ACTIVITY NEWS: May
2006
1. President's Column
2. In Brief
3. Upcoming Events
4. 25th Annual Watermelon Ride
5. New Leaders
6. Incident Survey
7. Biking 101: Top Ten Tips for New Members
8. All Club Memorial Ride and New Jersey Pickup
9. New Riders Enjoy the Elm Creek Ease Into Biking Series
10. Bike To Work Day is May 19th
11. The Non-Riding Spouse
12. Bicycle Culture by Total Immersion Therapy
13. Paul Bunyan Double Century Returns on July 1
14. Web Resources Update
15. Mileage Leaders and Stats
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President’s Column
I'd like to extend hearty congratulations and thanks to all who rode in
or volunteered for the Minnesota IRONMAN Bike Ride, which celebrated its
40th anniversary this year. Some of you are receiving this issue of the Twin
Cities Bicycling Club ACTIVITY NEWS because you were registered for IRONMAN.
I would like to warmly welcome you to continue to expand your bicycling horizons
by coming out and riding with our club.
As the largest bike club in Minnesota, we offer rides that suit every interest,
starting in many different locations, with friendly fellow riders. We’re
lucky to be in one of the best bicycling areas in the country and our trained
ride leaders work hard to ensure that our rides take us to interesting places,
usually on quiet roads and sometimes on trails. Some TCBC rides offer considerable
challenges such as hills or longer distances, while others are entirely social
with a focus on relaxed riding and eating. TCBC also offers several multi-day
rides in rural locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin (and sometimes California
and Texas!), which allow us to explore new territory. All told, we ran over
1,000 rides in 2005 and we expect to run even more in 2006.
There are great benefits if you join TCBC, including:
* Lots of great rides for a full range of abilities and interests
* Trained ride leaders, who provide route maps and/or cue sheets
* 10 issues of our terrific newsletter, which lists our ride schedule
* Liability and medical coverage during TCBC rides
* Tracking and recognition of club ride mileage
* Discounts at many area bike shops
* Free classified listings in newsletter and on website
* Fantastic TCBC website
* And did I mention lots of great rides in great locations?
We can even help you train for next year's IRONMAN with our unique series
of progressively challenging rides on each weekend preceding the big event,
called Paper Man, Straw Man, Aluminum Man, and Tin Man. So we hope to see
you on one of our rides this season.
Charles Breer
TCBC President
IN BRIEF
NEXT ACTIVITY NEWS DEADLINE will be Monday, May 8.
NOTE TO MEMBERS: Those of you who pre-registered to ride the IRONMAN by
mid-April will probably be receiving two copies of this issue, because it’s
being sent to all pre-registrants, in addition to TCBC members.
REMINDER TO TRIPPERS: Our schedule lists the times a bike ride is actually
supposed to be pulling out of the parking lot, so you should arrive at least
15-30 minutes before that, with enough time to get yourself and your bike
ready, and probably have some fellowship too.
SCHEDULE NOTES: Rides listed beyond the current month are subject to change.
Many will be added in each month to come. For example, for June rides, you
should check the June newsletter, or check the web page at www.biketcbc.org.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION: Please be considerate of your family and fellow bikers
and carry an ID, insurance card, and emergency contact numbers on your person
when participating in any bike ride. It’s the responsible thing to
do!
TERRIFIC TURNOUT of around 100 leaders, current and new, at the Leader Forum
on April 8. Thanks to those who organized and conducted it. Let’s have
another safe and wonderful year!
Over 250 new TCBC jersey orders were received, including many at the Leader
Forum. We’ll see them being worn starting on May 27……
CONGRATS to Sharon Boesch, who was married recently.
CREDIT FOR THE WATERMELON RIDE GRAPHICS goes to Pete May and Monkey in a
Dryer Custom T-shirts and Apparel Screen Printing. Thanks very much for your
work.
MOVING: After 45 years in St. Louis Park, Hoigaards’s store will be
relocating to the Miracle Mile Shopping Center on Excelsior Blvd. The new
store is expected to open this fall, in time for ski season.
ANOKA COUNTY is planning for a new free biking/hiking trails map of the
county to be released in May.
NO TRAIL NEWS to be found this issue! Your editor will be out there looking
for some, as usual.
