guy or gal. Consider “Taking one for the Team” and dropping back a speed group, so that new guy or gal can have someone to ride with. Everybody has a first ride. Not everyone has a second. Please welcome our newest riders.

MAY IS BIKE MONTH!

Did I mention that MAY IS BIKE MONTH?

For those of you who wish to see all of the bicycle related things that have been set up for Bike Month, for a four page list, please visit Queen City Bike.

If you work downtown, on Thursday May 19th, please come over to Fountain Square for BIKE TO WORK DAY! I guarantee that there is something there that says “BICYCLE!” for you!

Remember – Get on your bike, go for a ride, it’s fun!

The Ride of Silence – 2011

We regret to inform you that the Cincinnati Cycle Club will not hold The Ride of Silence in 2011.

For those of you who have participated in The Ride of Silence the last few years, you will remember that we were required to stress that bicycles were not allowed on Fountain Square. We were instructed to walk our bikes, not ride them. A waiver was granted to allow the bikes to be on the Square, but not ridden.

In 2011, the Fountain Square application process was changed, and our event was determined to be both a “Special Event” and a “Sporting Event.” In response to receiving our insurance policy for the event, we were told “this will not fly”, and that a Sports Insurance Policy would need to be obtained. I noted that our policy is from the League of American Bicyclists, and they specialized in sports policies.

Fountain Square is not bicycle friendly. Bicycles are not allowed on Fountain Square, and there is no bicycle parking on the Square. I participated in two rides that stopped at Fountain Square in 2010, and both times we were instructed by the “Fountain Square Ambassadors” to leave. The bicycles were being walked both times, not ridden. The City of Cincinnati wished to place bicycle lockers there in recent years, but that request was denied. As a result, currently, on the public sidewalk, the City has placed bicycle racks on 5th Street.

As of this writing, Fountain Square had decided to create an event at 8:00 PM that would be competing with Wednesday’s Party in The Park. They stated if the event sports insurance was approved, and it was determined to allow The Ride of Silence, that we would be limited to a presence from 7 to 7:15 PM. As that is not enough time to hold any type of ceremony, and with the varying arrival times of the riders, we could not guarantee that we would be done in time.

The CCC Board will look for a new location for The Ride of Silence for 2012. Perhaps the new Central Waterfront Park with the bike facility will be more bicycle friendly than Fountain Square.

CCC Day at Camp Ernst

Bill Easley

YMCA Camp Ernst is hosting the Club’s northern Kentucky ride Saturday May 14th at 10:00am. Following the ride, club members are welcome to experience the camp’s off road trails and dirt pump track, weather permitting.

Members who plan to drive to YMCA Camp Ernst should park their cars at Camp Ernst Park, a Boone County Park directly across the lake from the camp. The park entrance is off Camp Ernst Road and the turnoff is as soon as you see the Lake on the right. (the sign points in the opposite direction).

Following our scheduled ride, Camp Ernst will have mountain bikes available to club members needing them. The club will be presenting a check for the two Mountain Bikes the club donated to YMCA Camp Ernst along with two scholarships for needy youth to experience a week of camp in the bike program.

The youth receiving the scholarships will also receive membership in the club for their family for a year. Join us at Camp Ernst for a road and off road ride and see what the YMCA camp is doing for youth cycling!

Cincinnatians Love 3-Ways, Part Deux

Since March, there has been some news regarding the three ways to get from downtown to Lunken Airport. Some good news, some bad and a surprise development.

The THREE SEPARATE PLANS for routes/paths are:

1. Riverside Drive to Wilmer to Lunken
2. Ohio River Trail
3. Ohio River Way Bike Path (http://www.ohioriverway.org/)

Riverside Drive and The Ohio River Trail:

The City of Cincinnati presented recommendations for a short-term project called the East End Bicycle Facility. This consists of proposed bike lanes on Riverside/Kellogg from Bains to Congress. This has been assumed to be the existing conditions when the Ohio River Trail construction begins in a more distant future. Some of the alternatives (sidepath, cycle tracks, bike lanes) considered in the East End Bike Facility Project are being considered for the Ohio River Trail project.

Information about the multiple options for this project can be found at Ohio River Trail:

Additionally, there is an optional survey for you to vote on which plan you prefer.

The new bike trail from Corbin to Lunken was to be dedicated on Thursday April 28th, but, alas, they were under water due to the record rainfall received in April. A new dedication will be planned for later on this summer. Good News: I am happy to state that due to my whining and complaining in the March BikeWriter, there was one change made where this new trail arrives at Lunken. “The only negative to this stretch is that my request for large mushroom shaped road crossing buttons that could be easily whacked by a bike rider was ignored.” The button to cross is now a BIG OLE WHAP ME STYLE BUTTON, instead of a stop and poke your finger in a little spot button. Life is good!

The Ohio River Way Bike Path:

This plan consists of placing a multi use trail on an existing rail corridor. The Ohio River Way Bike Path organizers are now wishing to include this plan in a proposed multi-modal Eastern Corridor plan. A map of the proposal options can also be viewed at this website.

