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News, commentary and humor about bicycling and other topics of the day

 

Time to catch up

I haven't had time to write lately. The big reason for that was that my mom was in the hospital last weekend. Last Friday, she went to her doctor in Jerseyville, Ill., because of pain in her leg. It turned out she had a blood clot and a cyst, and the doctor immediately admitted her into Jersey Community Hospital.

She was rather fortunate that she caught it early enough that it could be treated with blood thinners. I took her back home Monday morning, and she is doing well. She isn't able to take her dogs for a walk to the woods on the family farm near Brighton, Ill., nor is she able to ride her bike down the lane to pick up the mail and paper. But at least she's home.

I chose not to write about this earlier because of privacy concerns, but my mom and I appreciate the prayers from those who knew about her hospital stay.

Tour de Coal: Because of my mom's hospital stay, I was unable to go on the Tour de Coal last Saturday in Benld, Ill. Despite poor weather conditions, about 106 paid riders participated. Considering the weather and considering the ride is is a small town about 50 miles away from the St. Louis and the Springfield areas, that was a great turnout. Congratulations to Paul Skeans and his planning team for pulling off a great event well-supported by the community, and here's hoping they have much better weather next year.

Tour de Grape: The other reason I've been so busy is that I'm in the midst of designing the Web site for the Tour de Grape ride, which will be May 12-13 in Farmington/Ste. Genevieve, Mo. The ride is a major fund-raiser for the HavenHouse St. Louis, which provides lodging for the families of children receiving treatment in St. Louis-area hospitals. Tour de Grape promises to be a fun, yet challenging, ride for early for the season. The first day's ride in the Farmington area has plenty of climbing, while the second day's ride in Ste. Genevieve and Randolph County, Ill., will have lots of historic sites for people to see. I'll let you know when the site is up and running.

Doughnuts and running: Jim Klenn, co-producer/director of the documentary "Tour de Donut: Gluttons for Punishment" sent a Washington Post story to me about an acquaintance of his, Kerry Staats, who won the Doughnut Dash 5K race in southern Maryland. He ran the race in 24:39, but by eating six doughnuts, he cut his time to 18:39. A minute is taken off for each doughnut eaten. Only 18 runners took part in the run, so it has a long way to go to catch up with Tour de Donut.

I'm also working on the Web site for the documentary, and Jim and I hope to have it up and running in mid-October. People will be able to order the film online once the site is running.

Roger 0 comments 12:40 AM

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Tour de Coal

I spent most of today with Jim Marcacci marking the route for the Tour de Coal bicycle ride this Saturday in Benld, Ill. Jim and I go back about 15 years thanks to our involvement in the early days of the Tour de Donut, and Jim used to operate a bicycle shop in Benld that was a big supporter of the Tour de Donut.

As a native of Macoupin County, I got to see parts of the county that I haven't seen in years and some parts of the county that I had never seen before.

Generally speaking, the route is flat to gently rolling with a few decent climbs on the 30- and 63-mile options. As is often the case with Illinois rural roads, cyclists will have to watch out for patches of gravel, particularly on turns. The hills won't be anywhere close to the hills century riders will encounter on the Sandy Creek Century in Jefferson County, Mo., so people looking for a more relaxing ride should consider making the trip to Benld for the Tour de Coal.

For those of you who don't know where Benld (pronounced Ben-neld) is, it is roughly halfway between Springfield, Ill., and St. Louis at the intersections of Illinois Routes 4 and 138. Benld is perhaps best known for being the home of the Coleseum Ballroom, which once played hosts to musicians such as Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington and Ray Charles. Benld also is home to the only Russian Orthodox Church in Illinois that is under direct governance by the Patriarch of Moscow, and tours of the church will be available during Tour de Coal.

Jim and I had one interesting encounter while marking the routes in Dorchester, a small town about three miles west of Benld. A gentleman approached us wondering why we were painting arrows on the road. When we explained that it was for a bicycle ride, he man told us he thought bicycles shouldn't be on the road.

I -- for once -- kept my mouth shut. The man went on to explain that he didn't like how some groups of bicyclists would not get out of the way to let vehicles pass and that he didn't like how kids on their bikes would ignore stop signs. In a calm manner, Jim told the man that he agreed completely. That seemed to disarm him, and he wished us good luck with the event. Jim and I are certain he still doesn't like bicycles on the road, but at least Jim did his part for bicycle advocacy.

