New Albany Bicycle Coalition

NBL Christmas Classic @ Columbus, Ohio.

Went to the next hardest race on the National Bicycle League's national schedule and did well. We had over 40 people in our class, which gave us quarter finals, so that was good points for our team.

I ended up with a perfect on day one and on day two, I was working on another perfect score, but my gate start was a step slow and ended third.

Another local hotshoe, Weston Pope blew me away! Weston races in the 17-24 Expert class and he cleaned up! This class is the proving grounds for future pros and Weston is on his way to superstardom!

The pic is from day 1, me leading the old dudes into turn one.

Adios

Today will be my last regular post here on this blog. I have created a new blog for my logging and you may visit at http://bikemetrolouisville.blogspot.com/.

Hope all is well......................

"Jazz is dead".....Miles Davis

Nice 2 Day Totals + Monday

I opted for the photo on Sunday rather than text what I personally had ridden over the weekend, I thought the election carried more weight than me on my bike. Any rate, I rode near 70 miles over the weekend in really nice conditions. Stayed on this side of the bridge and steered clear of the traffic both days on Blackiston Mill Road, but must say that it was a nice surface to ride upon.

Monday I started out after work only to get soaked to the bone before having to call my taxi for a pick up at the Floyd County 4H Fairgrounds. Then went to my work and road the exercise bikes for over twenty miles and felt like I had had a good workout, even though it was in doors.

FYI... The Silver Creek Bridge is supposed to open on November 15th if the weather continues to help out the workers.

Night View

Jorg & Olif Now Available In The U.S.

*story borrowed from

I know isn’t directly related to Portland, but I’ve been following the local bakfiets and Dutch city bike news lately and I know a lot of Portlanders (including myself) love these things. So here you go. Jorg & Olif, the stylish Canadian company who re-brands and modifies authentic Dutch city bikes has just announced that they have established a North American shipping operation. No retail store yet, but at least now you can get the goods without paying the crazy shipping costs.
They’ve even got this handy order guide (links to PDF). And, depending on if you’ve been naughty or nice, Christmas orders are due by November 5th.
The bikes are available in 1, 3, or 8 speeds and range in price from $795 - $1,295 respectively. I guess the Electra Amsterdam has its first direct competitor.

A Progressive Cycling Community

When I wanted to start this blog, this is the kind of site I had a vision of creating. With a little luck and lots of help it just might happen.
http://www.bikeportland.org/

FYI

This weekend

The last two days I have been riding in Louisville. Today I rode on the soon to be completed bridge spanning Silver Creek, it is not "open to peds" but no one was around and the devil came out of me one more time.

Saturday
My wife is taking a class at Holiday Manor on Saturday mornings, so despite the cold and gloomy conditions, I went with her, well I took my bike and rode back. By taking advantage of my Louisville Bike Book, I combined two of the rides and had one great ride back to NA. Total ride was 37 miles.

Sunday
Rode to Louisville and back today across two bridges and just over 14 miles in Old Louisville, Germantown and Downtown Louisville. From my house to the Clark Memorial Bridge is 9.8 miles. Fantastic sunshine and splendid fall color was a plus.

bicycling for louisville

Barry Zalph has a very nice program going on in louisville about cycling and the benefits of it for health and community. They have a website, bicycling for louisville.

On another note. Watched a guy ride between a line of cars on Charlestown Road. The traffic had the red light. He rides between the cars and blows right through the light. No attempt at a signal or anything. He darts out then crosses over 3 lanes of traffic. Not cool at all.

If we want respect on the road, things like this need to halt. Not only was it not cool, but the safety issues are huge. I don't want to be the target of hostille drivers due to other peoples actions.

Bike Depot In Louisville

Our friend Jeff sent us this in hopes of making a contribution to the cause:

If you haven't already been there, thought you guys might be interested in http://bikedepot.org/. I've been by it several times on the way to art events but not in it. Checked out their web site and ran across the following gem amongst others:

"Question: How come when you're riding a ten speed bicycle, when you're not pedaling the bike makes a clicking noise?
Mike Walker from Deming, NM Answer: Mike, get this straight from the starting gate. I do not ride bicycles. Ever since I realized how ergonomically efficient the bicycle is, I knew that I would be doing a disservice to our petrochemical and nuclear energy industries by participating in this form of mechanical subversion. If you could build a bicycle that somehow consumed gasoline or uranium, well, maybe I could be persuaded to hop on, but until that time I will either ride in an automobile or stay put, thank you. To answer your question, that little clicking noise is a gauge put on your bike by the Communists who made it. It is counting off all the lost oil revenue, the money not going into American coffers because you chose to ride a Communist produced instrument of subversion. If that makes you feel a bit guilty as you ride, relax, it should."
--Ask Mr. Science Comrades!

