Author's posts

Crashing out 10 feet from my driveway; January bike ride stats

The first thing that came into my mind as I lay in the street under my bicycle on Friday was, “This is a hell of a way to start a bike ride.”

Then I realized I couldn't clip out of my right pedal, my right hip and elbow hurt like the dickens and my glasses were about a foot from my face.

I finally disengaged myself from my bike, stood up, picked up the stuff that had fallen off me and my bike, and limped back to the house. Fortunately, I had fallen within 10 feet of my driveway. Also, no one had witnessed it …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/31/crashing-out-10-feet-from-my-driveway-january-bike-ride-stats/

Washington state closes all 5 Iron Horse trail tunnels indefinitely

Falling debris hazards in five John Wayne Pioneer Trail tunnels, including the 2.3-mile-long Snoqualmie Pass Tunnel at left, have convinced Washington state parks to close them until further notice.

The closures are bad news for the many bicyclists and hikers who pass through the tunnels at they hike and bike the 100-mile-long rail-trail over the Cascades from Cedar Falls to the Columbia River.

Shutting down the tunnels not only removes interesting historical landmarks from the Iron Horse State Park, which contains the rail-trail, but requires trail users to take long detours — sometimes out to Interstate 90 — to get through the remote area.

A request for funds to repair the tunnels, estimated at $9 million, are included in the 2009-2011 two-year budget cycle …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/31/washington-state-closes-all-5-iron-horse-trail-tunnels-indefinitely/

Webcast of Cyclo-cross World Championships on Sunday

If you're a cyclo-cross fan, then you'll want to check out the Universal Sports website on Sunday where a same-day delay video feed of the Cyclocross World Championships will be shown.

The World Feed, so-called because it's a raw feed without commentary, will be available a couple of hours after the completion of the competition in Hoogerheide, The Netherlands. Video from both the men's and women's competition will be available.

Check back to cycling schedule page at UniversalSports.com for times and details about the webcast.

Leading contenders for medals in the elite men's division include Sven Nys, 32, of Belgium, Lars Boom, 23, of The Netherlands …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/31/webcast-of-cyclo-cross-world-championships-on-sunday/

RAGBRAI announces a shorter, hilly bike ride in 2009

Who's up for a 7-day rolling party across Iowa? Whoa. Did I just see 10,000 hands go up?

The Des Moines Register on Thursday announced this year's route for RAGBRAI, naming a west to east route that starts in Council Bluffs on July 19 and ends in Burlington on July 25.

At 442 miles, it's one of the shortest in the history of the recreational bicycle tour. To make up for that, organizers picked a hillier than normal route with nearly 23,000 of total elevation gain.

The lucky few named as host towns for the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa are Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Greenfield, Indianola, Chariton, Ottumwa, Mt. Pleasant and Burlington…

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/30/ragbrai-announces-a-shorter-hilly-bike-ride-in-2009/

2009 RAGBRAI route

The 2009 RAGBRAI route between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers is one of the shortest in the bike tour's 37 year history. More information at Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa website.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/30/2009-ragbrai-route/

Bicycling to school through 6 states and a Canadian province

Last fall, Nate Bartlett rode his bicycle to his new school — 1,100 miles away.

The 19-year-old from western Massachusetts was due to begin classes at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, as an incoming freshman. He thought it might be fun to turn his last few days before college into a bike tour.

His father, Sam, readily agreed to ride along. The pair gave themselves two weeks to make the trip …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/29/bicycling-to-school-through-6-states-and-a-canadian-province/

On the road to college

Nate Bartlett bicycled over 1,000 miles to attend Northwestern University in the fall. You can read about his journey with his father at the Biking to Northwestern blog. The photo came from that website.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/29/on-the-road-to-college/

Finishing the Erie Canalway bike path

Trail supporters in New York state are pushing for completion of the Erie Canalway Trail.

Originally completed in 1825 to carry commerce from the Hudson River to Lake Erie, the canal is now the focus of lively towns along its path trying to lure tourism dollars to their communities.

Some 260 miles of bike trails (officially multi-use trails) run through the Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor, which includes the Erie, as well as other historic canals in upstate New York.

Eventually, 366 miles of bike trails are planned between Albany and Buffalo. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/28/finishing-the-erie-canalway-bike-path/

Host cities announced for 2009 Tour of Missouri

Pro cyclists competing at the third annual Tour of Missouri this September will be generally heading west for the first time.

The 7-stage bicycle race rolls out Sept. 7-13 from St. Louis to Kansas City, opposite the usual direction of the race.

The 11 cities that will host a start or finish line (or both) at the race are St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Rolla, St. James, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Chillicothe, St. Joseph and Kansas City …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/28/host-cities-announced-for-2009-tour-of-missouri/

2009 Tour of Missouri map

Route and host cities for 2009 Tour of Missouri, Sept. 7-13. See Tour of Missouri

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2009/01/28/2009-tour-of-missouri-map/