Volume 1, Issue 5 – May 05, 2002

“A Newsletter Published by Bike-Pgh.org to Promote Bicycle Safety and Awareness”

In This Issue:

* Bike To Work Week Update
* Volunteer For Pedal Pittsburgh
* Volunteers Needed For The International Race
* Western Edge Ride ~ Benefits Habitat for Humanity
* Escort Riders Needed for National Bicycle Greenway Ride
* Top 10 Ways You Know You’re Biking In The ‘Burgh

BIKE TO WORK WEEK UPDATE

Bike To Work Week (B2WW) is coming to Pittsburgh! Several Pittsburgh organizations are participating in events that will take place from Friday, May 10th to Sunday, May 19th. This is a great opportunity to participate, volunteer, or do both! Planned activities at this point include:

* FREE bike tune-ups by Gatto Cycles (www.gattocycle.com/bicycle)
* Demonstrations of Ride, Rack, and Roll by the Port Authority (www.ridegold.com)
* Lunchtime Celebration at Golden Triangle Bike Rentals (www.bikepittsburgh.com)
* Bike rides led by the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org)
* FREE refreshments provided by Port Authority Transit
* Bike To Work with a Bike Mentor from several locations around the City
* Welcoming of the National Greenway Relay by Dr. Freddie Fu’s Women’s Cycling Team

If you would like to serve as a Bike Mentor, please contact George Schmidt via email: twoschmidts@peoplepc.com ~ he would love to hear from you! David Hoffman (from Bike-Pgh.org) will be speaking about the planned Bike To Work Week activities and about Urban Cycling in Pittsburgh. Come join us for a week of cycling in the ‘Burgh!

For the latest updates on the Bike To Work Week activities, simply point your web browser to: http://www.bike-pgh.org

VOLUNTEER FOR PEDAL PITTSBURGH

Still thinking about volunteering or participating in Pedal Pittsburgh? Read on! This year promises to be a great ride. If you’re still reading this, you’re a prime candidate to volunteer or participate! (Sounds a bit like a public radio or television membership drive, doesn’t it?)

The Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (www.cdcp.org) is gearing up for Volkswagen Pedal Pittsburgh 2002 ~ “City on a Roll”, scheduled for Sunday, May 19! Each year nearly 200 volunteers come together to share in the excitement and fun of our event. This year we hope to attract nearly 2200 cyclists and need the support of our volunteers more than ever before to help make the day a success.

The CDCP greatly appreciates your participation in this unique bicycle tour of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods, architectural highlights, and design landmarks. Your efforts, in turn, support CDCP programs that help make a direct contribution in the revitalization of Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

Tasks include serving fruit and water at rest stops, helping with registration, serving as a ride guide, directing riders along routes as a course marshal and more. No matter which task you choose, you’re sure to have a great time, meet new people, and help make the event a success!

To volunteer, contact Jennifer Fox from CDCP via e-mail: jfox@cdcp.org. Jennifer can email you a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that shows the current volunteer needs.

For more information about Pedal Pittsburgh, simply visit: www.pedalpittsburgh.org

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, May 19!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL RACE

Check it out! 3 stages (4 races) of The International Race (formerly the Tour d’ Toona) will be held in Pittsburgh on July 26, 27 & 28th, 2002. A premiere cycling event such as this in our hometown is a coup for the Pittsburgh cycling community. Needless to say, putting on an event of this caliber requires the assistance of army of individuals and volunteers. This is where you, the core of the cycling community, can show we support these efforts and appreciate having these stages here in Pittsburgh. It takes approximately 200 volunteers each day for each of the Pittsburgh stages. If at all possible, can you help in this effort and volunteer your services for the stages in our town? (For ACA Members, each team director should poll their team to determine if the team, or as many of it’s members, can contribute as volunteers). Non-team members and/or individual members can get co-workers from their place of employment and are encouraged to volunteer their time for this worthy event. Not only are you showing support for the race (represented in Pittsburgh by the ACA ~ www.acaracing.com), you will have a first-hand view of the race to see how many of our local riders fare in this national and international venue. All volunteers get a cool 2002 International Race t-shirt! If you feel you, (your team) or co-workers can volunteer for this event, please contact Denny Dansak (Rider/Director of Sports, ESSM/GPOA, Cycling & Triathlon Team, International Race Sponsorship Committee) at: ddansak@acaracing.com or call him during the daytime at his work telephone: (724) 832-5544.

ESCORT RIDERS NEEDED FOR NATIONAL BICYCLE GREENWAY RIDE

The National Bicycle Greenway (www.bikeroute.com) is looking for escort riders to take Washington D.C. mayor Anthony Williams and Pittsburgh mayor Tom Murphy’s (both cyclists, by the way) proclamations supporting the National Bicycle Greenway, a distance of 185 miles to Columbus, OH. For doing so the people at Pocket Mail (www.pocketmail.com) are giving away a free Pocket Mailer with 4 months of free service for you to report back to us with. Yours to keep, this is a $149 value! For more information, please contact Martin Krieg (NBG@bikeroute.com) or check out the News & Events section of www.Bike-Pgh.org.

WESTERN EDGE RIDE ~ BENEFITS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Are you up for a great 2-day challenge? 2-Days, 200+ miles, and a great cause! This event is sponsored by Team Habitat 2002 (www.gchfh-teamhabitat.org/). This is a 2-day, 212-mile ride for those looking for a real challenge. The ride will start at Mt. Morris (Perry Township), PA and finish at the Perry Monument located in Presque Isle State Park, on the shore of Lake Erie. This will be a supported ride. Though not required for participation, riders are encouraged to solicit financial sponsorships. Funds raised by individual riders will go directly to the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate of the rider’s choice, for use in carrying out its mission. All funds not specifically designated for other Habitat affiliates will go to Greene County Habitat for Humanity. Prizes will be awarded to the three riders with the highest individual sponsorship over $200 for this event. For detailed information on this event, please point your web browser to: www.gchfh-teamhabitat.org/westernedge.htm

Event Day: Friday & Saturday, June 21st – 22nd
Event Location: Mt. Morris to Presque Isle
Event Time: Please see link in info above
Cost: $100

TOP 10 WAYS YOU KNOW YOU’RE BIKING IN THE ‘BURGH

10) You have more pot holes to avoid than people.

9) Instead of having to move for a parked car, you swerve to miss a kitchen chair strategically placed to reserve a space for a car that will probably never arrive.

8) Despite your lack of an engine, you realize that you go faster than 75% of the driving population.

7) Instead of feeling guilty for not signaling your turn, you feel like you fit right in.

6) Your bike is a more effective means of transportation following the “Snow Storm of the Century” (4 inches).

5) Energy food of choice? Potato-filled pierogies!

4) You’re thankful that Pittsburgh’s steel history doesn’t have to apply to your bike.

3) Rain is nothing more than a nuisance.

2) To you, the “Jail Trail” is a perfect example of urban cycling….not a route a chain-gang would take.

1) Thanks to the hills, you’ve got better legs than your flatlander friends!

Thanks to Paul Sinderson for submitting this list! This list will be posted at www.Bike-Pgh.org ~ If you would like to add to this list, please feel free to submit to: david@bike-pgh.org. Pass it on! Email this list to your friends ~ send ’em to www.Bike-Pgh.org!

“The Spokesman” is an occasional newsletter of Bike-Pgh.org. Bike-Pgh.org does not rent, sell, or make available any personal information, including email addresses, that you may send to Bike-Pgh.org. If you would like to be removed from the distribution list, simply email: david@bike-pgh.org and request to be removed.