UPCOMING EVENTS
JUNE 23-25: Paul Bunyan and Heartland Trail Weekend. Join in on a three-day
trek of C(+) trail rides and after-ride fun activities. Trails are railroad
grade with 10-foot blacktopped surface and generally level. Routes pass through
northern hardwood forests and stands of jack, red, and white pine. On Friday
we bike 34 miles from Pine River to Hackensack and return. We set up our
accommodations for the weekend in Walker and get acquainted at a local eatery.
Saturday is 43 miles from Walker to Cass Lake and back. Fun options include
dining at Brauhaus German Restaurant and an evening out at the Woodtick Musical
Comedy Revue at Akeley. Sunday we wind up with a 42-mile trek from Walker
to Dorset, with a feature lunch stop at the famous Mexican restaurant in
Dorset. You will book your own accommodations (motel, camping, etc.). Come
for one, two, or preferably all three days. Early bookings are suggested.
Ambassadors: Diana and Duane Kasper, 952-448-1608, or kasperddt@chaska.net
for motel, camping, theater and evening information. Co-Leaders: Herb Schultz,
952-334-5382; Clareyse Nelson, 612-623-3009. Cell at ride: 952-334-5382.
JULY 7-9: Bayfield Biking Bash. Join us for a three-day set of B/C rides
on paved roads around the gorgeous Bayfield, WI, area. Come for one, two,
or all three. On Friday we’ll bike a particularly scenic, though short,
16-mile loop from nearby Red Cliff with views of Lake Superior, and a stop
at the Apostle Island National Lakeshore Museum (rated at moderate difficulty).
Saturday is a special treat; we’ll ferry our bikes over to Madeline
Island and ride about 25 miles of trails and paved roads on this historic
island (rated easy to moderate). Sunday we’ll head back toward the
Twin Cities, stopping at Cable, WI, for an easy 28-mile ride, the Cable-Chequamegon-Nicolet
National Forest Loop (easy to moderate) and then head home. There’s
lots to do and see in this popular resort area, including the famous Lake
Superior Big Top Chautauqua tent shows, Bayfield Maritime Museum, and much
more. Plenty of hotels, motels, resorts, and campgrounds are available, but
make your reservations early. Bayfield is a very popular summer destination
for vacationers and boaters. Details in the June issue. Don Picard, 952-894-3431;
Herb Schultz, 951-941-4381; John Hoffman, 715-834-7897. Mobile phone at ride:
612-396-3884.
JULY 21-23: Elroy Was Here. A trio of B/C rides on former railroad beds
centered on Elroy, WI. Friday’s ride will be on “the 400” trail,
about 40 miles, crushed limestone with one tunnel. Saturday’s ride
will be the “granddaddy”, the Sparta-Elroy Trail, also crushed
limestone, with three tunnels. We’ll do the 30-mile trail one-way,
with a shuttle. Sunday we’ll finish up with the Omaha Trail, also out
of Elroy, about 25 miles, paved. Great trails with great scenery. Don Picard,
952-894-3431; Herb Schultz, 951-941-4381; John Hoffman, 715-834-7897. Mobile
phone at ride: 612-396-3884.
AUGUST 4-6: Central Lakes Trail (C rides). If you haven’t experienced
this trail, you will not want to let the opportunity pass. And if you were
on this ride last year, you understand the need for a return visit. The trail
runs through a scenic blend of lakes, prairie potholes, and open farmland
and wooded lots, with small towns at 7-10 mile intervals. The 14-foot trail
is paved and is fairly new and smooth. We will divide the 3-day ride into
nearly equal round-trip segments and accomplish a century plus in the three
days. Day 1 is Osakis to Garfield and return; Day 2 is Garfield to Ashby
and return; Day 3 is Ashby to Fergus Falls and return. Optional post-ride
activities centered in and around Alexandria. You will make your own lodging
accommodations. EARLY IS BETTER. Alexandria Lakes Chamber of Commerce at
1-800-235-9441 is a good contact. Come for 1, 2, or all 3 days. Co-leaders:
Clareyse Nelson, 612-623-3009; Herb Schultz, 952-941-4381. Cell phone at
ride: 952-334-5382.
