Volume 2, Issue 14 – September 21, 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:

* First Annual Haunted Bike Ride!
* Avoid The Door Prize: Safe Riding In Traffic
* Upcoming Events
* Going Legit ~ A Twelve-Step Program for Mountain Bikers
* New Mountain Bike List Servs
* Pitt Stops

FIRST ANNUAL HAUNTED BIKE RIDE!

Bike Pittsburgh cordially invites you to our First Annual Haunted Bike Ride! Come out with us on Halloween for a relaxed evening of stories, lore, and crisp Fall riding. Come out and meet fellow supporters of Bike Pittsburgh while helping us to continually provide a resource for bike advocacy and safety.

This event is sponsored by and benefits Bike Pittsburgh with support from The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (www.wpfi.org). This ride will take us all over Pittsburgh to various haunted buildings. We’ll be making plenty of stops to tell stories and give local haunted history. This is a fully supported ride with treats and drinks provided along the way. Participants are encouraged to ride in costume, but please make sure that you wear something that will not get caught in your wheels or chain, and that does not impair your normal field of vision. Helmets required – but you can always decorate them! Come out and enjoy a pleasant evening of stories and legend while helping to support us. Please bring a bike light if you have it; loaners available with advance notice.

To register for this event call WPFI at: (412) 255-0564 or email: (signup@wpfi.org).

Event Day: Friday, October 31st
Event Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Cost: $20 Bike Pittsburgh & WPFI Members, $25 Non-Members

AVOID THE DOOR PRIZE: SAFE RIDING IN TRAFFIC

This is the second installment in a series about riding safely in the Pittsburgh Region. You can find this installment and any previous installments in the “Safety & Awareness” area of the Bike Pittsburgh website.

Streets in the Pittsburgh Region tend to be narrow. As a result, riders often feel squeezed by traffic between parked cars on the right and moving cars on the left. There might be a sense that it is safer to ride as closely to the parked cars as possible so that moving traffic can pass you, but this is not safe. You are far less likely to be hit by drivers moving to your left (they will almost always move around you) than to have a car door opened on to you to your right. There are numerous things that you can do to reduce the chance that you will have the door of a parked car flung into you as you are biking by:

1. If at all possible, ride three feet to the left of parked cars on your right. Drivers will often open a door part way and then look back at oncoming traffic rather than use their side mirror before opening their door. If you’re far enough out from the parked cars, you will have a significantly reduced chance of being struck.

2. Wear bright clothing and use a front headlight – even during the daytime. Drivers will often “see the light” before they will see you. Additionally, the use of a rear blinky is recommended – parked drivers will not see you because of the rear blinky, but you will capture the attention of moving traffic behind you.

3. Pay attention to the driver’s side seat and window of parked cars. If you see a person in the car, use extra caution when passing. If their brake or reverse lights are on, there is a high liklihood that they’ll be in motion soon. Don’t assume that they saw you coming!

4. Watch the left front wheels of parked cars on your right. If you see any motion, or if the wheel is turning as if to pull out of a parking spot, slow down and use extreme caution!

5. When nearing an intersection, move as close to the center of the lane that you’re in as possible. Drivers going the opposing direction tend to look down the middle of the lane for traffic, and can miss you coming if you’re too far to their left (your right) – especially if they driver is planning a left turn. If you’re using a front headlight, drivers will see you sooner.

6. Finally, assume that you are invisible to drivers. Always look for an “escape route”. Ask yourself questions such as, “Am I going too fast to stop if that car pulls out in front of me?”, or “Will I be able to pull to the right if that car turns in front of me?”

Although it may seem like a lot to remember when you are cycling, remembering these tips and acting accordingly will quickly become second nature.

Ride Safe. Be Seen.

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 27th – 10th Anniversary – Montour Trail Ride!

This event is sponsored by and benefits The Montour Trail (www.montourtrail.org). Come celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Montour Trail! Announcing the Tour the Montour Trail Ride – Saturday, September 27, 2003, rain or shine! Pick a ride to match your level, and celebrate with us.

Registration is from 7:00am – 9:30am at the Montour Trail mile “0” trailhead, located at Route 51 & Montour Road, off of I-79 and the Coraopolis/Neville Island Bridge.

Entry fees: $12 per person or $25 for family three or more. Helmets are MANDATORY for ALL riders. All registered participants receive t-shirt, refreshments, raffle ticket for prizes and giveaways. Participants need not be present to win.

