Former Steroid User Begins New Cycling Life

Posted by Rich on Thursday, February 14, 2008 to Community

The last  remenants of our 3-hour Sunday "hills" training ride rounded a curve and closed in on the former steroid user.  I could easily recognize the rider's form from a distance, even from behind. "Get out of the road - roads are for cars!", I joked, as we checked our six for traffic before we swept past her.  She didn't even look back as she instantly rejoined with some clever come-back.

Steroid use was many years behind her.  It had been necessary to keep up with her peers whose lungs were better able to transfer oxygen and remove waste gasses from her bloodstream. It had been a simple matter of staying with her pack and not being dropped.  Others in her group took their drugs for their particular medical shortcomings - in fact, almost everyone did it - including my father.

We caught up to dad around the next corner. I mock-scolded him, "You're dropping mom again!" 

He gave a few hard pedal strokes and shot ahead of us, then removed his feet from the pedals and stretched his legs out to the sides like a 6-year-old showing-off on his new BMX ride.  "Im a year-round rider", he explained to my training partner as we pulled along side him.  His insulin injection requirements have been lowered since he bagan riding regularly, probably because his body is now producing just a tad more of its own.

Two day before, my sister had joined me for her first road ride in clipless pedals.  She is winning tennis matches now that her leg muscles are strong enough to keep her floating kneecap in psoition. Steady doses of mountain biking was her perscription. Marin county, dudes. Road WHAT? To be expected, I suppose.

Cycling heals. 

50+ and formerly 2-packs-a-day, mid-seventies with diabetes, mid-seventies with 50% lung capacity, late forties with a chronically displaced patella - two generations of aging middle-class former couch potatoes healing themselves on their bikes.  Only one of us understands Bob Roll's humor, but that is OK.

 

 

 

 

Permalink     0 Comments

Who shapes our cycling future?

Posted by Rich on Tuesday, December 18, 2007 to Community

Who shapes your cycling future?  Valid question? Yup! Easy answer? Nooooo!

I have heard from locals that we can't make significant changes in the way we use bikes to travel throughout our area. I have heard the excuse that "it is easy" for cyclists in places where roads are new and wide and used year-round for cycling (like San Diego) to get nice, safe bike lanes incorporated in their road system, but for our region we face more challenges.  This is true, but in places as traffic-congested and inhospitible as Chicago and Marin County, cyclists are getting their share of funding and government attention and cooperation.

The common denominator for these regional cycling success stories isn't balmy climate or "blank-slate" road system options - it is teamwork on the part of all parts of the cycling community.  The first step is for each of us to see ourselves as members of ths community.

Here is a weblink that you might find useful if you would like to see what can be accomplished. 

http://www.marinbike.org/Index.shtml

 

Permalink     0 Comments

Rails to Trails

Posted by Christopher on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 to Community

This is a portion of an article that appeared in the New London Day on 12/8/07.  If you are interested in having your comments be part of a presentation by a possible planning community, please respond to a post by Jim Themig in the forum.  As a cycling club, we should all be concerned about this project.

"Hoping to give hikers and bikers a safer way to enjoy what's left of the “uncluttered” environment in southeastern Connecticut, a Ledyard man is trying to establish a trail from Bluff Point in Groton to the Preston Community Park.

For several years, David Holdridge has speculated about whether such a trail could be created. On Friday the Ledyard councilor said there are already established trails that stretch from the point to the park; however, they are disconnected.

One way to link the established trails and create the roughly 15-mile biking and hiking throughway would be to use property owned by the Groton Utilities company...."

To read more, go to www.theday.com

Permalink     1 Comments

Tom Danielson's visit

Posted by Christopher on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 to Community

Wayfarer bike has a great slide show of the Tom Danielson visit. Check it out at wayfarerbike.com

Read Full Post      Permalink     0 Comments

Student starts bike shop

Posted by Christopher on Friday, February 23, 2007 to Community

This was posted on the Connecticut College website, as well as appearing in the New London Day.  I have heard about schools which have "community bikes" which students ride from one class to another.  If you have any old bikes or spare parts lying around and want to dispose of them to a good cause, please contact the individual in the article.  Enjoy reading!

Student to open bike shop at Connecticut College to encourage reduced energy consumption
 
Grand opening ceremony to be held on Feb. 27, public invited
 
NEW LONDON, Conn. - Connecticut College senior Joanna McClintick is opening a bicycle shop and collective on the college campus to teach students and community members to use bicycles as sustainable alternatives to automobiles.

An opening ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. at the bike shop in the basement of 360 House on Feb. 27, followed by a discussion about biking with Gabriel Chandler, assistant professor of math and computer science, at 7 p.m. in 360 House, Apartment 1.

The bike shop initiative is being funded by the Athena Social Entrepreneurship Initiative grant, awarded by the Connecticut College Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy and funded by alumna Trish May ´75, the founder of the non-profit venture philanthropy company Athena Partners. The grant, which funds projects up to $500, is given to students or student groups who are creatively pursuing social change.

McClintick, who spent the summer working at a bike shop that focused on repairing old bicycles, plans to teach other students how to fix and build bicycles using ones that have been donated or abandoned. Those bikes will then be available for use by the college community. McClintick also hopes to offer educational programs for the New London community and institute a program that invites high school students to apprentice at the shop and receive their own bicycle.

"Part of the importance of a community bike space is that people have the opportunity not just to buy a bike, but learn about it, and take an active role in the knowledge of an alternative mode of transport," McClintick said.

McClintick is currently accepting donations of tools (including bike pumps and stands, rim tape, chain tools, tire levels and multi-spoke wrenches), bike helmets and used or broken bicycles. To donate, contact McClintick at jkmcc@conncoll.edu or (860) 439-3615.

Permalink     0 Comments