JBar Cycling

Seasonal Doldrums

2012-02-12T10:27:00.001-06:00

dol·drums noun pl \ˈdōl-drəmz

1: a spell of listlessness or despondency
2: often capitalized : a part of the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light shifting winds
3: a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump

My Productivity
Most of my posts are driven by my experiences in riding the River Trail system, the open roads around Central Arkansas, or some of the wealth of locally available single-track in the area. As a result, at this time of year, with its limited ride opportunities and relatively few riders about, my subject matter can get a little scarce.

I maintain a fairly consistent, if sparse, ride schedule over the winter, but it can be lonely out there! A single runner approaches in the distance on the BDB this past Saturday. The sunshine belied the fact that it was 31 degrees with a 20 MPH NW wind.

On Saturday, I spent much of the morning eying the thermometer and pondering a ride plan. As the temperature finally nudged 30-degrees around noon, I decided to head down to the River Trail with my mountain bike to ride some single-track and see who was out and about. The single-track was there, but the crowds were thin, to say the least. I did encounter one road cyclist, a few hardy runners, and a half-dozen or so mountain bikers between Pfieffer Loop and the trails at Burns Park.

This group of fully loaded backpackers looked way too clean and fresh to have been out overnight, so I assumed their Burns Park trek was in preparation for a bigger adventure.

Our Season
The subject of weather is usually front-and-center with riders this time of year, mostly bitching about the cold and the short days; however, we've experienced a historically mild winter in much of the country. In looking over my 2011 ride log, I noted that by this time last year I had six days marked as "NR (no ride)-snow" , and several more days in which I rode but noted the presence of snow. In fact, last year on February 9, we got snow that precluded riding for several days. It looks like we are about to be treated to what columnist Richard Allin referred to as the annual "Snow Tire and Daffodil Festival", but the feeling of spring has already crept in and a few days of seasonable February weather shouldn't hurt us a bit. Frankly, I'll admit to a little bit of disappointment that I never felt compelled to get out all of my "can't believe we're riding in this" winter kit. There are usually at least a few days each year on which my neighbor Darwin and I shame each other out in some crazy-ass 17 degree, howling wind weather conditions that require cut-out wool socks under my shoe covers, ski gloves, a hat not meant for under-helmet wear, and several layers of warm-everything-else. Those events usually come after a few totally shut in days of snow and ice or miserably cold rain, but we just haven't seen those conditions this winter. On the few truly cold days of this winter, a glance at the forecast would always offer more pleasant days on the horizon, and so it is this week; a promise of snow on Monday, but a return to the 60's by Thursday.

World News

2012-02-07T22:17:00.001-06:00

You know that when cycling makes the front page of the Dem Gaz sports section, complete with photo, it's seldom good news. By now, of course, everyone with even the slightest interest in cycling or who keeps up with general sporting news has heard the word on Alberto Contador. After a year and a half of maneuvering and delays by all parties, the three time Tour de France winner was handed a two-year suspension and was stripped of his results since and including the 2010 Tour d France. With the retroactive punishment, he can race again on August 5. Congratulations to Andy Schleck, the now winner of the 2010 Tour de France. For Andy, that's a plate served very cold, as he saw the same race that we did; and he came in second. That's really too bad, because he'll have his name* in the record books, but he missed out on the glory and the joy and the asterisk will be there. What I think is a damned shame is that in cases of this type, there are really no grey areas, and yet it took a year and a half to resolve. If the rider has a substance in his body, he's responsible for it and will be banned. That cold, hard action ultimately was taken, but in the meantime, Contador raced, and now will be able to resume racing in time for the Vuelta. He officially hasn't existed, but he was still able to saddle up and maintain his brand awareness, being very much in the public eye. In that regard, Contador got an easy ride on the punishment. The folks who got screwed in the deal are the rest of the peloton. The record books can be rewritten, but that has little to do with the reality of the race season. The ban always seemed inevitable, so they should have just done it.
All of the debate over tainted meat (not a credible story in Spain, a real possibility if he had been training in China or Mexico), the incredibly small amount of clenbuterol and allegations of plasticizers from blood bags indicating an illegal transfusion (no accepted testing; couldn't really be considered) are moot in the face of hard and fast rules currently governing doping in cycling. Perhaps the rules should be changed to allow for accidental ingestion, tainted meats, and mislabeled supplements, but it was too late for that when Contador's results came back in 2010. The rules were in place and the clenbuterol was in Contador. It should have been "game over" eighteen months ago.

How is AC's case different from Lance Armstrong? Completely. The feds had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Lance or the team defrauded the government. They apparently couldn't do that. Armstrong never tested positive, unless one believes the claims of failed tests and payoffs. Other than a distant brush with Operacion Puerto before his US Postal days, Contador has generally been considered, if not beyond suspicion, a clean rider. Armstrong was hounded, accused, investigated, tested, harassed and vilified for years, and yet has never been busted. That really pisses a lot of people off, for some reason. After all of the leaks from the "secret" federal Grand Jury and the very public statements of Tyler Hamilton and Floyd Landis, Lance's image is bent but not broken. That could yet change if the WADA can gain access to the grand jury testimony and other evidence gathered at the expense of us taxpayers. I guess if they find truly damning evidence then they can decide that Armstrong didn't win 7 Tours and they could suspend him from .....retirement? And so the hunt goes on.
I could be convinced that Lance was the smartest doper ever or that Contador was completely clean. I could also be convinced that some of the rules need changing and that there should be some point in time at which the witch hunts should cease. The WADA statute of limitations is 8 years, but WADA president John Fahey says, "Circumstances may exist that allow the rule to be set aside."
As a bike racing fan, I'm ready to move on.

I know I'm not really adding anything fresh to this topic, but I just had to say something!

Lance Off The Hook??

2012-02-03T17:40:00.002-06:00

The status of the ongoing federal investigation of Lance Armstrong crossed my mind today for some reason. I have long believed that Lance likely doped, as did most of his peers, for a period of time, but I also felt that dragging up 8-10 year-old rumors and literally making a federal case out of it served no purpose; not justice, not cleaning up the sport. No purpose other than giving some satisfaction to all the Lance haters out there and pumping up the reputation of the federal prosecuter who got Barry Bonds that awesome hand slap. By coincidence, as I sifted through online newpapers seeking to maintain some balance in my news sources (shocking note for some: Fox News isn't really fair and balanced. Add variety.), I caught this fresh item in the New York Times:

Lance Armstrong Avoids Charges as Inquiry Ends

By IAN AUSTEN

Published: February 3, 2012

Federal prosecutors announced Friday that they had closed their investigation of Lance Armstrong without charging him, nearly two years after they began looking into possible crimes related to allegations that he and his cycling teammates participated in illegal doping.

The possible crimes being investigated included the defrauding of the government, drug trafficking, money laundering and conspiracy involving Armstrong and other top cyclists. In particular, the authorities were exploring whether money from the United States Postal Service, the main sponsor of Armstrong’s team from 1996 to 2004, was used to buy performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong, a seven-time winner of the Tour de France, has always emphatically denied any accusations that he used illegal performance-enhancing drugs. He has long fought off suspicions that his Tour titles were tainted by performance-enhancers, and he has never officially tested positive for an illegal substances. (At the 1999 Tour, he failed a test for a corticosteroid but produced a doctor’s note for it.)

A grand jury in Los Angeles was convened for the investigation. On Friday, without citing a reason, United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. said in a statement that prosecutors and special agents had ended the investigation into “allegations of federal criminal conduct by members and associates of a professional bicycle racing team owned in part by Lance Armstrong.”

In May 2010, Floyd Landis, a former teammate on the United States Postal Service team whose 2006 Tour title was annulled because he failed a drug test, reversed his years of denials and said publicly that he and Armstrong were active participants in systematic drug use and blood doping on the team.

It's time to move on, though I'm sure that Floyd Landis will be disappointed that he won't be in line for a reward as a rat...uh.... "Whistle blower."

I've never been a Lance-worshipper, but he was among the best athletes we've ever seen. I think the biggest disappointment I've personally had from Lance has been his endorsement of Michelob Ultra as "beer".

Little Rock Bike Friendly Committee Meeting

2012-02-01T21:35:00.000-06:00

On Wednesday, I attended the regular meeting of the Little Rock Bike Friendly Community Committee at the River Market, which is chaired by Ed Levy. I have participated in the NLRBFCC and was curious as to how the two groups compared and I wanted to hear what was being done to "close the loop" on the Little Rock portion of the trail near the Dillard's HQ. I think that by their very nature, the machinations of this kind of volunteer committee is that they can be excruciating for folks accustomed to making decisions and carrying them out. Items are proposed, discussed, tabled, modified, revisited, mulled over, and then eventually dropped or agreed upon, then someone agrees to form a committee or look into T-shirt design or.......whatever. The item is then brought up as old business in the next months business. Almost surprisingly, the process does eventually accomplish things and Ed did a good job of moving through the agenda items. I have no standing with the LRBFCC, so I was there to observe and learn what I could about developments of import to those of us in the cycling community as a whole.

Closing The Loop: Dillard's Trail Section.
Bryan Day, Assistant City Manager, reported on the continuing efforts to complete this section of trail. Though Little Rock's application for a federal Tiger III grant to complete the River Bluff section was rejected, the City still hopes to eventually construct the ambitious project, which would run behind the Dillard's property and be cantilevered over the Arkansas River. Applications for a Tiger IV grant may be presented in March, but federal funds are scant and success in gaining money for this project is a long shot. Funding from other sources will likely be required. That said, the City is moving forward with completion of the plans and will advance with the project as funding allows. The first stage will be to repair washed out section of the Medical Mile trail section and bridge the Union Pacific RR tracks to reach Cantrell Road. This arrangement will, for now, still put cyclists on the sidewalk in front of Dillard's, and the transition back to the trail near the Cantrell viaduct was a little vague.
Automobile traffic connecting to eastbound Cantrell from under the viaduct will be curtailed and the road/trail and bridge over the creek at that location will be improved.

Rebsamen Park Road, 12th Street

Rebsamen Park Road from Overlook to the new roundabout at Riverfront Road is scheduled for repaving this year, with attention to the design and markings of the bike lanes being given close consideration. The road has not been paved in over 20 years and the shoulder "bike lanes" were not constructed for the purpose. The result is a dangerous, difficult to maintain arrangement that often forces riders intent on using bike lanes to instead take to the road to avoid the many hazards. Hopefully, repaving will allow for more viable bike lanes that are better isolated from traffic. Properly done, a revamped Rebsamen Park Road will provide a safer situation for bike commuters and recreational cyclists, reduce bike traffic on the adjacent trail, and reduce conflict with motorists.
There was also a discussion on re-marking a stretch of 12th Street to accommodate bike lanes. I did not get a lot of detail on the endeavor, but it apparently has been on the table for some time and is slated to happen. This may help create an important east-west corridor for bike commuters.

Busted!
Terry Hastings, speaking for the Little Rock Police Department, reported that a couple of sorry, thieving assholes (my description) had been observed breaking into cars at the Two Rivers Bridge and arrested.

New Route To The River Trail?
Among the agenda items was a proposed path from the Foxcroft area to the River Trail on a route that roughly follows Jimmerson Creek. There has already been a good deal of effort on this project and I'll get some details from the folks directly involved at some point. There are right-of-way concerns and I'm not very familiar with the area, so I'm unsure how this will progress.

How It Happens
It appears to me that Little Rock is gaining some momentum toward becoming more "bike friendly", but that is not just happening by some great inertial force. It is happening because there are folks working on our behalf. That is a very good thing and to be appreciated; however, there are many varied interests within the cycling community and it is important that the conversation is not dominated by one faction or another. The LRBF committee seemed to have a fairly disparate group of riders and a good representation from city government to allow for some balanced discussions and practical problem solving. As slow as progress is with committees, these folks seem to be making some progress.

Little Rock Tweed Ride: A Charming and Resounding Success

2012-01-31T18:00:00.001-06:00

Photo by Ian Caple and gleefully poached without permission from the Official Little Rock Tweed Ride Facebook Gallery somehowassociatedwithJamieFender, etc, etc............ (the photo credit fine print gets too fine from here on out, but whatever is required, you can assume it's there.)

OK, I'm guilty of not having posted something about this ride before now. Sometimes, it's just hard to stay ahead of all the cool stuff going on around Central Arkansas. I'm just a simple working man and it required me to write a bunch of words because I hate to just lift whole cloth from other sites like this from Arkansas Cycling and Fitness:

MASSIVE CORRECTION! This original material was from Joe Jacobs's fine Arkansas Outside.com blog . Sorry, Joe! Good job, as usual. JB 2/1/12

The word spread quickly, plans for a gathering of bike minded crazies. Dressed in tweed on a winter Sunday, we would meet and ride. Yes, add Little Rock to the list of cities to host a tweed ride. Tweed rides are a growing part of bicycling sub-culture. No spandex, no mud, no heart-rate monitors, no power meters. Our kits (cycling lingo for riding clothes) included wool instead of nylon, old single speed bikes if we could find them, baskets, flowers, a nice hat with pearls, knickers and a bow tie. It was wonderful.

Follow ACF the link above for more.

Congratulations to Vince Ferguson and the other organizers, as it sounds like they had a large and diverse crowd of about 70 riders. I think I saw both moustache handlebars and handlebar moustaches in the very good news coverage of the event, along with some nifty knickers and bowler hats. Fun stuff!
I had some intentions of dropping in on the ride, but sunny skies and warm temperatures drew me to the roads west of town.

Facebook Gallery

North Little Rock Mayoral Election: Let's Pay Attention

2012-01-31T17:33:00.002-06:00

NLR Mayor Pat Hays recently announced that he would not be seeking re-election this fall. While I have disagreed with Mayor Hays on some issues such as the use of TIF districts and the proposed Bass Pro Shop development, he has demonstrated a long-term vision for the City that is increasingly rare among today's breed of politicians. The result is that North Little Rock has shaken the "dogtown" image, though we now use the term proudly, and we can now boast many quality-of-life amenities that attract businesses and young, educated residents. We have Dickey-Stephens Park, Verizon Arena, the revitalized Argenta district, a world-class trail and parks system, and the shared icons of the Big Dam Bridge and Clinton Park Bridge. Without the steady hands of Hays and Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines, these developments simply would not have happened and the current view of our city would have been very different.
Currently, I am aware of two likely candidates for the office of mayor, city commerce director Joe Smith and State Representitive Tracy Steele. Others will probably enter the race and I have been contacted by at least one potential contender. I have opinions about both Smith and Steele, but will reserve them for now.
What I am asking is that my North Little Rock readers pay close attention to this race as it unfolds. As is always the case with progressive ideas, there are segments of the population who view our parks and trail systems as a waste, and candidates will likely see some pressure to separate themselves from the status quo. On the other hand, Pat Hays has proven to be a popular leader and has accomplished much for North Little Rock, so it may not be wise to stray far from the trajectory he has set for the city.
In a city of our size, a few hundred cyclists and trail users can easily make a difference on election day, so let's stay informed and stay involved as the field of candidates firms up and they start making promises. North Little Rock's mayor/council form of government is obviously more nimble than that of our brethren across the river and we can help shape our future by electing the right candidate for the job of mayor.

Quick Updates

2012-01-30T19:35:00.000-06:00

Diamond Bear Brewerey/Pub
As I wrote my mention yesterday of the proposed Diamond Bear move to NLR, I dropped a note to Russ Melton, president of Diamond Bear. Russ graciously responded with word that the project is moving along and that groundbreaking can be expected fairly soon. I would imagine that setting up the systems for a brewery and restaurant requires more attention to the details than plopping a chain store into a mall spot. Here's to them, and I look forward to my first Presidential IPA at the River Trail location.

AFKALA: Longfellow Arms Name Change

The Apartments Formerly Known As Longfellow Arms will now be called Riverside at Rockwater, according to an article in Sunday's Dem-Gaz.

It's a welcome change, as I was never sure whether the Longfellow Arms moniker was more reminiscent of "Beverly Hillbillies" or "Sanford and Son". I could have easily imagined Fred telling Lamont , "I've spruced the place up to give it some more class." Lamont, "Gee, Pops, it looks the same. What did you do?" "I changed the name from Sanford Arms to Longfellow Arms and raised the rent $10.00 a week."
On the other hand, Jethro, attired in a leopard print smoking jacket, could have proudly recounted to Uncle Jed , "Since I got in the movie mogul business, I took me a suite (Pro."sute") at the Longfellow Arms so I'd have me a place for my Hollywood starlet casting couch. A mogul has got to have a casting couch.".
If you are too young to be familiar with "Beverly Hillbillies" or "Sanford and Son", then I'm envious.
More Marina Info
The Rockwater Marina has a total of 136 slips planned and a budget of $3.6million. The $1 million grant and 25 slips referred to earlier is for the portion serving transient recreational vessels, as I understand. I guess the many of the high-rollers from Riverside at Rockwater will need a slip for the cruiser and I'd much rather see this kind of development right in the heart of town than adding urban sprawl along the river somewhere else.

All of this development will require some changes to the traffic patterns in the area. Work is underway to extend 3rd St to serve the Rockwater project and River Road will eventually be closed to motorized traffic. I haven't a clue of the plan for vehicular access to the marina, but I'm sure things will become clear soon enough.

Developments

2012-01-28T11:06:00.001-06:00

BDB West Ramp. Most of the steel is now in place.

My posts (and rides) have been limited over the last few weeks, but that doesn't mean that there is not a lot of news affecting the cycling community, much of it involving infrastructure and most of it very positive.

Camp Robinson Rail Spur
This can be described as old news due to the fact that it has been sitting in my "in" box for way too long. From NLR Alderman Debi Ross on 11/21:

"It's official, thepapers were signed today between the City of North Little Rock and UnionPacific RR for the purchase of the Levy RR spur. It is now in the hands of thecity to begin revitalization in the area!"

I reported on this back on August 7, but until the papers are signed, nothing can be certain when dealing with entities like a railroad and a city government. Follow the link above for details. I'll seek updated information on development plans, but I expect this project to move forward rather quickly due to the fact that the rails and ties have been removed from the rail bed, leaving a graded gravel surface that should lend itself to a relatively easy transition to paved trail. Debi first mentioned the possible acquisition of the RR spur to me a couple of years ago and, along with Mayor Hays and others, she has kept her eye on the ball to bring this important bike and pedestrian route development a giant step closer to becoming a reality.

North Little Rock Marina Project

This item has appeared in local media but it bears repeating here. A federal grant of slightly over $1 million has been announced to support construction of the Rockwater Marina along the NLR riverfront west of the Baring Cross RR bridge and near the Rockwater/Longfellow Arms residential developments. The marina will have 25 slips for use by transient recreational boaters and will be able to accommodate craft up to 70 feet in length. This will mean more construction along River Road, but will ultimately add character to the River Trail.