On Tuesday April 5, 2011, project leaders held a community open house to provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the project and offer feedback at the midpoint of this planning phase. But because there will not be any official decisions concerning track alignment, vehicle type, etc., until 2012, those who attended the April 5 open house at the Leblond Recreation Center on Riverside Drive were extremely frustrated by the inability of planners to answer specific questions.

As the meeting went forth, those in attendance realized that the planning group wished to promote a diesel train from the Milford area to downtown. The train would travel on the existing rail line that is infrequently used by The Cincinnati Dinner Train, the circus, and the occasional train going to scrap yards along the riverfront. One person in attendance asked how often the proposed train would travel. When one train each way per hour was mentioned, a quick calculation led to 61,320 trains EACH WAY per year. In addition, if the diesel train proposal were to go forth, the developers would not allow a bicycle path to be placed in its right of way.

Another group in attendance wished to promote another leg of the Cincinnati Streetcar. The developers stated that with the existing use of the rail line, a streetcar would not be allowed on the rail right of way. The Streetcar proponents then wished to place this on Kellogg / Eastern Avenue / Riverside Drive. That received mixed responses.

Eventually an informal, non binding, vote was held:

• In favor of a Diesel train: ZERO
• In favor of a Streetcar on Riverside: about one half
• Those objecting to a bike trail: NONE!

This vote was a mixture of supporters, to those who don’t care, as they realized that bikes are not a part of the problem, but a part of the solution. This was the first meeting I have been to in a long time where nobody hated bikes!

It was noted that the businesses along the proposed routes all want some sort of bike path. MariBelles restaurant even had plumbing and electrical installed on their third floor during its recent renovations. This is so that if a bike path were to be created on the rail line, they could quickly build a deck up and out back for potential customers!

BAD NEWS – The net result of the meeting, is that NOTHING is going to happen for a minimum of one year, until a proposal comes forth. As such, there will be no Ohio River Bike Path on that rail line in 2011.

Now – The Surprise Development:

While not one of the three plans discussed above, there is currently a possibility that Norfolk and Southern Railroad will either abandon or offer for lease an unused train line. This line would connect with the Little Miami trail on the east. It would begin near Xavier University then head east towards Hyde Park and Oakley, and then go near Ault Park to Mariemont where it could connect with the existing Little Miami Scenic Trail. A developer near Mariemont wished to purchase a section of the unused rail line near the rear of his property. It was then discussed that for Norfolk and Southern to do this, it would need to formally ABANDON the line, at which point, a “RAILS TO TRAILS” mixed use path could be created.

Choosing a Bike Repair Stand

Sam Walker

Recently I did a lot of researching and evaluating of bike repair stands for the average home bike mechanic. The goal was to write some reviews on some of the more popular stands and their styles for a website I work for.

A bike repair stand has three main uses:

1. It elevates your bike to the height you need it
2. It keeps your bike stable while you work on it
3. It allows you to work on your bike without putting pressure on any of your bike’s components

The style and quality of the bike repair stand you use can pretty much set the framework for your home bike repairs. There were a number of so-so stands and there were also some stands that were really excellent and did the job well. So what distinguishes a so-so stand from a top quality stand that will make your repairs a heck of a lot easier? The below is a few important pointers I have learned, which I have tweaked and tweaked some more after taking feedback.

1. Reputable Company

I’m a minimalist by nature and would prefer a shirt without a famous logo at a lesser price than paying for that added brand logo. However with bike repair stands, I can say with some confidence that buying from a reputable company is a good idea. A good company with a good reputation ensures the following:

You know what you are getting, as many others have tried and tested it before you.

A good company has built their reputation around quality and they have that reputation to protect. This means they will go that extra mile to make sure your stand works well and will fix any problems should they occur.

It will usually come with some sort of warranty, quite possibly a life time one.

One of the best known and popular brands in the industry is Park Tool, and it is likely the most popular stand with bike shops. Feedback Sports is another brand that puts some good quality stands out there. You won’t go wrong with either one of these brands, and there are a few others too, but what I like about these two companies is the consistency of their work in recent years. Some brands have some really good quality stands and and a few cheaper ones that don’t work so well, so you need to be careful with what you buy.

2. Rave Review Rating.

You can get a really good sense of what you are purchasing by reading user reviews. A few rave reviews and a few so-so reviews will be risky, because you could fall into the so-so category. Any stand will make your life easier and will warrant some positive reviews, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a great stand. Look for a stand with all rave reviews. If you see the word wobbly or flimsy mentioned anywhere in a review, I recommend avoiding that stand. You really want a stand that will hold your bike rock solid while you work on it.

3. It’s all about the clamp

Look for a stand with a good clamp. The clamp is the part of the repair stand that will hold your bicycle and rotate it 360 degrees. The two most common style of clamps is the screw in style and the cam-style clamp. The cam-style clamp is a bit easier as it opens and closes in one swift action but both can be fully adjustable. A bad clamp will cause you some frustration, even if it is attached to a good stable stand.

