Cycling Tips & Stories

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's "Along for the Ride" column recently featured bicycle commuter Jenna Cochran:

As you fill up the second time this week, consider Jenna Cochran, who's figured out how to avoid gas stations, lose weight and save a couple hundred dollars a month.

In early May, she became a bicycle commuter. . . .

In about three months, she's lost 39 pounds. She's gone from two diabetes medications to none. And rather than spend $250 filling up her Dodge Dakota every month, her monthly gasoline costs have dropped to less than $50. The money she's saved is going toward a new wardrobe.

"This is a total benefit for me," she said.

Related:

News: A civil dialogue between motorists and cyclists . . .

News: "allsevens" riders from St. Louis to ride 777 miles across 7 countries

permanent link to article: "Commuting by bike "a total benefit""
posted by Brent Hugh at 7/23/2008 10:29:00 PM |comment on this article

Rick Dunaway writes about his ride at the 102 Valley Bicycle Race and Tour in Hopkins, MO, last weekend:

It was nearly a last-minute decision I made to take my grandson, Austin Foran, with me to the event. I had flirted with the idea of riding the route before my daughter called me mid-week from Kansas City to ask if I would mind watching him for the weekend while she spent the weekend in Kentucky.

I didn’t mind a bit, especially since it had been way too long since we’d visited. Despite just a one-hour distance between us, my daughter’s busy schedule, combined with my own, makes those get-togethers painfully infrequent.

“But,” I added at the last minute before she hung up, “can he bring his bicycle?”

So Austin arrived on my doorstep on Friday afternoon with his single-speed, 20-inch mountain bike — not at all what a person would want to ride on a road tour. Still, I gave him the option, and he heartily agreed, despite not riding all spring due to a blown back tire. . . .

So Austin, my wife and I found ourselves at the starting line of the more leisurely tour portion of the event. I had decided that we would tackle only the shortest, eight-mile route, since my wife was still recovering from knee surgery and Austin’s bicycle was ... well, not the best tool for this job.

We reached the four-mile point, my 11-year-old guest furiously pedaling up the rolling hills and catching his breath down them, as I kept a steady, slow pace on my brand new road bike. Others around Austin’s age pedalled furiously, too, but one by one they were collected by the “sweep,” the truck that shuttled weary riders and their machines back to the starting point before their goal was completed.

But not Austin . . .

Read the rest of the story on the St. Joseph News-Press web site. More about the 102 Valley Bicycle Race here.

Related:

News: News coverage of Robert Osborn Memorial Ride

Tips&Stories: Icy swim doesn't stop Steve Tilford from winning KC area cyclocross races

permanent link to article: "Riding a tour on a 20-inch"
posted by Brent Hugh at 7/14/2008 12:09:00 PM |comment on this article

Kevin Williams of the Chicago Tribune has some good advice for safe on-street bicycling:

1. Establish best practices. Do everything in a safe, defensive manner. Obey traffic laws - period. Signal your intentions with hand gestures, and never be the first one into the intersection.

2. Never be where you aren’t expected. No zipping between cars, scooting by on the wrong side of turning traffic or riding on the sidewalk. Wrong way down a one-way street? You know better.

3. Be smooth and predictable. Ride as straight a line as possible, no weaving, no swerving.

4. Be a politician. Make contact, saying "good morning" or nodding.

His other points:

5. It isn’t you.

6. Never engage.

7. Manage your space.

8. Be vivid.

Read the article for full details.

Related:

News: Sharing the Road in the SEMissourian

News: "Sharing the road" in Press Journal

permanent link to article: "How to share the road (for bicyclists)"
posted by Brent Hugh at 7/09/2008 01:24:00 PM |comment on this article

This video shows riders in a mountain biking park built by two brothers in Utah--jumps, ramps, teeter-totter, and more:


More:



And don't miss the Extreme Paraplegic Downhill Racing (don't try that at home . . . ).

Related:

News: Mountain Biking: Kansas City Trail Maintenance Hotline

AdvocacyAlerts-Mountain biking advocacy, meetings, workshops, rides in Kansas City Dec. 5-8, 2002

permanent link to article: "Mountain biking park in Utah"
posted by Brent Hugh at 7/08/2008 08:04:00 AM |comment on this article

Ines Brun in San Diego:
permanent link to article: "A few bicycle tricks"
posted by Brent Hugh at 7/07/2008 05:11:00 PM |comment on this article

The St. Louis Post Dispatch has an article today about the Tri-Art Camp:

Asher Abrahms was taking a break from cycling one sticky morning, when a question was posed: Why not spend the summer in air conditioning, playing video games and watching TV? It'd be so much more ... comfy.

