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Gerry Frierdich update

Gerry Frierdich, the Belleville cyclist injured in an accident Aug. 19, remains in critical condition at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur, Mo.

In addition to the injuries he suffered, he also was stricken with a form of pneumonia that has delayed needed surgery. The Belleville News-Democrat reported in its Friday editions that Gerry was expected to undergo surgery today (Aug. 31).

"We thank everybody for their prayers and concerns and thoughts," Gerry's sister, Mary Skees, told the News-Democrat.

Unfortunately, he is unable to see visitors, other than his family, but cards are greatly appreciated. The address is St. John's Mercy Medical Center, 615 S. New Ballas Road, St. Louis, MO 63141. You also can send words of encouragement by e-mail through the hospital's Web site.

Friends of Gerry also are planning to set up a Web site where people can post their get-well wishes and other messages. I will link to it as soon as I hear word that it's ready to go.

Charges still have not been filed in the accident. The Belleville Police Department told the News-Democrat that the accident remains under investigation.

(This is an update of an item originally posted Tuesday, Aug. 28.)

Labels: accidents, Belleville, cycling, Gerry Frierdich

Roger 0 comments 10:00 AM

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Gateway Cup this weekend

To get an idea what to expect when the Tour of Missouri rolls through the Show Me State on Sept. 11-16, come out to the Gateway Cup races this weekend in St. Louis.

The racing begins at Friday with the Tour de Lafayette Square, continues Saturday with the Washington Avenue races and Sunday with the Giro della Montagna in The Hill neighborhood and ends Monday with the University City Loop. You can find the times for the various categories at each event's page.

Organizers for the Gateway Cup even have posted a Bicycle Racing 101 page to help people learn how to watch and appreciate the race.

Labels: cycling, racing, St. Louis

Roger 0 comments 7:11 PM

Monday, August 27, 2007

Shoreline West page updated

This sunset taken in Elk Rapids, Mich., was one of the highlights of the 2007 Shoreline West Tour, which I had the pleasure of riding earlier this month.

I invite you to read my account of the ride and new photos from this year's ride. I also rode Shoreline West in 1997 and 2004, and my accounts of those rides also are on that page. The 2007 account is near the bottom. You can skip past the earlier rides to get to the 2007 ride, but reading the accounts of the previous rides -- if you have time to read them -- helps put the 2007 ride into context.

Labels: cycling, Michigan, tours

Roger 0 comments 1:19 AM

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Illinois 3-foot passing law signed by governor

I'm a bit late in reporting this bit of good news for Illinois cyclists, but on Aug. 16, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a bill that requires motorists to leave at least 3 feet of clearance while passing a bicyclist.

The new law takes effect Jan. 1.

The new law also gives cyclists the option of a right arm hand signal when turning right and allows cyclists to "take the lane" where right turns are authorized. In addition, the law states that a bicyclist is to ride as close to the right-hand curb as practicable and safe. The law previously provided that they ride as close as possible.

The League of Illinois Bicyclists and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation played a key role in getting the law passed. LIB has posted a PDF file that does a good job of explaining the new law.

The battle over the state budget in Illinois overshadowed a lot of issues in the Illinois General Assembly this year, but cyclists have won some battles this year:

• A bill that amends the Illinois Highway Code requiring IDOT to build "bicycle and pedestrian ways" with major urban road projects awaits the governor's signature. It provides that bicycle and pedestrian ways shall be given full consideration in the planning and development of transportation facilities, including the incorporation of such ways into state-funded transportation plans and programs. It also provides that bicycle and pedestrian ways shall be established in conjunction with the construction, reconstruction, or other change of any state transportation facility, and special emphasis shall be given to projects in or within one mile of an urban area. The exceptions are in pavement resurfacing projects that do not widen the existing traveled way or do not provide stabilized shoulders or where approved by the state based upon documented safety issues, excessive cost or absence of need.
• An attempt to create the offense of negligent vehicular homicide has been shelved in an Illinois House committee, but Blagojevich did sign a bill that requires teenagers taking driver's education courses to learn the dangers of distracted driving. Both proposals were prompted by the death of Matt Wilhelm, who was killed last September while riding his bicycle in Urbana, Ill., by a car driven by a woman who was downloading a cell phone ring tone.