AUGUST 18-20: Summer Wobegon Days. Do your thing on the Lake Wobegon Trail,
including the St. Joseph and Holdingford spurs, over three sultry summer
days/nights. This C+ ride features paved 10-foot paved trails and offers
some extra mile options. The trail passes through towns that could have been
the model for the famed Lake Wobegon. The trail is mostly flat and has both
open and wooded stretches. Come for 1, 2, or 3 days. Each day will feature
activities en route and/or after ride. You will book your own lodging accommodations
in or around Albany, MN. Country Inn and Suites is an option at 320-845-2145.
Don Picard, 952-894-3431; Herb Schultz, 952-941-4381, or herbschl@juno.com.
Cell phone at ride: 952-334-8382.
SEPT 15-17: Root River Valley Trail Weekend. Welcome C riders and friends
to our three days in Lanesboro. We hope you can join us again on this beautiful
trip in SE Minn. We will be riding for three days, but come whenever you
can. Some of us will be going to the plays at the Commonweal Theater for
two different plays on Fri and Sat nights. Further info about the specific
plays will be available. Call Clareyse Nelson to reserve your tickets at
612-623-3009. This is a popular biking area in the fall so be sure to reserve
a place to stay soon. The Lanesboro Chamber number is 1-888-223-4258. Some
of us also camp in Lanesboro. Call us with questions and to let us know you
will be coming. Clareyse Nelson, 612-623-3009, or Herb Schultz, 952-941-4381.
25th ANNUAL WATERMELON RIDE
by Mary C. Miller
Family time, building family memories, or a family tradition are all opportunities
provided by this warm and fun 4th of July activity.
For me, it brings back memories of my first bike. Having grown up in the
country, most things I enjoyed doing as a child involved my bike, whether
it was holding my dismantled cane pole across the handlebars and peddling
over to the Cobb River to fish, or we were sneaking off for a swim at the
gravel pit down the road. Some of my best memories were biking down to the
slough and laying on a knoll there looking up at the clouds skating across
the sky, losing myself in the blue of the sky, or just watching the birds
in the little apple tree above me.
So, TCBC welcomes you. In fact, we encourage you to show up with the whole
family to build more great memories for your family. You will also be teaching
your children how to build a lifestyle that offers exercise, adventure, beauty,
camaraderie, and joy. Now is a great time to fit everyone out with bikes
and helmets or reserve a rental burley for that day with a local shop for
the younger members.
The ride starts at Deluxe Corporation, 5689 Victoria Avenue, just south of
694 in Shoreview. Registration/check-in kicks off at 7:30 AM for the 50-mile
route; and is between 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM for all routes. There are three
routes of varying distance at 15, 25, and 50 miles; and you will see some
of the best scenery that part of town has to offer. The 15-mile route is
the one ideal for young families with elementary-aged children or younger.
Families with teen or adult children may want to tackle the longer routes.
Of course, you singles are all welcome, on any route you can handle.
Some of the benefits of the greatest 4th of July biking event in the Twin
Cities follow:
* Special commemorative t-shirt sized for children, women and men available.
* Bike rodeo to hone your ability riding in tight places, figures, and within
parallel lines.
* Route maps.
* Ride marshalls on all routes and mechanical support to the 15- and 25-mile
routes.
* Rest stops with great food and smiling faces.
* Watermelon and hot dogs with picnic lunch (and vegetarian option) after
the ride at Snail Lake Regional Park in Shoreview.
To register, pick up a brochure at a local bike shop, or go online at www.bikeTCBC.org
for electronic submission, or download the form and mail it with your check
by June 2, 2006, the early deadline for a discount. You may register at the
ride as well and you need not be a TCBC member, although we would love to
have you join.
Volunteers are needed. TCBC members who volunteer for 3 hours have the fee
waived. Please sign up at the web site www.bikeTCBC.org. It will speed registration
the day of the ride to fill out the separate waiver form for each participant
in advance.
NEW TCBC LEADERS FOR 2006
 This year, for the second time in the 20 years of our leader training program,
we have a baker’s dozen of fine new leaders. Please join me in congratulating
and welcoming our new ride leaders. Without them, our vibrant biking program
would not continue to thrive. Adding these 13 gives a grand total of 337
leaders trained since 1986!
TCBC is unique among bike clubs in our nation in several ways, but I think
the most significant is the number of members willing to volunteer as ride
leaders. Last year we had a total of 119 active leaders lead a phenomenal
1112 rides! All indications seem to point in the direction of exceeding those
numbers in 2006.