Asher, 11, of University City, crinkled his nose at the notion.

"That's what all America does," he said. "It's good to be fit." . . .

Health experts estimate that one in three American children today is overweight or, worse, obese. They're turning up in doctors' offices with heart disease, high blood pressure and Type II diabetes, ailments once seen in only adults.

Theresa Eppert, creator and coach of the Tri-Art Camp, is working to prevent Asher and other Junior Triathlon Team members at her Tri-Art Camp from becoming one of those statistics — now and in years to come.

At the camp, kids learn to sew, make pottery, fix their bicycles and, hardest of all, train for a triathlon.

Read the rest of the article here.

Related:

News: In obesity, Missouri ranks 21st among states

News: Poor urban design discourages walking & biking, encourages heavier citizens in KC

permanent link to article: "Kids train for triathlon"
posted by Brent Hugh at 7/07/2008 05:50:00 AM |comment on this article

Ideas for running at a bicycle rodeo from MoBikeFed Board Member Coy Hart, who has been involved with running many of these events:

1) Helmet fit - There is a difference in quality of helmets and if you are going to be fitting a number of new helmets, those with knob adjustable suspension systems are way easier & faster to fit than the cheaper ones which only use pads. Local organizations have been buying these from a company called 'Gear Up' for around $8 each (about $1 more than the very cheapest - which are a nightmare to fit & being in a hurry just makes it worse). Down here, they get two sizes ... small and large, and do NOT get helmets for infants or toddlers. All the small ones are blue and all the large ones are red. This is for our benefit to speed up the process. We usually put the kids name on the black raw styrofoam part of the helmet with a black Sharpie. This doesn't stand out too much, but still identifies who's helmet it is (helmets should NOT be shared) Also, if you have similar organizations in your area, if you can cover half the cost it seems to 'grease the wheels' of those very helpful organizations.

2) Bicycle check - see the ABC Quick Check on the League of American Bicyclists website. Try to engage parents and older kids in this bike check. At the same time as the bike check, you also need to check the fit of the bike to it's rider. Younger kids (9 & under) will be more comfortable if they can put their feet on the ground while sitting on the saddle. Kids 10 & up including adults should have their seat higher and NOT be able to put their feet on the ground while seated. They should start & stop straddling the bike with their feet on the ground and raise themselves to the seat on the first pedal stroke & standing on one pedal and catching themselves on the opposite foot when stopping. Encouragement to get kids to accept this higher seating position is that they will be faster and more comfortable with the higher seat position. Sometimes we try to get local bike shops to help with this step.

3) Ride a straight line - If one is available, just use a painted line on a parking lot. I've seen a lot of zig-zag courses under the pretext of teaching balance, but motorists need to be able to PREDICT where the bicyclist is going ... difficult, if not impossible, if the rider can't hold a line.

4) Scanning to the rear for traffic (both to the left and to the right). Kids can pick up this skill a lot faster than most adults. Start by having the kid straddle the bike standing still while you straddle the front wheel of their bike and hold their handle bars to have them practice. The natural tendency is that they accidently steer the bike in the same direction they are looking. We want them to be able to scan while holding a straight line. Using the same straight line as above, have the children look back and shout out how many hands you hold up on your command (none, one, or two). Do this a number of times with them looking over their left shoulder and after that is mastered then try it to the right. If they are going to attempt a left turn, stress to them that if there is threatening traffic behind them to just pull over to the right & stop, get off the bike and walk across at an intersection. Signaling is also important, but it's not near as important as having them scan for traffic and maintaining control of the bike.

5) Entering a (busier) street from a side street or driveway. They need to learn to stop at the curb line, look left, right, and left again. If their view is obstructed by brush or parked vehicles, they need to ease forward and stop again at the street side edge of the obstruction and do it again ... look left, right, and left again. Enter the street only when it is clear.