Labels: advocacy, cycling, Illinois, safety

Roger 0 comments 9:00 PM

Tour of Missouri gets TV exposure

Last night, while I was at home during my dinner break from work, I happened to be flipping channels when I saw Charles Jaco doing a segment about the Tour of Missouri on his news show, "The Jaco Report," on KTVI-TV, Channel 2.

Jaco interviewed Mike Weiss, the owner of the St. Louis-based Big Shark Bicycle Co. and an organizer of the Tour of Missouri, about the event.

If you didn't see the segment Saturday or early today -- and the odds are that you didn't -- you still can see the segment at MyFoxSTL.com. To go directly to the segment on the Tour of Missouri, go to the SideBar, which is located below Jaco's logo, look for the Video section and click on the second image, which is mostly green.

Jaco has won Peabody, Edward R. Murrow and National Headliner awards for his broadcast coverage of international and national affairs. While he doesn't have the expertise of a Phil Liggett, Phil Sherwin or even Bob Roll about professional cycling, Jaco came up with some good questions, and Weiss came up with good answers.

Labels: cycling, racing, Tour of Missouri

Roger 0 comments 11:49 AM

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Metro-east cyclist hurt in accident

Award-winning photographer Gerry Frierdich is in critical condition after he was hit by a pickup truck Sunday morning while riding his recumbent bicycle, the Belleville News-Democrat reported today.

Gerry, who works at Crafty Eye Photography in Belleville, has ridden frequently with the Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society.

Gerry was riding south in the 600 block of South Green Mount Road at 6:10 a.m. when Keith Joseph McCoy, of St. Charles, Mo., hit him from behind, according to Belleville police, the News-Democrat reported.

Keith McCoy, 23, who was driving a Chevrolet Silverado, apparently fell asleep behind the wheel, Belleville police Sgt. Dennis Weisbrodt said. McCoy's twin brother, Kenneth, was a passenger in the truck and also fell asleep.

Gerry, 44, was taken to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville and he was later airlifted to St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur, Mo.

Weisbrodt said the accident is still under investigation and Keith McCoy has not been charged.

Gerry and I worked together for a brief time in the 1990s at the News-Democrat. Gerry worked in our pre-press department, putting together the pages that people in my department designed.

Gerry took great pride in altering a child trailer so that it would carry golf carts, and he often rode his recumbent to his regular golf games.

My thoughts and prayers are with Gerry.

Labels: accidents, Belleville, cycling, Gerry Frierdich

Roger 9 comments 4:38 PM

Friday, August 17, 2007

Discovery's last stand in America

The Discovery Channel cycling team will simultaneously launch the Tour of Missouri and go out of business with a bang, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Kansas City Star report today.

Among the riders Discovery will send to the inaugural event will be Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, third-place finisher Levi Leipheimer, eighth-place finisher Yaroslav Popovych and U.S. pro champion George Hincapie.

The Tour of Missouri will be the final U.S. race for the Discovery team, the Post reports.

Here's the text of the press release issued by Tour of Missouri organizers on Thursday:

Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of Spain and American Levi Leipheimer, the third-place finisher at that race, were officially announced today by the Discovery Channel Team as participants in the inaugural Tour of Missouri, September 11th – 16th. The Tour of Missouri is North America’s newest elite cycling stage race and patterned after the successful Tour de Georgia and Amgen Tour of California statewide stage races. The race will start in Kansas City, Tuesday, September 11 and conclude 600 miles later in St. Louis the following Sunday.

Contador and Leipheimer are both members of the Discovery Channel team which recently dominated the Tour de France with two overall podium places, two stage wins, and laying claim to the best young rider classification and overall team classification. Also included on the Discovery Channel roster in Missouri are: pre-race favorite and current U.S. National Champion George Hincapie of Greenville, S.C.; 8th place Tour de France finisher Yaroslav Popovych of the Ukraine; Tony Cruz of Long Beach, CA; 2007 3rd place finisher of the Amgen Tour of California Jason McCartney of Coralville, IA; up and coming U.S. star John Devine of Dixon, Ill., and Fuyu Li, the first Chinese athlete to compete at the elite Pro Tour level.