So please keep all of this in mind when you participate in a TCBC ride and
give our leaders the cooperation and respect they deserve. One significant
way you can do that is to give them your undivided attention during the ride
leader briefing. Also, a THANK YOU now and then will help them feel good
about the time and effort they put into providing us with such a superb biking
program.
Front row: Pete Hawkins (instructor), Jeff Ramberg, Randall Huskamp, Catherine
Roach, George Hagemann, Debra Matchinsky, Patrick Exley. Back row: Bruce
Berry, Pete Hall, Robert Brown, Jim Elwell, Neil Millam, Reid Priedhorsky,
Markus Bohler.
- by Pete Hawkins
TCBC INCIDENT SURVEY
Have you ever wondered what the primary causes of bicycling accidents are?
We (the TCBC Board) have too. With safety being a top priority of TCBC, the
more we know about accidents, the better we can help to prevent them. Unfortunately,
there isn’t a lot of “hard data” for us to go by. Sure,
the official data and reports available from police departments and government
offices are a start. But those reports are limited to the few accidents in
which the police are actually involved. Most biking accidents are not officially
reported; especially the ones in which no automobile is involved and no one
is seriously injured.
So, TCBC is embarking on a new project. This year we will be piloting an “Incident
Survey” in order to begin tracking the various ways in which bicycle
riders get into accidents. We’re interested in hearing about ALL accidents,
not just the ones in which the police get involved, or someone gets seriously
injured. If you ever find yourself on the ground rather than on your bike
seat while riding and you didn’t plan it that way, we want to hear
about it. We think that by keeping track of accidents, we may be able to
identify areas for improved ride leader training, ride safety briefings,
and other measures the club can take to continue to offer safe and enjoyable
riding experiences for our members and community.
There are two ways you can help in this process. One, if you have been involved
in an accident while riding your bicycle in the past 3 years, you can fill
out the survey and tell us about your experience. And two, if you experience
an accident this year (and let’s hope that doesn’t happen), you
can fill out a survey and tell us what happened. We’d like to hear
about accidents that happen on TCBC rides especially, but it also helps to
hear about accidents that TCBC members have when not on our rides. We’d
like to hear about ALL accidents TCBC members experience while riding (as
few as they may be given the amount of riding we do!).
If you want to tell us about your accident, you can get a copy of the survey
by contacting Kelly Hazel (612-588-3653 or kellyhazel at msn dot com) or
by going to the TCBC website (www.biketcbc.org/docs) and under “Forms” clicking
on “Incident Survey.” Please be sure you have the incident survey
(the first page is a letter from the board), not the accident insurance form.
When you have finished filling out the survey, you can return it by e-mail
to Kelly or by regular mail to: TCBC, Attention: Incident Survey at P.O.
Box 131086, Roseville, MN 55113. All the information you provide will be
kept confidential. This survey is completely voluntary. Your help is greatly
appreciated.
BIKING 101: The Top Ten Tips For New Members
We often hear from new members after their first ride: “I showed
up and everybody knew each other and I felt like an outsider” or “I
got dropped and rode by myself the whole way – why bother going to
a club ride?” These tips will help you to get to know people faster
and make those first few rides with the club be more enjoyable.
#10 Be prepared. If your bike has been hanging in the garage all winter,
take time to put lube on the chain and to inspect the tires for cuts or wear.
Take your bike for a “shakedown” ride on your own before going
to a club ride, so you can be sure that it’s shifting and braking properly
and there aren’t any mysterious squeaks or creaks.
#9 When you’re signing in at the ride, let the ride leader know that
you’re a new member. Many ride leaders try to take time to introduce
new members to the group during their ride briefing.
#8 Try one of the many rides where the group goes out to dinner after the
ride. It’s a lot easier to get acquainted around a dinner table, than
out on the road with the wind blowing in your ears.
#7 Practice your riding skills. Learn how to ride a steady line without
wavering. Visit the club web site to read tips on group riding etiquette.
If other riders sense that you are unsafe or unpredictable, they will probably
give you a wide berth.
#6 Volunteer for a club event – it’s a great way to get to know
other members. There’s lots of volunteer opportunities including the
Watermelon Ride, Weekend on Wheels, and other events. Volunteer opportunities
will be in the newsletter and are often sent out to the club e-group.