PS...They carry Marin Bikes and that is what my buddy TR rides in CA, NICE BIKE!

Ed

The Graham Phillips Trail

This afternoon after work I road what this site will from this day forward will refer to as the route known as the Graham Phillips Loop. Also we shall have hopes of the Floyd County Commisioners to rename Quarry Road to The Graham Phillips Trail. This ride takes in Corydon Pike, Edwardsville Hill, The Graham Phillips Trail, Old Vincennes Road, parts of downtown NA and cruising along the Ohio River.

Graham has recently moved to this side of the river and bought a home on Quarry Road, so why not honor such a cool guy with one of everyones favorite rides.

It was a fanastic day to ride and enjoy the fall splendor and warm temps, prompting me to go back in the summer riding digs. Guess we should feel lucky after such a cool and wet past week.

Quick Ten

Got out this afternoon around 15:30 for a quick ten miles. The pavement was still very wet, but managed to make it back without a slide out on some wet leaves. I wanted to ride so bad yesterday that I ate crow and went to my work and road one of our bikes in the fitness center for about forty five minutes. It was so boring and it was a bitch trying to stay focused enough to keep going. My buddy Tim suggested a spin class when the weather gets bad and I my try that when the days prohibit me from exercising.
Cheers

34 degrees

Colour me crazy, but I like riding when it is cool weather. For me it is much easier to deal with than the thick humid polluted air we have here in the summer. Dressing properly makes it worth the effort to still get in some miles. Your body really keeps you warm, generating the heat necessary to keep riding. I left this morning when it was thirty four degrees a little before 08:00 when the sun was shining making it real comfy. Made my way around NA doing eighteen miles of much the same route as the Reign of Terror Tour this past summer.

First Big Chill Ride

Made my way out in the cold this afternoon, but only for thirteen miles. I hate riding in the wind, especially cold wind. The sunshine was nice and made it all worth while. Will be riding over to the Lupulin Land Harvest Hop Festival 2006 at RichO's on Saturday, check it out for an alternative to Harvest Homecoming or the BistroNA.

Dropping Twelve

What amazing weather! That rare window of ideal conditions was actualized yesterday, the setting sun makes weekday cycling problematic (at least in tandem) so yesterday witnessed N and I criss-crossing New Albany, enjoying the crisp morning air, the sun-singed foliage and thrill of simply being alive. Such makes me recall Fred Ward's stellar performance in Henry and June, engaging the mortal head-on, removing his feet from the pedals as his bike spins downhill amidst the sublime French landscape. I know, I'm a dork.

Sunday Oct. 8th

Took another long ride to Louisville this morning, sorry Dave for not giving you notice, it was on the spur of the moment. Cruised from my house to Clark Memorial Bridge, up River Road to Indian Hills Trail, Old Brownsboro Road and then a little jaunt on Brownsboro Road. Down the hill to Mockingbird Valley and then left onto Mellwood Ave. Crossed Zorn and then continued Mellwood to Story Ave. Took the Butchertown Greenway and then back onto River Road before making my way up to Main Street and then back across the CM Bridge. Cruised around through Old Clarksville and part of what will hopefully become the new Greenway on this side of the Ohio River. Back down though NA and past the Baylor Mansion, up Spring Street Hill and then home.
*photo taken 9.9.06 at the Power For The Peaceful Festival 2006

CYCLERS CAFE IN LOUISVILLE

I stopped in the Cyclers Cafe on Lexington Road in Louisville yesterday to see what was there, well friends I think that it is another must stop while out cruising on the bike or go for a beer and food and hangout. The owner and staff are all cyclist and go out of there way to want you to be apart of their little niche here in the Louisville area. The food was great, the beer list is long; unlike what the menu lends you to think and just a grand atmosphere for those of us who enjoy cycling.

NOTE: There is a 25 mile ride each Tuesday that leaves from the Cyclers Cafe parking lot at 6:00pm.

photo borrowed from http://www.cyclerscafe.com/

Riding to Louisville today circa 4:00pm from Kye's if anyone is interested.

Sunday

Hopefully I was not the only person to take advantage of this banner fall day, getting out for some perfect riding weather on this the first day of October. I made my way to Louisville via the Clark Memorial Bridge and followed the new bike lane of Third Street down to the Cardinal Drive at U of L. Over through Germantown and then the Highlands. Through Cherokee Park and then down Lexington Road and through Butchertown before going back downtown and then across the bridge and back to NA. A grand ride of 38 miles that has given me yet another route.