4. Working smart according to your budget

You’ve only got $40 to spend, and you want a good quality repair stand so there must be something you can buy right? Unfortunately no, not in my experience and you’ll need to work smart in other ways. It looks like just a piece of metal and it doesn’t seem that it should cost so much, but we are also paying for the development, workmanship and customization of the product and it’s parts.

You can of course buy a bike repair stand for $40 and it will work, and it will make repairs a little easier, but it will not be a quality stand and you will feel that. You are risking being a reviewer yourself that uses the word wobbly and flimsy, and quite frankly you will likely be frustrated at times. If $40 is all you have to spend, look at making your own stand if you are the handy type but make sure you can do it well. Creating a poor quality stand is the same as buying a poor quality one. If you are going to buy, wait until you can afford a good one. It will make you much happier and is a one time investment if you choose wisely.

Last but not least…

5. Stability Rules Them All

The #1 quality for any good bike repair stand is that it holds your bike stable. By stable I mean really stable. Not wobbly, not feeling like it’s going to break if you crank too hard or that it might tip if you put too heavy a bike on it. You want a stand that holds your bike solid at an elevated level. How do you know if you stand is going to be stable enough? The answer is to follow the above four tips. Get one from a good company, read the reviews, work smart according to your budget, and get a great clamp. You do this, with sturdiness in mind, you will have a killer stand for your bike that will work great for years to come. I wrote a comprehensive review on the popular Park Tool PCS-10 Home Mechanic Repair Stand, which was a good example of a stable stand, that has an almost flawless review rating because of this one main feature.

To conclude, Stability is #1, and you can find that by following the above tips. Doing your own bicycle repairs and maintenance can be a rewarding addition to the sport of cycling, and will help your bike last a long and healthy life.

From the Treasurer’s Desk

Steve Wegener

Several brief updates this month:

• The Ohio Bicycle Events Calendar is now available online
• The CCC is moving to a new storage locker within the same facility in Loveland and we need some help moving shelving and equipment. If you can help please email treasurer@cincinnaticycleclub.org and we will set a date to move in May.
• The CCC is cleaning out its locker and is selling the following equipment:
  • Used 20″ Color TV/VCR Combo
  • Old Style CCC Jerseys (1 Small womens and 1 XX Large Mens)
  • 2 – 26×1.5 Hybrid Tires
  • 1 – Continential Avenue Semislick Tire 28 x 1.5
  • 2 – IRC Road Winner Tires 700 x 28
  • 5 – 16.4 oz. Propane Fuel Cylinders
• Additional details can be found at the CCC Classified section of our website HERE

CCC and College Hill Farmers Market Bike Rodeo and Neighborhood Ride.

The Club and the College Hills Farmers Market are banding together to present the College Hill Farmers Market Bike Rodeo and Neighborhood Ride. The Rodeo and Ride will take place  Thursday June 23rd, 2011 starting at 5 p.m. at the College Hill Presbyterian Church (5742 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati Ohio 45224).

Children from the neighborhood are invited to a BIKE RODEO at 5 p.m. where they will be instructed in the safe use of a bicycle. After the rodeo we will explore some of the neighborhood’s more quiet roads, as well as some of the less known parks and sights. If needed, we will create multiple groups with multiple speed levels.

To participate, each individual needs to wear a bicycle helmet.

As this ride is shortly after the 5 p.m. BIKE RODEO, some of those participants may wish to go on this ride. Children are allowed to participate when accompanied by a parent or guardian. Due to insurance requirements, unaccompanied children will not be accepted on the ride.

To participate in the ride, each child needs:

• Parent or Guardian to ride with and to sign the participation waiver
• Bicycle
• Helmet
• Shoes must cover the full foot (with a closed toe and heel) – Flip Flops/Crocs are not acceptable.

Before the Rodeo at 5 p.m. and before the 6:30 p.m. Bike Ride, members of the CCC will give guidance on the proper fit of a bike helmet, and instruct each participant on how to check their bike for safety.

Thanks to: Jim Lindner, Adelaide Lindner, Larry Bloomfield and John Chester.

Rain cancels.

Contact Information:

Jim Lindner: Cell – 513-742-2411, Email: jlindner@resindek.com

Larry Bloomfield: Cell # 513-502-3408, Email: bluesbent@fuse.net

John Chester: Cell #513-543-1929 Email:President@CincinnatiCycleClub.org

College Hill Farm Market Team: CollegeHillFarmMarket@gmail.com

It’s Bike Month! How will you celebrate?

Jim Lindner

I have found in the last couple of years that Bike month is truly a celebration if you treat it as such. For me, Lent is over and hopefully the worst of the spring rains. I can start riding my bike more often with fewer interruptions due to the weather. I also get to see more bikes on the road and more participants in weekly club rides. I have also found more interest in bicycling both from the public and the Media. My wife tells me when she hears about a bike event or some other news related to bike month.