“To have Johan Bruyneel commit to bringing Discovery Channel’s Tour de France “dream team” to the Tour of Missouri is very special for this first-time race,” said Race Director Jim Birrell. “We will have three riders from the top eight of the Tour de France, two being from the final podium, and I look forward to hosting the entire Discovery Channel team during their swan song on domestic soil.”

The Discovery Channel team’s management company, Tailwind Sports, recently decided to disband the team at the end of the 2007 season, making the Tour of Missouri their last event in the United States. “Having just announced my retirement from cycling I am pleased that one of my last races as a director will be at the Tour of Missouri,” said Sports Director Johan Bruyneel. “I have always enjoyed directing in the U.S. because of our success and an amazing group of fans that come to see us race. It is sad to think that this will be one of the last times I will be directing, but I am glad it will be in front of a such great fans.” The Tour of Missouri will cap off a stellar season for Discovery’s Leipheimer, who won the season’s kick off race, the Amgen Tour of California in February.

“I have had an amazing 2007 season which started out when I won the Amgen Tour of California, followed by a successful showing at the Tour de Georgia and then finishing on the podium at the Tour de France. It is only fitting to close it out my season with a U.S. homecoming at the Tour of Missouri,” said Leipheimer. “I have always said that there is nothing that compares to racing at home and it will be very special for me to have guys like Alberto, Popo and George riding next to me in my final race as a Discovery Channel Team member.” George Hincapie is the 2006 US National Champion and has raced in 12 editions of the Tour de France, seven of them as Lance Armstrong’s primary lieutenant. Hincapie has won stages in the Tour de France, Tour of California and the celebrated Dauphine Libere.

Labels: cycling, racing, Tour of Missouri

Roger 0 comments 12:30 AM

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Metro East Cycling

The Belleville News-Democrat today reports on a new cycling club serving the Illinois counties on the St. Louis metropolitan area, Metro East Cycling.

From what the article says, Metro East Cycling gears itself toward high-end cyclists who have a competitive bent. For example:

"Everybody's on a higher-end, performance-oriented road bike," said Bob Crow, 53, a truck driver from Trenton. "You won't see any comfort bikes or mountain bikes."

Crow wasn't bragging or passing judgment. He was explaining the difference between Metro East and other bike clubs that are focused more on family recreation than athletic training.

I think there's plenty of room for groups like Metro East Cycling and the Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society. The BABES, of which I am a ride leader, tends to draw medium-to-fast recreational riders. Other groups, such as Trailnet and the Gateway Council of Hostelling International, tend to have rides intended for all levels of cyclists.

The one thing that did concern me was a photo that accompanies the story. It showed cyclists riding three abreast on a street, a clear violation of Illinois traffic laws. In most cases, riding more than two abreast on Illinois roads is illegal.

I don't mean to single out Metro East Cycling on this point. I've seen some BABES riders riding more than two abreast on some of our rides, and the News-Democrat has run photos of cyclists riding more than two abreast on other group rides, including -- unfortunately -- the Tour de Stooges, the ride I lead for the Gateway Council.

The point I'm making is that those of us who lead rides in the region really need to stress that cyclists must obey the rules of the road.

Labels: bicycle clubs, cycling, Illinois

Roger 0 comments 10:42 AM

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Tales from the road

ELK RAPIDS, Mich. -- I feel so much like a drama king when I do the League of Michigan Bicyclists' West Shoreline Tour.

When I first went on the ride 10 years ago, I didn't even make it 10 miles before a major mishap put me on the sidelines for a few days with stitches and bruises and knocked out my friend Vicky (Mohler) Dye from the ride with two broken ribs.

Three years ago, the drama wasn't so dramatic. I only had a flat tire to fix within the first 10 miles. No big deal.

This year's drama falls somewhere between that. About 10 miles into the start of Sunday's ride, my right crank and chainrings fell off my bike! Fortunately, I was in a flat portion of the course and could stop the bike without falling down. It turned out that I broke the right section of my bottom bracket in half. Fortunately, the ride's mechanic was only a few miles away, so a SAG driver took me over to him, and I was back on the road within 45 minutes.

Overcast skies much of the week obscured many of the great sights along the Lake Michigan shoreline, but those clouds help keep down the temperatures considerably. I truly feel for you in the St. Louis area this week, but that heat is a prime reason I try to do a ride in Michigan, Wisconsin or Canada whenever I can.