I also hope that my Route 66 friends, Ron Warnick and Emily Priddy, won't get too upset with me with painting arrows on the Mother Road in or near Benld, Mount Olive or Staunton. But I don't think they'll mind, given that means cyclists will get to experience old Route 66 alignments.

Online registration still is available through Thursday evening through Active.com, or you can sign up the day of the ride. Day-of-ride registration is from 7 to 9 a.m. and the ride costs $15 per individual or $40 for a household of three or more.

Roger 1 comments 11:18 PM

Madison County Trails get even better

On Tuesday, Madison County Transit announced that the latest edition of the MCT Trails system map is now available. I received a copy of the map and the press release today at home.

The map depicts more than 85 miles of bikeways that have been developed by MCT in Madison County, Ill., since the 1990s. The new map is larger and more detailed than previous editions and includes all of the newest trails and trail extensions.

MCT recently completed the Goshen Trail, which connects the Schoolhouse Trail at Illinois Route 162 with MCT Nature Trail in Edwardsville, and it will soon complete the extension of the Nickel Plate Trail from Glen Carbon to the MCT Nature Trail near Interstate 255 in Pontoon Beach. MCT also is extending the Glen Carbon Heritage Trail, which will take cyclists from Glen Carbon to Marine.

The additional features of the maps include:

• Individual trail descriptions that include lengths, surface type, scenery and nearby attractions.
• Detailed descriptions of the MCT Trails loops with distances and connections.
• Identification and addresses of designated MCT Trails Park & Bike lots throughout the region.
• Locations of public restrooms, water fountains, parks and roads adjacent to the trails.
• Information on how to use the bike racks on the front of all MCT fixed-route buses.

The most intriguing part of the map are the loops. There are seven loops ranging from the 10-mile Violet Loop (the Goshen, Heritage and Nickel Plate trails) to the 31.1-mile Red Loop (Nature, Nickel Plate, Heritage, Goshen and Schoolhouse trails).

The new maps will be available on MCT buses, at regional bike shops and chambers of commerce and MCT transfer stations. You also can request a map online at the MCT Trails Web site.

Happy trails!

Roger 0 comments 10:46 PM

Riverfront Times story on Michael Katz

St. Louis' alternative weekly, The Riverfront Times, included a story this week about the cycling death of Michael Katz last year and some other incidents involving cyclists in the St. Louis region.

The story really doesn't tread new ground for those of you who regularly read St. Louis cycling bloggers or cycling forums, but it does a good job of introducing RFT readers to the issues cyclists have encountered in the past year.

The story quotes several people -- including Michael's widow, Susan -- about their concerns that St. Louis County prosecutors dropped the ball in not filing felony charges against Robert Rush, the driver of the vehicle that killed Michael. Here's a quote from the story:

"We felt that the decision that the county prosecutor has made not to pursue a charge of negligent homicide in this case is typical of a prevailing attitude, that inattention on the part of motorists is excusable," says Russ Willis, a member of the (St. Louis Regional) Bicycle Federation's board of directors. "Cyclists do have a right to be on the road, essentially the same rights as motor vehicles, the way they're described in the state statutes."

The story brings up the June accident that killed Jeremy Rowlatt of Ballwin, Mo., the three people injured by a hit-and-run driver during this year's Moonlight Ramble and the controversy involving a guest on Bernie Miklasz's KSLG-AM 1380 radio show in which the guest said the best place for a cyclist was "under my car"

If you're not familiar with the issues here, I encourage you to read the story.

Roger 0 comments 10:43 PM

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Northbound Route 66 Trail map available

For those of you looking for cue sheets going northbound from St. Louis to Chicago on the Route 66 Trail, the League of Illinois Bicyclists has posted them here:

northbound.pdf

The cue sheets do not include maps, but maps are available for the trail going from Chicago to St. Louis. You can find those here:

http://www.bikelib.org/route66/index.htm

LIB, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and other advocates of the Mother Road developed the trail and the accompanying user's guide.

Roger 0 comments 3:25 PM

Monday, September 18, 2006

Windy rides over the weekend

I'm finally starting to get some more miles on the bike after taking a forced hiatus because of my July accident. I still haven't done more than 27 miles at a time since the accident, but I hope to get some longer trips in before the end of the cycling season here in the Midwest.