I am even getting emails about teaching bike safety. I am hoping this is a trend, as more cyclists seem to be out there each of the last few years. I know I was told I could rely on LCI’s to handle Cycling classes but I am beginning to feel I should look for additional members that can help with the show and tell situations coming up this month. If you get a call it is because someone pointed you out to me. If you want to contact me directly go ahead.

My suggestions of the three best ways to celebrate are to ride your bike to get somewhere, ride nowhere in particular, and bring someone else the knowledge of why you like to ride a bike.

I had an inspiration to reuse an old joke about doing something just for the money. It was a bad joke, but it fits a bad situation. The news is pointing out how many are being financially hit by the high gas prices. I have often had people tell me they will not ride a bike because it is unsafe to ride the Cincinnati roads. The joke asks, “Will you compromise your principles for a million bucks? Would you do it for fifty cents?

The point is that the money offered can warp your perspective. This country has been blessed and cursed by cheap energy cost. Would you forgo walking or riding a bike if the convenience of traveling by car is very affordable? Would you pay attention to the health benefits of walking and riding a bike if you found the alternatives too costly? Will you brave the road on a bike when you cannot afford to pay for the gas to go to work by car?

I have a parent who needed to give up driving in her 80’s. I can tell you it is not pleasant to think of giving up the freedom of travel we have taken for granted. It is my hope to use my car in moderation and my bike more frequently in order to save sufficiently to not change my travel habits. I think that if I include the time it takes to earn the money to pay for my car expenses, and the time I save that I should use for exercise, short trips are faster on my bike than in a car. I may not be able yet to convince a lot of others that this is reasonable. I am afraid that the higher gas prices may do the convincing for me.

I guess this month also has me worried as many with the skill to ride a bike upright are unaware of the skills that make it safe to ride on the road. I often question if some of the cyclists I see on the road are a detriment to the cause of cycling as they put themselves unwittingly in danger. I made the effort to take a LAB course on safe bike riding when I began to commute more regularly. I think the change in the attitudes of drivers to the presence of bikes and the increase in cell phone distractions made this a wise decision. I recommend it to all riders and hope Drivers Ed will be required to include cycling as a subject for new drivers.

There are many bike month events this year. Find one that works for you and enjoy!

Have You Seen It?

It’s a rack of bikes ready to go! It’s located in one of the Greater Cincinnati bicycle shops. If you haven’t seen it you aren’t shopping the local bike shops enough! If you have seen it please let Mr. Cranky know at AskMrCranky@gmail.com.

Each month we will display another interesting photo from one of our local bike shops.

Cluster News:

Spokes In Motion:

I want to remind all SIM’s riders that the Banana Ride changes its starting time to 9AM in May. Even though we’ve had a lot of rain and cancellations, our rides have picked up in average riders per ride from 11 to 15. Hopefully the rain will stop and we can,once again, enjoy riding. If you haven’t been on your bike yet this year, it would be a good idea to take it to your local LBS and have it looked over.

The Rock

Northern Kentucky Cluster:

Due to the heavy rains and high waters many of our normal cycling routes are under some type of distress. This past week there were several roads in Northern Kentucky that were closed due to high water, mud slides and road surface issues. Keep this in mind if you are out riding the back roads of Northern Kentucky over the next couple of weeks because it will be some time before the roads are fully repaired.

Also, many of the country driveways are surfaced with loose gravel that tend to wash out onto the road after strong storms and heavy rain. This gravel can show up in the most unexpected areas and if you aren’t watching for it can create a substantial problem. Hopefully within a few weeks things will be back to near normal but until then be a little more vigilant while riding the back roads.

We have an additional Northern Kentucky ride starting up in May. Campbell County Spin and Socialize will take place on Thursday evenings at 6:30 leaving from Pendry Park off Route 8 in Melbourne, KY. See the calendar for more details.

If you are interested in leading a NKy Cluster ride please let me know so that I can get it on the calendar. The ride must be listed on the CCC calendar to make it an official CCC ride. Just posting a ride to the ride line does not legally make it a CCC ride thus you lose some of the benefits.

Being a ride leader is not complicated and it can be very rewarding. If you have any questions about leading a ride or if you want to have a ride posted on the calendar, have any suggestions or questions about the Northern Ky Cluster, please contact me at the following: http://www.cincinnaticycleclub.org/contact-us/

Ride safe, Tom Runyan

Understanding Cyclist/Motorist Tensions

Steve Magas

The death of cyclist Steve Barbour in 2009, the trial of Ed Miller, and the 2010 deaths of Columbus cyclists Jeff Stevenson & Trent Music, have created a palpable tension between motorists and cyclists in central Ohio. A war of words has erupted in the Columbus Dispatch.

Cyclists are rightfully angry that one of their most cautious and beloved brethren was killed and then blamed for causing his own death. Motorists argue that cyclists drive carelessly, should “pay for” using the roads though licenses and taxes and should not be allowed on certain roads in the first place.

Let’s step back –  take stock – and address some of these concerns.

Why Are Cyclists Allowed On The Roads?