#5 Be observant on rides and try to figure out which other riders are of
similar pace to you. Position yourself close to those people at the ride
start so that you don’t start out with a group who is too fast or too
slow for you. During the initial miles of a ride, there can be a lot of ‘sorting’ of
abilities and it will be easier for you if you don’t have to try to
jockey for position.
#4 Try not to get caught up in chasing the “fast group” if you
can’t hang with them for the long haul. You might have the perception
that you can keep up, only to realize that you can’t maintain that
pace for a two-hour ride. In the meantime, the fast group has pulled you
way ahead of the people who are closer to your pace. If you do get dropped,
remember that you’ll have to slow down a lot if you want other people
who you can ride with, to catch up with you.
#3 If you find that you’re always ending up on rides where everyone’s
a lot stronger, try a ride one level down. If you’ve been going to
A/B rides, try a B ride or a B/C ride.
#2 Pay attention as the group is moving away from corners or stop signs.
Experienced riders will often accelerate out of a corner in order to quickly
get back up to cruising speed. If you’re not prepared for that, you
might get left behind.
#1 If you do end up riding on your own, keep a good attitude. Remember that
you’re getting a good workout, and learning some new roads that you
haven’t been on before. Smell the lilacs, listen to the birds, and
appreciate the fact that you’re fit and healthy enough to do a long
bike ride.
HAVE FUN, and a big welcome to all of our new members!
- Liz Sands
ALL-CLUB MEMORIAL RIDE AND NEW JERSEY PICKUP
For Memorial Day Weekend, TCBC will again be holding an All-Club Memorial
Ride to celebrate and remember TCBC members who have passed away over the
years, such as Paul Grisim, Gail Elliott, and Bahram Daneshvar. We will reminisce
about them briefly as a group before the ride. The ride itself, named after
Paul in 1994, will not change.
This ride will be Saturday, May 27. We will use the three basic routes we
have been using for a few years. We think of this event as a great chance
to socialize and start the summer together, and we hope you can join us.
Last year’s event had around 120 people attending.
Also, the new TCBC jerseys will be distributed before the ride to those
present who did not pay $5 to have the jerseys mailed to them. If you cannot
attend this ride and did not pay for the mailing, please call Tim Brinkmann
at 612-310-4912 for delivery at another ride, or e-mail him at timothybrinkmann@yahoo.com.
In the event you are unable to make arrangements for jersey delivery before
the end of June, you can pick up your jersey at the Watermelon Ride on July
4th in Shoreview.
We’ll be starting again at Snail Lake Park in Shoreview, the big pavilion
at the top of the hill, NOT the parking lot by the beach. It has bathrooms,
tables, and a big play area. Other recreation, such as volleyball and frisbee,
may be possible. The location is on Snail Lake Blvd in Shoreview. From 694,
go north on Victoria and east on Snail Lake Blvd.
Routes will again be northeast into Washington County. Mileages on the overlapping
routes will be about 29, 48, and 63 miles, with the longest route running
through Marine on St. Croix. Route leaders will include Doug Nelson, 651-639-9917,
tcbcdoug@mtn.org, and Pete Hawkins, 763-786-3792, pmh@peoplepc.com.
We will not be reserving the picnic shelter, but riders are welcome to bring
their own snacks or lunches to enjoy after the ride. There is a pop machine
and rest rooms. There’s no need to make reservations for the ride.
Please arrive in time to form into three groups for the leader briefing,
which will start around 9:30 AM. Groups will start a few minutes apart. We
hope to see many of you there!
- Doug Nelson
Newer Riders Enjoy The Elm Creek "Ease Into Biking" Series!
Fairly new to biking? Want to EASE back into riding after a long winter?
Welcome to a set of six C rides aimed at newer riders or those who want friendly
rides at a relaxed pace.
We will be exploring the mostly-flat North Hennepin Trail Corridor between
the Coon Rapids Dam and the more rolling Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple
Grove. Over 6 Saturday morning rides (May 13 and 20, and June 3, 10, 17,
24), we’ll gradually increase our distance from 15 to 20 to 25 miles
while having fun! (On May 27, the Saturday this ride doesn’t meet,
our All-Club Memorial Day Ride will include a C-level route.) Come to one
ride, several, or all. You may stay afterwards for lunch at nearby 5-8 Grill.
