Volume 2, Issue 1 – January 01, 2003

“A Newsletter Published by Bike Pittsburgh to establish Pittsburgh as a city that is increasingly safe, accessible, and friendly to bicycle transportation.”

In This Issue:

* Come Meet Bike Pittsburgh!
* National Bicycle Greenway Relay Event
* Upcoming Rides And Events
* New Frick Park Trails eBook
* Pitt Stops

COME MEET BIKE PITTSBURGH!

Meet Bike Pittsburgh! Be Bike Pittsburgh!

Bike Pittsburgh invites you to join us at a gathering at the Sharp Edge Beer Emporium on Thursday January 9th, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.

Say what you will about this city. Some people want to overhaul it and others love it the way it is. One things for certain:

Conditions for bicycling commuters need to improve now!

Whether you bicycle or not, it is vital in this day and age that any city worth living in provides spaces and places for people on bicycles.

Spring is approaching along with optimal cycling conditions. We want to create positive changes immediately, and we want to hear what’s on your mind. We’ll share with you what we have done and what we have in store for the coming months. Together, with a little bit of time and effort we can create a safer and better environment in Pittsburgh to ride our bikes.

The Sharp Edge, hosts Happy Hour from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. We will meet in the Pub Room from 5:00pm to 6:30pm and remain at the bar until at least 8:00pm for bonding and to share frightful stories of our experiences on Pittsburgh’s streets. Finger food during the Happy Hour will be on our nickel; drinks are on your nickel.

Directions and map to the bar are listed on their web page below:

Sharp Edge Beer Emporium Beer Bar
302 S. Saint Clair Street at Friendship Avenue
Pittsburgh (Friendship), PA 15206
(412) 661-3537
www.sharpedgebeer.com

NATIONAL BICYCLE GREENWAY RELAY EVENT

Attention: Bicycle Groups, Trail Conservation Groups, Tourist and Visitor Bureaus, Bike Shops, and Bikers!

Riders needed for D.C. to Pittsburgh, or Pittsburgh to Columbus cross-country relay event. Must be in good health and accustomed to distance riding.

The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org) is putting together Great Outdoors Week 2003. One of the components of that week is to highlight the National Bicycle Greenways. The primary objectives and purposes of the National Bicycle Greenway (NBG) are to gather and coordinate the resources needed to create a nationwide network of interconnected car roads (that meet its standards for safety and efficacy) and bicycle pathways (multi-use with priority given to transportation). The NBG is again sponsoring their annual nation-wide relay ride which starts in Washington, D.C. and finishes in Santa Cruz, California.

The ride will start in D.C. on May 2, heading out on the C&O Canal to the Great Allegheny Passage and into Pittsburgh on May 9th at 12:00pm. After a small rally downtown, riders will head off to Columbus, Ohio (possibly using the Montour Trail and/or the Panhandle Trail) and onward to California.

To see a complete list of dates, background, more info, etc. please visit: (www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide/index.html).

We are currently looking for are riders to volunteer for the local portions of this relay ride, D.C. to Pittsburgh, or Pittsburgh to Columbus. We are hoping that any group that benefits from having better biking opportunities in the region could send a message to their members calling for riders. Imagine if there were 20 to 50 riders from various organizations leaving from Washington and arriving before the cheering crowds in Downtown! It would make for a great marketing opportunity for all the organizations involved. The application for riders is found at: (www.bikeroute.com/RiderQuestionnaire.html). The screening process and coordinating of riders will be done by the enthusiastic and talented folks in California.

If you or your organization would like to be kept in the loop about this event, please email Michael Sobkowiak (msobkowiak@wpfi.org) and he will add you to the regular update list. Michael will also forward your email address on to Martin Krieg, Director of this project so you can be added to the national updates.

Event photos from last year’s Pittsburgh reception of the NGB riders can be found in the Community & Classifieds section of the Bike Pittsburgh website under the “Bike To Work Week” event photos. Watch for frequent updates on this very exciting event!

UPCOMING RIDES AND EVENTS

January 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th – Mountain Bike Rambles

These events are sponsored by The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org). Mountain Bike Night Rides Every Thursday Night from 6:30pm to about 8:30pm. Join us Thursday evenings for a pleasant ride through the different area parks. Year-round, our Ride Leaders hand-craft a route of great views, managemable hills and optimal conditions. We take plenty of breaks and afterward head to a nearby eatery for food and drinks. Call ahead for loaner lights and tips on dressing for Winter riding, or directions.