The roads in Ohio, and throughout the U.S., are PUBLIC ways open for the public to exercise a constitutional right to travel. Bicycles were on the roads before cars existed.  Bicycle operators were included as legitimate, legal road users in the first traffic laws and rules of the road in all 50 states. Under Ohio law, bicycles may use EVERY non-freeway road and may not be banned from the roadway.

Motorists argue that bicycles go “slow” – as do big trucks, farm equipment and Amish buggies. On all but higher speed country roads, cyclists can actually travel at average speeds approaching motor vehicle speeds. Today’s impatient motorists must understand that “traffic” is a brightly colored cloth which includes the movement of vehicles of all types and speeds of vehicles.

Do Cyclists, or Motorists,  “Pay For” The Roads?

Many cyclists are licensed motor vehicle operator owners and pay the same “fees” as everyone else. However, public roads, like public buildings, public sidewalks and public schools, are open to everyone regardless of income. Roads are not a private club with a steep initiation fee and monthly dues. Big trucks and gas hogs,  paying higher “fees” and “taxes” and buying more gas, do NOT get bigger or more rights than smaller vehicles.

Operators driving VW Bugs or Mini Coopers or bicycles are not required to give up the road to Durangos and the Ford Subdivision [or whatever the new humongo vehicle is called these days]!

Paying for the MAINTENANCE of roads is even more important. A single 40-ton semi, which weighs 40 times more than a one-ton car, does 9,600 times more damage to the roads than the car. A bike rider does not compare – it does virtually NO damage with its skinny tires, light frame and rider. Yet, big trucks are not paying their “fair share” to maintain roads – according to a recent Dispatch editorial.

Why Aren’t Cyclists Licensed?

We demand that people be licensed for dangerous things. A cyclist is a risk to her / himself but not a realistic risk to others. A bicycle operator who goes “rogue” is not going to drive through a crowd of people and kill them. This is simply not a concern for the state to mandate licensure.

Licensed motorists kill at the rate of 30,000+ per year. NHTSA was recently touting the latest figures for 2010, which dropped to “the lowest rate in history.” 33,808 people were killed in 2009 and “only” 32,788 were killed in 2010.  As far as I have been able to determine unlicensed cyclists killed ZERO people last year.

Are Cyclists Driving Recklessly?

The short answer – no.

I am working on a report of EVERY cycling fatality in Ohio in 2010. Part of my research included getting reports from the Ohio Department of Public Safety which list every CRASH involving a bicycle from 2005-2010.

There were only TEN cycling deaths out of 1,809 crashes in Ohio in 2010. By comparison, 500,000 Ohio drivers were involved in over 300,000 crashes in 2009 leading to 935 deaths – that’s an average of 822 car crashes, and more than 2 motorist deaths, every day!

242 bike crashes occurred in Franklin County in 2010. Of those, 110 police reports listed the cyclist as the “unit in error.”  This roughly 50/50 breakdown on “fault” is consistent with national figures.

One Key Point needs to be inserted among the numbers here – one I firmly believe –> Cycling today in Ohio is SAFE.

Don’t let statistics prevent you from dusting off that bike and getting out there to enjoy Ohio’s roads and trails. According to bike guru Ken Kifer, cycling is six times safer than LIVING! However, being aware of how accidents happen can help you “see” ahead and plan ahead. Knowledge is power and, here, it is the power to ride safely and effectively!

“SEE” is actually an acronmym borrowed from motorcycle literature. It means “Scan/Search – Evaluate – Execute” – three steps new motorcyclists are taught to use constantly in Motorcycle Safety Foundation training classes. These steps should be used by cyclists on the roadway as well. “Search” ahead – 10 to 12 seconds ahead – and determine what potential risks are upcoming. Complex intersections, pedestrians, narrowing lanes, right turn lanes, freeway on-ramps, crosswalks, dog walkers, debris or potholes, parked cars. ”Evaluate” those risks and develop a plan to deal with them as you approach. ”Execute” that plan far enough ahead to keep the risk from blossoming into a full blown conundrum!

Rising Cyclist Tensions

I took a closer look at one Columbus street – High Street – where 25 bike crashes occurred in 2010.  High Street is a long, flat, urban thoroughfare that stretches from one end of Columbus to the other.  Downtown High Street is chock full of great shops, food establishments and cyclists.  Of the 25 bike crashes in 2010, the cyclist was faulted in only FIVE while sixteen listed the motorist as being at fault.

“Right of way” violations by motorists on High Street were the overwhelming proximate cause of these crashes – i.e., the cyclist possessed the “right of way” under the law and that right of way was not respected by the motor vehicle operator either through an improper turn, passing maneuver, “ACDA” violation or other invasion of the cyclist’s right of way.

In many of these High Street crashes the motorist simply failed to “see” the cyclist. As I have written many times, this is not an excuse but an admission of liability. Judging by the actions of the downtown traffic cops in Columbus, motorists are being ticketed for these right of way violations.

Hit and run drivers continue to plague cyclists – as well as pedestrians, motorcyclists and other vehicle operators. Hit/run drivers kill four people in the U.S. every day.