Diamond Bear?
I've had no recent news on the progress of Diamond Bear Brewery in making their move to the area, and the last word I got was that the initial cost estimate was over budget but still in planning.

Riverfront Road/ Cottondale Road Grade Work
Bids were taken on January 17 for revisions to Riverdale levee street crossings. The work will impact the area around Riverfront and Cottondale Roads in Little Rock.

This plan sheet shows the project area.

I have no post-bid information, but I would expect the work to take place over the summer. The bid documents address maintenance of traffic flow during construction, but don't specifically address use by cyclists. I would expect some disruption, but we should be able to bypass the area.

Daffodils

2012-01-26T21:08:00.003-06:00

It hasn't been much of a winter so far and, while we can expect some cold blasts in February, we've slipped through the heart of the season with a pretty good smattering of really nice ride days.

Seeing these in my neighbor's yard yesterday brightened an otherwise grey day and promise that spring is just around the corner. Time to start tuning up bikes and riders.

Diversions: Ski Trip

2012-01-25T20:59:00.001-06:00

I've mentioned before that my mountain biking experience seems to begin anew each fall. It's a little like the movie "Groundhog Day" in that I start over, relearning skills that really should be hard-wired by now but that have faded through a long season on the road. That's not to say that I can't get around on the trail, but I'm way off the back when compared to folks who are rightfully called mountain bikers. Having spent the last couple of days trying to pull out any faint muscle memory from my scant experience on the snow, I can say that I'm probably a better mountain biker than I am skier. By "scant", I mean that I had skied on 4 or 5 occasions over a 12-14 year period of time, with my last trip taking place over 10 years ago. That doesn't translate into any kind of a useful skill set, but at least gave me some confidence that I could get on and off of a lift without humiliating myself and that I was likely to be able to navigate beginner slopes with a few intermediates thrown in.
We travelled with a group from the Little Rock Athletic Club, of which Diane is a member, and we shared digs at Beaver Creek with Richard Machycek and Chrissy Fox along with Casey and Lane Huie. Casey is an old friend of Diane's and his son Lane is a near-local, living in Fort Collins, and everyone but Chrissy and me were on last year's version of the trip, so we settled into the shared space easily.

R-L, Richard, Diane, Chrissy, and me, prepared for a perfect powder day. That's what I was told, anyway!

Chrissy loved the powder and couldn't get enough. Accomplished skiers dream of powder days, but for me it definitely added another facet to the challenge.

Proverbs 16:18 warns that "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

I got some good advice from the more experienced skiers on the trip and it really helped. I was constantly reminding myself to bend my knees, keep pressure on the tongue of my boots, use the edges, etc., etc., but the little voice in my head also constantly reminded me that I could easily outdistance my abilities.Of course, I had to Google the origin of the more commonly quoted short version, but every time I started feeling a little cocky, I heard the phrase "Pride goeth before a fall". In this case the falls were quite literal and came with fair frequency.

The weather ranged from sunshine to winter storm, but it was all good! This was a blue slope and near the top of my comfort range.

Damn those weekend crowds! Even with fresh powder, the lifts and slopes were uncrowded.

This relates to cycling only in the sense that, like riding and paddling whitewater, skiing is a gravity sport, so there are some similarities in some of the principles; however, in boating, even the inept have a chance of drifting through a rapid unscathed and cyclists can rely on mechanical brakes. I found that skiing presents some unique challenges that I'd like to explore further, but it's resource intensive to be a skier in Arkansas and I've got a pretty full dance card as is!

Now, I'm looking forward to dry roads and some miles on the bike.

Return From Beaver Creek

2012-01-24T21:34:00.002-06:00

Hey, folks, sorry for taking leave from my very important responsibilities here. Well, maybe not really important in the big scheme of things, but I do feel an obligation to maintain some momentum at JBar Cycling; however, other duties called! We just returned from four days of excellent skiing at Beaver Creek near Avon, Colorado, with the Little Rock Athletic Club. I say "excellent skiing" in the context of the great conditions and certainly not in reference to my abilities, as I'm definitely a goob on the snow.

We were a little concerned about snow pack prior to our trip, but a good snow the week before our arrival and a winter storm on Saturday made for fabulous conditions.

I'll post more reflections on this adventure and a return to some cycling news soon, but right now I need a little rest and some time alone with this huge pile of stinky laundry.

Bike Adventures Workshop: This Is For Kids!

2012-01-18T10:16:00.000-06:00

I have been remiss in not getting this posted earlier.

I'm sure that they could use some more volunteers. Contact Bernadette via the e-mail link or the phone number on the flyer if you have kids who need the instruction or if you are willing to help.

I'm delighted to see this type of program from the City of North Little Rock and BACA. Thanks to everyone involved and I hope they have a great turnout.

Fashion Forward: Things We Already Knew

2012-01-17T20:41:00.000-06:00

While reading Cycling News or some other intellectually stimulating on-line publication on a recent evening, I noticed a thumbnail photo of a seemingly very well-built woman in one of those little ads/news items from "Around The Web"at the bottom of the screen, accompanied by the headline, "Objects Are Larger Than They Appear". Since the objects that had grabbed my attention already appeared to be quite large, I decided to follow the link to see just how much bigger said objects could be. The link took me to an article on the Elle.com website concerning the use of color blocking in fashion design as a tool to enhance less-than-perfect figures.

Kate Winslet showing off a dress incorporating slimming black side panels.

Being curious and really lacking in knowledge of current pop culture, I engaged in a little research to see what Kate Winslet looks like without the heavy hip camouflage afforded by the curvaceous silhouette.

Notice the difference in first impressions in the absence of black side panels.

Fashion savvy cyclists have long recognized the effect of color block design and specifically black side panels when it comes to enhancing the impression of fitness. While the simple impression of fitness won't win any races, it's better than nothin'.

This pudgy torso model is wearing a conventional jersey. Not so flattering for the less-than-perfect form.

Now, note the remarkable difference! This jersey incorporates a tapered look and slimming black side panels, resulting in a much more attractive(and less lumpy) profile.

Folks, when it comes to fashion tips, you don't need Elle. You can get everything you need right here.

Tip of the week: Never wear brown socks on a road bike. And you shouldn't need to ask why.

Cyclocross Sunday!! New Year Barrier at Allsopp Park

2012-01-12T20:51:00.001-06:00

The season-closing cyclocross races are this Sunday at Allsopp Park at 11:00 AM. Details can be found at the Arkansas Cyclocross site. If you have yet to witness a 'cross race firsthand, ride on down to check it out. It is probably the most fun cycling discipline for spectators. Vino's is on board as a sponsor, so that bodes well for a good time. In fact, I'm so appreciative of their support that I think I'll drop by Vino's this evening for one of their tasty IPAs as a gesture of my gratitude. CARVE is also sponsoring the race, but I'm not aware of any of the CARVE riders making a fine beer, so they'll have to settle for my good will.

Conditions should be perfect for Sunday's races, but I'm sure that could be corrected. Race organizers have been known to find mud where there should be none.

Drop on by!

Big Boy Toys

2012-01-12T17:38:00.000-06:00

...and I'm sure that girls can play, too!
One of the things that marks bridge building is that it seems to take a lot of cranes. These guys can be seen lifting pieces of steel, often weighing thousands of pounds, and precisely setting them or placing them into the hands of workers to be guided into place. This takes place high above the ground or the river. With worker safety and a fortune in equipment involved, one might ask how the operators learn their trade and how are they tested. While heading out of town on a Saturday ride a few weeks ago, I came across a clue as I crossed the BDB. In the open lot near the lock beneath the Big Dam Bridge, a towering red crane was in operation. Nearby were a couple of open barrels and an arrangement of posts that looked somewhat like the setup for a canine agility course. As I watched, the crane operator carefully dropped his hook and ball into one of the barrels. I assumed that this was either training, testing or a competition of some sort, perhaps a crane rodeo.

The first test I observed was putting the hook in the barrel.

This adds a degree of difficulty. Put the hook in the barrel and get hooked up to the cables.

Then, move the load through the course without touching the posts. Remember the old game of "Operation"? I don't, but I'm sure some of you old people do. Actually, I just found that it's still in production, so even non-geezers may identify!

Admittedly, this has only the thinnest connection to cycling, but I'm easily amused and fortunately don't have a blog boss. During the construction of the BDB and the Two Rivers Bridge, we've been able to observe some fascinating construction processes, though far and away the big day for me was being able to watch the lift of the center span of the Two Rivers Bridge. It was remarkable to watch a 208,000 pound 210 foot-long piece of steel set precisely in place by cranes which themselves were on barges in the middle of Maumelle Creek. Impressive stuff to a man who had only the most basic of Erector Sets as a kid.

On Pavement

2012-01-09T21:23:00.001-06:00

Dillard's Trail Section
Most readers are aware that Little Rock's bid for a federal grant to construct the spectacular River Bluffs trail section along the Arkansas River behind Dillard's corporate headquarters failed. The word is that the City of Little Rock intends to proceed with planning for a less expensive, and possibly more functional for cyclists, alternative. A bridge would be built to cross the Union Pacific tracks west of the Medical Mile downtown trail section and would then be connected to some arrangement of bike lanes along Cantrell Road. I'm certain that there will be some hurdles to this plan, but some money is in place and at least a plan seems to be taking shape. More on this as time goes on, but I'm glad to hear that the project seems to have some impetus.

Big Dam Bridge
Work continues to progress on the west ramp of the Big Dam Bridge, with what I consider to be a milestone coming last week. Some horizontal steel went up as the first beams for the ramp were placed.

It will start looking like a bridge soon.

Having watched the construction of the Big Dam Bridge and the Two Rivers Bridge from start to finish, the raising of the west ramp of the BDB doesn't carry the same level of anticipation, but it's still fascinating to watch the project progress through its various phases.

The guys on the lift were taking the steel cross plates for the ramp from the crane and setting them in place.

These beams will likely have connected the ramp to the BDB by now. They had been placed at the ready Friday afternoon at quitting time.

By next fall, the Bag Dam Bridge west ramp will be complete and the plaza area at the foot of the Two Rivers Bridge should be done as well. They will connect nicely.

When the Two Rivers Bridge was closed last week for repairs to the lighting system, I had a chance to visit with John Burton, Pulaski County Surveyor and the project manager for the Two Rivers Bridge. He was surprised at how many Two Rivers users were not aware that the trail connected it to the Big Dam Bridge and beyond. He suggested it as an alternative to the many people showing up to walk Two Rivers and, as we spoke, an energetic gentleman walked up to thank John for directing him toward the Big Dam Bridge and to ask, "how far could I go" once past the BDB. "As far as you want to go", was the correct answer. Another walker asked directions for crossing the Two Rivers Bridge and doing a loop to the BDB and back. By then, John had decided that some additional signage might be in order.

Dirt Work

2012-01-08T18:54:00.001-06:00

I've been slower than usual about getting my mountain biking season started this year, but I'm gradually getting into a little groove. For the sake of transparency, I must admit that the road bike is my default ride and I don't head to the woods until winter sets in and it becomes more comfortable on the single track than on the open road. The closest mtb venues for me are Burns Park and Camp Robinson, and I've generally had a preference for Camp, but last winter saw trail closures, clear cutting, controlled burns, and the ravages of heavy equipment across large swaths of TA-2, the location of the CARP trails. At the same time, the trails at Burns Park were being rehabilitated or rebuilt, making them flow much better and rendering them more sustainable by eliminating some of the steep trail sections where erosion had been a problem. Ironically, much of the lead on the Boy Scout Trails as they are known, is credited to Bert Turner, of the Central Arkansas Master Naturalists, along with the North Little Rock Parks Dept. and a range of volunteers. It's ironic because Bert was a Boy Scout and helped build the original trails back in the 60's. "We didn't know much about building trails, then." Bert related in an exchange a while back. They know quite a lot now, and the trails are the better for it.
Currently, the Burns Park trails on higher ground are in really good shape and are a lot of fun to ride. The red trail from the trail head parking lot (near the freeway over pass up the hill from the covered bridge) has become my favorite for the moment. The low ground, as in the yellow trail behind the covered bridge and the green trail behind the BMX track, are often muddy for long stretches of time. Therein lies a shortcoming of Burns Park; it really doesn't have a lot of reliable trail miles. That said, it's easy to expand your range of options by riding up to the nearby Pfeiffer Loop for a couple of laps or by heading down to Emerald Park for some climbing. I enjoy those alternatives, along with the fact that I usually run into friends scattered along the River Trail or in the woods, and I especially enjoy seeing folks this time of year when afternoon rides are short and darkness limits sociability among passing riders.
Camp Robinson: Trail Fairies At Work

There have been a few more riders using the Camp Robinson trails of late, with multiple vehicles in the parking lot each time I've ridden there. There has also been a lot of work going on out there by the elusive trail fairies; reclaiming, rerouting, and rehabilitating trails damaged or obscured by last year's timber harvest and controlled burns. When you ride your favorite trail, wherever it is, enjoying the clean, packed surface and rolling along with no low limbs or encroaching briers grabbing at you, whisper a little thanks to the trail fairies.

Basil Hicks and Bryan Shipman have been at the heart of the trail building and restoration at Camp Robinson.

Basil Hicks III, shown here trying to conceal his identity, but sniffed out by the pack o' dogs. Adam Taylor was also whacking brush somewhere back in there.

A big thanks goes out the these guys, along with Bryan's lovely and charming wife, Melissa, who has packed a leaf blower across a few miles of trail, and Lane Septon. They all regularly put in time working at Camp. Bryan has ambitions to blaze a loop consisting of perhaps Yucca, the new Turn, Turn, Turn, Airport and 10 Bridges. It would overlay the existing trail system and make it very simple for riders new to Camp Robinson to embark on a 4-5 mile loop of beginner level trails without a map and without the risk of getting lost.

I may need to promote Bryan from trail fairy to Constructobot. He found these bridges in the clear cut and dragged them to where they were needed on 10 Bridges Trail. Very manly.

Many of the trails at Camp Robinson have been cleared of leaves and are in really good shape.

Bryan and Melissa have succeeded in reconnecting the remnants of 10 Bridges Trail across the clear cut area after having previously helped in the rerouting of Yucca around a large stretch of wet ground. 10 Bridges is one of my favorites due to the way it flows and I'm glad to have it back. I've ridden at Camp several times over the last few weeks, riding Airport, 10 Bridges, Turn, Turn, Turn, Outer Loop, Port-o-Potty, Yucca, and Buddha, most of those them more than once. I haven't gotten around to other favorites like Ball-O-Nails, Can of Corn, and Merlin, nor have I bitten off Advanced Trig or suffered up Elevator yet this season. And there's the beauty of Camp Robinson. There are more miles of trail than a mortal can ride in a day and the range of difficulty covers everything from beginner to "too damn hard for me"(but I'm working on 'em) stretches.

The most frequently uttered statement from people who haven't visited Camp in a while is, "I forgot how good it is." , but for many folks, our wealth of other convenient trail resources on both sides of the river make Camp Robinson not worth the hassle. It is an underused resource and is being kept viable by a few folks. It remains to be seen if it is sustainable.

You can keep up with Camp Robinson developments on CARP's Facebook page.

Not Quite A Garmin...

2012-01-05T20:30:00.001-06:00

..but it also costs not quite $5.00.
I will admit to having had a little Garmin envy at times. I seldom need a map to find my way and sure don't need the distraction while out on the road, but sometimes one of my Garmin-equipped buddies will send me the output information from a ride, complete with maps in a variety of formats, elevation profile, total ascent and descent information, along with the more pedestrian data on distance, speed, cadence, and time information. The easily shared map and the elevation information were the features that I most wanted that I didn't have with my trusty Cateye Double Wireless. For long rides, I also sometimes enjoy being able to see speed along specific sections of the route. That said, I'm more of a numbers geek than a gadget geek and I couldn't justify dropping a few hundred bucks for something that simply quantifies what I already know. Sure, it's cool to be able to say you climbed 4827 feet on your epic ride, but "really hard" would communicate all the information you really need, or so I kept telling myself while dealing with moments of desire.
Then, while trying to decide which '70s vintage Leon Russell album I was going to buy with the $20.00 sitting idly in my iTunes account, it dawned on me that I could get an iPhone app that would likely meet my needs. OK, not only am I a cheapskate, I'm sometimes a slow learner. I've seen the ad for bar-mounted cases for iPhones in use as bike computers, but was never ready to put my phone out there in harm's way and, besides, I didn't really identify with the guys in those commercials. They looked like real nerds, and not in the positive Bike Nerd sense. It had never occurred to me until now to get an app and simply stick the phone in my pocket. Now that I was empowered with the smug confidence of having figured something out that perhaps some small percentage of my friends and readers had not, I decided to go big! No free apps or $2.99 package would do once I started incrementing up! I threw down $4.99 of hard-earned gift card credit and went for the top-of-the-price-range Cyclemeter, surely the DuraAce of its class. I fired up the app and liked the look of the display, though I always find it a little disconcerting when I enable a GPS device and suddenly see a Google Earth photo of my house with a little stickpin representing me, futilely hiding in the basement from the prying eyes of the satellites, still clutching my iPhone, of course.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the data from this ride was saved as a .png file in the photo roll on my phone. Now, I need to determine how I did that!

After my first ride with the Cyclemeter app, I compared the information with that of my Cateye and found them to be very close, which is a good thing for us numbers folks. Old Chinese proverb: "A man with one clock always knows what time it is; a man with two is never sure."

It can also send you e-mail updates of your ride data, along with links to your route maps. Here's an example:

From: "Cyclemeter" <no-reply@abvio.com>
Date: December 31, 2011 8:00:48 PM CST
To: jbarcycling@comcast.net
Subject: Cyclemeter Cycle (Road) Dec 31, 2011 10:30:13 AM

Finished Cycle: Dec 31, 2011 8:00:46 PM
Route: Sat Dev 31
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/50c9/4b15/4ed8/4177/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20111231-1030.kml
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/50c9/4b15/4ed8/4177/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20111231-1030.kml
Ride Time: 3:26:53
Stopped Time: 28:38
Distance: 53.52 miles
Average: 15.52 mph
Fastest Speed: 45.51 mph
Ascent: 1407 feet
Descent: 1330 feet
Calories: 2389

http://www.cyclemeter.com

And the map:

The route can be seen in the Google Maps or Google Earth formats.

This thing can do much more than I can cover here; in fact, I'm sure I'll never use most of the functions, but here are a few features from the developer's website:

Top Reasons to Choose Cyclemeter

Automatic stop detection removes stopped time from your statistics.
Remote control using your earphone remote keeps you from fumbling with your iPhone at the start and finish.
All of your workouts may be viewed by route or on a calendar, and summarized by day, week, month, year, and overall.
Import allows you to preload routes, or import other people's workouts to compete against.
Export allows you to save detail and summary information in CSV, GPX, and KML formats.
Ghost racing lets you compete against your best, median, and worst workouts, or against imported competitors.
Twitter, Facebook, dailymile, and email updates enable your friends to view your progress.
Google Maps are updated every few minutes to keep your friends and family informed of your location.
Spoken comments from your friends on Twitter, Facebook, and dailymile encourage you during workouts. (Requires In App Purchase.)
With 5 major updates in the past year, we're working continuously to improve the application.