Arrive about 9 AM so you have time to get your bike and yourself ready,
especially if you want to check your tire pressure, adjust a seat, or review
shifting. We will have a pre-ride gathering at about 9:20. Bring at least
one filled water bottle, a spare tube, and any questions.
DIRECTIONS: from Hwy 694, take Hwy 252 north 3.4 miles to the new Hwy 610.
Get in LEFT lane. Turn left (west) on Hwy 610 for 3 miles. Turn right (north)
on Zane Ave. N./CR 14 for 1.6 miles. Zane becomes Douglas Drive. At 109th
Ave. N, turn right into Holiday lot. (If coming from the west, from Hwy 694
go north on Hwy 169 for 5.1 miles, turn right at the lights on 109th Ave.
N. for 1.6 miles; left into the Holiday at Douglas Drive).
Please call any of us before the ride if you have ANY questions about
biking, clothing, weather, or directions. We are looking forward to seeing
you there! Carolyn Caswell 763-315-3687, Deb Matchinsky 612-374-2158, or
Neil Millam 763-862-3780.
BIKE TO WORK DAY IS MAY 19
St. Paul and Minneapolis will both be having Bike To Work Day events on
Friday, May 19. Here is the info we have at press time.
The St. Paul gathering event will be downtown at Rice Park from 7:15 to
8 AM. There will be food, displays, clinics for bike-related info, speakers,
drawings, and giveaways. The overall emphasis is to celebrate and educate,
including showing how Transit fits in with biking (a bus with bike rack demo),
especially for those who haven’t biked before, and also promoting walking
as a means to get where people need to go! Contact Mary Jackson for more
information on the St. Paul event. mary.jackson@dot.state.mn.us,
There will be two TCBC rides from Menard's on Univesity starting at 7:15
AM and heading to Minneapolis and St. Paul. This ride is designed to highlight
the needs to accommodate bicycles on University in the plans for redevelopment. Lisa
Austin is leading one and Cindy Hanson is leading the other. See the
schedule for info.
Contact Russ Stark for more information on the Midway corridor/ traffic
management and future plans. rstark@universityunited.com
Contact Mary Kay Guider for more information on the Minneapolis Bike to
Work Day event. marykay.guider@metc.state.mn.us
The ABC Ramps in downtown Minneapolis will have a drawing to win 6 months
free locker rental in the C ramp with shower privileges. (showers located
in the A Ramp)
The Non-Riding Spouse
by Marina Lim
I zip out of the driveway to get to TCBC ride starts alone in my car. No
honey or sweetheart to bring along. No Thule rack with two matching bikes
on the roof and someone to get it down for me. It’s just me, some cleated
shoes, and a bike.
Is it bad to be a cycling enthusiast married to someone who doesn’t
ride? It would be great if I were part of a cycling pair. I could chirp, “We
ride together and go on bike trips together!” Instead, I am solo. I
used to wish he’d come along. But maybe if he did I wouldn’t
be my wild and crazy self. I wouldn’t focus on meeting new people or
ride at the speed I like. He says he rides. I clocked him once on flat terrain
at 8 miles an hour with a cadence of 56. I prefer going a little faster than
that.
When I first joined TCBC it was mythical that I am married. Where’s
your husband? Some club members would ask. “Working” or “out
of town” was the standard response. I understand his love for his work
just as he understands my obsession for bicycles. I like anything that says “bicycle” on
it. He is an internationally renowned scientist in the world of brain imaging
research. He flies over 100,000 miles a year and is a bona fide workaholic.
We keep relocating because of his career moves. I am waiting for the day
when we end up living in Novosibirsk or Marrakech.
Kelvin has a daily schedule of grant writing, meetings, and running research
projects at the University of Minnesota. Throw in 8 hours of sleep and it’s
a 24/7 schedule. Right now there are 40 projects going on at “The U”.
Why? Because he wants to make a contribution to mankind (you know, find a
cure). I can accept that.
My overweight neighbor suffers from fitness envy. She’d like it if
I gave up the exercise lifestyle and put on 50 pounds. She recommends that
I garden (a task I loathe), take cooking classes (zero interest) and wait
for my man to take a less demanding job to spend time with me. Is she kidding?
I need to live life to its fullest right now. I am not going to sit around
wishing and waiting for my husband to change.
