Volume 2, Issue 17 – November 18, 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:

* Advocacy Alert! Clear Channal Communications Update
* Safe Biking – Staying Warm In Winter
* Pedal Pittsburgh Artist Needed!
* Upcoming Events
* Pitt Stops

ADVOCACY ALERT! CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE

Bike Pittsburgh thanks everyone who took the time to email Clear Channel Communications (www.clearchannel.com) regarding recent remarks made by some of their on-air radio Talent who encouraged motorists to hassle and potentially harm cyclists. Bike Pittsburgh is pleased to see positive remarks and concrete actions taken by Clear Channel (including the firing of one of these on-air Personalities). The following message recently appeared on the League of American Bicyclists’ (www.bikeleague.org) website:

“In a letter to Elissa Margolin, the League’s Executive Director, John Hogan, President and CEO of Clear Channel Radio, said, “the comments made by Clear Channel Radio stations in Cleveland, Houston, and Raleigh were inappropriate and intolerable … As CEO of Clear Channel Radio, I do not support or condone the anti-cyclists messages and have taken steps to insure they do not occur again.” The letter was written following a November 5 meeting between Margolin and Hogan at Clear Channel’s headquarters in San Antonio, TX. Hogan and Margolin discussed ways in which the company could work with the bicycling community to promote safe bicycling and sharing the road and agreed to meet in early 2004 to review progress and chart next steps. Margolin said, “The League is pleased with the response from Clear Channel radio. The comments broadcast on stations in Cleveland, Houston, and Raleigh were indeed egregious, but the company’s redress has been aggressive and the measures taken to prevent any reoccurrence are heartening. CEO John Hogan has clearly demonstrated that any programming that endangers cyclists will not be tolerated and we applaud his leadership on this issue. We are particularly pleased that Clear Channel will work with the bicycling community to help make America’s roads safer for everyone.” Martha Roskowski, America Bikes (www.americabikes.org) Campaign Manager, and Sue Knaup, Thunderhead Alliance (www.thunderheadalliance.org) Executive Director, both expressed their support for Clear Channel’s statement. Knaup said, “I look forward to building this important partnership with one of America’s leading media companies to help promote safe bicycling in America’s communities and to encourage motorists and cyclists to share the road.”

Bike Pittsburgh will continue to montior the actions promised in the statements made by Clear Channel, and will report and progress – either forward or backward – that we come across.

SAFE BIKING – STAYING WARM IN WINTER

This is the fifth 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.

Now that Winter is fast approaching and the temperature is dropping outside, it is important that you are dressed to handle the weather. There are two parts to staying warm when riding during Winter: 1) Choice of clothing materials, and 2) Method of dressing.

First, avoid cotton at all costs! Cotton retains moisture (sweat) and will stick closely to your body. If you stop cycling for a few moments and begin to cool down, cotton clothing will draw your body heat away from you, and it is extremely difficult to get warm again. Invest in some wickable garments such as a cycling top and long tights, and a set of windbreaking jacket and pants.

Try to layer your clothing, with the wickable garments against your skin. Wear the clothing fairly loosely, so that air is trapped and kept warm between garments. Although it seems intuitive to wear thick (or multple layers) of socks, doing so will cause your feet to become cold much faster; the resulting tight fit of your foot in your shoe actually restricts blood flow to your feet, allowing them to become cold much faster. The same applies for gloves; tight gloves will cause your fingers to get cold much faster. Three additional items will make your cold-weather cycling more enjoyable: 1) a balaclava (face wrap) which will protect your face and ears from windburn, 2) cold weather cycling socks (yes, your feet sweat, too), and 3) cold weather “booties” that cover your regular shoes and provide an extra layer of insulation and wind protection.

Finally, know your limits. If your feet or hands start getting to the point where you’re having trouble feeling or moving them, it is time to get out of the cold. Frostbite is a very real and serious danger when cycling in extreme cold. If you notice that your fingers develop small breaks in blood vessels (for instance, under the tips of your fingernails), that is the first stage of frostbite! If you dress appropriately, it is possbile to enjoy cycling in and around Pittsburgh for much of the Winter. It will require a small investment in Winter/cycling clothing (all available at your local, friendly, bike shop), but it is well worth it.

PEDAL PITTSBURGH ARTIST NEEDED!

Pedal Pittsburgh is an annual, spring bicycle ride sponsored by the Community Design Center of Pittsburgh (www.cdcp.org) celebrating design, health & fitness, and urban lifestyles. Noted as one of the region’s premier events, Pedal Pittsburgh draws approximately 2,000 cyclists each year to showcase Pittsburgh’s unique neighborhoods and amenities.

The Community Design Center of Pittsburgh is seeking a consultant who will create artwork representing Pedal Pittsburgh 2004. The artwork will be incorporated into existing templates for standard materials such as poster, brochures, and t-shirts. The CDCP will be responsible for the final layout and production of the pieces.

If you’re interesting in submitting a proposal for this project to the CDCP, visit the Bike Pittsburgh website and click on the Pedal Pittsburgh logo on the home page to download a small PDF document that has complete details. The deadline for submitting Letters of Interest is Friday, November 21st.

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 30th – 2003 Speedgoat Crossing Race

This event is sponsored by Speedgoat Bicycles (www.speedgoat.com). We’re back at the best cyclocross venue, Seton Hill College. Last year, the student center had a big screen TV, big soft couches, and all those amenities that make this a good time for the whole family. Organizer Jeff Guy always does a great job, and feel free to contact Speedgoat for more information: (tech@speedgoat.com). Racing starts at 10:00am.

Temperature last year: 22-degrees. Showers? Yes. Cash prizes: Yes! Cash prizes and assorted goodies depending on field depth/number of racers, etc!

Event Day: Sunday, November 30th
Event Location: Seton Hill College, Greensburg, PA 15601
Event Time: Registration opens at 8:00am, Racing begins at 10:00am

December 7th – 14th Annual Punk Bike Enduro

An 8 to 10 stage race for fun and points! Most points wins in the overall. Women’s and Junior categories – no fees. No NORBA. No rules. Eats and party after it’s over – beer will be provided – you bring the eats (or go hungry). Kitchen available. Course Volunteers needed. Dress for cold, wet weather. Helmet STRONGLY recommended, as there is no insurance offered at this event.

For more information, call: (412) 767-9910.

On Sunday, November 30th and Saturday, December 6th, there will be maintenance pre-rides.

Event Day: Sunday, December 7th
Event Location: Dorseyville Fire Hall
Event Time: 11:00am

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: Artist & Craftsman Supply – Located at 6000 Penn Circle South, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (East Liberty). Phone: (412) 363-6400, FAX: (412) 363-5777. On the web at: (www.artistcraftsman.com).

Artist Craftsman & Supply will allow you (encourages you!) to take you bike into the store, as there is currently no good bike parking near by.

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 starting at $25 per year ($15 for Students). 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 home bankruptcy year after oneloan texas sample automobile contract agreementagreement personal free loanalabama auto loan bad creditloan business small alabamaloan alaska home loans carin mortgage alaska loanloan mortgage alaska purchase Map