The ability to race against your own previous times or the performance of friends would make this a great tool. For example, some of my riding buddies have a little informal time trial going on over a specific course, each trying to beat the best posted time. This would allow vocal updates of how a cyclist is doing against his previous rides or those of his competitors. I'm anti-ear bud for the most part, but that kind of input could be motivational; kind of like Johan Bruyneel barking into Lance Armstrong's earpiece on the team radio. You may even be able to buy Johan's voice for your prompts. Maybe not, but with another app, you can even let your friends badger you with spoken comments of encouragement or derision.
There are modes for cycling, cross country skiing, running, walking, motorcycle, and more, even including swimming. I'd need a better case for that particular mode.

I'm not promoting this app over any other, and it IS the most expensive one I could find, so you thriftier folks can try one of the free apps that offers at least the same basic functions. I'm amazed at the capabilities of the iPhone paired with $5.00 worth of software. OK, I'm bragging. It was only $4.99.

Two Rivers Bridge Closed for Lighting Repairs

2012-01-03T18:25:00.000-06:00

The Two Rivers Bridge will be closed for the next few days so that repairs can be made to the LED lighting system. It will re-open by 6PM Friday, but may be open as early as Thursday. The lighting contractor will be working with the vendor of the system to correct programming problems.

Thanks and welcome!

2012-01-03T13:06:00.000-06:00

Thanks go out to the folks at the Democrat-Gazette for the nice article on Monday and I'd like to welcome any new readers!
JBar Cycling readership has grown over the last couple of years to the point where it almost feels like a part-time job; without pay, insurance, or a retirement plan, unfortunately, but it is not without its benefits. I've made a lot of friends, have an excuse to satisfy my curiosity about events and developments affecting the cycling community, and I have an outlet for writing, all of which have given me enjoyment. In return, I try to provide relevant, accurate information, along with a bit of entertainment and humor.Look for a new post at least a couple of times per week, though at times the stream gets a little thin and, at others, it virtually gushes as I try to keep up with ideas and events.
You can subscribe by way of the "Follow" button at the top of this page if you're interested in getting updates. Also, I offer a feed for Twitter users via @Jbarcycling and I post links to new articles on my Facebook page under JBar Cycling.
Each of those options will allow you to be notified of new posts without being deluged with a bunch of spam or unrelated mail.
Thanks again to the folks at the Dem-Gaz and to all of you who read and share JBar Cycling. It's a lot of fun for me to write and the positive feedback makes it very worthwhile.

2011: Finishing Strong

2012-01-01T20:49:00.000-06:00

Well, happy New Year! As is the way of the world, 2011 has had its ups and downs, but I’ll just call it good as the result of a strong finish in the form of a spectacular New Year’s Eve. It wasn’t about fireworks or drunken debauchery; though we did manage to stay up late enough to celebrate with the Times Square crowd before drifting off to bed. For me, the celebration was all about taking advantage of the mild October-like weather that enabled us Arkansas riders to close out the year in style with some quality miles on the road or trail. Saturday broke cool and clear, with a forecast high in the upper 60’s, making it a perfect morning to read the paper over coffee and have a first breakfast while waiting for the day to warm.

Days like this bring people out to the BDB and Two Rivers Bridge.

I got on the road bike a little after 10:00 and headed to the River Trail by way of Main Street, Argenta, then cruised west up the river and across the Big Dam Bridge on my way west to do a Barrett-Garrison Loop*. Arm warmers, knee warmers and a light base were all the cool weather gear that conditions called for, though I saw other riders attired in kit ranging from shorts and t-shirts to tights and full-on winter jackets. I make it a point to dress for the temperature and resist the influence of the calendar or sunny skies when making clothing choices. Riding out through Two Rivers Park was particularly pleasant, as the meandering mass of walkers that had been pervasive in the evenings of the previous holiday week had yet to crowd the bridge and trail. I cleared the park and rolled out County Farm and Pinnacle Valley Roads, passing by Pinnacle State Park before hitting Barrett and Garrison Roads. The scenery and varied terrain make this a fine ride by any standard, as the course takes a cyclist through multiple parks and includes miles of paved trail before transitioning to rural roads through the river valley and adjacent rolling hills. The route turns suburban and holds several good little climbs along the way back into town through the Chenal and Pleasant Valley neighborhoods before rejoining the River Trail at the foot of River Mountain Road. It was the kind of day that just reminded me of why we love to ride bicycles. There were even a few fleeting moments when I felt extraordinarily fit for the season, easily turning over a big gear and rolling powerfully along the smooth asphalt at impressive speed. That elation lasted until I made a turn and realized that the wind that had been behind me had picked up, and soon I was head down and laboring. That effort was a small price. The temperature was perfect, the sky was clear and the sun warm, traffic was light and polite, and my legs felt pretty good for the end of December.

Thanks for the warm kiss good-bye, 2011. Happy New Year, indeed.

*Barrett-Garrison Loop: The Route

The Barrett-Garrison Loop is one of my favorite road rides. From the JBar Bunker in North Little Rock, it’s about 56 miles, and it is about 38 miles for riders starting from the Big Dam Bridge. The route map below actually starts at River Trail Station on the River Trail in North Little Rock due to the fact that that is the point at which I remembered to turn on my ride computer. Here's a link to the Google Earth map.

I was surprised at how few riders were out on the roads west of town, as Two Rivers Bridge has served to make the already popular area much more easily accessible for riders.

Before the opening of the Two Rivers Bridge, the route required a stiff climb up River Mountain Road followed by either a mad dash out Cantrell Road or more climbing through the Pleasant Forest neighborhood in order to reach Pinnacle Valley Road. As a result, my habit is to come back into town by way of Denny Road and Pleasant Valley. Many riders now prefer to simply follow Ferndale Cutoff back to Highway 10, where they can rejoin Barrett Road and return the way they came. The distance is about the same, but the “lollipop” route avoids the sharp little climbs that define the ride back in through Pleasant Valley.

The Gift Bag

2011-12-26T22:04:00.002-06:00

Well, Christmas has come once again and emptied in its wake the usual mixed bag of good news and bad, grace and greed, jolly elves and Scrooges, gifts and Grinches. My holiday weekend has worked out nicely, having had the infrequent opportunity to spend some quality family time with my own small clan, though I will admit to experiencing a little Scrooge-a-tude Christmas morning. My usual routine is to ride to my in-laws for Christmas Day festivities and then waddle home at dark with a full belly. I've had some questionable Christmas rides involving howling winds, cold, and generally crappy cycling conditions, but both the execution and the concept of the trip always made it worthwhile. Christmas 2011 was a perfect day for a ride, but, alas, newest nephew had a christening on the schedule, the venue for which precluded my usual spandex-clad arrival. Though Presbyterians seem to be a fairly open-minded bunch, my tights and helmet hair might have upset some sensibilities of those arriving for Christmas morning services, so I resigned myself to a rideless day. My selflessness was rewarded when I was told that there would be an unexpected four hour window between church and Christmas dinner. I used the opportunity to ride the River Trail system and make note of some of the gifts that the Central Arkansas cycling community has recieved over the last year.

Santa Claus Gifts: The Big Stuff
At our house, our big gift always came from Santa Claus. We would exchange gifts from one another on Chrismas Eve, then awake Chrismas morning to find that Santa had visited. By most standards, it was slim pickings, but our Mom always managed to come through with something special for each of us. Here in Central Arkansas, 2011 brought a couple of very nice gifts for cyclists in the form of the Two Rivers and Clinton Park Bridges.
Two Rivers Bridge
Of the two major projects, Two Rivers Bridge is the most valuable to cyclists, in that it opened a safe route to the trails of Two Rivers Park and to the many popular road routes that lie west of town.

The Two Rivers Bridge and Park serve as both a connection and a destination. Walkers can appreciate the proximity to the park and cyclists enjoy the safe route to the lightly used roads and trails to the west.

Two Rivers Bridge, with its easy access and short span, has proven to be immensely popular with all kinds of trail users. On Christmas Day, the parking lot was full and the trail alive with visitors.

The Christmas Day traffic on the Two Rivers Park trail was heavy with strollers and dog walkers.

This rider was enjoying the light traffic on the BDB.

The Two Rivers Bridge may have displaced the Big Dam Bridge as the most popular place to show off the new puppy, Christmas bike, or the snappy new Nike jogging suit, but the BDB remains the iconic structure of the River Trail, both in terms of its scale and of its importance within the trail system.

Clinton Park Bridge

The Clinton Park Bridge anchors the east end of the River Trail and its completion represented a somewhat symbolic "closing of the loop". The CPB is a very nice alternative to the Junction Bridge, but still has a feel of having been built more for a stroll than for transportation. That's just fine, and it is usually active with folks who look more like visitors than locals.

I find myself using the Clinton Park Bridge more frequently, enjoying the change of scenary.

The Clinton Park Bridge is a boon for downtown bike commuters and is infinitely more bike friendly than the elevators and stairs of the Junction Bridge just upstream.

Now, the stocking stuffers!

Sometimes, smaller gifts turn out to be the most treasured. Only time will tell, but here are few trinkets to put smiles on the faces of biking boys and girls.

The intersection of Cross and LaHarpe is still a hazardous puzzle, but this recently improved approach resolves the problem of having to jump a curb on to the sidewalk.

The traffic circle and extended bike lane under construction at Riverfront and Rebsamen Park Road should make things a little safer for cyclists.

CARVE Club donated this work station to NLR Parks as a service to the community.

There are a lot of other things to be thankful for, but these came to mind. Though we're all taught to be grateful, not everything received at Christmas is appreciated. As a stubborn child, I was often threatened with getting a bag of switches, which is the equivilent to the more universal lump of coal. I clearly understood the negative implications of switches, but, having never seen a lump of coal, would not have been intimidated by the threat of one and might have thought it a cool curiosity. These days, we all know that the ol' lump of coal isn't worth squat.

The Lump Of Coal

Dead End: Still no resolution for the Little Rock Cathedral School/Dillard's trail gap.

Our lump of coal is the lack of progress on closing the Moronic Mile trail gap. A few hundred thousand dollars was spent on a plan and a nice presentation seeking federal transportation funds for the elaborate River Bluffs project, but that was a long shot bet and came in like most long shots do; a loser. Maybe next year will bring us a viable plan to support cycling traffic along this stretch of LaHarpe Blvd, but in the meantime I'm going to enjoy playing with the gifts we've got. It has been a good year.

Team CARVE At Work: River Trail Bike Repair Station

2011-12-21T19:02:00.002-06:00

Giving Back To The Cycling Community

Central Arkansas Velo, aka: CARVE, has had a significant presence in our area for a decade as a race team, an active cycling club, and as a medium for supporting cycling in general. Over the past year, CARVE has reinvented itself with new leadership and slightly restated mission. While still enjoying the sponsorship of the Chainwheel, there has been a broad effort to be inclusive of more riders, including those who ride for other entities on race days. 2011 marked a banner year for CARVE as they sponsored a string of successful events such as the Burns Park criterium series, capped by the Dr. Feelgood Star-Spangled Criterium in downtown Argenta, State Time Trial Championships, and many other competitive, training and recreational cycling activities. At the CARVE/ Chainwheel anniversary event, CARVE president Sid DeGarmo announced that CARVE would be donating a bike work station to the North Little Rock Parks Department, and then this week I got an e-mail from Sid advising me that the Fixit work station had been installed. Being the curious type, of course, I had to ride on down to check it out.

The work station is located at the pavilion near the north foot of the Big Dam Bridge and incorporates a work stand, pump, and a selection of common bike tools.

Just hook the nose of the saddle on the stand and get to work!

This is the tool selection on the Fixit.

Much like a new bird feeder, the station immediately started drawing customers.

The CARVE kit can be seen on many, many riders in Central Arkansas, some active in the club or team, while many simply enjoy riding in the sharp pro-style kit. One result has been that CARVE has been unfairly portrayed in some circles as being an outfit of trail-racing outlaws. I'm not a CARVE member, but I'll say that my experience with the core CARVE riders has been that they are a conscientious bunch. You'll see small groups of CARVE jerseys on the River Trail as friends ride together, but CARVE club group rides head out of town east or west to avoid trail conflict and to take advantage of the open roads. My experience has been that those rides are typically more orderly and better disciplined than most, due in large part to the experience and regard to safety of the riders, which is not to say that they aren't sometimes fast and competitive.
Thanks to the entire CARVE membership for supporting the work station donation. With the club's effort here, along with their beginner rides, juniors program, mountain bike trail work days, and event support, CARVE is serving and representing our community well by actively promoting a variety of cycling activities.

Gettin' Over The Hump

2011-12-20T22:03:00.000-06:00

We'll be getting over a couple of humps this Wednesday, that little hump between now and Friday, and the bigger hump of the Winter Solstice, which occurs at 11:30PM on December 21. We will have that paltry 9hour 49minute 30second day behind us. New Year's Day will be 31 seconds longer than New Year's Eve as the days get longer at an encouraging rate. On March 11, the day we go back to Daylight Savings Time, sunset will be at 7:14PM and the eleventh will be 2minutes 10seconds longer than the tenth.

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	This day	Difference	Time	Altitude	Distance

Dec 20, 2011	7:12 AM	5:02 PM	9h 49m 33s	− 06s	12:07 PM	31.9°	147.177
Dec 21, 2011	7:13 AM	5:02 PM	9h 49m 30s	− 03s	12:07 PM	31.9°	147.168
Dec 22, 2011	7:13 AM	5:03 PM	9h 49m 30s	< 1s	12:08 PM	31.9°	147.158
Dec 23, 2011	7:14 AM	5:03 PM	9h 49m 33s	+ 03s	12:08 PM	31.9°	147.150
Dec 24, 2011	7:14 AM	5:04 PM	9h 49m 40s	+ 06s	12:09 PM	31.9°	147.142
Dec 25, 2011	7:14 AM	5:04 PM	9h 49m 49s	+ 09s	12:09 PM	31.9°	147.134
Dec 26, 2011	7:15 AM	5:05 PM	9h 50m 02s	+ 12s	12:10 PM	31.9°	147.127

You can follow your solunar path to springtime here.

Don't get me wrong. I'm years past wishing away any of my days, but it is encouraging to realize that at just about the moment that the shortening days start affecting the mood, the pendulum swings. Our harshest winter weather lies ahead but we'll be getting a little more sunshine every day.

Not that it's been all that bad..
After an intense work day, I fell to the temptation of Tuesday's humid 60 degree temperature and headed down to the River Trail about 4:00. There were a few optimists out riding in shorts and short sleeves, but I found the addition of knee warmers and a long sleeve base to be perfect for the mellow conditions.

The winter light and the clouds help make I-430 a thing of beauty on a calm evening.

Tuesday was as comfortable an evening as we can hope for in late December; warm, humid and not a breath of wind. It pays to be ready to ride and there were quite a few folks out and about enjoying the unexpectedly nice evening.

Along the Trail: An Expected Disappointment, Some Small Improvements

2011-12-16T19:07:00.002-06:00

Tiger III Grant for Dillard's Trail Section Improvement: Not Approved

I don't think anyone held realistic expectations that the transportation grant for the "River Bluffs Trail Section" would be approved in the current political climate. Arkansas did get $9.8m for enhanced electronic driver notification systems for the Mississippi River bridges. I am awaiting the outrage from the legions of folks who regularly complain about spending for bike and pedestrian infrastructure as wasteful spending. Look for the letters to start appearing in a newspaper near you! After all, $10,000,000.00 (OK, I'm rounding for dramatic effect.) to tell drivers "traffic ahead" and "click-it or ticket", along with the occasional Amber alert, seems like a bit of a boondoggle to me. Well, OK, there will be no outrage, because nobody ever questions the hundreds of millions of dollars regularly slung around to support our national dependence on motor fuel.
The upside to the grant exercise is that the River Bluffs Trail Section project planning that has been done to date will give the City a head start should funds for such projects become available in the future. The downside is that if the funds never materialize, the significant planning costs could have been spent on some other approach to closing the trail gap.

Temporary Hazard: Improvement in Progress
A small improvement project is currently underway at what is arguably the most dangerous point along the Moronic Mile, that patchwork of parking lots, trail, streets, sidewalks and wrong-way riding that connects the Medical Mile to the River Trail near Junior Deputy Park. At the corner of LaHarpe and Cross, westbound riders must cross oncoming traffic lanes to gain the sidewalk in order to proceed to North Street before getting back on the sidewalk........etc, etc. If you're local, you know the spot.

For the moment, westbound non-bunnyhopping riders on the designated bike route have little choice but to dismount and step into the oncoming traffic lane to get back onto the sidewalk. Traffic coming off of LaHarpe poses a hazard here under the best of conditions.

Eastbound riders at least have the benefit of moving in the direction of traffic and they have a better sight line to check behind on cars exiting LaHarpe.

The positive side of this is that the work is supposed to make the transition from street to sidewalk a little smoother, which is good news because this is no place to hesitate! The photos above were taken Friday afternoon and a city official to whom I spoke expected the work to be complete early next week. It is a small thing, but it demonstrates that the City of Little Rock is now paying attention.

Shout out to reader Richard Bassett for alerting me to this construction.

Temporary Hazard North: Progress

I reported last week on a void in the trail near the Clinton Park Bridge in North Little Rock. That little project is complete. Now, if pedestrians and riders would pay attention to the in-out arrows, safety at this point will have been enhanced.

Cyclocross: Arkansas Super-Prestige

2011-12-14T22:30:00.001-06:00

Arkansas State Cyclocross Championships

There was a nice crowd in Burns Park last Sunday for the Arkansas Super-Prestige cyclocross race, and the racing was hot and heavy. Due to an early morning mission, I made it to the event just in time for the "A" Race. The course looked difficult enough, with an appropriate variety of surfaces ranging from pavement to slop, and the usual barriers and changes in elevation. The Arkansas Cyclocross blog is the place to see the results and more photos. At some point, you'll also find information there on the upcoming season finale on January 15.

I missed the early race, but Patrick Emery's tired smile and muddy kit told the tale.

The "A" race start

Riders coming across the pavement were getting a little air as this young lady demonstrates here. She hung with the front riders deep into the race.

Richard Machycek raced on a hardtail Specialized Stumpjumper. It didn't seem to slow him down riding the course or running the barriers.

These guys were the eventual overall and Cat 3 winners. Stephen Erickson, Bikes of Tulsa, in the foreground, rode the muck and slipped off the course as overall winner Scott Walnofer, Snapple, elected to run it. Erickson was second overall.