6) They need to know they should ride on the right side of the street and NEVER on the left side against traffic. This is mostly because at intersections motorists are NOT going to be looking for traffic coming at them on the extreme wrong side of the street. In almost every town, it is illegal (and NOT as safe) to ride on sidewalks, especially in business districts. The youngest kids in residential neighborhoods are probably going to ride on sidewalks anyway. I tell them to do what their folks tell them to do. Your event can also be an opportunity to try to get the parents to come and learn the proper way to ride in traffic. And, BTW, if you want the kids to adapt a certain behavior, then the adults ought to behave in the same way to serve as an example! If you want your kid to wear a helmet, then YOU wear a helmet on EVERY ride.

Other items and tips:

• Keep looking up and ahead for what is happening in front of you!
  
• Ride far enough away from parked cars to avoid a car door being opened into their path.
  
• You can teach Rock Dodge (avoiding objects in the road), Quick Turn (an emergency turn almost always done to the right ... most often to avoid a car turning either right or left in front of the bicyclist), Emergency Stop (lifting off the seat and throwing your weight back over the rear wheel (especially while modulating the front brakes if the bike has them) ... to stop fast and avoid being thrown over the handle bars. See this web page for details.
  
• I would never recommend kids riding bikes at night, but if the do they should be equipped with a white front head light and a red tail light as well as a full set of reflectors.

If there is a school still in session or an art class, maybe you could get them to make you some traffic signs (about 2 foot square) and fix up some fronts of cars, trucks, brush, etc. ... everything on cardboard (easy to store) and some of which can just be held by your assistants.

You might contact your nearest MoDOT office or some local agency that maintains traffic signs for some real signs as loaners. The kids need to learn what the signs mean and they should be taught to obey them.

Related:

Tips&Stories: Large trucks/buses pass bicyclists closer; cars pass helmeted bicyclists closer

Tips&Stories: How to share the road (for bicyclists)

permanent link to article: "How to run a bicycle rodeo"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/21/2008 08:19:00 AM |comment on this article

BicycleTutor.com has videos showing you how to fix just about anything on your bike, from replacing cable housings to fixing a stiff chain.

It also has a few about riding techniques, such as how to shift gears and how to adjust your seat height and angle.

Related:

News: Celebrate National Bike Month in St. Louis!

Tips&Stories: How to bicycle safely in traffic--

permanent link to article: "How to fix just about anything on your bicycle"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/18/2008 01:56:00 PM |comment on this article

"According to urban legend, polo lovers in Ireland who couldn't afford ponies hopped on two wheels instead and that innovation is still going strong right here in DC"--See the bicycle polo video or visit the Washington DC area bike polo page.

Related:

News: News coverage of Robert Osborn Memorial Ride

TourOfMO: 2008 Tour of Missouri News Links

permanent link to article: "Bicycle polo"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/13/2008 12:47:00 PM |comment on this article

KanBikeWalk, the statewide bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization in Kansas, is working to get organized and off the ground.

KanBikeWalk has a great board with representation from key organizations all across the state.

You can check out KanBikeWalk's new web site, join their email list, or join the organization--if you live in Kansas they need your support!

Related:

News: KCStar on Kansas City's first Missouri River crossing

News: Position open: Alternative Transportation program manager

permanent link to article: "KanBikeWalk gets off the ground"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/09/2008 05:59:00 PM |comment on this article

Today's Lee's Summit Journal has an article about Brian Mitchell, who is paralyzed from the waist down and a competitive handcycler:

Unable to maintain as active a lifestyle as he once did, Mitchell said he packed on some extra pounds after the accident. For that reason, and to help stay sane, Mitchell said he began looking into forms of physical activity he could do on a regular basis.

“I had to figure out what I wanted to do with my spare time,” he said. “It was like, ‘What does Brian want to do for fun?’ I didn’t really know.”

Whether he found it, or it found him, handcycling made its way into Mitchell’s life about eight years ago. He enjoyed it, he said, because he could ride his hand bike along with others on more traditional bicycles. . . .

So for the past four years, Mitchell and his handcycle have traveled the country competing in various events conducted by the U.S. Handcyling Federation. Already this year, he’s competed in a major event in Georgia. His third-place finish at the race is one of his favorite memories thus far, as he beat two of his top rivals. He’s also won races in Wichita, Kan. He left on Thursday to compete in an event in Denver, Colo., this weekend and will race again in Indianapolis, Ind., in August.

He’s also participated in various local events involving primarily bicyclers, such as the MS 150 and the Tour de Lakes.

“It’s a great physical and mental release,” Mitchell said of his new passion. “When I’m riding, I’m just out there thinking about riding — nothing else.”

