Columbus Rides Bikes!

Jonny and I drove from C-Bus to Pittsburgh and we made it just in time to participate in what I would consider one of the best urban rides I have experienced. Traffic into the Burgh was pretty crappy. A lot of traffic for the baseball game and road repairs almost caused us to be late. We parked at the Washington Blvd velodrome, which is an outdoor paved oval with banked turns. East End Brewing is just up the road a bit. When we arrived it was a sea of bikes and the line was out to the road. The crew from Wheeling, Kevin, Carolyn, Andy, Bruce, Andy Wallen, Ryan and Anna were already signed in and waiting. They did a group photo and estimated the crowd between 400-500 people. I concur. Three kegs rolled out of the lot and we headed toward the secret final destination bar somewhere in Pittsburgh. I know my way around Pittsburgh, but I am not intimate with the streets. I do know that we crossed through Shadyside and Oakland and made our way down to the river via a trail. Down along the riv

I hope you'll consider attending my vehicular cycling workshop next Thursday, 5/21 at 6:30PM at the Gahanna golf course clubhouse. It's free and there will be food! You just have to register through the parks & rec department in Gahanna. Here's the info: Cycling safety May 21 at 6:30-8PM Gahanna golf course clubhouse 220 Olde Ridenour Road May is National Bicycle Month. Start the cycling season by learning about the principles of cycling on roads and trails. Topics include basic bicycle maintenance, sharing the roads with motorists safely and courteously, safe group riding, accident types and prevention techniques and Ohio and local traffic laws. We will not be riding, so participants do not need to bring bikes. Appropriate for adults and children aged 14 and older. Snacks and refreshments provided by Funtrail. Call Gahanna Parks & Recreation to register at 342-4250

Ohio Senator Teresa Fedor is bicycling from Toledo to Columbus starting on May 15 (tomorrow) to promote biking in Ohio. She will be stopping at schools, trails and bike shops along the way, spending nights in Findlay and Marion. She is a promoter of healthy children, election reform and the environment and she is a supporter of cyclists, veterans and active military and their families. There will be a "Campaign for Healthy Kids Rally" at the statehouse on Sunday, May 17 at 3:30-6:30PM. Mayor Coleman and Governor Strickland are expected to be there. Please come down to the statehouse on May 17 at 3:30 to welcome Senator Fedor to Columbus. Senator Fedor plans to sponsor a bill to change the Ohio bicycle laws as proposed by the Ohio Bicycle Federation: http://cycle-safety.com/ORC-proposal-Complete.rtf OBF president Chuck Smith will accompany her on her ride. Here's a map of their route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/132079

It's b2ww (bike to work week for the acronym impaired) and we want to keep you hydrated. So, join us for the third annual Green Drinks bike hop. The plan has changed a bit from our last note, so pay attention. It is still going down this Thursday, May 14th, but places and times have changed (slightly). We'll be starting at Byrne's (just like before), but not until the regular Green Drinks start time of 6 PM. After cooling our heels and wheels in Grandview with some well deserved drinks, the pelaton departs at 7:15 for Surly Girl to reoccupy the backroom that we used to call home. Our featured speaker for the evening will be Meredith Joy from Yay Bikes. And then back in the saddle to Cafe Bobo (Cafe Bourbon Street for the uninitiated) for a great line-up of bands - Small Pox & the New Vaccine, Couch Forts, Tavo Carbone. If you arrive before 9:30 and on a bike the cover is $2 ($5 if you drive and/or come late). To recap, we'll be at Byrne's Pub (1248 W 3rd

Pedal Pittsburgh 2009 is Sunday, May 17th and will take place at the SouthSide Works! A ride as unique as the city, Pedal Pittsburgh annually attracts more than 2,000 participants ranging from families with children and recreational riders to fitness enthusiasts. Participants can choose from six courses ranging from 6- to 60-miles, this year starting and finishing at SouthSide Works. Pedal Pittsburgh 2009 is celebrating its 16th year of providing a great way to experience the defining architecture and urban design of the city and its neighborhoods. Since its inception in 1994, Pedal Pittsburgh has hosted 22,000 cyclists riding past the city's architectural heritage. As you travel along the routes, watch for some of this year's architectural highlights such as the new August Wilson Center for African American Culture downtown or the Mount Washington Rain Garden. the site...

I don't want to bore anyone with details. Brett and I started north of town and passed the start at 8am. Andy had started out earlier because he thought he couldn't keep up. We caught up to him in Circleville. The wind was swirling around for the first 25 miles and then picked up consistency the further south we continued. We were forced to paceline to keep our sanity. The wind was coming out of the southwest so we did the angled paceline where riders stretched out into the road instead of directly behind each other. In Chillicothe we had lunch with David, Tricia and her brother Steve (who by the way is a hoot). Then we hit the rollers. Brett and I got out in front of Andy, but he caught up to us by catching onto a group. We stopped in Waverly at the lake for last snack before Portsmouth. We also jumped into groups and it was nice to get pulled along instead of fighting the wind. On one of the sections of road they had rumble strips lining it and Brett got caught on them. I l

Share The Road Columbus is an educational initiative Mayor Michael B. Coleman created as part of the City’s Bicentennial Bikeways Plan. The Bikeways Plan intends to make sharing Columbus’ roads safer for everyone – motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Share the Road Columbus is part of the plan’s first phase of implementation. The initial area of focus for Share the Road Columbus is North High Street, from Nationwide Boulevard to Morse Road. There will be new traffic signs and pavement markings to educate and inform. the website is here...

Bike stolen as of May 11th from my house in North OSU Campus area. Description: - Black IRO Angus 59 cm frame - Black bullhorn handlebars w/ yellow OURY grips - Yellow Velocity Deep-V rims with black spokes - Black seatpost with Yellow Selle Itallia Turbo seat. - Navy Blue KMC single-speed chain - Crank Bros. Steel Eggbeater pedals. - Has front and rear fenders attached. My bike is hard to miss and will stick out like a sore thumb. Whoever stole it has no respect for bikes whatsoever. I'm a pretty tall guy so good luck to whomever tries to ride it will prove difficult. If there is any one who does rides around OSU campus area please be on the lookout. If you spot it anywhere around town, please do not hesitate to give a call or email! phone: 937-219-3959 e-mail: russtron@gmail.com REWARD: Round of drinks/shots at your bar of choice (and/or) free food to Northstar Cafe.