Five trail ride lengths available starting at mile “0” of the scenic Montour Trail

* Distance Ride: 44 miles begins at 8:15am
* Intermediate Rides: 12, 18, 24 miles begins at 8:30am
* Family Ride: 6 miles begins at 9:00am

The Montour Trail will provide:

* Information and guidance
* Communication support
* Sag assistance
* Safety personnel
* Rest stops

Note: Proceeds to benefit the expansion & maintenance of the Montour Trail. Download a copy of the registration form at: (www.montourtrail.org/race/tour.html).

Event Day: Saturday, September 27th
Event Location: Route 51 and Montour Road
Event Time: Onsite Registration begins at 7:00am. First ride: 8:15am
Cost: $12 – $25

September 27th – 6th Annual Bike Shennandoah

This event is sponsored by and benefits multiple organizations – for more information see: (www.bikeshenandoah.org). Bike Shenandoah will feature routes north and south of Harrisonburg. Routes will connect with congregations along the way. Congregations will provide rest and refreshment stops. Maps of the routes will be available for riders before leaving Eastern Mennonite High School. All routes will be clearly marked.

All rides will have mechanical and safety support. First aid supplies will be available if needed. County and city security officials will be alerted of cyclists on the roads on the longer routes. Bike routes will range in distance from 5 to 100 miles. Liability and accident insurance for riders is covered.

Bike Shenandoah 2003 begins and ends at Eastern Mennonite High School, 801 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

* Century (100-mile) route begins at 8:00am
* Metric Century (62-mile) route begins at 9:00am
* 30-mile route begins at 10:00am
* 15-mile route begins at 2:00pm
* 5-mile route begins at 3:00pm

Plan to be at EMHS 30 minutes prior to your starting time. For complete information, see: (www.bikeshenandoah.org).

Event Day: Saturday, September 27th
Event Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Event Time: First ride begins at 8:00am – please be 30 minutes early!
Cost: Participants are encouraged to get sponsors at $1/mile

September 27th-28th – Biking, Hiking, Fun, in Ohiopyle!

This event is organized by the Green Party of Allegheny County, and is open to all. Please join us for two days of biking, hiking, and basking in the autumn air in the Ohiopyle area. The State Park will be our base for two days; possibilities for riding include return trips to Connelsville and/or Confluence, as well as mountain-biking trails in the Sugarloaf area. All ages and fitness levels are welcome: those who don’t wish to ride can hike or lounge around the park. We are looking into the availability of spaces in Ohiopyle’s youth hostel, but there is a good chance that we will be camping in the park itself. If interested, please contact Jeff Phillips (frerejacques@hotmail.com) for more details. If possible, please also tell me:

* How many people in your party
* Whether you have your own vehicle and bike rack
* Whether you will be bringing or renting a bike
* Preferences regarding sleeping arrangements (i.e., campsite or hostel)
* Any other special needs/concerns

Costs for food/accomodations/transport will be split evenly among all participants. In addition, a $5 donation to the Green Party of Allegheny County would be greatly appreciated, though not necessary.

Event Day: Saturday & Sunday, September 21st-22nd
Event Location: Ohiopyle
Cost: Actual cost to be evenly distributed – $5 additional donation requested

September 28th – The Great DisgRace

This event is sponsored by The Pittsburgh Hash House Harriers (www.pgh-h3.com). The Pittsburgh Hash House Harriers presents an alternative to the Great Race.

Meet: Sunday, September 28th at 10:30am. At 11:00am, we will begin running a Hash House Harriers style Hare and Hound Trail* at the Frick Park Nature Center Off Beechwood Boulevard near the starting line of what would have been the Great Race.

*This will be a non-competitive course with check points and false trails and beverage stops. It will not follow the normal Great Race’s course. There is no registration fee but you must bring money for beverages at the end of the event. The course will be suitable for mountain biking with a special additional section of trails. There may be some point where you have to carry your bike but it will be minimal.

For additional information and a better idea of what hashing is all about please check out our website: (www.pgh-h3.com).

Event Day: Sunday, September 28th
Event Location: Frick Park Nature Center off Beechwood Blvd.
Event Time: Meet at 10:30am
Cost: $FREE – bring money for beverages at the end of the event!

October 4th – River & Wind Challenge 2003

This event benefits The Salvation Army Somerset County Service Center. The Most Beautiful Section of the Great Allegheny Passage in Pennsylvania! 30 miles or 60 bike tour along the Allegheny and Laurel Highlands Rail Trail in beautiful Somerset County Pennsylvania. You will experience spectacular fall scenery as well as the Windfarms of Garrett, PA. You will view a variety of plants, wildlife, rock formations as you go over fantastic bridges and historical sites along the trail and nearby.

For more information, please visit (http://riverandwindchalleng.tripod.com/) or call: (814) 445-9232.