Related:

News: "Sharing the road" in Press Journal

Tips&Stories: How to teach riding a bicycle

permanent link to article: "Handcycler finds fitness and passion"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/06/2008 11:01:00 AM |comment on this article

The Joplin Trails Coalition has launched a new web site. Perry Johnson, President of the Coalition, writes: "The Joplin Trails Coalition develops and maintains rails to trails in Joplin, MO - Frisco Greenway Trail - and the new Carthage, MO to Kansas state line trail - Ruby Jack Trail - which is 16 miles long. Construction has began and will continue till the entire 16 miles are ready."

The Carthage Maple Leaf Ride, planned for October 13th 2008, also has a new web site.

Related:

News: Joplin Trails Coalition web site

Tips&Stories: Lewis & Clark Water Trail complements Katy Trail

permanent link to article: "Joplin Trails Coalition launches new web site"
posted by Brent Hugh at 6/03/2008 05:29:00 PM |comment on this article

According to a Kathleen Nelson column today in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a team of four riders from the St. Louis area will participate in this years Race Across America:

Three decades ago, long before non-traditional sports became eXtreme, they were goofy or oddball to outsiders. Only participants viewed offbeat, grueling endurance tests as a badge of honor for the fittest of the fit.

Ironman triathlons came along first, with cycling's Race Across America, or RAAM, not far behind. The latter never garnered the romance or cachet of the former but it has survived, and the 27th annual RAAM will start for solo riders June 8 in Oceanside, Calif.

From four cyclists in 1982, the 3,000-mile race has grown to 250 competitors, some of them on two-, four- or eight-person teams. Among them will be a quartet from St. Louis departing from Oceanside with the other relay teams June 11.

The solo division of RAAM starts June 8th, 2008.

According to the route published RAAM's web site, riders will pass through Missouri with time stations at Collins, Camendenton, Jefferson City, Marthasville, and West Alton.

Related:

TourOfMO: USA Cycling announces '08 Pro Tour calendar including Tour of MO

TourOfMO: Women’s Pro-Am Criterium to Take Place in Kansas City Sep 8th during 2008 Tour of Missouri

permanent link to article: "St. Louis team to tackle Race Across America this month"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/31/2008 07:42:00 AM |comment on this article

In the first "car-free parkways" program we know about in the state of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, had the "Grand Closing" of Cliff Drive May 16th. The drive will be closed to motorized traffic every weekend during the summer, from 2PM Friday to 8AM the following Monday.

Photos of the Grand Closing ceremony are here.

The Grand Closing ceremony was covered in the Northeast News:

The wrought-iron gates at the east entrance to Cliff Drive squeaked and groaned a little as parks and neighborhood officials swung them closed, inaugurating the first car-free weekend on Cliff Drive.

But as they pushed the locks into the place, they knew, along with several dozen others gathered Friday afternoon, that by closing the gates they were opening up the state’s only urban scenic by-way to a whole new era of recreation.

“Closing down a street is a beautiful start and says we want people out here biking, walking and jogging every weekend this summer,” North Division Parks Manager Mike Herron said during the dedication ceremony.

The presentation on Friday also gave city officials a chance to tout Mayor Mark Funkhouser’s new plan to designate Kansas City as a top destination for cyclists. The plan was unveiled earlier this week and will ultimately lead to a new task force that will look for ways to make the city and its urban core more accessible to cyclists. The Cliff Drive car-free program is the first step in that plan, officials said.

“This shows the kind of commitment this community and this city has to creating bicycle friendly alternatives for our citizens,” said Deb Ridgway, bicycle and pedestrian coordinator in the city’s Public Works Department.

As officials closed the gates, cyclists, walkers and casual outdoor enthusiasts walked into the park marking the closing of one era in the century old park and the opening of another.

Car Free Parkways are a great way to get more people out walking, bicycling, roller blading and generally enjoying a healthy lifestyle.

One of MoBikeFed's goals in its Vision of Active Transportation in Missouri is to develop more car-free parkways programs in cities throughout Missouri.

This video of the car-free Sundays program in Bogota, Columbia, shows the potential this program has for transforming a city.

Related:

News: Local planning organizations make bike/ped-friendly streets better than state DOTs

News: Recent bicycling incidents in Kansas City area lead to concern

permanent link to article: "Kansas City's Cliff Drive car-free weekends launched"
posted by Brent Hugh at 5/24/2008 01:14:00 PM |comment on this article