In Columbus, Jeff Stevenson and Trent Music were both killed by hit and run drivers.  Maybe you saw a white “ghost bike” marking the scene of Jeff’s death on Sawmill Road last summer?  Hit & run deaths take a huge emotional toll on the cycling community – similar to how an unsolved murder rattles the neighborhood where it occurs.

Steve Donaldson is an Arizona cyclist who started “CARD” – Cyclists Against Reckless Driving – with a mission of promoting and encouraging safe cycling, reducing crashes, and educating and informing the masses. Steve started CARD’s Facebook page a year or so ago for the purpose of publicizing bicycle crash cases he finds during daily web searches.  CARD’s page has amassed more than 10,000 followers who follow the tragedies around the country. While at times morbid, this page serves as a very in-your-face reminder to cyclists that stuff happens on the roads every day and hit/run incidents seem to be an epidemic these days.

How do we move forward?

The key is education – understanding the law as well as where the emotion on each “side” of this issue comes from.

Motorists need to understand and accept that:

• Ohio cyclists may ride on virtually EVERY non-freeway chunk of asphalt in Ohio – even the ones viewed by some as “dangerous.”
• A cyclist riding lawfully on the roadway has EXACTLY THE SAME “right of way” as any other driver. Bigger vehicles don’t get bigger rights!
• “Failure to Yield” to a cyclist’s right of way is one of the primary causes of car/bike crashes in Columbus, in Franklin County, in Ohio and in the U.S.
• Ohio law allows cyclists to ride two abreast.  One rider may use the FULL LANE where needed for safe riding.
• Passing at safe distance is critical.

Cyclists need to understand and accept that:

• With the right to use the roads comes responsibility.  Cyclists must follow the rules of the road just as any vehicle operator must.
• Traffic rules must be followed.  Stopping at red lights and stop signs is mandatory and an effective way to demonstrate that you ARE “traffic” and not simply playing in traffic.
• Riding visibly, and predictably, is better for riders AND motorists.

Millions of Ohio bicycle riders will safely ride tens of millions of miles this year. With gas prices over $4.00/gallon and rising, we will see more utilitarian riders to go along with the commuters, recreational riders, mom & dads, fitness buffs, racers and kids on the roads.

To quote Sgt. Phil Esterhaus: “Let’s Be Careful Out There.”

Coach OB

I am sure you have heard the expression, “If you don’t like the weather in Ohio, wait 10 minutes, it will change!” While this is true, the changes are not for the better… Even the hard-core riders are way behind in their mileage for 2011 compared to 2010. As I am typing this, there is an awesome double rainbow outside. Of course it is raining, but maybe, just maybe, it is a good sign that better weather will be here soon. Or at least I am going to take it as a good sign.

TOSRV is just over a week away. To be bluntly honest, there is nothing you can do now to train for it. There are going to be a lot of sore legs and sore keesters in Portsmouth this year. But plenty of other centuries and great rides are coming along. What do you need to do to train for them? Let’s pretend you are fired up (get it??) to do the Chili Ride on May 21st.

To prepare for this, you start by gradually increasing your saddle-time approaching the event. One thing to point out here is you want to train for time rather than distance. Now, these two numbers could be the same. But it is always better to target your riding time over the distance.

Once you figure out how long it will take you to cover the Chili Ride route you pick, add 10-15% to that in your final preparation. In cycling it is always better to slightly over train. This makes sure you are fully prepared for those unforeseen issues that seem to arise.

I will be a total optimist and say that every weekend in May will be GREAT! During these fantastic Saturdays and Sundays you can ride both weekend days, but one day should have the purpose of training for the Chili Ride. Your weekday training is merely reinforcement. Monday through Friday, do what you can when you can. But the weekends are key. Obviously some will have more time in their legs than others, but let’s assume you have had limited saddle time in 2011 thus far and it is crunch time. Plan a schedule similar to the one below:

Weekend of April 30/May 1: 1 ride should be at 50-70% of your planned ride.

Weekend of May 7/8: 1 ride should be at 80-90% of your planned ride.

Weekend of May 14/15: 1 ride at 115% of your planned ride.

Days of May 16 to 20: REST. Do a few easy rides that week, but nothing far or hard.

An additional concern is your diet and hydration. As you increase your training time, it is imperative that you maintain a good diet. More riding time = more calories burned. Make good choices and stay well fueled. And I don’t mean over-eating!! Hydration comes into play too. As the weather gets warmer (remember, your body is not used to this yet) you will need to pay extra attention to your fluid levels.

When it is all said and done, the most important thing is to enjoy the time on your bike. Embrace the ride!

Eat Well!

Sleep Well!

Train SMART!!!!

Coach OB

Whatever your goals, Coach OB has the experience and resources to help you improve your cycling abilities. Coach OB Has custom plans designed specifically to fit your goals with a custom built training program to fit into your schedule.

www.coachob.com

coachob@coachob.com

Ask Mr. Cranky

In case you missed me last month, my friends call me Mister Cranky. Each month I will try to offer worthless advice to your insincere cycling questions. And if I don’t get enough questions I’ll just make up some to help you get over the fear of asking me something I cannot answer. So if you have a few worthless questions about riding a bike you have come to the worst possible place for advice.