Inclement weather: In extremely wet or inclement weather conditions, an urban trail tour may be substituted from Washington’s Landing – meet at Troll’s Restaurant. Call WPFI at (412) 255-0564 or Email Sean Brady (sbrady@wpfi.org) to verify.

* January 9 – Location: North Park – “T” of Wildwood Road & Babcock Blvd.
* January 16 – Location: Riverview Park – Riverview Avenue near Observatory
* January 23 – Location: Fox Chapel Plaza – Photo Kiosk
* January 30 – Location: Frick Park – Tennis Courts in Regent Square

January 25th – Pittsburgh Pre-Season Cycling Clinic

This event is sponsored by The Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates (GPOA) (www.essmsports.com), the East Suburban Sports Medicine/GPOA Cycling & Triathlon Team, and Allegheny Valley Hospital Sports Medicine. January 25, 2003 at the West Penn Hospital, West Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh.

Features: Climbing Techniques, Time Trialing, Power/Watt Training, Nutrition for Elite Athletes & More!

The list of speakers include:

* Kevin Livingston – Veteran of the European Pro Peloton, former rider for the US Postal Cycling Team and multiple Tours de France Veteran
* Jonathan Vaughters – Veteran of the European Pro Peloton including the Tours de France, 2003 Teammate for the Prime Alliance Pro Cycling Team and founder of the newly formed U-23 developmental team known as “Team 5280”
* Allen Lim, Doctoral Candidate., Univ. of Colorado, Pro Cycling Coach, Former Director Sportif of the Celestial Women’s Pro Cycling Team and specialist in watt / power training
* Leslie Bonci, Sports Nutritionist, UPMC Center for Sports Medicine
* Lauren Henzler, Ironman World Triathlon Championship Athlete
* Dr. Michael Rytel, Director of Sports Medicine, Allegheny Valley Hospital and attending physician at GPOA

All attendees are encouraged to pre-register online at Active.com (www.active.com). Seating is limited. The $35 attendance fee will include a continental breakfast, refreshments, lunch at the program site and a portion will support the development of Team 5280. Doors will open at 7:30 am. Continental breakfast will begin at 8:00 and the first lecture will start promptly at 8:30. PowerTap Training Systems will be on site for interactive demonstrations. For more information, visit the ACA website (www.acaracing.com) or at essmsports (www.essmsports.com). If you have any questions, please contact Denny Dansak at (laden23@aol.com) via daytime telephone: (724) 327-9178.

Event Day: Saturday, January 25th
Event Location: West Penn Hospital, West Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh
Event Time: 7:30am
Cost: $35

NEW FRICK PARK TRAILS EBOOK

A new eBook (electronic book) has just been released that features the Hiking (and presumably biking) trails in Frick Park. The book comes on a CD (for your computer) and features 21 trails, color photos, and is over 400 pages long. Additionally, the CD contains all of the software that you would need to view the book on your computer.

Visit (www.frickparktrails.com) for more information. The eBook costs $14.95 plus shipping and taxes.

PITT STOPS

This NEW section of The Spokesman is dedicated to identifying local establishments that have made a committment to cyclists.

January’s Pitt Stop: East & West Busway – The Port Authority recently added some nice new bike racks to many of the East and West Busway stops. Ride your bike to a Busway station and avoid the commute to Downtown!

Bike Pittsburgh is Western Pennsylvania’s only cycling advocacy, awareness, and safety organization. We rely on your support of our activies and initiatives. You can help us to continually transform the Pittsburgh Region into a better place to cycle by becoming a Full Member for only $12 per year. With your tax-deductible Membership Donation you will receive a Membership Card good for discounts with participating organizations that share Bike Pittsburgh’s vision, priority invitations and/or discounts to special Bike Pittsburgh-sponsored events, and the satisfaction that you really are helping to make a difference for all of us. For complete details, go to the Bike Pittsburgh website and click on the Become A Member! section.

“The Spokesman” is an occasional newsletter of Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. Bike Pittsburgh, Inc. does not rent, sell, or make available any personal information, including email addresses, that you may send to Bike Pittsburgh. If you would like to be removed from the distribution list, simply email: remove@bike-pgh.org and request to be removed. card adult cheap account merchant creditassociation accreditation traumahorizon counseling a credit newno credit card merchant account hawaiicredit card adult machine account merchantcard accept amazon credit international comdog accredited associationshours credit alabama mega 2007 conference Map