To be the only bikie in the house is not too bad a deal. The bike budget
doesn’t have to be shared. The more the man works, the more rides I
can go on because he does not notice my absence. The kids like it because
they can tear up the house while I am gone, and they know I won’t be
back for hours. If I am really tired afterwards any damage goes unnoticed.
The family joins me on the Watermelon Ride. They get a kick out of the
15- mile trail ride. To them it is a whole new experience, once a year. This
year I’m going to ride a nice, heavy mountain bike on it so they won’t
be left behind.
As for my non-riding spouse, you may have spotted him at the last two TCBC
recognition dinners. He’s the one in the tuxedo who stays through the “dinner
is served” agenda of the evening (30 minutes), and then leaves. It’s
an agreement that we have.
BICYCLE CULTURE BY TOTAL IMMERSION THERAPY
If you see the difference between riding a bike and being part of the bicycle
culture, then mark your calendar for June 14 – 18. The Great River
Energy Bicycle Festival is coming back to town.
The Festival is a five-day celebration of Minnesota cycling that will visit
the downtowns of Saint Paul, Cannon Falls, Minneapolis, Mankato and Stillwater.
The highlight of the Festival is the Nature Valley Grand Prix, one of the
top three pro races in North America. Imagine packs of over 100 riders flying
around corners at 30 mph just inches apart and you’ll start to get
the picture. You’ll also find a carnival atmosphere with stunt riders,
live music, bike expos and Caribou Coffee Kids’ Fun Races.
Stop by the Saint Paul Riverfront Time Trial on Wednesday to watch some
of the world’s fastest riders race against the clock along the Mississippi
River, then jump on your bike and test yourself on the same course. Cannon
Falls, one of Minnesota’s favorite bicycle destinations, hosts a new
event on Thursday. On Friday evening, you’ll enjoy a free outdoor concert
during the Minneapolis Downtown Classic. Spend Saturday in Mankato during
a community festival. Then wrap up your week of cycling immersion with a
ride out to Stillwater to watch the most brutal bike race in the country.
One of the highlights of this year’s Festival will be the Caribou
Coffee Peloton Perks game at the Minneapolis Downtown Classic. Stop by the
Caribou Coffee booth to pick up your team card. If your team wins, so do
you!
And all of this is for a great cause. The Great River Energy Bicycle Festival
is run by volunteers from the cycling community and all of the profits are
donated to Children’s Hospitals and Clinic of Minnesota.
More info at www.MinnBikeFestival.com
PAUL BUNYAN D.C. RETURNS ON JULY 1
Now in its 40th year, the Paul Bunyan Double Century will be held on Saturday,
July 1, 2006. This is an AA ride of 202 miles from Anoka to Mille Lacs Lake,
around it, and back again. After a year's hiatus due to massive road reconstruction,
the "Old Man" is back!!! (Ah... that would be Mr. Bunyan, not me).
We’ll meet at Anoka Senior High School, 3939 7th Ave (County Road
7) from 4:30 to 4:45 AM. We’ll begin the ride en masse at about 5 AM.
The high school is about 1.5 miles north of Hwy. 10 on County 7. It’s
a left turn at 38th Ave, which is the second set of stoplights after the
exit from Hwy. 10. (Look for Casey’s General Store on the left at this
intersection.) The ride is FREE for members and only $2.00 for non-members
of TCBC. No pre-registration necessary. As always, finishers will be timed
to the minute (no sprints) and a certificate will be awarded to all who ride
the Bunyan, all 202 or the best you can do. The ride is mostly flat with
some rollers and has moderate traffic counts. It’s not all that difficult
IF the winds cooperate.
Nevertheless, it is a challenge and you must come prepared and trained for
the distance. It’s essential to eat smart (often), drink smart (before
you are thirsty), and ride smart (ride your pace, no need to go for the hour
record here). Food and water (convenience stores) are located on average
at 20-mile or so intervals and will be well marked on the ride map. I will
be driving the route, but NOT in an official sag capacity. I'll have water,
a limited tool selection, and a floor pump (maybe even some bananas!). Official
lunch stop will be the Spotlight Svoboda Café in Garrison at the 100-mile
point. Want some bragging rights? Come along for the fun on this long-standing
Minnesota tradition! As always, same old leader: Bob Hoffman, 651-430-2676.