I maintain that cyclocross is the most spectator-friendly form of bike racing, with the competitive but casual vibe and good visibility of the riders over most of the course, as is usually the case. Throw in a rowdy crowd, cold weather, and some mud and it can be quite the event.The cowbells were ringing and the crowd cheered on the riders on Sunday, but I will say that it lacked a little of the crowd buzz of last year's Competitive Cycling sponsored Klein Rots Cyclo Kruis. The CC boys had the fryers going as they handed out frites and root beer. Any self-respecting Belgian would scoff at the keg of root beer, but it was Sunday in Burns Park and cyclists are all about minding the rules. Cyclocross is generally considered to be a slightly beer-soaked discipline, and though Arkansas cyclocross racing hasn't reached that state, it is great way to spend a few hours watching or doing some good bike racing with your friends. Look for info on the January 15 race. Maybe the venue will allow for beer hand-ups.

Camp Robinson: Closure dates

2011-12-13T15:31:00.001-06:00

UPDATE 12/15/12: Well, it seems like we just can't trust the government these days....

Camp will be closed this weekend, Dec 17-18, for a muzzleloader hunt.

Just when we get all ramped up to ride at Camp, we get notice of some "closed" dates:

We have to be flexible since we're playing on an active military reservation. We may have full-springers and hardtails, but they have helocopters and automatic weapons.

Crash of the Computer Kind; Trail Fairies

2011-12-12T15:22:00.000-06:00

Crash! No Road Rash!
A computer crash has resulted in minor inconvenience until Dell onsite support shows up with new parts. My PC has slipped a disk or thrown a rod or something along those lines, but help is on the way, I have another machine to use, and I can live without access to my files for a few days.

Trail Fairies at Work
I went out to Camp Robinson Sunday morning and the check-in procedure is so easy that I almost felt like I was sneaking in. I did very little riding, but scouted around a little, including a ride out 10 Bridges from the entry trail in search of a downed tree that I had targeted on a previous ride.

10 Bridges Trail from the parking lot to the clear cut was rideable except for this downed tree.

Much better.

There is about a mile of more-or-less intact 10-Bridges Trail, including 3 of the bridges, that doesn't look like it has been ridden since the timber harvest. It is marked with yellow ribbon and clear of wood, but overgrown in places. If you decide to check it out, turn left at the clear cut and you'll ride back to the Yucca/ Bridges connector. Look for trail flagging at the large mud hole to find the trail link.
Also, word is that another pack of fairies was re-flagging Yucca, also on Sunday.

Trail fairies are rarely observed, with the likelihood of seeing one falling somewhere between that of a black T-shirt at Riverfest and Bigfoot. Though the authenticity of this snapshot cannot be verified at this time, experts speculate that this is the subspecies Fairius husqvarnius.

Most of the Camp Robinson trails are in great shape and those that are not are getting some love! It was a good morning to ride some more, but I needed to get to Burns Park for the state championship cyclocross races. More on that event coming up.

Oh, yeah,a couple of other things...

2011-12-08T20:16:00.000-06:00

Just when it seems that my topic well has run dry, other things come to mind that bear mentioning.

As I finished my ride Wednesday night, I decided to cruise on down to the Clinton Park Bridge to see if it was as desolate as the rest of the trail system. As I approached the gate through the flood wall near the NLR RV Park, imagine my surprise when I saw that the pavement was........gone.

It was closer to dark than this photo makes it appear, but still light enough for me to see that my ride stopped here!

It looks like they are improving this approach, but for the next few days, I suggest looking before you go barrelling out the gate. It pays to approach this point with caution, anyway, as I've had a couple of close encounters here as I entered from the street, only to meet people heading out on the left side (MY right) of the opening and hidden from my view by the wall. A "KEEP RIGHT" sign might be in order.

New Options For Camp Robinson Sportsman Passes

This passed along by Bryan Shipman on 11/29:

"Starting tomorrow sportsman's passes will be sold at the visitors center Tuesday - Friday from 10am - 6pm. Mrs. Tiffany Alexander is now on-board with us and were glad to have her. Please post this information to your websites and pass along to all? :)"

visitor center 501.212.4090

As many of you know, I'm just a seasonal mountain biker (this is that season!), but a proponent of use of the CARP trails at Camp. The last year or so has been trying for Camp riders, in that there has been clear cutting, wildfires, controlled burns and bulldozer work, all of which impacted some of the trails. In addition, the procedure for entry has been a moving target. The new hours for obtaining a Sportsman Pass have been extended and now make it possible for clock-punchers to get by after work (I still suggest calling before trekking out there to buy a pass), and most of the trails are in good shape, in spite of another recent foray by a bulldozer to tie a couple of clear-cuts/landing zones together. Once you have the pass, entry is easier than ever. All you have to do is sign in at the visitor's center and show your ID as you enter the gate. No more hauling in documents or dealing with the security guard.

Airport, Outer Loop, Port-o-potty, Buddha, Ball of Nails, Merlin, ZigZag and other top quality trails are intact and in good shape, needing only some leaf blowing and some riders. I've spoken to a couple of mountain bikers this week who have rediscovered Camp Robinson. It's easy to get your groove on at the newly improved Burns Park trails and forget how very good and diverse the Camp trail system really is. I've never come close to riding it all in a day. In fact, there are still a few stretches that I've never ridden.

This is a not entirely a selfless admonition to riders to use the trails. The trails are better with use and I would despair a loss of access if the powers-that-be were to ever decide that the area would be better used by the Guard for some other purpose.

Weather, politics and Christmas (as close to religion as I'm going!)

2011-12-07T19:45:00.000-06:00

Weather is usually the only completely safe topic, but here we go!

Neither rain nor sleet nor dark of night...

Well, you can see where that attitude got the United States Postal Service. I think of myself as a pretty hardy cyclist where weather is concerned and, as validation of that premise, I consider the many days that I've crossed the BDB with nary another soul in sight. There are certainly people out there who can make me want to huddle with my binkie with their frozen haired tales of commuting determination, but I'm a warm-blooded creature and ride for fun, so I do have my limits. Any heat that Arkansas can throw our way is manageable, and headlights can lengthen short winter days. I don't like cold or wind, and I especially don't like cold wind, but I'll put my head down and ride. I don't start rides in the rain unless I'm belittled, abused and called a girlie-man by some of my good friends, and that has happened fairly regularly over my riding career, now that I think about it. That makes me consider whether I should just HTFU and ride or get some better friends. I'm getting a little off track, but I'm circling around to the fact that riding conditions have been downright miserable. After joining the CARVE ride Saturday morning, resignation set in that we were in for a few days of rain. By Tuesday, the rain had been removed from the forecast, but we woke up to this Wednesday morning:

This doesn't usually bode well for a ride day, but it turned out OK.

I really don't complain too much about Arkansas weather, because there is seldom a week in which we can't get in a couple of reasonably comfortable rides. I managed an hour on the bike this evening and feel all better! It was pretty cool, but clear and not too windy, and the near-full moon was already high in the sky.

The BDB was not too crowded! The sun melted the snow, but there was a strip of ice lurking in the shadows.

I think I passed four riders and saw a couple of more, along with a few runners and a dozen or so walkers. If you want some solitude on the trail, this is your time! Other than a few puddles and some dirt and sand washed out near the rock quarry, the NLR River Trail was clean and in good shape.

Cyclocross

My respect goes out to those proud folks who rode the Jingle Bell Cyclocross Race on Sunday at Boyle Park. I planned to go by for photos, but should have checked my information, as I drove to Kanis Park. On seeing the empty park, I headed home, with my error dawning on me moments later, but by then I was just ready to slink back to the dry comfort of home. You seldom see a forecast that simply calls for "continuous rain".

The Arkansas State Cyclocross Championships will be this Sunday at Burns Park. It looks to be clear and cold, so bundle up and head on down! Last year's event was big fun and some very exciting racing, with homeboy Noah Singer taking the win on the last lap.

More news: NLR Mayor Pat Hays(maybe) not running for re-election

From the Arkansas Times blog reports emerge that Pat Hays will not seek re-election in 2012, a report that Hays mildly disputed. While I've had my share of disagreements with Mr. Mayor over the years, he has provided vision for the city and a steady hand. Nobody is going to make us all happy, but, on the whole, the City has shown progress under his watch. There are other several candidates in the mix, some mentioned in the article and some not, so this development bears watching. Mayor Hays, along with Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines, has provided leadership and resolve in developing the River Trail system, so his status is relevant to the cycling community.

And speaking of making appointed rounds...

Christmas is almost upon us. If you're unwilling to count on the jolly fat dude to deliver gifts to the cyclists on your list, here are a few ideas:

SMALL STUFF

- Toe or shoe covers. If they don't have them, they need them! Same goes for arm warmers and knee warmers. Good stocking stuffers include gels and nutrition bars (See what they usually eat. Some of us are picky!), and it's hard to have too many red LED blinkies! If your bikes are all outfitted, they're great for clipping on the dog's collar or your pocket when walking after dark. We can always use spare tubes, CO2 cartridges and other consumables.

You can never have too many socks. My favorite winter cycling socks are DeFeets Blaze.

BIGGER STUFF

Tights for cold weather riding. I also love my bib knickers. Many people have a hard time buying really nice bibs or riding shorts because they are so damned expensive, BUT, they are usually worth every penny. This can be a personal thing, but sneak a peak at your rider's current favorites, call your local bike shop and buy a better grade of the same brand. That way, you're pretty sure of the fit and, once again, premium bibs or shorts DO make a difference.

Head light-Bike lights are kind of like computers in that they keep getting better and cheaper. With current LED technology, you can get a compact 500 lumen light (that's bright!) that charges via any USB port for around 150 bucks. These lights can mount on handlebars or a helmet. Just a few years ago, that much light would have put you in the $500.00 range and would have required a heavy, remote battery pack that needed an overnight charge. You can still spend a lot more money and get a lot more light, but 250-500 lumens is plenty for riding the River trail or

for a morning commute. Consider more power for single-track riders.

So far, I've managed to avoid the stinkin' trainer and I hope you have, too. I know many of us are finding that we have time on our hands, as I've had a steady stream of nerd mail concerning the relative weights and attributes of various disc brake rotors. I didn't even know that sintered was a word.

Along The Trail: Projects

2011-12-02T17:54:00.001-06:00

The ride scene is pretty slow these days, as is usual for this time of year, but the lack of traffic is likely making life easier for construction crews working on various projects along the Little Rock side of the trail. A few weeks back, I noted that sewer work was underway along the stretch between I-430 and the Jimerson Creek bridge. It must have been determined that the old line wasn't repairable, so Little Rock Wastewater has a contractor on the scene.

Last Saturday, new pipe was staged along the sides of the trail in preparation for the job.

The new sewer line is now being run south of the road bed, but equipment will be present and construction will require that some areas of the pavement will have to be excavated. Crews have been instructed that the trail is to remain open, but expect to be routed around work zones. Be alert!

Just downstream, work continues on the west ramp of the Big Dam Bridge. The piers are near-complete and when I went by Thursday evening crews were making sure that this one was vertically true in preparation for pour the concrete base.

These guys are seeing that they've got it right from their vantage point on the BDB.

If things continue on schedule, the steel beams for the ramp should be delivered around the end of the month and then we'll start seeing some horizontal structure. I appreciate the fact that Little Rock and Pulaski County are both committed to keeping the trail open during these projects. I spoke to some of the workers on the sewer project and it would be much easier for them to just close the trail for a couple of weeks, but they were cheerfully accommodating.

Work continues to progress on the traffic circle at Rebsamen Park Road and Riverfront Drive.

The large rocks that can be seen to the right of the trail in the photo above had previously protruded out onto the trail, narrowing the passage at a point of limited sight distance. Thanks go out to Assistant City manager Bryan Day for helping to get that corrected. The River Trail seems to be a near constant work-in-progress and I have great expectations for more improvements to come about on the Little Rock side of the world. In addition to some additional funding from the recently passed sales tax, there seems to be a greater awareness in city government of the benefits of improved bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Thanks go out to officials like Bryan, an active Little Rock Bike Friendly Committee, and some vocal concerned citizens who are helping to keep bike issues on the front burner.

Winter Riding: Time to Buckle Down and Saddle Up

2011-11-28T17:35:00.002-06:00

For the last couple of months, we've been able to do a little dance with the weather and ride in the comfort of mild, sometimes quite warm, fall temperatures. Though we still have zinnias and marigolds blooming in our front yard here at the JBar bunker, there is a chance of snow flurries in our current weather forecast, and ride conditions Sunday could only be described as harsh, with wet roads, gray skies, and a cold wind making the 40's feel plenty cold enough. It's not quite "now or never" for winter riding, but it's time to get on the bike and break the ice, so to speak. Many of us ride year 'round, but like many others, I put off taking the first really cold ride of the season as long as I can. It's easy to just take a day off the bike when the weather is crappy, so long as there is some sunshine around the corner, but when the "no ride" days stretch on, we have to adjust our sensibilities to our current reality. After a few days of fishing, tempered by turkey and dressing, chocolate pie, apple pie, cherry pie, and chocolate pie (that's not a duplication; I made two!), I needed some time on the bike, so I bundled up and rode to Allsopp park to check out the Turkey Burn 'cross races.

I escaped the dinner table enough to spend quite a few hours over the holiday wading the shoal behind our cabin.

The results were favorable, as I was able to make the temporary acquaintence of several dozen nice browns and rainbows; however, wading in the fast water was not enough to compensate for this action:

I won't bore you with false modesty; I make a badass chocolate pie and Diane rolled out the perfect crusts!

I try to tell myself that it's OK to relax, eat and chill out this time of year, but even a minor expansion of the waistline is cause for alarm and some anxiety. I'm not going to skip dessert, so time on the bike is a must.

Turkey Burn Cyclocross Race
When conditions suck, it helps to have a destination, and my Sunday destination was the Turkey Burn Cyclocross Race. The fact that it was damp, cold and muddy made it a perfect day for 'cross and the course at Allsopp looked plenty challenging to me.

Iconic photos of 'cross races always include plenty of mud.

Wes cleared the mudhole, but not the adjacent tree. The result is a bent down tube and pedals overlapping the front wheel. The good news: It was a short ride home and a borrowed frame.

CARVE, Team Spokes, and Arkansas Cycling and Fitness were all well represented. It is great to see the competing local bike shop guys work together to put on events, wear each other out on the course, then often ride home together. That's community.

This doesn't have to make sense. It's cyclocross racing!

You can find a lot of great photos here, compliments of AC&F, and at Arkansas Cyclocross blogspot, along with results. There are still a couple of races in Little rock, including the Jingle Bell Cyclocross Race this Sunday, December 4 at Boyle Park. Grab you family and head on over to race or just check it out. Cyclocross is some fun stuff for riders and for spectators. A race culture in which beer hand-ups are commonplace says a lot about why it is increasingly popular.

The Searchers

2011-11-23T09:39:00.000-06:00

One of the things that I appreciate about the Blogger platform is the fact that it provides an overview of my readers' statistics. No, I can't see who you are or get any insight into your shopping or porn viewing habits, but it does provide information like number of views, sources of links, and browser platforms. For example, Internet Explorer users represent 34% of readers, with Safari running second at 25% and Firefox at 19%. Very interesting stuff for us numbers geeks. Also of interest is the number of international readers. Though I sometimes have concerns about some kind of cyber ne'erdowells when I see contacts from countries like the Ivory Coast, Indonesia and India, not cycling hotbeds in my mind, I think it's cool if there are readers there as well as in countries like Russia, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Australia and the UK. Here's a snapshot of "Pageviews by Country" for a week:

United States

1,009

Russia

Germany

Spain

United Kingdom

Poland

India

Canada

Belgium

Indonesia

I know that there are some Texans in the mix, also, though they do not stand out in the stats as a "whole 'nother country" in spite of the tourism campaign that touted Texas as such. What really touches me is when I hear from deployed military personnel. In fact, I'd really like to hear from anybody reading JBarCycling abroad. Some of those "readers" may actually be some kind of sinister cyberbot, but so far I have not received reports of Nigeria letters on my email account.
The statistics also list the most commonly used Google search terms used to find the site. The most frequent, of course, is simply some version of JBar Cycling. Surprisingly, the second most used search term at this time is "Christmas Poems"; surprising, because I don't think I've ever mentioned Christmas poems, but perhaps I'll be motivated to pen one for the satisfaction of the seekers. While it is constantly changing, terms appearing persistently are "snarling dog", "cat 5 tattoo", "bike polo", "Arkansas cycling" and my favorite, "flying monkey tattoo". The term actually appeared in the same post with "snarling dog" in a discussion as to which image might best serve as a tattoo design to mask a scar from a serious dog bite. I'm still voting "flying monkey".

Seasonal Rite, "Your Speed" on the BDB

2011-11-18T08:26:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year.

I keep saying that our warm evenings are coming to an end, and now cool weather is making its move and freezing temperatures ocurred overnight. We have had a few bonus days, but cold weather is inevitable. Knowing this, I took a few moments recently for one of my fall rituals....yes, the ceremonial Taping Of The Shoes. Road shoes are designed for maximum ventilation, which is absolutely required during Arkansas summers, but only adds to the challenge of keeping feet warm in the winter, hence taping the vents is an annual routine.

I know some folks use duct tape, but electrical tape does the job and doesn't leave adhesive residue when the tape is removed.

A few weeks after The Taping of the Shoes, I also move into my flannel lined Carhartts for the season.

Shoe taping is a melancholy affair, marking an immediate future of night rides and cold. On the other hand, the removal of the tape in the spring coincides with the joyous return of blooming dogwoods, short-finger gloves and bare legs. In all things, there is balance.

Watch your speed...

..because it appears that everyone else will be able to do so on the BDB. There is now a speed-indicating sign on the Little Rock ramp of the BDB. I was alerted to this development by the sharp-eyed Drew Moffitt and, though the sign is not yet in service, it promises to be a source of lively discussion.

We assume that this sign is equipped with radar speed indication. Either that, or motivational messages like "YOUR SPEED really sucks".

I envision a wide range of reactions to the speed sign. Cranky people will stand around and scold riders, much like the 5 MPH lady who spent a few weeks standing on the bridge waving her arms at folks who she perceived to be breaking the posted 5-MPH limit, which means all riders and most runners. The difference is that now they will have a means of quantifying their displeasure. At the other end of the spectrum of radar sign fans will be those riders who will be compelled to try to record a top speed. When the BDB first opened, the county set up radar to see how fast folks came off the bridge. A county official related the story of a cyclist that clocked at over 30 MPH, then stopped and asked his speed. When he got a report of 31MPH, he said, “I can do better than that”, and headed up for another run. I can imagine mail lists going abuzz with posts of ever-increasing maximum speeds for a period of time after the sign is activated. Maybe they'll turn it around and move it up the ramp for a while so we can have some climbing trials. I assume the sign is the county's, and I'll try to do a little follow-up so that I can provide a more informed report.

Enjoy the weekend!