My 27-miler came Saturday at the Gateway Council of Hostelling International's Autumn Apple Pie Ride at Mills Apple Farm in Marine, Ill. It's a nice ride, not only because of the scenery, but because of the fact I can buy an apple crumb pie after the ride. The turnout for the ride wasn't all that good. I have some theories about that, but I would rather share them privately with the organization rather than discuss them publicly here.

On Sunday, I led the Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society's Hidden Lake Winery ride near Aviston, Ill. We had options of 18, 24 and 40 miles, and I took the 24-mile loop. We had a smaller group than we normally have for our winery rides out of the Ravissant Winery in Belleville, Ill., but I think part of that was the threat of rain and the distance people have to drive from the St. Louis area to Aviston. Fortunately, almost everyone made it back to the winery before the downpour came.

We were treated to a stiff wind from the south both Saturday and Sunday. Both rides were in relatively flat areas, so we definitely felt the effects of the wind. Farmers already are harvesting their corn crops, so that took away some protection from the headwinds. I did OK with the headwinds, considering I was suffering from sleep deprivation both days because of long evenings at work Friday and Saturday.

Before the start of November, I hope to get some rides of 50 to 60 miles in. I don't know if I'll be ready for the Hilly Hundred, but we'll see.

Roger 2 comments 11:14 AM

Tour de Coal this weekend

The Coal Country Chamber of Commerce Tour de Coal will be this Saturday, Sept. 23, in Benld, Ill. For those of you who don't know where Benld is, it's about halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, Ill., not far from Staunton, Ill., the home of the Tour de Donut ride.

The Tour de Coal is for riders of all ages and abilities who want to promote the interests of bicyclists in the Macoupin County, Ill., area. Members of the committee putting together the ride are trying to develop trails in Macoupin County with the long-term goal of building a bike trail that will link St. Louis and Springfield. The ride will be held in conjunction with the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce Annual Fall Festival.

Choose from a 15-mile family ride, a mid-length 30-mile ride or a metric century. The terrain is flat to rolling with some hills.

All routes start and end at the Benld Elementary School. Restrooms are available at the school.

Day of ride registration is from 7-9 a.m. Sags end at 4 p.m. Online registration will be available through Thursday at Active.com. The cost of the ride is $15 for individuals or $40 for a household of three or more people.

The routes are marked, and cue sheets will be provided. All routes will have rest stops with snacks, water and Gatorade. All routes will be sagged.

I've been working with the group in the developing the ride, and they have been working hard to develop a quality event. I hope you'll take the time to make it to Benld for the event.

Roger 0 comments 11:04 AM

Friday, September 15, 2006

New server: Part 2

If you've tried to send to send e-mail to me lately and it's bounced back to you, it's related to the move of this site to its new server. I've had to change some of the e-mail settings because of the switch, and to the best of my knowledge, the problems are solved. I apologize for any problems this has caused you.

Roger 0 comments 10:26 AM

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Bittersweet Wednesday

The second Wednesday of September always is a bittersweet one for me. That's because the Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society almost closes out its season of Wednesday Evening Rides on that Wednesday of the month.

It's not from a lack of desire. It's from a lack of daylight. Yesterday, the sun set at 7:12 p.m. CDT in Columbia, Ill., where we put on the ride. There's simply not enough light for people who rush from work to the get to the ride and get in good mileage.

It's sad because it's a sure sign gloomy late-fall and winter weather soon will be upon us. I've never gotten into winter cycling because of residual effects from my childhood asthma. The few times it tried it, the cold air is simply too much for my lungs to handle.

But even more sad is that fact I won't be seeing as much as my cycling friends as I have since April. The beauty of the BABES is that the group not only is made up of good cyclists, but good people. Getting together with them for a ride and a meal is a high point of my week, and I will miss that the next few months. It is a pleasure to be a ride leader and the webmaster for such a great group of people.

Fortunately, we have four more rides planned before the end of October. We have three winery rides, including one Sunday at the Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston, Ill., plus another ride that coincides with the Fall Festival in Lebanon, Ill. If you're interested in any of those rides, I invite you to visit our Ride Calendar.

Roger 0 comments 2:53 PM

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Remembering the MRF

This is for all you baby boomers out there in the St. Louis Area. The Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville will be "Remembering the MRF" this Saturday.

For those of you who do not know what the MRF stands for, it is the Mississippi River Festival, which ran on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus from 1969 to 1981. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra frequently played there, but MRF was much better known for its rock acts, such as The Who, Bob Dylan and Alice Cooper.

No truly big names will be at the event, but the event should be of interest for those of us who are trying to relive our youths.