Web Resources Update
We’ve been making some changes and trying some new things in the area
of web resources, so I thought it would be helpful to bring everyone up to
date on what we’re doing and why. Most of you are probably familiar
with our terrific website, which many of you now use to see the most current
ride schedule information. Phil Doi and his team of webmasters do a great
job keeping things up to date and easy to use.
Many TCBC members also make use of the TCBC Yahoo Group (sometimes called
the “e-group”), which has grown into a great way to quickly communicate
to the general club membership. However, as the number of people on the main
e-group has grown to over 600, it has become increasingly difficult to administer.
At the same time, there is an increasing need for members to communicate
with each other on a variety of bicycling-related topics, many of them not
related to TCBC events.
One of our e-group moderators, Bill Simon, has activated a new tool that
I would like to encourage all of us to start using. The new TCBC Message
Boards, hosted by msn Groups, presents discussion forums in a way that some
of you may already have seen elsewhere. A key benefit is that anyone who
joins may post anything they like as long as it’s related to bicycling.
There are 7 broad topic areas but within each, an unlimited number of subjects
may be posted and members are free to reply and read other replies whenever
they want. Unlike the Yahoo e-group, each posting is not immediately broadcast
to everyone’s inboxes, unless you request them to be.
Over time, we expect that TCBC will transition to the new Message Board
as the primary means of communication to the general membership, but in the
meantime, please give it a try. You don’t even need to join to check
out the messages, so go ahead and have a look.
I would also like to let you know about two other new web resources that
have recently been launched. One is the TCBC Ride Submission Form, which
is a very slick web form created by dedicated member Jan Hogle. We are now
asking all ride leaders to use this form when submitting rides for the next
month’s ride schedule because it immensely helps Ride Schedule Coordinator
Jim Pederson do his job efficiently with our ever-increasing number of rides.
The other new web tool is the TCBC Ride Alert system, which can be used to
get the word out when a ride is cancelled or delayed. While ride leaders
remain under their normal obligation to show up for their ride at the scheduled
time, leaders can post messages to the Ride Alert as an additional means
to let people know if rides are cancelled or delayed. Only ride leaders may
join this group, but anyone may view the messages. Please give this a try.
The websites for each of these new TCBC web resources are listed below:
TCBC Message Boards: http://groups.msn.com/twincitiesbicyclingclub/
TCBC Ride Submission Form: http://www.twinpinefarm.com/tcbc/
TCBC Ride Alert: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/TCBC-Cancel-Delay/
By Charles Breer
MILEAGE LEADERS AND STATS
Here are the updated numbers for our new activity year. You needed to do
plenty of winter biking to get listed here!
WOMEN
1803 KATIE ANGLE
810 ROHANDA VICTORSEN
729 JULIE DILLON
701 LISA DUST
683 BARBARA LANDIS
653 LISA ANDERSON
625 SUSAN EVAN
603 SUE BLUM
575 MARY MILLER
574 MARY NELSEN
546 KATE KOVAR
527 PATT SELEEN
496 KIM MYERS
468 IRENE ERICKSON
457 MARY DERKS
MEN
1994 TOMMY IRVIN
1635 MICHAEL MCNUTT
1579 JIM JOY
1228 MIKE NIZIELSKI
1071 RICHARD FRANCO
951 SCOTT LARSON
928 TIM MILLER
901 GARRY GLUBKA
855 MARCUS BOHLER
847 JOE HAYS
763 JOE HAMLIN
748 JIM VICTORSEN
740 CHARLES BREER
725 JEFF JOHNSON
684 STEVE BLOCK
TOTAL RIDES WOMEN: Angle 60, Dust 27, Dillon 20, Kovar and Miller 19.
TOTAL RIDES MEN: Irvin 77, Joy 60, McNutt 57, Nizielski 43, Franco 42.
TOTAL RIDES LED: Joy 28, McNutt 15, Blum and Evan 12, Angle 11.
BIGGEST RIDES IN MARCH:
Mar 26 52 Think Spring
Mar 19 37 Think Spring
Mar 11 32 Winter Warmer
Mar 12 32 Think Spring
Mar 18 30 St. Paddy’s Day Pedal
SINCE THE LAST LISTING: Newcomber Irvin continues to impress and increases
his lead. Two-time winner Angle has quite a lead for this early.
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