River Bluff/Dillard's Trail Section: I'm On Board, But....

2011-11-15T19:43:00.001-06:00

...there's a matter of the money.

Thanks to the folks at Metroplan and the City of Little Rock, I received a lot of information on the proposed River Bluff Trail section, which is to run behind Dillard's and "close the loop" on the trail. I read the 27 page hand-out (I have this in pdf format. e-mail jbarcycling@comcast.net if you want a copy. ) and I must say that it is an impressive sales piece, all the more so due to the use of one of my photos on page 16 (without permission, but I'm glad to do my part for the cause!). It is part of a grant application for federal transportation funding in the amount of around $12 million of the $15 million total project cost.
Watch this video and consider the possibilities:

The video does a pretty complete job of telling the story. I must admit that the timing of Mayor Stodola's image hovering in the corner as the vision for the development of the River Trail was being mentioned was a bit off-putting. Nothing against the Mayor, but I don't think he was around as Buddy Villines and Pat Hays were taking giant steps to make the trail happen, and the implication is that he was the visionary. I'm being petty, but the subtle message didn't ring true and Mayor Stodola will have his chance to put his stamp on the River Trail with his handling of the solution to the "Moronic Mile". OK, I got that off my mind!
The possibilities for the River Bluff trail section are nothing short of spectacular! I would not take odds on the project getting funding in the current political climate, but the only way to get it is to ask. That process in and of itself is expensive, especially with a project that requires significant engineering, but now there is a plan. I did not expect the Two Rivers Bridge to be funded anytime soon, but when the stimulus dollars became available, the project was planned and ready to roll. Stranger things have happened in the world of money and politics.

And heeeerrrre's Tom!

Tom Ezell filmed a ride through the current dangerous route past the proposed trail section, and it is presented as a link in the grant application. Ride along if you dare!

BDB Moonlighter

2011-11-14T20:31:00.000-06:00

This is for all of us losers that did not attend the Full Moon Walk on the BDB Sunday night and for those folks who did attend only to find that there was no moon in sight. I'm sure it was still a wonderful evening and there appeared to have been a great turn-out.

The full moon, as seen from Two Rivers Bridge.

OK, I missed the Big Dam Bridge Moon Walk after planning to attend and even confirming my plans with a prominent BDB Foundation board member as late as Sunday afternoon. My responsibilities at home got in the way, as I had promised Diane that I would cook a pot roast, a commitment that I did not take lightly! The Moon Walk date was a bit like President's Day; not really the date of an actual event, but close enough for a convenient compromise. This lunar cycle was not a complete bust for me, however, as I was out on the bike Thursday evening to enjoy the moon when it was actually full, and it made for a spectacular evening along the river.
I was determined to get some photos, but with a hand-held pocket camera, shooting at night is hit or miss, usually miss, but this shot from the BDB of the moon rising came out remarkably well.

I was surprised by the colors of the trees in this long exposure, as they were not nearly so distinct to the eye. It was about 6:30 when this was taken, well after dark.

This view of the moon over the I-430 bridge is a better approximation of being there. Jupiter appears above and to the right of the moon, while a state trooper's blue light to

the right completes the triangle.

Riding the trail at night is a lot of fun, but does require lights and close attention to deer, skunks, and invisible walkers in dark clothes. Even the most drably dressed runners are usually given away by Scotchlite on their shoes.

Cleaning Up The Desktop: Friday Shorts

2011-11-11T17:23:00.002-06:00

I'm always on the lookout for content for JBarCycling. It could be just an idea, an interesting photo, or some article I've spotted. Photos often just get parked on my desktop to remind me that I really should utilize them in some way. Well, I'm cleaning up the odds-and-ends that never made it into a post and some of them just need to see the light of day before going the way of the delete button.

This congenial officer in a kilt was seen enforcing civil order in downtown Salida, Colorado. A cop who will wear a kilt is likely a man to be reckoned with!

OK, say your house is on fire and you call the local fire department. As you anxiously await help, you hear a reassuring sound in the distance....ding, ding, ding. Ahhh, the fire bike is on its way, likely being waved through busy intersections by cops in kilts.

Speaking of kilts. This squirrel has done been kilt in its encounter with the bike. Unfortunately, the fork also perished in the battle. I think Bryan Shipman shared this with me.

This looks like a road-worthy jersey that could get a long honk and a good holler from some passing redneck if it was adorning some spandex-clad weirdo like me or you.

However, Team Nitro is more likely to be going up against Bubba here in the Big Bass Classic than putting the hurt on club racers. Note to my bass fishing friends: Never say anything about me dressing funny.I have pictures!

I think this freak show device was on the floor of the Richardson Bike Mart in Frisco, TX. Do you just have something against bicycles or can't get enough elliptical machine at the gym? This could be the answer for you, but I'm really surprised that there would be much of a market for something like this. I've seen stranger things that people were willing spend money on but this is a little pricier than your Chia Pet.

OK, maybe the Elliptigo wasn't the end-all in wheeled transportation. Perhaps it is the Rowbike, and they actually ride among us! Well, at least one does. I spotted this bad boy near River Mountain Road last year. Its rider was bemoaning the fact the there were not a lot of these around. He really wanted somebody to ride with! The fact that the rowbike is heavy, slow, and climbs like a fork-impaled squirrel notwithstanding, I'm sure it's a blast. I'll be looking into one as soon as I wear out my Trikke!

And, last but not least, John Martin shared this recent aerial view of downtown Little Rock from high above the oddly named Longfellow Arms apartments on River Road. Nothing says "HUD Housing" like a very out-of-place literary moniker.

Well, this was the JBar equivalent of cartoons. Enjoy the weekend and be safe!

Back on (single)Track

2011-11-09T20:53:00.000-06:00

'Tis the season! No, not THAT season. Even though I was greeted with strains of Winter Wonderland when went into Best Buy this afternoon to replace my purloined phone headset, it's not Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Christmas yet for me. For me, it's time to get back out on the dirt and learn how to ride my mountain bike again. My mountain biking skill development pattern reminds me very much of a conversation that I had with a boating friend many years ago as we sat in an eddy near the put-in of the Ocoee River in Tennessee. I was very seriously into my boating at the time and the Ocoee was my favorite playground, while he was expressing misgivings about his own ability. I assured him that he'd be OK, "Man, you've been boating as long as I have. You'll do fine." He said, "Yeah, but you've had five years of experience and I've had one year of experience five times." I pondered that statement and decided that it made perfect sense and was an accurate assessment. Well, now I'm that guy and my mountain bike is his kayak. I rarely ride my mountain bike in the summer and each fall I seem to start over, perhaps a little better than the fall before, but not a giant step better.

The Niner and I are still learning to get along. It is exactly the sharp handling, nimble ride I was looking for and I'm looking forward to spending some quality time on it so I can do it justice.

Camp Robinson: Getting In Is Easier Than Ever

So, I headed out to Camp Robinson Sunday to get a little dirty, explore the state of the trail system, and begin my annual learning curve. The word on current procedure at Camp Robinson is that a $10.00 sportsman's pass is required for mountain bikers. They may be obtained at the main gate Visitor Center between 9:00AM and 4:00PM Tuesday-Thursday. You will need your drivers license, car registration and proof-of-insurance and the process takes about 5-10 minutes. The upside is that these days with a sportsman's pass, you simply sign in and out. No more waiting in line or having to deal with the guard, so once you have a pass, entry is streamlined quite a bit.
Note: If it's hard for you to get by during the hours available to buy a pass, call before you make the trip! There is just one young lady who handles those duties and I have heard of folks taking time off work only to find that her hours have changed, or she is off, etc.. The main number is (501) 212-5100. Ask for the Visitor Center.

Things are surprisingly good!
Camp Robinson offers a lot of trail miles featuring a wide range of difficulty and character, from fast flowing and mostly flat to technical and steep, so there is something for every rider and mood. Many riders virtually gave up on Camp last year due to confusion over the sportsman's pass procedure, extended trail closures for logging operations and the mess that results from clear cutting, and then a period of frequent controlled burns. I stuck it out longer than most before finishing out my season riding at Burns Park and elsewhere.
I got on the bike unsure of trail conditions but expected a bit of an overgrown mess. What I found was that the trails I rode were in remarkably good shape, the piles of debris from the logging were mostly gone, and the understory was fresh and colorful in the areas that were burned off last spring.

The last time I rode this stretch of Outer Loop in the spring, it had been freshly logged and then burned, leaving a smoldering mess. Now, the trail is clear, the brush is subdued and the the trail surface is excellent.

My ride covered Yucca, what's left of 10 Bridges, Outer Loop, Airport Loop, and the newly built Turn, Turn, Turn. I'm not sure who did the trail work, though the list of usual suspects would include the two generation team of Basil and Basil Hicks or Bryan Shipman. My gratitude goes out to anyone who has done trail work around the central Arkansas. This stuff doesn't just happen! All of the trail surfaces were dry at the time and in great shape. Some stretches were already getting the usual covering of fallen leaves.

Starting near where the old Christmas Tree once stood, I headed west and ran into signage for a new trail, Turn Turn Turn. I'm guessing that the trail was a couple of miles and, true to its name, it turns, turns, and turns, though it flows pretty well and isn't as raw as I would have thought.

Camp Robinson is a fantastic place to ride, though it has fallen from popular favor for some of the reasons mentioned above and because recent trail work has improved the Burns Park system. That's understandable, but Camp can't be beat for single-track variety, and for opportunities to improve your skills. It's just what many riders need, and what the area needs most to stay good is more riders. I can hear Buddha calling.

Dark-Thirty Comes Early....

2011-11-08T17:29:00.003-06:00

..so light up.
Monday was the first day of our return to standard time. Other than the fact that the time change sucked, it was a great evening to get out on the bike, warm and humid with a steady breeze. I rode from the sub on a mission to visit each of the three bike bridges at their illuminated best.

I prefer to be seeing this scene at the end of my ride, but the striking view of the sun setting behind the capitol and the Broadway Bridge has to be appreciated.

I had a light on my bars and a headlamp, and hooked up with a couple of other riders as we came off of Two Rivers Bridge. Having the two lights allowed me to light the path in front of me while looking around with the headlamp. I also benefitted from the redundancy when the battery on my bike light died during the course of my ride. After a loop in the park with my new friends, I circled back to a point in Little Maumelle Creek that is probably my favorite spot in Two Rivers Park in order to enjoy the view and take a few photos. As I rode back out to my point, I noticed a couple of deer at the edge of the trail to my right. As it dawned on me that they had come out of the thicket to my left, I looked up just in time to lock up both wheels as the third deer bounded across the trail. The deer are thick, so it's a good idea not to outrun your headlight.

I had to stay pretty wide-angle to get both the moon and the bridge in this view from a point in Two Rivers Park.

The Two Rivers Bridge lights are cool and there were a lot of people out after dark using the parks and bridges. I just wish that everyone would put on something reflective or use a light.

The Big Dam Bridge was in full disco light mode.

The Clinton Park Bridge was my third tour stop. With its bright white lights, it is not as photogenic as the BDB and 2RB, but it has its own charm.

While the BDB, Two Rivers Bridge and Two River Park were busy with walkers, runners and riders, the Clinton Park Bridge was abandoned. Its proximity to the well publicized crime problems at River Market and the many homeless folks who inhabit the area may prevent it from the having the feeling of safety that is pervasive along most of the River Trail system. That said, our trails are remarkably active after dark and riding at night is a very positive experience.

Stuff That Works: Garneau Super Prestige Gloves

2011-11-03T17:20:00.000-05:00

Like many cyclists, I'm particular about my gear. Years of winter kayaking made me appreciate the value of bulletproof equipment to help keep me safe and warm, and that mentality carries over to my choice of cycling equipment. Function and fit are a must and, of course, a little style gets points, too. I had many years of cold, wet days in the boat to refine my collection of gear to allow me to really enjoy winter runs while encased in my Gore-tex dry suit, sport-specific fleece top, tights, pogies for hands, and warm booties. Even though cold weather, cold water boating is a more extreme exposure experience due to that water factor, in some ways it is easier to dress for the boat. Even if the air temp rises 25 degrees over the course of a trip, you're still in cold water, so the conditions you have to prepare for don't change much.
As I entered the world of winter road riding, I was clueless as to how to gear up. After a few years of collecting gear, I've got a pretty well-rounded quiver of clothes and accessories for every occasion, but I'm always on the lookout for something better than what I've got. One weak link has been winter gloves. My most comfortable ones aren't very warm. Liners help and add versatility, but are a small hassle. My warmest gloves are fine when it's really cold, but as the temperature or my work load rises, they start feeling damp and creepy. Last year, while milling around in Spokes, I started trying on gloves. I also have really wide hands, so I'm always on the lookout for the perfect glove. I decided to try a pair of Louis Garneau Super Prestige Gloves.

The Garneau specs says these are good to 14 degrees. I can't testify to that, but they're good for a very broad range of temperatures due to the fold-away lobster claw shells.

These gloves are pretty warm while in the five-finger mode, but they convert to lobster mode by way of an easily deployed shell that folds into a pocket on the back of the glove. The shell is not really noticeable while tucked away, but provides a real increase in performance while allowing fingers to couple up and snuggle. The split design makes for easy shifting and braking and the fingers are easily exposed for more delicate tasks like unwrapping a bar.

You can also leave your forefinger and middle finger out for dexterity and for communicating with rude drivers while leaving your pinkie and third finger warmly tucked away.

The gloves cost about 45 bucks. Bike gear is expensive enough when you are sure of what you're buying and we've all experienced the frustration of buying something, only to relegate it to the back of the drawer after a few disappointing uses. On the other hand, cost is forgotten soon enough when a piece of gear serves you well over the years. That's stuff that works.

If it smells like......

2011-11-01T09:03:00.001-05:00

It ain't spring water.

Last week, I noticed Little Rock Wastewater excavating a large patch of the pavement near the I-430 bridge on the trail just east of Two Rivers Bridge. It turns out that they were seeking to repair a leak in the sewer line.

Sink hole or stink hole. Your nose will tell you the purpose of this excavation.

As I rode yesterday, there was a crew with a metal detector attempting to locate man holes which had been paved over many years ago. There are apparently major issues with the line in this area, so expect to see a lot of excavating equipment and activity. That's not much of an issue, but after riding to Two Rivers and starting my return west, I noticed a small sign advising that "sanitary sewer overflow" was present and warning against coming in contact with it. Since the entire width of the road was wet, there was little way of avoiding it. I'm sure it's bad policy to aspirate or swallow sewage being sprayed off of one's wheels, so this would be a good stretch to follow the admonition of "shut up and ride". On arriving home last night, my bike and I both got a thorough cleaning.

City Of Little Rock: Signs of Progress on the South Shore

2011-10-29T13:03:00.001-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to visit with Little Rock Assistant City Manager Bryan Day. It was a bit of an accident of scheduling that I met with Bryan, as he was originally going to meet with Sam Ledbetter to discuss street/trail maintenance issues along Rebsamen Park Road as viewed by cyclists. Sam and I had scouted and discussed what we felt were some threats to rider safety so I volunteered to fill in when Sam could not make the scheduled meeting.
We were not setting out to resolve any of the big problems, such as the LaHarpe/Cantrell trail gap, but we wanted to show Bryan some problems that we felt could be addressed with existing resources. It turned out to be a learning experience for me and, hopefully, Bryan was able to gain some insight as to the needs and views of at least a segment of the cycling community. We started at the intersection of Riverfront and Rebsamen Park Roads where the bike path ends. Some recent utility work had resulted in the effective narrowing of the trail as some dirt and large rocks had been left on the margins of the trail. We felt this represented an unnecessary hazard to riders and walkers as sight distance is limited, west bound riders are coming off of the road and east bound riders are trying to assess traffic in both directions as they leave the trail and cross multiple traffic lanes at a fairly complex intersection. I learned to my surprise that the utility work was being done in preparation for the construction of a traffic circle at that location. So much for my being in the loop!

The overlay shows the location of the planned traffic circle and extensions of the bike lanes on Riverfront Drive.

In addition to the roundabout, the bike lanes on Riverfront Drive will be extended a few hundred feet to the east. As I understood, the bike lanes will not extend all the way to the existing bike lanes, which will still leave a few hundred feet of shared single lane road. I would hope that will be addressed, as that particular westbound stretch is fairly narrow and is divided by a median, preventing drivers from moving to their left when encountering cyclists. I typically just take the lane to force drivers to slow for the few seconds it takes me to pass through.

The other things we discussed were general maintenance problems like patching potholes and trimming back brush. After some input from cyclists, the bike lanes and path have been recently swept and some of the major pot holes have been filled, but hazards remain, mostly in the form of long, narrow cracks or pot holes which are difficult to effectively patch. The road has not seen resurfacing in many years and as a result there is an accumulation of patched utility cuts, poorly executed repairs, and deterioration at the seams where the road meets the separately paved shoulder/bike lanes. In addition, the white side lines are of a material that looks like some sort of reflective ceramic that is beyond its useful life and that flakes off in shards that can easily cut a bike tire. The bottom line is that the road won't get much better until it is resurfaced. Bryan was candid in saying that any street resurfacing would likely have to wait for the recently passed sales tax increase to provide a funding stream, but that he would attempt to make this a priority. I'm certain that since Little Rock has been unable to do any street resurfacing in recent years, there will be a long list of "priority" projects, so I suggest we take a realistic view of a timeline. It's on the radar.

I appreciated the opportunity to visit with Bryan and he was very positive about Little Rock's efforts to become more bike friendly. He asked that cyclists report specific problems to his office or by dialing 311. I've had mixed reports on the effectiveness of the 311 service, but would be interested in how it works. Would someone like to call in their favorite Little Rock pot hole to 311and let me know if it gets fixed?

I know that the Little Rock Bike Friendly Community Committee has been working hard toward earning Bike Friendly status with the League of American Bicyclists, and the City has been responsive. With the funding provided by the sales tax and what seems to be renewed interest on the part of the City of Little Rock, I think we'll finally see some very positive cycling related developments on the south side of the river.

The elephant in the kitchen...

The elephant in the kitchen, of course, is what I've fondly referred to as the Moronic Mile. That gaping hole in the River Trail system has been the biggest target for criticism of Little Rock's commitment to cycling infrastructure. I don't want to go too far beyond my specific knowledge, but the general consensus is that the completion of the trail from downtown to Riverdale has been effectively blocked by Stephens (Cathedral School) and/or Dillards interests. At this time, Metroplan has been given the task of seeking a Tiger Grant to fund a plan that would route the trail behind Dillards along the river. Given the current political climate, I would not make a bet on the grant being approved and the project would still need cooperation from Dillards for the right-of-way. An article in Friday's Democrat-Gazette reported that a public hearing on the matter had taken place on Thursday, including the presentation of an ambitious design that runs along the bluffs behind Dillards HQ and the Packet House. According to the Dem-Gaz, Metroplan has $592,000 in federal funds and $148,000 from Pulaski County to complete engineering and environmental studies. I question the wisdom of spending that much money without at least tacit approval of the plan from Dillards, but I can be naive about the politics of such things, and the fate of this trail section is certainly all about money, politics and the influence of a few powerful local figures.Let's hope that the interests of the community are served. By the way, the "elephant" has been given a more attractive name. The proposed trail section was referred to as the "River Bluff" trail section. Very nice. Let's hope that it happens. I'm already tired of the "Moronic Mile".