Event Day: Saturday, October 4th
Event Location: Somerset County, PA
Cost: $50 (benefits The Salvation Army Somerset County Service Center)

October 4th – 2003 Fall Bicycle Flea Market

The annual Trexlertown Bike Swap will be held on Saturday, October 4th, at the Velodrome. A ton of stuff, most at incredible low prices.

For more information, please visit (http://lvvelo.org/fleamkt.htm).

October 6th-12th – World Road Cycling Championships – Ontario

The World Road Cycling Championships will be held in Hamilton, Ontario from October 6th to 12th, 2003. The Championships were awarded to Hamilton by the International Cycling Union on October 3, 1999. It is estimated that the week-long event, consisting of 10 races, will attract more than 250,000 spectators, 125,000 of whom will come from outside the province and 50,000 of whom will come from outside Canada.

The World Championships were first held in Nurburgring, Germany, in 1927 and there have been 67 Championships held since that time. The event has only been held outside of Europe four times; the last time was in Colombia, in 1995. Canada has hosted the event once before: in Montreal, in 1974.

For more information, please visit (www.worlds.stevebauer.com) or (www.hamilton2003.com).

GOING LEGIT ~ A TWELVE-STEP PROGRAM FOR MOUNTAIN BIKERS

The following was originally published by Dirt Rag Magazine (www.dirtragmag.com):

Please observe these simple rules of etiquette:

1. Don’t ride in the mud. Give the trails at least 48 hours to heal after it rains. If trails are muddy, ride elsewhere. Have a backup plan, like sticking to the roads.
2. Stay on the trail. The middle of the trail, Going around the mud puddle just makes the trail wider. Not pleasing.
3. Respect trail closures. Trail closures are there to make the whole trail system better.
4. Respect others. Yield to hikers and equestrians. Ask equestrians questions before passing. Be friendly!
5. Let others know you’re coming early. Ring your bell. If you don’t have a bell, use your voice as a friendly greeting/warning.
6. Slow down when overtaking walkers. Walkers think you are going 80 mph when you zoom by. Slow down and say hello. Smile and greet.
7. Limit group size. 6 people maximum. Large groups are menacing to hikers and equestrians.
8. If you are with your dog, it must be on a leash. Unleashed dogs are scary to many people.
9. Trail maintenance every ride! Don’t wait for someone else to do the ride. Leave the park better than you found it!
10. Join the PGH MTB ACCESS list service. Send an email to: (pgh_mtb_access-subscribe@topica.com).
11. Don’t worry.
12. Be happy.

NEW MOUNTAIN BIKE LIST SERVS

There are two new listservs (on Topica.com) for Western PA mountain bikers. If you would like to subscribe to either or both, here is a brief description and how:

The first is the access logistics listserv. It will focus on discussions about access logistics from dedicated people. This is for folks who will roll up their sleeves and get involved in trail access around Pittsburgh. We have already got a lot of action on this list. To subscribe, just send a blank email to: (pgh_mtb_access-subscribe@topica.com). You will receive an automated reply instructing you how to verify your subscription.

The second is a super low volume listserv for general MTB announcements. For now, only the list owner (Brad) email: (devolution@dirtragmag.com) can post messages. The plan is to use this list to announce rides, races, access, or anything Mountain Bike related. We are looking to get as many people as possible on it. After you subscribe, you can send material to Brad, and he will post it to the entire group. To subscribe, just send a blank email to: (pgh_mtb_announce-subscribe@topica.com). You will receive an automated reply instructing you how to verify your subscription.

PITT STOPS

This section of The Bike Pittsburgh Leader is dedicated to identifying local establishments that have made a committment to cyclists.

This Issue’s Pitt Stop is: Pittsburgh Pro Bicycles – (www.pghprobikes.com) located in Squirrel Hill at 2012 Forbes Avenue – Telephone: (412) 521-2453.

The staff of Pittsburgh Pro Bicycles is friendly and knowledgable – they are a full service bike shop. If you’re a Bike Pittsburgh Full Member, Pittsburgh Pro Bicycles offers additional discounts to you. Be sure to tell them that you’re a member, and show your membership card at the register.

Post the miles that you ride on the Bike Pittsburgh website in the Community & Classifieds area! Just send us your monthly mileage, and if you want your name to be available as an email link to: miles@bike-pgh.org

Bike Pittsburgh is Western Pennsylvania’s only cycling advocacy, awareness, and safety organization. We rely on your support for many 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 Bike Pittsburgh Leader” is an electronic newsletter published about every three weeks. Previous issues of “The Bike Pittsburgh Leader” can be found on the Bike Pittsburgh website in the section called “The Leader”. 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. loan student aes centerhome loans alliedcar loan 1.99loans ltv 125loan 504 sbaloans accion business smallstudent ach loanschool alabama forgiveness loans Map