Today, people who ride the SIUE mountain bike trails developed by the Gateway Off-Road Cyclists can see the ruins of the MRF site.

Roger 0 comments 2:54 PM

Safe and courteous group riding

The Missouri Bicycle Federation recently posted a story about
safe and courteous group riding, and I'm passing these along as a service to cyclists everywhere. Many of the conflicts between cyclists and motorists take place on group rides, and I hope these tips will help reduce them.

Safe and Courteous Group Riding
Based on the principles taught in the League of American Bicyclists Bike Ed program.

Cycling with friends, traveling rapidly and safely with confidence in your companions, is a joy. However, there is a certain cycling etiquette, or Rules of the Road, of which you should be aware whenever cycling in a group.

Ride Leaders-Please take the initiative to educate your riders about and continually remind them of the rules of the road. It takes only a minute or two to emphasize one or two of these points at each ride. Educated riders are safer and have fewer conflicts among themselves and with motorists.

Getting along with other bicyclists

1. Be Predictable - Group riding requires even more attention to predictability than riding alone. Other riders expect you to continue straight ahead at a constant speed unless you indicate differently. Being predictable will make motorists happier and keep you safer.

2. Use Signals - Use hand and verbal signals to communicate with members of the group and with other traffic. Use hand signals for turning and stopping. Extend left arm for left turn and right arm for right turn. Put left hand down at the side with fingers slightly spread for STOP. When moving left to avoid an obstacle such as a parked car or debris, signal by extending your arm to the left to tell cars and cyclists behind you that are moving left.

3. Give Warnings - Warn cyclists behind you well in advance of changes in your direction or speed. To notify the group of change in path, the lead rider should call out "left turn" or "right turn" in addition to hand signals.

4. Change Positions Correctly - Generally, slower traffic stays right, so as a rule pass other cyclists on their left. Say "on your left" to warn the cyclist ahead that you are passing. If you are approaching someone on the right or need to pass someone on the right, say "on your right" clearly since this is an unusual maneuver.

5. Announce Hazards - When riding in a group, most of the cyclists do not have a good view of the road surface ahead, so it is important to announce holes, glass, gravel, grates, and other hazards. The leader (or rider in front of a group) should indicate road hazards by pointing down to the left or right and call by "hole", "bump", "road kill", etc. where required for safety.

Getting along with motorists

1. Watch For Traffic Coming From The Rear - Since those in front cannot see traffic approaching from the rear, it is the responsibility the riders in the back to inform the others by calling out "car back". Around curves, on narrow roads, or when riding double (side-by-side) it is helpful if those up front call out "car up" to those in the back. When you hear "car back" move right to become a single file line. Be courteous to motorists.

2. Watch Out At Intersections - When approaching intersections that require vehicles to yield or stop, the lead rider will say "slowing" or "stopping" to those behind of the change in speed. Do NOT say "clear" to indicate no crossing traffic. This is a dangerous practice that should be abandoned. Each cyclist is responsible for verifying that the way is indeed clear.

3. Leave A Gap For Cars - When riding up hills or on narrow roads where you are impeding faster traffic, leave a gap for cars between every three to four bicycles. That way a motorist can take advantage of shorter passing intervals and eventually move piecemeal around the entire group

4. Move Off The Road When You Stop - Whether you are stopping because of mechanical problems or to regroup with your companions, or just shooting the breeze with someone you haven't seen in a while, move well off the road so you don't interfere with traffic (both cars AND other cyclists). When you start up again, each cyclist should look for and yield to traffic.

5. Ride One or Two Across - Ride single file or double file as appropriate to the roadway and traffic conditions and where allowed by law. Most state vehicle codes permit narrow vehicles such as bicycles to ride double file within the lane. Even where riding double is legal, courtesy dictates that you single up when cars are trying to pass you. (Note from Roger: Riding more than two abreast is against the law in almost all cases on streets and highways in Illinois.)

These guidelines are available as a printable, freely reproducible and distributable PDF file. I encourage you to print out a copy, and do your best to follow the guidelines.

Roger 3 comments 10:09 AM

Thursday, September 07, 2006

New server

You may have noticed that it took a few days for a post that I filed last week to appear on this site. That's because the company that hosts my Web site, PowWeb, changed its servers and it took a few days for the migration to take place. Everything seems to be back to normal now.

Hopefully, the posts will come a little more frequently. Thanks for your patience.

Roger 0 comments 1:26 PM