Forming Now! "No Drop" Winter Group Rides

2011-10-27T15:33:00.000-05:00

Are you looking forward to a winter of cold, lonely rides, legs growing pasty white and more hairy by the day? Or, worse yet, watching your hard earned fitness disappear beneath the rubble of beer bottles, pizza boxes and Cheeto bags that surrounds your La-Z-Boy recliner?
Would you rather skip the lights, tights and shoe covers and sweat it out on a nice warm ride with a bunch of like-minded motivated cyclists? A ride on which you will never be dropped?
Well, folks, it ain't the vision of paradise that is currently running through your mind, but it's an option. Scotti and Ernie are offering indoor cycling classes at the Chainwheel to help you get through the winter without becoming a blob and perhaps even help you roll into next spring with better fitness than you have now!

I'm not a poster boy for training discipline and I will readily admit to an aversion to the trainer (the device, not Ernie!), but there is probably no better way to stay fit or get fit than a regular supervised program that is cycling specific. You may not see me on the trainer, but in exchange for this pitch I expect Scotti to send me a list of the stars of this class. And those folks can expect me to be latched to their wheel come spring.

Just got word that spots are filling fast. Make the call if you're interested.

Some Stuff That's Going On

2011-10-26T18:53:00.001-05:00

The Felt truck comes to Spokes this Thursday afternoon, October 27, with the 2012 models for your perusal. This is not a test ride or demo, but a chance to see the eye candy of next year's Felt product line. The truck should be there sometime Thursday afternoon and the folks will stick around at least until closing time. Look at Spokes on Facebook for an update with details.

November 13 Full Moon Walk on the Big Dam Bridge. Diane and I did this walk last year and it makes for a spectacular evening out on the river if the weather cooperates. This is not a bike event, but it was nice to stroll the bridge and it might be worthwhile to take a walk up to Two Rivers Bridge.

COMMUNITY ALERT!!! STOLEN BIKES

2011-10-26T08:53:00.000-05:00

OK, this is some real bullshit, but two local riders have had their bikes stolen in the last couple of days. I hope it's not a sign of things to come as dirtbags learn the value of bikes and find a market.

The bike in the photo was stolen last weekend. If you see this unique bike, let Jonathan Sebring know. It was stolen early Sunday morning in Little Rock. I don't have his info, but you can contact Arkansas Cycling and Fitness.

This bike was stolen from Jeff Pascoe [Jeff.Pascoe@acxiom.com]. It was equipped with Mavic Cosmic Carbone wheels when stolen.

I have no idea how to chase these bikes down, other than checking Craig's List, E-Bay and local pawn shops. As riders, we need to keep an eye out for high-end bikes in unlikely places. A guy riding down the sidewalk in an overcoat carrying his belongings in a trash sack is unlikely to be the legitimate owner of an S-Works road bike with carbon wheels.

Slowing, slowing.....

2011-10-25T20:49:00.001-05:00

Wintertime Blues? Well, not quite.

I can almost feel things slowing down as I try to hold on to every last warm afternoon. Six o'clock sunsets and morning darkness serve as reminders of impending winter and, while I must admit that I'm struggling to adjust, I'll find my rhythm soon enough. My summertime routine of riding the River Trail almost every evening does more for me than just keep my legs turning. For many of us, those weekday rides are where we see our friends and make some new ones, where we get local news and gossip, and where we can regularly burn off any tensions and frustrations gathered from a day on the job. So, I'm approaching winter with an emotion somewhere this side of dread, though there are some things that I'm looking forward to.

Mountain Biking
I just can't get interested in mountain biking during an Arkansas summer. I'm not averse to the heat or to getting dirty; however, I do manage to get enough chigger, tick, buffalo gnat, and mosquito bites while working at the river place without heading to the woods. On days when it's harshly cold and windy, I'm driven to the cover of the trees and then get my mountain bike groove on. Frankly, I'm not a technically good mountain bike rider, but I do get into it and out on the dirt is the only place I ride with earbuds, so I select one of my "Ride Tracks" playlists and disappear into the woods. I seldom have any problems staying warm on the mountain bike, so I love it on the coldest days.

Cyclocross
I don't have much ambition to ride cyclocross, but I think it is probably the best cycling discipline for sheer crowd entertainment, and I've missed some really rowdy events. Mostly just because I haven't been paying attention. Here's a link to the local 'cross scene. I've got the November 27 Turkey Burn on my radar with high expectations of frites and beer.

Night Time Rides
I haven't done many winter night rides in the last couple of years, but my lights are charged and I'm determined to get in more "light" rides. It's more fun to start with a group because once you're on the bike, you can't identify passing friends. Some of the Nerds have been having a blast riding single track at night. I'll need a new lightset for that, but it's on the "to do" list.

Note: riders who have lights over about 67 lumens, please beware that oncoming riders may be blinded by your approach. Please try to keep your light out of my eyes and I'll do the same.

My reduced activity level also slows my stream of subject matter, so forgive me if you feel you're not getting your money's worth here!

Chainwheel and CARVE Anniversary Extravaganza

2011-10-19T18:36:00.002-05:00

Chainwheel and CARVE celebrated 40-year and 10-year milestones on Sunday with a ride and party alongside the River Trail at Murray Park. I showed up right on time to sign a waiver, gather some great swag, and saddle up to go on a 40k ride in recognition of Chainwheel's birthday. The point was made that it is unusual for a team to be around for 10 years and downright remarkable that a bike shop is still prospering after forty years. The folks who put together bike businesses like Competitive Cyclist and Orbea USA all paid their dues at Chainwheel before launching their own successful endeavors, so that says a lot about the culture.

CARVE has always enjoyed sponsorship and a close association with Chainwheel. That bond remains, though the current leadership has tried to make CARVE more inclusive and a bit less of a "store team".

Cyclists who joined the road or mountain bike rides were presented with some pretty good swag, including mugs, some new style water bottles, and Swiftwick socks. Throw in some Fat Tire and barbecue and it's no wonder there was a large turnout!

The road ride group was huge! It was supposed to split into A, B, and C groups and I guess it did. I guess I was in the A group, but I don't think I saw the front until we turned around at Barrett Road near Pinnacle State Park. The pack was smaller by then, but the rollout was bigger than that of many event rides.

Both pavilions were teeming with hungry folks. I made it a point to stick around for cake.

Scott Penrod introduced the CARVE juniors, cyclists 18 and under.

Michael Mattox and Sid DeGarmo presented a $1000.00 check to CARTI, represented by Rebekah Howe, Steve Bentley, Dustin Hearne. CARVE raised the money with the hugely successsful Star Spangled Criterium and promises more such events in the future.

Scott Penrod presenting $1000.00 to Sallie and Jim Culbreth of Teen Challenge of Arkansas.

Pat Barron used the opportunity of the event to introduce Chainwheel's newest bike line, Pinarello. Pinarello reflects the best in current bike technology in classic Italian style. The brand should be a great fit for Chainwheel.

It's great to see both Chainwheel and CARVE successful and growing. Central Arkansas is fortunate to have a bike culture that is thriving and that gives so much back to the community in many ways.

Migration

2011-10-18T07:49:00.000-05:00

Max Brantley of the Arkansas Times blog asked readers if anyone had some photos of migrating monarch butterflies to share. It just so happened that I had been stalking the critters with my SLR as they visited the monster zinnias in our front yard Saturday, so I offered some pics up to Max. He used one here and offered a link to this blog, so here are a few more shots for visiting Times readers and my regular crew.

I hope these guys moved on ahead of last night's cold front. The weekend was certainly perfect weather for flowers, butterflies, and bicyclists!

The Energetic Rider: Trying To Do It All...

2011-10-17T21:52:00.002-05:00

....and failing, of course, but a big Saturday, nonetheless!
To start the day, the CARVE Ride.....
It was a clear, cool morning when I had a quick breakfast and left the house in time to make the short ride down JFK/Main St. to join the 7:30 CARVE ride at the sub. A pretty big group of probably 30 or more riders rolled out for the loop east of town, and when we finished up a couple of hours later, I had ridden 45 miles. The pace on the winter CARVE rides are pretty civil, but I wasn't done and needed to prep for round 2, so I rode up to the Argenta Market and refueled with a half-pint of pasta salad (very good, by the way!) and a banana. After second breakfast, I headed back to the sub to meet the next ride.

..followed by the Spokes Cervelo demo ride...

Cliff Li, Virgil Young and two mystery riders ready to ride out on Cervelo R3's.

The Spokes and Cervelo folks were getting pedals mounted and bikes fitted up for their second demo ride of the day when I arrived a little before 11:00. I had the opportunity to ride an R3 a few weeks ago, so I just jumped in with this group on my own bike. We rode up the River trail, over the BDB and out through Two Rivers Park to Pinnacle Valley Road. The trail portions of the ride were kept to an easy pace, but once out on the road, these guys wanted to test the bikes, so the speed picked up and there was always some smart-aleck rocketing off of the front. This ride was about 25 miles and we got back to the Spokes portable world HQ near the sub around 1:00.

...and then the after-party at Spokes
One of the reasons I wanted to poach on to this ride is because there was a post-ride party at the store at which they were drawing for a world champion jersey signed by current champ Thor Hushovd. I managed to ride home, grab a shower and a third breakfast, fetch Diane, and still get to Spokes by 2:00 in order to take my chances on what I now considered to be "my Thor Hushovd signed world champion's jersey". Spokes really does a good job most of the time and I've been impressed at how much a part of the cycling community that the store has become in less than a year, but I must say they did a lousy job on the drawing.

The coffee bar at Spokes allows customers to enjoy their refreshments while supervising the hired help in the shop. Here, Mat appears to be squaring away his S5 after letting it go on the ride without him.

Jeremy, the Cervelo rep, prepares to draw for the coveted jersey. Everything from bike shorts to shop aprons had already been given away before the awaited moment.

And, as had been the case with every other prize, I was shockingly NOT the lucky winner! The real lucky winner shown here, Gary Fowler, was delighted!

Mat and Regina Seelinger of Spokes, along with Steve, Scott, Adam and the rest of the crew, really know how to be hospitable. There was a big spread of good food and plenty of swag give-away to complement the usual congenial atmosphere. Mat told me early in their operation that his goal was to be known as the friendliest bike shop around. That's a good way to earn some business and it seems to be working for them.

...and then I had to cook dinner!

By the time we left Spokes, I felt that I'd already had a full day. Eighty-something miles on two separate rides, three breakfasts, and an afternoon social were on the books when Diane reminded me that I was cooking pork tenderloin for dinner. My work is never done.

Teens On Mountain Bikes: Look Out, Trail Riders!

2011-10-14T19:21:00.000-05:00

My young friend Alex Bumpers, along with Garrett Phelps and others, have been recruiting mountain bikers from among their classmates, with support from Chris Randle. This is 15-year old Alex's initiative and his goal is to form a juniors mountain bike race team for Catholic High and attract other juniors to mountain biking. Pretty ambitious! I came across them Thursday night near the Pfeiffer Loop as they gathered for a workout and some fun and games. Maybe it's because feel like I missed out on a lot as a kid for a number of reasons, but it just delights me to see these guys out riding, racing, getting fit and have a blast doing it. They are the polar opposite of the image of today's youth being overweight underachievers. They warmed up on Pfeiffer loop and then I think they did a time trial loop before setting out cones for a slalom drill. Spokes also provided Chris with a big bag of water bottles, cages, and other swag to serve as prizes.

The teens are lined up, along with Chris Randle and Scott Penrod, for a Thursday evening of mountain bike race training, drills and games. I know several of the young guys, but was impress with their numbers and the fact that there were several girls in the bunch.

They were still working on the methodology, but the orange cones were set up in a dual slalom pattern to allow riders to go head-to-head. The fun thing about this arrangement is that the crowd can see (and laugh at!) every move. Judging from the crashes, putting the course on the grass was a good move.

Some of these young folks are experienced and capable riders, while others are just learning the basics, but all of them were enthusiastic and having fun. There is a lot of youthful talent around and people like Chris, Scott and Ernie Lechuga are helping them with training and logistical support. This bodes well for the future of cycling.

Note: My apologies for the poor photo quality. Some dirty thieving SOB rifled my apparently unlocked truck and relieved me of my pocket camera.

Notes to self:

1. Don't leave valuables in truck.

2. Lock truck.

Reminder: Arkansas Freedom Fund Challenge Ride

2011-10-14T18:50:00.001-05:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted this. I think Bryan is expecting a pretty good turn out!

From Spokes: Cervélo e-Ride Demo Event; plus Post Ride Store Event

2011-10-12T17:38:00.002-05:00

Edit Fri 10/14: In addition to the ride, there will be a drawing at Spokes for a Thor Hushovd autographed world championship jersey!

Join us October 15th @ 2:00pm for snacks and refreshments at the SPOKES Bike Shop immediately after the Cervelo eRide and register to win a Thor Hushovd autographed jersey.

Riders that participate in the Cervelo eRide will have their name submitted 5 times for a chance to win the jersey, and those that drop by the shop around 2pm for snacks and refreshments can enter their name once.

Hmmmmm..., if I do both test rides, can I get 10 chances? I'm willing to work for this kind of swag!!!!

I told you that there is a lot going on in the cycling community! Spokes is bringing back the Cervélo e-Ride demo event this Saturday. As some of you disappointed readers may recall, the last time this event came to town, all of the bikes were reserved early and by the time the in-store reservations were added to those taken by the Cervélo rep, there was a waiting list for R-3's. Mat hooked me up for that ride and I've got to say, the R-3 is an impressive bicycle! This go 'round, the Saturday date will make two rides possible if required to fill the demand. If the 11:00AM ride goes, the energetic rider could start off with the CARVE winter ride out east at 7:30, return in time to go by the Boathouse Club hydration station for refueling, then hop on an R-3 for the demo ride.

Here are the details from the Spokes website:

Cervelo e-Ride Returns to LR October 15 @ 9am
éRide 2011 is coming back to Little Rock, AR October 15th at 9am.
éRide, Cervélo’s national test ride program is coming back to Little Rock, AR on October 15th, brought to you by Spokes Little Rock. The demo will depart from 100 Riverfront Park, North Little Rock, 72114 (Locals know this as "The Sub") The ride will leave at 9:00 am, 25 miles, average speed approximately 17 mph. Pre-Registration is required. We will offer a 2nd ride at 11 am if need be to allow for all to participate.

If you’ve dreamed of riding a Cervélo, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. éRide allows you to throw a leg over the same racing bikes ridden by the Garmin-Cervélo team and other top athletes.
The demo fleet will consist of 2011 Cervélo R3’s. The R3 has been the standard for lightweight, stiff, strong and comfortable frames. Its super-thin seatstays, Squoval tube shapes, and in-house developed layup were a major leap forward in frame design. This season, Cervélo again raised the bar with the introduction of BBright – a new bottom bracket standard that optimizes stiffness and weight of the frame and crankset as a system.
There is no charge to test ride, however you will need to complete a waiver and provide a photo ID and credit card while riding. Please remember to bring your pedals, shoes and helmet!
For more information go to: www.cervelo.com
Join us at éRide. Call the shop to register or e-mail jmeulman@cervelo.com .

Attention: CARVE Members and Chainwheel Customers...

2011-10-11T21:34:00.001-05:00

If you live in Central Arkansas and ride a bicycle, chances are very good that you are a Chainwheel customer. I think that means that this is for you! If you're not a Chainwheel customer yet, you can rush on by and spend some money to become an instant qualifier. All of you CARVE types should already be in the loop, but for the rest of you, here's an invitation to what should be a cool fall event!

October 16: Chainwheel/ CARVE 40th/ 10th Anniversary Picnic

SUNDAY

OCTOBER 16th

2:00pm

MURRAY PARK

PAVILIONS 1&2

ROAD AND MTB

GROUP RIDES

LEAVING AT

1:00pm

CHAINWHEEL & CARVE

ARE HAVING AN ANNIVERSARY PARTY!

Join us and help celebrate 40 years in Central Arkansas. Our co-host, Team CARVE, is celebrating their 10th anniversary and we're making it an extravaganza - group rides, food, music and more. Chainwheel wants to give thanks to it's community and customers,

hope you can make it.

Plus, Chainwheel will be unveiling an exciting new brand option available in our store!

---------------------------------------------

Join us on ROAD and MTB group rides

for all experience levels

Wheels roll at 1:00PM

leaving from pavilions 1&2

The road ride is 40km for our 40th - (26 miles)

or you can ride off road for 1.5 hours

I edited this post to include the official invitation.

Pay Dirt Day at Burns Park; Hydration Station at Boathouse Club

2011-10-11T21:07:00.001-05:00

The guys at CARVE are really active these days. From Tom Burks of CARVE:

CARVE is sponsoring a Pay Dirt day on Oct 22 from 8:30-12:30. Meet at the BMX track. Will be working on some of the off-camber stuff that is likely to deteriorate with winter rains, horse traffic, and riders, like me, who have trouble staying on the trail. Might clean up a few rock gardens, if we have the man power. People need to bring tools, water, etc. Ride great IMBA trails afterward. My # is 317-6934. Thanks, Tom

OK, you Nerds, this is home trail. You know who you are!

From Lawrence Finn of the Arkansas Boathouse Club:

The Arkansas Boathouse Club is hosting an open house on Saturday morning 10-15- 11 from 7.30a - 10.00a We're setting up a "Hydration Station" at the Boathouse to offer free energy food and drink to all cyclists. Plan your Saturday ride to take a quick rest, refuel, and check out what rowing the Arkansas River is all about. Rowing is a great way to cross train and we'll be raffling a free Discovery Row - a weekend learn to row - a $150 value- to all that stop by and register. Pass along this hydration station invitation to the rest of your Peloton.

Arkansas Boathouse Club Discover Rowing Opportunity

OK, so now I'm a shill for the Boathouse Club. Diane is going to give it a try and I'll report unless she swears me to secrecy.

It's not all about the bike!