Dear Mr. Cranky,

When I first started doing club rides 10 years ago you would see a lot of women riding. My question is “WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF THE WOMEN?”

Tired of riding mostly with dudes.

Don Juan

Dear Don,

Well you see this is an age old problem. In the early days men and women road bicycles together. Then someone decided to start racing bicycles and would not allow women to participate. This created a problem because men get lost far more often than women thus without women in the race promoters were never guaranteed to have a finisher. This is how Criterium and Track racing were born! To keep men from getting lost the racers were confined to race on a couple city blocks or on an oval track. It is quite difficult to get lost in either of these style races.

With the introduction of motor vehicles, bicycle racing on the open road was re-introduced. Rather than allow women to race with the men promoters decided to use vehicles to keep the men from getting lost. Turn on any pro cycling race today and I will guarantee that there are several motorcycles in front of the leading rider and a whole flock of team cars directly behind the last rider, all jockeying to make sure their riders don’t get lost. So what does this have to do with your question? See number 2 below.

From a personal perspective I believe the amount of females on the club rides have dropped over the years and I think there are several reasons. I remember one ride long ago in Loveland where I was struggling off the back trying to keep up. I wasn’t alone, along with me was a new woman to the group who was also struggling. At one point she turned to me and said something like “these guys are just trying to drop me because they don’t like women riding with them.” After that ride I trashed my pink Giro jersey and hoped that was the only reason I was being dropped. Bottom line is guys are always competitive and when it comes to riding it can get quite competitive.

I’ve been on rides where women have shown up that would have turned every guys head in the local pub. But on a bike ride she is just another rider, treated like a guy. Most would think that this is a reasonable assessment but every rider knows the fear of being the weakest link or slowest rider. From a woman’s perspective how secure would you feel pulling up to the ride start and realizing that the majority of the guys have thighs thicker than your waist and calfs bigger than your quads. Add to the fact that most guys can’t coordinate a shirt, tie and pants for a wedding but show up to bike rides dressed like racers sporting the latest local team’s jerseys or their favorite pro tour teams colors. It can be quite intimidating.

On occasion I have seen where a woman will actually overcome all those obstacles and still attempt to ride with the group. If she is strong enough to weather the competitive nature of group she is generally accepted and often will be found riding in the front of the pack. It is not that women cannot keep up with the men on group rides, it’s usually the intimidation of the ride and riders that holds women back from riding.

Last year I was overwhelmed by the number of women riding the Horsey Hundred. I found the same to be true with many of the charity rides as well. So I think the bottom line is that are still many women riding bikes these days but they haven’t been riding CCC rides as much and that is something we need to change by convincing them that the fun is worth overcoming the fear of riding with guys like us.

Top 10 reasons why there are fewer women riding the CCC group rides.

10. Men don’t wear deodorant when bike riding.

9. Women don’t find guys who wear worn out cycling shorts an entertaining sight.

8. Powerbars and Clif bars don’t come in dark chocolate.

7. DSW and Macy’s don’t carry Sidi cycling shoes.

6. Stylish cycling shorts, jersey, gloves and shoes now cost more than a formal ensemble from the shops on Rodeo Drive (that’s Roe Day Oh drive for the non Californians).

5. Men don’t understand the concept of a Kleenex or handkerchief while riding.

4. Women don’t want to listen to another guy claiming to be an ex-racer or cycling coach tell them how to ride a bike while they are dropping him on a simple climb.

3. Women are complex, men are simple. Women want multicourse meals, guys are satisfied with burgers and fries. Men like road cycling, women like tris.

2. Women are tired of giving directions when the men get lost on club rides – see above.

1. But the top reason that women don’t like riding with men these days is because they hate showing men how to shave their legs.

Keep Cranking,

Mr. Cranky

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Dear Mr. Cranky,

I just bought a new bike and was wondering what I should carry with me when I ride?

Cary Wright

Dear Cary,

I always recommend that a rider be self sufficient when it comes to simple maintenance even when riding on group rides. Below is a list of items that I recommend everyone carry with them, either in their back jersey pockets or a saddle bag. Note that if you put this much stuff in your jersey pockets you won’t have room for the important things like Snicker bars and P&J sandwiches so I personally recommend using a saddle bag. You should be able to find all these items at your local bike shop.

1. You should have a replacement inner tube and I generally do not recommend the ultra light tubes just to save a couple of grams. The weight savings of an ultra light tube are offset by the higher probability of a flat. When you get your new tube take it out of the box, unwrap it and sprinkle some baby talcum powder on it. The powder will help the tube seat itself once it is installed in the tire. With a light coating of powder on the tube carefully roll and compress the tube to fit your bag. In other words if you have a short saddle bag roll the tube in a circular shape. If your bag is long and skinny roll the tube in a more oval shape, this helps when you place the tube in the saddle bag. Once you have the tube rolled up wrap it in a layer of Saran wrap – that plastic wrap that clings to itself. This will keep the tube in the rolled up position while protecting it in your saddle bag.