Despite the relatively cool temperatures here, I struggled with dehydrations issues yesterday and today. I managed to do all 63 miles from Frankfort to Traverse City on Wednesday, albeit at an excruciatingly slow pace. I opted to do only 20 miles today, and I'm still not feeling all the great. I wonder if I have a bug that's contributing to the problem.

Despite the setbacks, I'm still enjoying the time in one of my favorite places to visit and with some of the regular Bubba's Pampered Pedalers crowd.

Labels: cycling, Michigan, tours

Roger 0 comments 11:48 AM

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Time to hit the road

There's plenty of reasons why I on my way to my third-ever West Shoreline Tour and my seventh ride of two or more days in Michigan in the past 15 years. But there's one that really stands out:

According to Weather.com, the average high temperature for the next 10 days in Belleville, Ill., is forecast to be 96 degrees. The average high temperature for the same period in Traverse City, Mich., is forecast to be 84.2 degrees.

For those you who will be in the St. Louis area, keep cool the best you can and drink lots of water.

I'll try to keep you updated on the ride when I get access to a computer and Internet access, but blogging will be among the lowest of my priorities in the coming week.

Labels: cycling, Michigan, tours

Roger 0 comments 8:53 AM

Friday, August 03, 2007

Tour of Missouri St. Louis stage, Part II

Today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports on the final stage of the Tour of Missouri, focusing on the fact that professional cyclist Dan Schmatz, a St. Louis County native and a member of the BMC Pro Cycling Team. will get to ride in a major pro race in Missouri on Sept. 11-16.

The Post-Dispatch reports Schmatz was especially excited about the Tour of Missouri's last stage, a 74-mile circuit race in St. Louis. The Post says the final circuit features 10 laps around a 7.4-mile course that starts in front of Union Station, heads west through Forest Park and returns downtown on Lindell.

Although the Post-Dispatch reports the circuit is 7.4 miles, the map and profile posted on the Tour of Missouri site indicates the final circuit is 10.6 miles. Since I was unable to attend the press conference Thursday, I don't know which is correct. But the map published today in the print version of the Post and the map on the race's Web site show identical streets and turns, and a check of the route at Bikely.com indicates it's 10.6 miles.

The stage is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and finish between 3:30 and 4 p.m., just after the St. Louis Cardinals-Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Rams-San Francisco 49ers games that will be played in downtown St. Louis that day, the Post reports.

On Thursday afternoon, the Jefferson City News Tribune posted its story coming from the Wednesday press conference held in Jefferson City, Missouri's state capital. The News Tribune also quoted Schmatz extensively, only that they called him Pat Schmatz instead of Dan Schmatz.

The News Tribune focused on the expected participation of Levi Leipheimer and the hilly terrain racers will face in Missouri.

Labels: cycling, racing, St. Louis, Tour of Missouri

Roger 0 comments 2:23 AM

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Tour of Missouri St. Louis stage

The final stage of the Tour of Missouri on Sunday, Sept. 16, will begin and end at Union Station. Ride organizers posted the map tonight in advance of their press conference at 11 a.m. Thursday at Union Station.

Here's how the circuit will go: West on Market Street, west on Forest Park Parkway, north on DeBaliviere Ave, east on Delmar Boulevard, south on Euclid Avenue, east on Lindell Boulevard, east on Olive Street, south on 15th Street and west on Market back to Union Station. The circuit is about 10.6 miles, but the map doesn't make it clear how many laps are planned. Perhaps that will be revealed Thursday.

I'm sure race organizers would have loved to route the circuit closer to the Gateway Arch, but that wasn't a realistic option this year. The St. Louis Cardinals play the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium, while the St. Louis Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome. Both are day games (Cards-Cubs at 1:15 p.m., Rams-49ers at noon), so traffic and parking demands would have made it nearly impossible to route the circuit any closer to the Arch and the Old Courthouse, two of the most iconic symbols of the city.

But, still, the Arch and the Old Courthouse will make a great backdrop for cyclists racing down Market Street. Of course, the colors won't be quite as vibrant during the race as they were when this picture of Market Street, the Arch, the Old Courthouse, Union Station and the Civil Courts building was taken, but a skilled photographer should be able to get a powerful image with the peloton and the landmarks.

Labels: cycling, racing, St. Louis, Tour of Missouri

Roger 1 comments 10:36 PM