2011-10-11T20:56:00.000-05:00

Well, not all the time, anyway. Things are hoppin' around Central Arkansas these days, so much so that I haven't done a great job keeping up with reporting events, much less participating in all of the things that interest me.
Among the many things that I didn't do were the Arky100, the Heber Springs Tri at the Lake, the Spokes Orbea demo, and the Clinton Park Bridge dedication. I did manage to get some time on my bike, made the first CARVE winter ride a couple of Saturdays ago, toured the new bridge, visited the Two Rivers Bridge at night for the first time, and attended a recent BACA meeting. I pretty well skipped riding last weekend in order to spend Friday evening through Sunday at our place on the Little Red near Heber Springs, only saddling up to preview the short bike course for the Heber tri with my friend Chris Irons. Obviously, Chris was paying close attention to my style as we scouted, as he won his division on Sunday. I don't know how to take credit for his run and swim legs, but I'll think of something.
Like many of us, I start getting a little anxious about bike time during the fall. The days are getting shorter, weekends are filled with other demands and my appetite seems to crave fare that is better suited for hibernation prep than for long hours in the saddle. Last weekend, for at least one weekend, I just let riding go and fully enjoyed sleeping in until past dawn on a cool Sunday morning, eating cheese dip, counting fish caught instead of miles, and simply soaking up some of life's many little pleasures. Other than the short Saturday ride, my weekend was devoted to tilling up some new garden spots, getting some fall planting done, trimming tree limbs, mowing a few acres, trout fishing in the river, bream fishing in the pond, watching football, and eating all the wrong stuff.

Along with my nephew Jack and his buddy Kyle, Diane and I harvested some big bluegill from our pond.

There is no chance of this crew missing a bite! Diane is an excellent fisherman, but she has nothing on Willie when it comes to focusing on the bobber, here wading in for a closer look. He has fallen off of the dock a couple of times in his excitement over a caught fish.

Willie has little interest in trout, leading brother Frank to deem him a redneck hound. I think Willie knows that our trout fishing is catch-and-release and he's all about eating something.

There is no better eating than bream fillets and very few things more fun than fishing with some capable 12-year old boys. Remarkably, all of my companions had disappeared when it came time to clean the fish. My expectation is that they'll be back just in time for a fish fry.

Now, it's back to the bike or I'll be fat before Thanksgiving. And Diane is baking cookies.

Along The Trail: From the Eyes of a Visitor

2011-10-05T12:21:00.001-05:00

Monday evening, I set out for my ride in a very laid back and lazy state of mind. I wanted to see the Two Rivers Bridge with lights on, so planned to be up that way around dark. Just because the Clinton Park Bridge is new, I headed that way to start my ride from Burns Park. The new bridge is pretty cool and definitely has a different feel than the BDB and Two Rivers Bridge. As I slowly made my way across the bridge, stopping to take some photos and admire the views with the rest of the tourists, I decided to ride the entire loop of the River Trail. I wanted to view this ride from the eyes of a visitor intent on riding the River Trail Loop as described in the tourism publications.

The Clinton Park Bridge, which long ago served the Choctaw Line, is once again open for business. It is a very nice addition to the Clinton Library and to the River Trail system, and should be a boon to commuters using the NLR trail to access downtown Little Rock.

This sculpture is a fitting welcome.

The views are spectacular and the mix of old and new structure on the bridge makes for interesting geometry. The ride down the NLR trail to here is easy to follow and mostly isolated from traffic. That changes at the foot of the new bridge.

After crossing the bridge, I made my way along what I assumed to be the trail as it winds behind the River Market and on to the Medical Mile. The trail isn't really well marked as it crosses drives and parking lots, but manageable if you have confidence in your general direction. As I made my way out of the River Market, the trail passes under a shady arbor, beneath which two very drunk middle aged guys appeared to be having a domestic dispute as one whirled around a bike on its kickstand in the middle of the path while the other derided him for some offense. Under the Broadway Bridge, the trail passes a food kitchen for the homeless and several dozen folks were lined up for dinner. A block further down and the trail comes to an end. Part of the trail collapsed into the river a couple of years ago and remains impassable. That's of little consequence, because even with the Medical Mile intact riders were simply forced back to Markham Street at the UP RR tracks instead of at Arch Street, as is presently the case.

End of the line.

From here, the designated bike route takes Arch to Markham St., then continues on via Cross to the point where riders are forced to cross oncoming traffic lanes and take to the sidewalk, gravel-strewn North Street, more sidewalk, a little misdirection down a one-lane one-way bit of street under the Cantrell viaduct over the UP tracks, and across an often busy parking lot and driveway for Cajun's Wharf before connecting back to designated bike paths and lanes.

I have not really been much of a crusader for completion of the River Trail along what I like to call the Moronic Mile, but my recent loop ride from the eyes of a visitor was a revelation. All I can say is that it's a damn shame that the City of Little Rock can't get it together to complete this now confusing and potentially dangerous gap in our trail system. While our bike advocacy leadership debates how to reel in "rogue cyclists" on the trail, I'm not hearing nearly enough discussion aimed at promoting cycling and pushing Little Rock to carry their share of the trail system. LR got a million dollars from the state several years ago to go toward the project. The recent sales tax initiative was passed. Surely, out of the $500 million that the new tax should generate over the next decade, a way can be found to complete the trail along what is now the "Moronic Mile".

The original mission...

And, yes, the Two Rivers Bridge looks very cool with the new lighting!

More on the BDB100: Rouleurs and Strollers

2011-10-05T08:10:00.000-05:00

NLR Leadership on a Roll
I was remiss in not mentioning this in my earlier post on the subject, but when it comes to bike advocacy, there are several folks in North Little Rock city government who do more than talk the talk. They ride the bike! Mayor Pat Hays and NLR Parks Director Bob Rhoads both rode the 104 mile distance, while Alderman Charlie Hight rode the 68 miler.

Charlie Hight was very enthusiastic about his wholesome post ride chocolate milk, while also promoting a Miller product for his day job at Harbor Distributing.

Taking nothing away from Charlie or Bob, I've got to show some admiration for the Mayor. Bob is a long-time roadie and Charlie elected the shorter distance so that he could make the Arkansas-Alabama kick-off (too bad about that result!). Mayor Hays went all in. I believe that it was his first century and I know that the hilly route was much harder than his favorite ride on the pancake flat Harper's Loop. It was a long day on the road for him, but he stuck it out to the finish. Good job by all!

NLR Mayor Pat Hays is greeted by his grandchildren at the finish. A well-earned reward for a long, hard day in the saddle. photo by Bud Laumer

I didn't come up with a picture of Bob Rhoads, but we've chatted some recently about his riding "back in the day". The man has got some history on the bike and can still turn a crank.

Now, about all of that hill walking...

By all reports, every major climb on all of the routes, including Wye Mountain, Fortson Road and Batesville Pike, saw large numbers of riders off of the bike and hoofing it. I'm certainly not belittling anyone, but I'm curious about the phenomenon. Yes, there were some hard climbs, but I've heard surprising confessionals from strong riders who admitted to taking the stroll. I think there are a several classes of walkers:

- The "step up to a challenge rider": these are the folks for whom this ride is about as hard as anything they've ever done on the bike. They accepted that they were at the limit of their current ability and that if walking was what it took to finish, then they were going to walk. Frankly, these folks had a much harder day than many of us and they are to be commended.

- The "lemmings": It's OK, everybody is doing it! I'm only poking a little bit of fun here, but many of these riders would never have stepped off of the bike if there had not been a parade of walkers strung out on the hill in front of them. All of that company made it acceptable, whereas if they had been surrounded by merciless friends like mine, pride would have never let them put a foot down. As Diane's dainty riding partner so succinctly stated to her on Batesville Pike, "I'll f'ing die before I walk that hill.", and up they went.

-The "intimidated by a sign" riders: apparently there was a sign on Batesville Pike warning of "steep climb next 4 miles" or something to that effect. I spoke to several riders who were so disheartened by the prospect of such a daunting climb that they gave up before they ever started. To them I say, "Don't believe everything you read." It's usually not as bad as your worst fears.

Climbing is a mindset. Once doubt sets in and resolve is broken, the legs soon follow. I'm not much of a climber, but so far I've managed to finish what I've started, often with more whimper than roar. I will admit to having danced on the side of a steep street near home at the end of a long, hard ride, dealing with screaming leg cramps while eying the top of a hill temptingly within easy walking distance. It took a couple of tries to get my leg back over the bike, but I remounted and squeaked up the hill. I'm not the toughest guy around and my day will surely come, but I just couldn't bring myself walk it. Of course, I didn't have another 25 miles of ride in front of me!

Joe Jacobs had a nice write up on the BDB100, and includes some interesting demographic information:

http://arkansasoutside.wordpress.com/2011/09/26/get-over-it/

Joe does a very nice job. After you read his BDB article, click on "home" to check out his more recent work. Good stuff!

My Favorite Time of Year: Ladies Month!

2011-10-04T17:42:00.001-05:00

Ladies Month is something that Hallmark should embrace, perhaps, but for now it is the domain of Arkansas Cycling and Fitness. I was remiss in getting this out just after the Specialized demo ride. I hope that Addie will forgive me and that she had a big turn out, but there is still plenty on the calendar for all of you femmes out there!

October is Ladies' Month at Arkansas Cycling & Fitness

Ladies, I have organized lots of fun stuff for you for the month of October! We have road and mountain bike rides (all levels are welcome!), Specialized Ladies Demo, fix-a-flat class and sales!!! Read below for the details! If you have any questions, please email me: addie@arkansascycling.com. I hope to see you gals at these events! - Addie.

October 1st – Ladies mountain bike ride in Barling, AR. We will be pre- riding “Springhill” race course. Email Addie at addie@arkansascycling.com if you want more info and are interested in going!
October 3rd – Specialized Ladies demo from 3-7pm.
October 8th – Fix-a-flat clinic at will be held in the big pavilion at the base of NLR Big Dam Bridge at 9:30am before the ladies road ride at 10am.
October 15th – NO RIDE this weekend!
October 22nd – Ladies road ride at 1pm.
October 23rd – Ladies mountain bike ride at 10am.
October 29th – Ladies mountain bike ride in Arkadelphia, AR. We will be pre- riding “Iron Mountain” race course. Email Addie if you want more info and are interested in going!

All road rides meet in the big pavilion at the base of Big Dam Bridge in North Little Rock. This is a social, no drop ride. Beginners/newbies are welcome! We will ride from NLR Dam Bridge to River Market to have lunch/snacks and back.

Mountain bike ride on Oct 23rd meet in the Victory Lake parking lot in North Little Rock. This is a social, no drop ride. Beginners/newbies are welcome! We will ride from Victory Lake parking lot to Pfeifer Loop, yellow loop at Burns Park and/or other sections

Specialized Ladies' Demo

Kate Finefield: North Little Rock Park Ranger

2011-10-03T11:06:00.001-05:00

The North Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department has created the post of "Park Ranger". With over 30 parks and thousands of users, whose interests range from tennis and soccer to cycling and fishing, there is certainly a need for such a post. Details of the ranger's role are still being defined, but the ranger has been hired and I recently sought an opportunity to meet with her.
Kate Finefield is our new ranger. She is a Little Rock native, graduated from UALR with a degree in wildlife biology, has worked for such entities as Audubon Arkansas, A.D.E.Q., the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and as a field biologist for the Natural Heritage Commission. Kate is genuinely excited about her new job as the only city parks ranger in the state and, after visiting with her, I'm excited about her new job, too!

Kate Finefield, North Little Rock Park Ranger. I asked Kate to pose on Pulaski County's BDB as it is an iconic representation of the River Trail, just as her Smokey Bear hat is an icon that says "Park Ranger".

I met with Kate and her supervisor, Project Coordinator Jeff Caplinger, on a recent sunny afternoon in order to discuss the ranger job position and to try to get some personal insight into the first holder of that position. I had actually run into Kate earlier in the day as I grabbed lunch at the Argenta Market. She was on a similar mission and recognizably attired in her NLR Park Ranger shirt, so I introduced myself and firmed up our meeting for later in the day. My first impression was that she is confident, approachable and friendly, all good attributes for someone whose job involves making contact with the public from a position of authority. Kate lives in a rural area along with her husband, 5 dogs, a collection of mostly rescued "mutt" goats, a mess of cats, a mini-donkey (I'm taking her word on it!) and about 50 chickens, so I think it is fair to say that she has a soft spot for animals, which reinforced my initial positive impression.

I'm probably a poor interviewer, as I tend to simply get engaged in conversation, but I did get in a couple of question and answer exchanges. When I asked Finefield what had attracted her to the job, she didn't hesitate. "This is the job that I went to school for. I wanted a job that put me in a position to be outdoors and to educate and inform people." Her previous jobs all had some of each, but the NLR Park Ranger seems to have found a position with a job description that she could have written to define her dream job.

Ranger Finefield's enthusiasm is apparent as she discusses to possibilities of her new job.

I also asked Kate about her cycling experience, and she responded that she had used a bike for transportation while living in downtown Little Rock, but that her current home location doesn't lend itself to riding. A self-described tomboy, Kate participated in track and field and volley ball, though her ambitions to play football were quashed by her parents. She loves being outdoors and recognizes that she will be serving a broad constituency of parks users. At this time, her hours are divided between patrol and office duties while she works with city authorities to fully define the role of the ranger. There must be some changes made by ordinance to empower the position and define its areas of authority. In the meantime, Finefield will undergo some training with the NLR Police Department, whose members she describes as extremely supportive. Ultimately, Kate sees the primary duty of the park ranger to be that of educating, informing and helping the public understand how to share the many resources that fall under the purview of the NLR Parks and Recreation Department, but she will also have an enforcement responsibility. She believes that initially she will spend a little more time with enforcement than will be the norm. There are few serious problems in the parks, but some folks have taken a lack of enforcement for granted in such areas as alcohol consumption, parking on playing fields, and littering, for example. As ordinances are being updated to define the ranger job, discussions are being held on a fairly wide variety of topics. These range from horse poop on trails shared with mountain bikers to tobacco use in the parks. Some of these issues may be addressed by ordinance while others with simply fall to policy positions. Most of the parks rules simply codify consideration for others, and once the public understands that the rules will be enforced, it is likely that most of Kate's time can be devoted to helping people appreciate and enjoy the spectacular NLR parks system.

Jeff Caplinger, Project Coordinator, is Ranger Finefield's immediate supervisor.

Jeff Caplinger has been with Parks and Recreation in the City for 7 years, and he is very pleased to have Kate on board. Along with parks director Bob Rhoads, Jeff is working to get Kate equipped with the tools she needs to perform her duties, including legal authority, training, and equipment.

When I think of NLR Parks, I think of the River Trail, but Jeff reminded me that our ranger will have much more to cover. It is almost certain that she will have a bike and access to some sort of ATV to patrol the River Trail and other "off road" areas and, when the newly proposed off-road ATV park was mentioned, the tomboy perked up and said, "I told them I need a dirt bike."

Speaking of bridge openings.... Updated 10/2

2011-09-27T21:10:00.001-05:00

It has been reported that the new bridge on Ferndale Road just north of Kanis is complete and open to traffic. That reopens up several routes that use Ferndale and it should also reduce traffic on the detour route along Kanis and Denny Roads back to normal levels.

The good news of the bridge re-opening was tempered by the news that the nearby Ferndale grocery closed on Friday, September 30. The owners said that the detour created for the bridge construction caused their sales to drop by 75% and that they simply could not sustain the loss. There is another store nearby on Kanis, but the Ferndale Grocery has long been a convenient stop for cyclists.

Orbea Demo Day: Sunday, October 2

2011-09-27T21:00:00.002-05:00

The fine folks at Spokes are hosting an Orbea factory demo ride at Victory Lake in Burns Park (that's the ski lake). Get a new mountain bike dirty on the Burns Park trails or check out one of the snazzy road bikes for a quick spin, perhaps down to the newly opened Clinton Park Bridge. I may have to ride on down and temporarily trade in my ti beauty so that I can sport some sweet new carbon around town on a Sunday ride.

Get in touch with Frank to reserve a bike. They plan to run a couple of shifts so that more folks will be able get on a bike. It's just good business to allow riders to experience the object of their bike lust on the road or trail. Bikes are a big investment but it's often impossible to get much of a test ride, so these demos are appreciated. To the uninitiated, bikes can seem absurdly expensive and impossible to rationalize. To many cyclists, getting out on the road on the saddle of the right bike makes the value of a few thousand bucks become pretty abstract.

Clinton Park Bridge Dedication, Freedom Fund Challenge Ride

2011-09-26T20:47:00.000-05:00

There are several things going on around town in the coming weeks. I've received this information from a half dozen or more sources, but here it goes again, just in case you are on no e-mail lists.

from BACA:

Dedication and Opening of

Clinton Presidential Park Bridge

Friday, September 30, 2011

Come make history! Ride the Bridge!

Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas riders will start assembling at 10:30am at the River Market Pavilion, and arriving together at the Clinton Presidential Park at 11:00am. Anyone on a bike will be able to stand in a special area just for us on the eastern side of the stage near the Clinton Center Fountains. Now's the time to get out that BACA shirt and wear it! There will be some available at the River Market.

The program is scheduled to begin at 11:30am. After the conclusion (approximately 12:30pm) the stage will be cleared and our group will make history as we cross the bridge for the first time.

The Bridge will be opened up especially for us...and will close at 2pm later in the day, but will reopen on Sunday at 8am for good.

Arkansas Freedom Fund Challenge Ride

My friend Bryan Shipman asked me to share this timely ride information with you. Riders can dedicate the bridge this week and then jump on the first cycling event to use it!

Looks like a nice way to spend a fall day and help some soldiers and veterans.

In The Bag: Another Successful Big Dam Bridge 100

2011-09-25T21:01:00.003-05:00

Saturday broke cool and overcast and, as the day wore on, remained cool and overcast, which was perfect weather for the 2299 registered riders who rolled out LaHarpe Blvd in downtown Little Rock to begin the sixth edition of the Big Dam Bridge 100 bike tour. After crossing the BDB, riders headed north through Maumelle to Mayflower, where they headed east and north around Lake Conway. From there, the 100 mile riders headed west to cross the Arkansas River at Toad Suck to Wye Mountain, while the 55 and 68 mile riders headed east for their own little hill fests.

Get Over It! I liked the theme of this year's ride jerseys and the 55, 68 and 105 mile routes all had a little something to get over! This was about all the blue sky we got, but conditions were perfect for a ride!

Though I heard reports of many riders walking up Batesville Pike on the 55 and 68 mile course, the routes were not really that hilly and each was, in fact, quite excellent by all accounts! Every distance seemed to have some bonus miles thrown in with the "century" being shown as 105 miles, the "half-century" was 55 miles and the "100k" was 68 miles.

OK, I was ready to be done at 100 miles, so the extra 4.23miles was not necessary at all! My time was respectable enough, but the baddest boys also had another "4:23". That is, they finished in 4hours, 23minutes. Good job, boys, that's fast.

We had a good plan, but, like many good plans....

Our group saddled up for the century with a stated plan of sticking together, not dropping anyone from our bunch, enjoying the rest areas and generally making a leisurely day out of it. I don't know why we make silly declarations like that, but in that spirit we positioned ourselves well back from the front even though our pack was already split up by the time we rode the three blocks from our gathering point to the start area. "We'll get together on the road", we said, and we half-assed did just that, though it was reported that our leisurely pace out of town had dropped a portion of our group somewhere in the area of 200 yards from the start. I won't bore you with the details of our ride, but it was "game on" from the start and our bunch splintered into groups of 3 and 4 as we hooked up with different packs. Nobody wants to give up the power of the peloton to wait for somebody who may or may not still be behind you, and the strength of the big numbers can eat up the early miles with little individual effort if you're in at a pace you can work with. For much of the ride, I felt like I could have gone a little harder, but by the time we finished, I was toast, so I think I rationed my efforts well enough.

My best moment....

We made the stop at the Spokes sponsored station at mile 35 and stopped again at Bigelow to get some fluids before climbing Wye Mountain. As we rolled out from the Bigelow stop, a guy in an Air Force jersey slid up beside me and asked, "Are you JBar?". I introduced myself and he said something like, "I just wanted to thank you. Your blog kept me from going crazy while I was deployed in Kuwait. Reading your blog helped me keep up with the riding scene and stay in touch with what was going on at home, so I wanted to thank you." No. Thank you! I was admittedly touched.

Post Ride Party

For the last couple of years, Argenta Main Street has been an open street party, allowing the local establishments to sell "to-go" beverages and serve at tables outside on the street. The live music was good, hot dogs were served along with food from the area restaurants, and riders stuck around to enjoy the vibe and watch later finishers roll in.

Spokes seemed well represented at their rest stop, with the Spokes-mobile running SAG and a lot of kitted-out riders on the road. We were handed a finishers pin and chocolate milk at the finish, and the cold milk really hit the spot!

Good seats and good business. The local bars and restaurants enjoyed a busy afternoon as riders refueled with cold beer and good food as they recounted the tales of their day.

Food and a beer were at the top of the order for me, but many riders had other ideas, and I do love a post-ride massage!

Chad Cragle poses in front of the massive bike parking area and the food tents. Look closely and see if you can spot a bike nerd hidden in this photo.

Diane and I had a beer and hung around for a while before grabbing a very good pizza to-go from the Cornerstone and heading home for a nap and the Alabama beat-down of the Razorbacks, respectively. This ride just keeps getting better and the routes for this year's event were by far the best yet! I really hated the old return down Maumelle Blvd.

Trraffic control was good and the rest stops we used were stocked with the right stuff by volunteers who were friendly and helpful.

Thanks to everyone involved! It was another great ride event for the BDB100 organizers and the central Arkansas cycling community.

From One End To The Other

2011-09-23T21:11:00.000-05:00

Things seem to be in a constant state of evolution along the River Trail. The shine is still very much on the new Two Rivers Bridge and now two new features are open for use or soon will be.

From one end....
Next Friday, September 30, dedication ceremonies will be held for both the long-awaited Clinton Park Bridge and the adjacent Bill Clark Wetlands, with the event being kicked off by President Clinton walking across the bridge from North Little Rock, then I assume he speaks, then cyclists are invited to ride en masse across the new bridge. Cyclists who want to participate should meet at the River Market Pavilion at 10:45 on Friday morning to gather with the BACA folks. I would suspect that there will be some waiting around before the riders are dispatched for the grand procession, but it should be fun nonetheless. The bridge will then be open until 2:00PM, after which it will be closed until it is opened to the public on Monday. I'm going to miss the dedication, but will scout out the new bridge very soon thereafter, I'm sure.

...to the other.

There is now a mountain bike trail(in the rough, at least)/hiking trail off of the base of River Mountain Road. It was reported as very rough with plenty of unridable hike-a-bike by some visiting nerds. Initial reports had it only needing a little "riding in", but I'll go with the more recent reports from the folks who have ridden it. Or tried.

I'll poach this photo from Joe Jacobs's excellent Arkansas Outside blog and then invite you to follow the link above for his article and more photos!

The Big Dam Bridge 100

2011-09-21T22:38:00.002-05:00

I finally got around to registering for this weekend's BDB100 this morning. I knew I was going to ride and just kept putting it off until I could pay the maximum fee in the spirit of community support. Diane thinks it's commitment aversion, but, heck I'm married and committed to all sorts of stuff, so that can't be it.

Boy, were we excited about the first BDB100, and it was a fantastic start to one of the best rides around.

In the excitement that led up to the first BDB100 on October 1, 2006, there was a lot of talk about growing the ride into the scale of the Hotter'n Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls, Texas. I haven't been for a few years, but I think there were close to 14,000 riders staged at the start for last HHH in which I participated. It was soon realized that the numbers for the BDB100 have to be somewhat limited if the ride is to utilize the bridge and trail system that inspired it. Central Arkansas is also very different place from Wichita Falls, which, frankly, is out in the middle of nowhere. Once you clear the nearby edge of town, 14,000 riders can actually cover up to 100 miles seemingly without disrupting a whole lot of traffic.

If you look carefully at this Google Earth shot of nowhere, you'll notice that Wichita Falls is right in the middle of it.

Here in God's country, the route has many more choke points in the form of bridges, overpasses, lakes, rivers and other limitations posed by the topography of the area, along with miles of sharing open roads with highway traffic. The accommodations made for rider safety last year left Maumelle Blvd / Highway 100 backed up for hours as riders trickled back into town. This year's course will be a very interesting one and it is made possible by the opening of the Two Rivers Bridge. The folks on Maumelle Blvd will be relieved and the route should have less traffic than the return through Mayflower and Maumelle; however, the new 100 mile tour is actually 105 miles and includes a bit of a stinger with a climb up Wye Mountain on Hwy 113 that comes at about mile 66. The old route included a much-cussed climb on Fortson Road, but that climb is much easier and came a little earlier in the ride. I should also mention that the Metric Century version of this year's ride is 68 miles instead of 62 and includes both Fortson Road and a lovely little climb on Batesville Pike that is late enough in the ride to cause some pain. The new routes will solve many of the traffic problems, but still are not suitable for moving huge throngs of riders such as those at the HHH; however, the BDB100 is growing and the vibe in Argenta for the finish was very nice and gave folks a reason to hose off at the open showers, put on some dry clothes and stick around for awhile. The bars and restaurants did a brisk business and everyone seemed happy with the day.
I don't expect the BDB100 to roll out 15,000 riders any time soon, but I think it can grow as big as it is allowed to. In the first year or two, the ride got page after page of coverage in the Democrat-Gazette and the event was promoted regionally. The Dem-Gaz doesn't give it much coverage these days, but the newspaper business is hard and some of the novelty is gone, so the abbreviated coverage is understandable. I think organizers are allowing 2200 riders this year and will likely get close to that. With any degree of promotion it will grow, but for now the BDB100 is "right sized".
Now, it's time to eat well, hydrate, and get ready to ride on Saturday!

JBar's Lost and Found

2011-09-21T22:20:00.001-05:00

My writing hasn't been flowing lately, so it looks like I've become the Lost and Found Department.
Passed on by my friend Liz:

Subject: MISSING WHEELS

We need your help. Last night after our group workout, we accidentally drove off while both of our front bicycle wheels were resting against the side of Jeff's truck. They had fully disappeared in less than 15 minutes - probably between 7:30 pm and 7:45 pm. This was in the parking lot at the end of Catfish Drive on the NLR side of the River Trail. Both wheels are in red Mavic wheel bags. One is a Zipp 404 and the other is a Flashpoint without stickers.

We hoping that a fellow cyclist may have picked them up and might try to find the owners. Our contact information is below. If you wouldn't mind, please forward this email to other relevant distribution lists you might be a part of. We appreciate your help!!

Jeff Jenkins (jeffdjenkins@gmail.com, 501-351-3775)

Amy Jenkins (amyjojenkins@yahoo.com, 501-231-9674)

David Fike at River Trail Station said someone reported leaving a wheel in the same manner across from his shop. One of the local homeless guys later attempted to sell it to David, who notified the owner, though David was unable to talk the guy out of the wheel. That's a little far up the trail, but some of those folks ride bikes, too, and the wheels would be a target of opportunity. I'd try the pawn shops in downtown NLR before giving up. I hope they turn up!
JB

Thursday Evening Festivities on the Junction Bridge

2011-09-20T17:27:00.003-05:00

Ride on down to the Junction Bridge on Thursday evening for a couple of exhibition events presented by the Arkansas Boathouse Club and the Grande Maumelle Sailing Club. I know that the Boathouse folks can show their stuff, but it will be interesting to see what the sailors bring to the party. Sailing on the river is a unique challenge due to the narrow channel, squirrelly winds and plenty of obstacles in the form of bridge pilings and jetties.

Found on River Trail: Seat Bag

2011-09-20T07:52:00.000-05:00

Seat bag found in Burns Park area, Monday 9/19. Call me at 501.680.4127 or David at River Trail Station, 501-374-5505, and identify contents to claim.

So...what are those kickers for?

2011-09-16T21:22:00.003-05:00

Some of my nerd friends reported from the Burns Park mountain bike trails that some fellow trail users had been less than polite. Apparently, a number of equestrians had used the trail. I say "apparently" because nobody saw the horses, but they were pretty certain that there had been horses there.

From what I was told, the trail was pretty well littered with gifts like this. Photo compliments of J. Gaston.

I don't blame the horse folks for not wanting to deal with the poop, but if you're going to ride horses on an urban multiuse trail, you need to kick it off of the trail. You'll feel better about it and it will make those shitkickers look and smell authentic.

On a similar thread, Labor Day weekend was cool and sunny, so the crowds came out to the Big Dam Bridge and the Two Rivers Bridge, bringing their dogs but leaving their manners at home. After the published warnings from Judge Villines that dogs could be banned, and the efforts of Nancy Elliott in spending many evenings at the BDB gathering signatures and speaking to dog owners in an effort to prevent the ban of dogs from the bridges, the bridges were a mess after the holiday weekend. Somebody ventured that it has just been too hot for the dogs to poop for awhile, but that's not quite the case. The folks who use the trail year-around seem to know the drill. The regular runners, walkers and riders get along pretty well , as we know what to expect from one another, but the tourists and other people who only show up on peak days seem to leave a trail of complaints and dog turds. They certainly have a right to be there and I'm glad to see the big crowds, but their poor behavior can threaten the privileges of responsible trail users.

Along The Trail

2011-09-13T08:10:00.004-05:00

Turning The Seasonal Corner
The days have been getting shorter since the solstice, but darkness will be bumping into my ride times soon, and some of my commuter friends have been sporting lights for a couple of weeks. A few folks are already pulling on armwarmers in the morning and the sun is slipping to the southern horizon. I don't mind the heat as much as the dark, but we can't pick, so we have to adapt. We have to return to our winter ways and that means getting out the winter wear and also getting visible. It's a good time to change the batteries in your blinkies and charge up the headlights. We'll be riding at dawn and dusk more often, which also means that drivers will be all the more challenged to see us.

Open House at the Boathouse
The Arkansas Boathouse Club invited cyclists to drop by last Saturday to grab a snack, fill bottles, and register to win a $150.00 rowing experience. Diane and I rode down Saturday morning to check things out, as our kayak and canoe experience tends to make us attracted to people-powered boats and Diane is very interested in doing some rowing.

These aspiring oarsmen are doing dock drills in the 8-boat, a racing shell for 8 oarsmen and a cockswain. Protocol requires the cockswain, who barks orders but doesn't have to row, to be short and bossy.

The oar-to-boat ratio says a lot about the potential speed of these craft.

Design aside, the crew determines performance and these beginners are just getting a feel for things as they glide out on the Arkansas River.

One reason I gave up tandem canoes was the need for a reliable partner, so this single scull has appeal to me.

Thanks to the Arkansas Boathouse Club folks for hosting us!

Ya' just never know what you're gonna see....

I was taking it easy and just cruising around the trail system on Saturday. It was a beautiful day and the trail was active but not crowded. I was riding home along the NLR trail and, as I approached the point where the trail transitions onto River Road, I noticed a couple of photo shoots taking place. I have an interest in such things and always hope to pick up some ideas or information from more experienced photographers, so my attention was first drawn to the two guys on the right side of the road who were getting some shots of their Dodge Ram pickup. My discerning eye immediately told me that the pickup photogs had been drawn to a shooting angle in which the river provided an interesting backdrop, but that they had totally ignored the position of the sun. Their results may have been satisfactory for Craig's List or the Thrifty Nickel, but were unlikely to win any awards. After dismissing these guys as amateurs, I swung across the way to where another photographer, also photographing a pickup, was set up in front of the small structure across from the FOP. The building is used by a model train club and is painted in Union Pacific yellow, making for a background that has a little pop.

This shooter had good light and the elements of the yellow building, green grass and blue truck nicely divide the scene into thirds, which is very pleasing to the eye.

My made-up pseudo media credentials gained me immediate access to the set.

My new friend's name was Cheyenne. I was tempted to put "Cheyenne" in quotation marks, thinking that it was unlikely to be the name that her mother gave her, but I refrained from doing so. Cheyenne and her photographer were very nice folks, so I wish them well and hope they sold the truck.

Budget Hold?

The price exceeded the budget for the new bridge across Shillcutt Bayou to replace the wooden bridge at Burn Park, so I understand that the project is on hold until additional funding is available.

I've heard that initial pricing for the Diamond Bear brew house project also exceeded expectations. The plans that came out for bid were not complete and contractors are often asked to bid from preliminary plans to help create a more realistic budget from which to go forward. I have no direct knowledge of the current plans for the project but would expect it to go on in some form. Diamond Bear will be a great addition to the area and will add the new facet of on-the-trail dining to the River Trail experience. I guess the closest thing to on-the-trail dining currently is Doe's on Markham, but the view from Doe's lacks grandeur.

MS150 Ride the Rock

I admittedly didn't get on board for the MS150 this year as I have in years past, but thanks to a generous friend I was able to participate. I was only available to ride on Sunday but the course was ambitious enough, a 75 mile clockwise loop around Lake Maumelle from River Trail Station in North Little Rock. On Saturday, riders got to climb Wye Mountain about 2.5 times on an 83 mile route, the .5 coming on Ross Hollow Road which offers a descent off of Wye, followed by a sharp climb before continuing the descent. Since I only rode 35-40 easy miles on Saturday, I started Sunday with fresh legs, though I have to report that they didn't stay that way! By the time we headed back into town, I was dreading the climb up the BDB, but my companions dragged my sorry butt in and I rallied to BBQ and a cold Diamond Bear Presidential IPA back at the River Trail Station.

The MS150 is a ride for a great cause and I really enjoyed the years of riding from Mather Lodge at Petit Jean Mountain State Park

There were fewer riders that in years past, perhaps in part due to the new location and almost certainly due to the fact that 50-70,000 people were heading to War Memorial for some Hog football tailgating, but the support was very good with vehicles out on the road and plenty of rest stops. Our little group didn't need much more than water, but it is always nice to know that you will have an opportunity to fill bottles and grab some free food every ten miles or so. There was a lunch stop, but it was only about 9:30 when we went by and we rolled on and grabbed some bananas a little further up the road.

Lisa Brown has done a great job with this ride over the years and I expect it to regain momentum if it remains in Little Rock. Riders are able to choose from many events these days and this one requires a little planning and effort, but it is a fabulous organization for a worthy cause.

No Speed Trap: Radar Cop At The BDB

2011-09-08T17:53:00.000-05:00

There was a little buzz last Saturday morning among riders on the River Trail concerning the fact that a NLR police officer was parked at the foot of the Big Dam Bridge with a radar gun, clocking riders coming off of the bridge. Contrary to what I was told by one rider, Officer Beaston was not handing out tickets, but was gathering data on the speed of riders as they came down the north ramp.

Though he was parked discreetly in the classic speed trap mode, Officer Beaston was just in the "information gathering" mode. He had clocked and noted the speed of about 300 riders, only a few of which appeared to be riding above a reasonable speed.

The study was prompted by a couple of recent cyclist-pedestrian accidents that resulted in injuries, one to the cyclist and the other to the pedestrian. Beaston is a rider and has done some racing, so his perspective on cycling was an informed one and, while I won't put words in his mouth, I will say that we were of about the same opinion as to what appeared to be safe and reasonable and what appeared to be irresponsible. North Little Rock officers have been present on the trail, either on a 4-wheeler or on a bike, the last few Saturdays and I think that's a good thing. The best way to get a feel for trail use is to be out there.

There has been a lot of discussion about sharing the trail of late, much of it centering on somehow controlling cyclists. In my opinion, folks cannot be forced to use good judgement. The speed limit on the I-30 bridge may be 65 MPH, but there are many times that you will get passed by almost every car on the road at that speed. There are also periods of heavy use when only a madman would attempt to maintain 65 MPH. The same principal applies to the bridges. There are many times when descending off of the ramp at 18-20 MPH is perfectly reasonable and other times when it is difficult to maintain 5 MPH, as was the case on Two Rivers Bridge last Monday.

On that note, there were very few what I'd call "serious" cyclists out Labor Day evening when I got to ride. The biggest hazards I encountered were the family of five with bikes parked sideways across the trail while Mom untangled her earbuds, the guy on the BDB with two dogs on 20' leashes, each extended in a different direction, and the oncoming runners who couldn't decide which side of the trail to run on, so they split up and took the whole damn thing. All of those are everyday occurrences on a shared trail, so I'm unlikely to do any letter writing to complain.

It's really not too hard to get along if you start with reasonable expectations and some good manners.

Share the trail. Share the responsibility.

Bike to Boathouse: Saturday Morning Open House, Sept. 10

2011-09-02T16:20:00.000-05:00

The Arkansas Boathouse Club will be holding an open house "Bike to Boathouse" event from 7:30-10:00AM next Saturday morning, September 10.

"The Arkansas Boathouse Club is hosting an open house on Saturday morning 9-10-11 from 7.30a - 10.00a We're setting up a "Hydration Station" at the Boathouse to offer free energy food and drink to all cyclists. Plan your Saturday ride to take a quick rest, refuel, and check out what rowing the Arkansas River is all about. Rowing is a great way to cross train and we'll be raffling a free Discovery Row - a weekend learn to row - a $150 value- to all that stop by and register. Pass along this hydration station invitation to the rest of your Peloton. "

Drop by to register for the "Discovery Row"! We've all seen the rowing shells gliding down the river and now, it could be you! Drop by to visit or top off your bottle before the MS150.
Thanks to Lawrence Finn for including us in the loop!

Two Rivers Bridge Closure: Light Installation

2011-09-02T13:10:00.003-05:00

The Two Rivers Bridge will be closed next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, day and night, as LED lighting similar to that on the BDB is installed. The closure was reported in the Dem-Gaz and elswhere, but I've seen conflicting reports on the duration of the closure. My information comes from the Pulaski County Department of Public Works.
I'm looking forward to seeing the new lighting. It is possible that the closure may stretch to Friday. I'll get an update next week.

Note:
The above has been corrected. The bridge will be closed Tuesday, Wednesday and likely Thursday.