2. You should carry a Co2 inflator and two cartridges or a hand pump. I personally like the Genuine Innovations models and you should be able to find this or similar versions at the local bike shops. Be sure to get the correct type and size Co2 cartridges based upon your inflator and tire size. I like this model because you can control the release of air into the tire and also stop the flow which is needed for proper tube replacements.

3. You should have a multi-tool kit that will cover most situations even if you don’t know how to use it. With any luck someone else on the club ride will be willing to help you fix your problem if you have the proper tools. Just to keep the money in the family I recommend using Crank Brothers tools. There are other brand tools out there but my brother promised me a kick back for promoting the Cranky brand.

4. You will need tire levers for removing a tire. There a many brands out there and they all do the same thing so don’t pay a lot for these. I carry two of these, they come in sets of three but I have never needed more than two of them so save some space by carrying just two of them.

5. One of things that most people do not carry and should are tire boots. These are thick tire patches to cover slits or rips in the tire. I have seen people use paper money placed inside the tire for this purpose but its not as reliable as these tire boots made by Park Tool.  I have used these to help get riders home and they work well.

6. A patch kit should be in everyone’s bag but it should be the last resort item. Only after all means of acquiring or borrowing a new tube is expended should a patch kit ever be used on the road. I never, let’s repeat that, never recommend patching a tire on a ride. For the cost of a tube I believe it is better to save everyone else’s time and your own safety by replacing the tube. A rear tire failure can be frightening but a front tire failure can be catastrophic. Keeping your tires and tubes in good working order is a must and the cost to do this is minimal when compared to one trip to the ER.

7. This last item is a personal choice food item. It is your lifesaver pickup food that is kept for that terrible day when you forgot to bring some food for the ride or have already eaten everything but need that little extra kick to get you home. I keep a Gu gel tucked away in my bag, sometimes I’ve used it to get me home and other times it’s just the security of knowing I have some food in case I cant find anything out on the road.

Lastly you should always carry some form of ID, a copy of your medical insurance card, phone numbers of someone to call in an emergency, a cell phone and money or a credit card.

Cranky riding,

Mr. Cranky

OKI Bike News

Don Burrell

One of the recommendations of the OKI Regional Bicycle Plan is to initiate timely communication about regional cycling issues among individuals with personal and professional interests in them. Computer technology has facilitated this through e-mail messaging. These “newsletters” will be issued on an as-needed basis as a “critical mass” of items accumulates. As the distribution list is often expanded, and issues are forwarded, previous editions are available to new readers on request. Also, Bike E-News can now be found on OKI’s web site at:http://www.oki.org/pdf/bike/info.pdf

Cyclebration – Saturday June 4, 2011

Multiple Bike Rides to Covington

This year, Cyclebration will be held in Covington Kentucky. The folks at Bike Covington wish to create a relationship with the Cincinnati Cycle Club. Currently, the CCC has no rides that start in Covington. The nearest rides that we sponsor are the Monday No Brainer that starts in Ludlow, and the Saturday Fusion Ride that starts in Newport. Perhaps working with Bike Covington, we can change that!

Cyclebration offers CCC members the opportunity to ride from their usually riding neighborhoods to a central location. We then have a bit of lunch together with folks that you may not get to ride with. Bike Covington will be providing us with information about the programs they hope to develop over the next few years.

Originally, we were hoping to have a BBQ at the vacant spot of the former Covington Landing. But Jeff Ruby’s Waterfront Restaurant is now temporarily moored there after it’s March breakaway cruise. Now, when we arrive in Covington, the businesses at the Roebling Point Entertainment District will be offering varying restaurant discounts. Once we arrive, flyers and menus will be available for you to choose. Personally, I’ve heard that the Sidebar Restaurant that is in the former location of Coco’s has a burger that rivals Terry’s Turf Club. So, you can guess where the President will be.

Keystone will offer cyclists a 15% discount on all menu items. Roebling Point Bookstore will be offering a 20% discount. Blinker’s Tavern will be offering a special $9.95 lunch buffet to all riders. Keystone is located at 313 Greenup St. and Roebling Point Bookstore is located at 306 Greenup St.

Sandy Meyer, co-owner of Blinker’s Tavern says, “We at Blinkers Tavern are excited and look forward to meeting the cyclists on June 4. We invite all cyclists to stop in and try us. Outdoor dining is available on both of our two patios. One of the aspects we have enjoyed at our new location is the ability for people to walk or ride by to visit. We hope you’ll stop by and try us.” Blinker’s Tavern is located at 318 Greenup St. in Covington, KY.

I do note that folks riding from the west side will be going across the Anderson Ferry, so plan accordingly to have some cash for the ride home!

Secure bicycle parking will be provided. Please see the CCC Ride Calendar on our website for start times and locations.

CCC Commuter Challenge: