Tweed Ride, IMBA Instructor Training, Pedal-Palooza Swap Meet

Bike related events are starting to fill the calendar. This article is admittedly a copy-paste exercise. After a few days on the beach in Mexico, our local weather permitted road rides on 7 out of 8 days, followed by a quick trip to Colorado for a day of Nordic skiing and a few days of downhill at Steamboat Springs. No wonder I'm behind! I've been a busy boy at play and at work.

Here are a few happenings of interest:

Ride Saturday, because it looks like Sunday will suck for the Little Rock Marathon.

Little Rock Tweed Ride: Saturday, March 1

11:00AM from Bernice Garden, 1401 S. Main
Free, everyone welcome! Meet up and wear your tweed and funky mustaches! Then we'll ride bicycles around town at a very social pace. The event will tie into the SoMa Mardi Gras Parade.

 

 

 

Attention Mountain Bike Gurus:

IMBA Instructor training opportunity:

This from Tammy Donahugh,  ICP Manager, IMBA:

Are you looking to run guided rides, lead clinics, or just have more ways to interact with your local riders?  

The Instructor Certification Program (ICP) will be offering our Level 1 course March 14-16^th in Anniston Alabama.

Our new Level 1 Ride Guide certification is 2.25 days long and now includes an introduction to instruction. The ICP Instructor Trainer will be taking the group through training and testing on the following topics:

• Risk Management
• Leadership
• Group Management
• Pre-tour skill assessment
• Instruction principals
• Safety and etiquette
• The ten fundamentals of mountain biking

Go here to get signed-up now for our Alabama course!  Online registration will close March 5^th, 2014.

We’re also offering a Level 2 Basic Skills Instructor certification course April 10-13^th in Bentonville, Arkansas.  Please make sure to read all Level 2 pre-requisites before signing up.  Online registration will close April 1^st.

Check out IMBA.com for further information on the ICP, or for questions email icp@imba.com East Perl Circle
Suite 200Eulder, CO




Pedal-Palooza Swap Meet
This item poached in its entirety fro inArkansas:

Mark your calendars!

The Little Rock River Market just announced its first Little Rock Pedal-Palooza Bicycle Swap Meet, happening 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday, March 22 at the First Security Amphitheater, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock.

Want to be a part of the fun? They are looking for vendors to set up booths and sell their cool bicycles and gear. All you have to do is fill out this PDF form and send to dlong@littlerock.com.

Don't plan on setting up a booth? The event is free and open for shopping!

Stay up-to-date with the brand-new event here.

Along The Trail: Crowds and Some Destination Meandering.

It appears that winter's grip on central Arkansas has finally been broken, and nowhere was that more apparent than on the Arkansas River Trail on this past Sunday. The temperature rose into the 60's as runners, riders and walkers took the opportunity to emerge from their hibernation and make a squinty-eyed return to sunshine, expose a little chalky skin, and soak up some warmth.

Enthusiasts of all persuasions flocked to the River Trail last Sunday.

 

Be alert, be polite, stay right

There were quite a few small packs of riders out on Sunday. Diane and I were meeting a couple of buddies and our group number grew even as we met and decided on an initial direction. The many group rides that make use of the trail system will be ramping up with the lengthening days, as will the numbers of other trail users. The communities seem to be maturing, as the more enthusiastic (read:faster) groups tend to use the River Trail mainly as a conduit to the open road, while walkers and runners who regularly use the RT avoid conflict by staying to the right and remaining alert.

Most conflict arises on days when crowds of casual users flock to the BDB area and Two Rivers Park, often bringing with then unrealistic expectations of solitude and nary a clue as to the etiquette of shared use trails.

Let's remember to mind our manners and have mercy on the unenlightened. Ignorance can be cured by way of gently delivered information; however, a sharply barked "on your left" can piss people off. The message may be proper, but the manner of delivery can determine whether it is received defensively or with an open mind.

Traffic Jam: Cantrell at River Mountain Road
Sunday was a busy day on the River Trail and that was evidenced by the fact that I received multiple reports/ complaints about traffic backed up on River Mountain Road as trail users attempted to leave the Two Rivers Park Bridge area. The traffic signal at Cantrell Road allows southbound drivers on River Mountain only 5-10 seconds of green light (I've timed it at 5, but 10 has been claimed), followed by a couple of minutes of red as the light cycles through various turn sequences, etc, for Cantrell Road traffic. One driver reported that it took him 20 minutes to get through the intersection on Sunday, as only 2-3 cars could clear the light from River Mountain with each cycle.
The problem at this intersection has been discussed many times at meetings of the Little Rock Bike Friendly Community Committee. Little Rock's Jon Honeywell has been consistent in saying that changes to the light timing would adversely affect signal sequencing all along that stretch of Cantrell/Highway 10, an area well known for being a traffic nightmare as it is, so they are not willing to make changes.

The area is under study for redesign and I've seen little to indicate that any new design will be more accommodating to non-car traffic as the road is widened to 10-11 lanes at the intersection. Designers won't pay much attention to the needs of the nonautomotive as they make way to accommodate urban sprawl, and then they are sure to say "too late" when their plans are criticized. 

 Destination Meandering: Bike Friendly Business In A Stone's Throw

As the season ramps up and longer weekend rides become the norm with my little ride circle, a pattern emerges. Saturday rides are usually somewhat challenging. On Sunday, though not a day of rest, some of us like to dial it back a notch. We'll still log some miles, but the pace is slower and the attitude relaxed. Sometimes we'll finish up with a coffee stop, a late breakfast, or, when appropriate, a cold beer. If the last of those options appeals to you, let me suggest that you check out Stone's Throw Brewing at the corner of 9th and Rock Streets near MacArthur Park in Little Rock. The local beer is very good and they have varieties for most tastes.  I found the Two Timin' American IPA to have the hops I was looking for, and the crew is bike friendly with an exclamation point! They not only allowed us to bring our bikes inside, but customers who walk or ride to enjoy a brew are given a small discount.

The beer is good, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the folks are friendly at Stone's throw.

 

Indoor bike parking in the production area. They have ambitions of getting a bike rack, but the current arrangement is perfect. I don't like leaving my road bike on the street.

Remember to partake responsibly. Unless you've got a rickshaw and a designated pedaler, you're going to have to ride home! Be safe.

Bicicletas en México

I'll apologize for the scarcity of postings here at JBarCycling but the local scene has been slowed by the incursion of winter weather while my work and play schedule has included quite a few days of travel. The upside is that our most recent excursion was a business incentive trip to Playa del Carmen near Cancun, Mexico, that involved sunshine, heat, a beach, and the observation of a vibrant bike culture.
I always make it a point to check out the bike scene when we travel. Mexico is a relatively poor country so it was not surprising to find that bicycles there are primarily valued for their utility rather than for sport, recreation or exercise. In fact, we saw only one sport rider in full kit and aero helmet, flying along the shoulder of a major highway on a tri bike.

This is a pretty representative selection of Playa bikes. Utilitarian and often colorful.

 

The coastal areas of the Yucatan peninsula are flat and the roads are for the most part yardstick straight, making for easy cycling. Add that factor to the fact to the economics of the area and the result is that bikes are practical transportation for both personal use and for commerce.

 

Both the vendor and the customer in this photo relied on pedal power.

 

Pedicabs lined up in the taxi zone in the shopping district.

 

While traveling along the highways we saw many cyclists on the shoulders of the roads, sharing the space with motorcycles. There were also a surprising number of dedicated bike/pedestrian paths, at least near the resort area. Our guide on a trip to the Mayan ruins at  Chichen Itza told us that cheap motorcycles imported from China were replacing bicycles at a rapid rate. It was not unusual for riders to be transporting their wife and a child or two by motorcycles. Jorge informed us that the result of the combination of overloading and inexperienced riders was often tragic.

 

Cheap imported motorcycles and scooters from China are making rapid inroads into the two-wheeled culture of Mexico.

The parking area for the cafe reminded me of similar scenes common in many small towns of Colorado.

We saw these 3-wheeled utility bikes hauling everything from lumber to concrete to grandmothers. The appeal of a motor to working people is understandable, but out of reach for many.

Skinny Bikini: Marketing is everything in tourist towns.

This bike would have been at home on the bike polo court.

 

 

 Most of the bikes we saw were unfamilar brands, probably from mass marketers, so this Schwinn stood out.

 

Most of us here on the good ol' U.S. of A. are fortunate enough to be able to use bikes primarily for recreation, competition or as an alternative transportaion. Visits to places like Mexico and even small-town Colorado remind us that bikes remain viable as a primary means of transport for many people in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

Hope Springs Eternal: No Shadow For Elusive Prognosticator

Last March my friend Fairweather Jones finally poked his head out after a long winter hibernation. It was a glorious day with a high near 70 and Jones appeared in full tights, multiple base layers, vest and other winter garb. Unfortunately for all of us, he saw his shadow and the result was a long, cold, wet spring.

 

Fairweather at the moment he saw his shadow. "Damn right it's spring, or I wouldn't be here." file photo from 2013

I caught up with Jones on the cold and rainy Sunday of Groundhog Day, knowing that a groundhog named Phil had already seen his shadow, predicting weather-related for Pennsylvanians for 6 more weeks.

JB: "Fairweather, have you been outside today?"
FW: "Yep, JB, I have."
I was taken aback at his boldness on such a day, and assumed that Mrs. Jones must have run him out of the house.

JB: "Did you see your shadow?"
FW: "Nope."


And there you have it. Bundle up for now, but my expectations have been raised for a warm and sunny spring. Damn, I hope so.

Projects: Broadway Bridge, Shillcut Bayou, Dillard's Gap

There has been some news regarding projects that will affect the the Arkansas River Trail along with damn near everyone else in central Arkansas who might occasionally venture across the Arkansas River.

Broadway Bridge Bids Delayed
Bids for the new Broadway Bridge linking Little Rock and North Little Rock are now set to be taken in July. The reason for the delay was said to be that it will allow potential bidders more time to sturdy the project and possibly produce cost and/or construction time reducing ideas. After much public discussion and pressure from the cycling community regarding the design of the replacement of the aging structure, the AHTD put its massive foot down last year and said that the project must proceed in 2013 or federal funding to the tune of tens of millions of dollars could be lost. That's right, 2013.

From a THV11 article from April 2012 discussing an alternate plan:

On Tuesday afternoon, THV received a copy of a letter from the Transportation Department to Mayor Stodola and Mayor Hays.

The letter stated it is not possible to plan a Chester Street Bridge in the time allotted, considering the federal funds must be used in 2013.

 

From a Highway Department website updated December 16, 2013:

Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2013 or early 2014 and will be expedited to reduce the amount of time the bridge will be out of service. The total cost for the bridge includes removal and demolition of the current bridge and construction of the new bridge along with its additional improvements in the vicinity. 

 

 

The same loss-of-funding argument was put forth when discussions arose in 2013 concerning the minimalist bike and pedestrian accommodations included in the current design. I may be cynical, but it appears to me that the risk to funding may have been put forth to quash continued discussion, while the reality is that the timelines were not quite so hard and fast. Regardless, the discussion is over and now it appears that construction is unlikely to begin until early 2015.

 

Traffic Nightmare Predicted

When construction ultimately closes the current Broadway Bridge 18-20,000 cars per day will have to be rerouted to the I-30 and Main Street Bridges. That in itself will result in, to use technical language, one hell of a big mess. The effect of any fender bender on either of those bridges will likely be amplified into total gridlock on both sides of the river. Heaven forbid that an errant barge should strike I-30, as has happened twice in the last year. I predict madness will ensue.

 

 

 

Traffic along the River Trail near the bridge site will be affected long before actual closure of the bridge, as the contractor will require space along the river for the staging of equipment and materials.

 

 Shillcut Bayou Bridge
The replacement of the tooth-rattling Shillcut Bridge at the east end of Burns Park near the boat launch ramp is finally going to happen. Known to most River Trail users as simply "the wooden bridge", the existing bridge was built over a waste water force main and will remain in place. The new bridge will be longer and will effectively cut off some of the curve in the trail formed by the approaches to the current bridge.
According to Mike Smith of the city's Engineering Office, the contract has been awarded to Seagraves Construction. A preconstruction meeting will take place on February 5, and Smith expected construction to begin in 30-60 days, depending on the lead time for materials.
Earlier discussions about this project indicated that trail disruptions during construction will be minimal.

 

`Dillard's Area Trail Gap

While not yet "closing the loop", the Little Rock City Board of Directors voted to approve construction of projects to cross the UP tracks east of Dillard's HQ on Cantrell Road and to cross the Little Rock Marine property to the west.  Details can be found on the Metroplan Arkansas River Trail website here.

Follow-up note: I'm admittedly a little confused about the status of these projects. It was reported that the board approved going forward with these projects, but in today's Dem-Gaz there was a report that they are preparing to vote to authorize negotions for the required rights-of-way. All reports indicate progress, but the convolutions of the process have left me a little puzzled.


 

Cross Training And Another Colorado Bike Town

Between cold weather and some travel, both ride time and writing time have suffered here at the JBar Bunker, but, as usual, the world has not been standing still.

Cross Training
Since this is a cycling blog, that's what I'm calling a recent ski trip, anyway. Yep, I'm training at altitude, just like the big boys.
Diane and I once again joined the Little Rock Athletic Club for a few days on the slopes at Crested Butte, Colorado. As a skier, I would compare myself before this trip to a rider who is not confident enough to ride in a group and who might well feel compelled to stop and put a foot down before daring to open a gel or take a drink. It has been damned frustrating for me, but for some reason the switch was miraculously flipped and  I now claim the elevated status of being a mediocre skier! I'm quite pleased, as it had gotten a little old having Diane waiting for me at the bottom of each run and strangers blowing by me shouting, "Just relax, man".

Damn those holiday crowds. Blue skies, cold weather, daily grooming, and a good base made for perfect conditions.

Powder hounds might have been disappointed by the lack of new snowfall, but Colorado has enjoyed a lot of early season snow and conditions were perfect. Though we heard a couple of locals complain about crowds, I can only guess that they are spoiled, as we usually skied directly to the lifts. It was rare to find lines more than 3 deep.

Most mornings started out with temperatures well below zero, but warmed to around 30. Sunshine and good gear make that comfortable skiing.

Diane celebrated her 50th birthday, an event that was noted by this banner at the ski area base, compliments of Rhonda and Jack Lessenberry.

The Town

Crested Butte is a small mountain town and bears little resemblance to resort towns like Vail or Beaver Creek. The elevation is high at around 9000 feet and the population is low at about 1500. Nearby Gunnison offers an airport with direct flights from major hubs and additional amenities. CB was a coal mining town when founded in the late 1800's and the downtown area is made up of mostly Victorian era buildings.

We were repeatedly told by locals that summer is the best time to visit, a slightly surprising position for a ski town, but Crested Butte is likely as well known for its cycling, hiking and self-proclaimed status as Colorado's wildflower capital as it is for skiing.

Crested Butte has character in spades. The small downtown is rich with good restaurants and funky bars where visitors and locals can enjoy great food and local craft beers at very reasonable prices.

The Bikes

We spend our summer vacations in the Salida area, a couple of hours away over Monarch Pass, and are always impressed by the fact that almost every resident has some kind of a townie or cruiser for local transportation. Crested Butte is no different. Though many of the streets and sidewalks had a layer of ice, there were still a lot of folks getting around by bike. I asked one rider about the danger of riding in icy conditions and he just said, "slow and easy". Fat tires don't hurt, either. Local buses provide easy transportation to the ski area 2 miles away from several stops in town, running every 15 minutes, and it was not unusual to see bikes simply leaned against a snow drift near the bus stops. Few locks were seen.

Richard Machycek of Arkansas Cycling and Fitness, knows his bikes. He gleefully identified the "donor bikes" of various components of this pieced together "Frankenbike".

This pristine Schwinn Collegiate is a beauty from a period when Schwinn still meant American-made quality.

I just had to throw in this page from the 1968 Schwinn catalog. By the 70's, imports were taking over the high end of the bike market. Trek was formed in 1975 and slowly placed itself in the top tier of American built bikes.

And you thought women-specific bikes were a new thing! This pink color scheme and step-through frame screams "girl bike".

Not everyone rides through the winter. I felt a little sorry for this trio.

I love the Colorado bike culture, which embraces everything from Tour level road riding and world class mountain biking to the fat-tired townies favored for local transportation. In the Colorado Rockies, most towns were compactly built along rivers and railroad grades so that even in the heart of the mountains, flat terrain dominates, making a trip to the local beer joint or grocery store an easy cruise on fat tires and platform pedals. One thing that I always wonder about is, where did all of these cool old bikes come from? You see a few new Electras and other townies, but the scene is dominated by classic American two-wheelers.

What about us?

Our urban structure here in central Arkansas is very different that that of small-town Colorado. Urban sprawl is unimpeded by geography and the mindset for  generations has been that transportation means cars. Roads are built for moving as many cars as possible as fast as possible, with little thought given to walking or cycling for even the shortest trips in our neighborhoods. 

Older neighborhoods, with their sidewalks and narrow streets, seem to have a head start on livability. Hillcrest in Little Rock is a good example of what a neighborhood can be, with shopping and dining opportunities within riding or walking distance for most residents. Our own Park Hill area in North Little Rock has got great potential but lacks the kind of amenities that a community can grow around. Grocery stores require a trip of several miles to more suburban locales and a recently overturned ban on the sale of alcohol had made the area unattractive to anything except a few fast-food restaurants.

Fortunately, communities are coming together and demanding a different view on development. We need only to look to the South Main project in Little Rock to see a neighborhood on the rebound as new residents see the value nearby dining and shopping, along with restored opportunities for walking and cycling for transportation. These folks could be called urban pioneers as they help redevelop a deteriorated area and bring along new ideas about traditional neighborhoods where people actually lived near the places at which they shop and dine. Pretty revolutionary, these old concepts of convenience.

A Suggestion For Syllamo Riders: Beer

Last summer I wrote about a ride on which we ended up at Gravity BrewWorks in scenic Big Flat, Arkansas. At the time, brewers Billy Riffle and Tony Guinn were still at work finishing up work on the brewery and tasting room, but they brought out some home brew for Sam and I, as we were damn thirsty after 80 miles of hills and heat.

The good news is that Gravity BrewWorks is up and running and it's only about 15 miles from the Blanchard Springs Campground, or 12.8 miles from Fifty-Six. Billy was the award-winning brewmaster at Little Rock's Vino's before heading to the hills, so he knows his beer.

 

Give them a shout, see what they're pulling, and run up for a pint and a growler fill.

 

Gravity BrewWorks
11512 Highway 14 East
Big Flat, AR 72617
870.448.2077
870.615.1184
870.615.3479
gravitybrewworks@gmail.com

 

If you want to get in a road ride, park at Gravity and ride Push Mountain Road down to the White River and back. It's 50 miles of low traffic, stiff climbs and screamingly fun descents. I highly suggest that you get the ride part done before settling in at the tap room. 

 

Good riding and good beer seem to go hand-in-hand and both can be had up there in the Ozarks.

Syllamo's Revenge and Subaru/ IMBA Trail Team Weekend

It's likely way too late to register for Syllamo's Revenge since registration opened yesterday and the race usually sell out within hours. Here's the lowdown, anyway:

Registration for the 10th Anniversary of the Syllamo's Revenge, which will be held on May 17th, 2014, opens tomorrow, January 12th @ 6am CST.  Due to Forest Service concerns of overcrowding, the field will be limited to 400 this year, down from 450 in previous years.  Registration for last year's Revenge sold out in less than 6 hours, so set your clocks, get registered, and take off for a training ride to prepare for 50 miles of single track that will test your nerve as much as your fitness! 

This year's Revenge be dedicated to the 50 Mile event only and will not include the NUE Series race.  That will allow more awards and increased prize money for all divisions, bonuses for all top 10 finishers and a $250 winner's bonus.  Check out the website @ www.syllamosrevenge.com for details and for the link to the BikeReg.com registration site.  

I got the news just yesterday that the back campground is scheduled to open the week before the race, so more campsites will be available.  In previous years, all sites in Blanchard Springs Campground were first come first serve, but this year, scheduled to begin in March, sites will be able to be reserved in advance at www.Recreation.gov.  I'll let everyone know when the Forest Service has that ready to go.    

I've also reserved both group campsites that are adjacent to the start/finish area.  Those areas will accommodate a total of 60 tent sites.  I'm going to add an option during Registration to purchase those sites for both Friday and Saturday night for $5.  If you need additional room, you can purchase more than 1 site.

IMBA trail work is going on this weekend, and another huge work day is planned for the weekend of January 31st, and February 1st and 2nd.   There is no doubt in my mind that the trails will be brought back to the condition they were in when they received IMBA Epic status.  I hope to see a bunch of you in Mountain View for the work weekend!  

Be sure to like Syllamo's Revenge on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/SyllamosRevenge.  

I'll see 400 of you in May!

Steve

Subaru/ IMBA Trail Team Weekend

IMBA is coming to Arkansas! Jesse and Lori of the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew will be in:

Mountain View: Jan 30 - Feb 2

You are invited to join the crew as well as the Friends of Syllamo Trail for the weekend.

The visit features IMBA's Trail Building School on Saturday. This is your opportunity hang out with like-minded trail lovers while learning about building and maintaining sweet, sustainable singletrack.

Click on the town listed above for more information and to register.

You are receiving this email as an IMBA member or contact. Help us get the word out. Please forward this invitation to other area mountain bikers, land managers and trail users. The more the merrier!

If the events are too far away for you to attend, we understand. We sent you this email to not just invite you but also let you know about the important work IMBA is doing in your area.

We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,
Marty Caivano, IMBA Field Programs Coordinator

Editorial Comment: Who Should Be Responsible For Trail Maintenance?

There has been some lively discussion among my Bike Nerd friends about who should be responsible for trail maintenance and repair, especially before and after events such as Syllamo's revenge. Some think that the promoter should have to get the trails in shape and then repair any damages done during the event since the promoter stands to profit. The general consensus is that there isn't any real profit in these events and promoters mostly put in the effort simply for the good of the community and to maintain the traditions of long-standing races. An accounting of the  successful Carpe Diem event held at Camp Robinson a few years ago showed that the riders' swag bags cost more than was raised through registrations and only through sponsorships did the race break even.
My opinion is that if the burden of maintaining the public trails on which most events are held falls to the promoter, then events like Syllamo's Revenge would fade faster than hydraulic brakes with a line cut. When it comes down to it, these events are the product of the willingness of a few individuals to put in a lot of hard work in organizing, getting permits, arranging for emergency services and port-a-potties, advertising, producing awards, and listening to a lot of complaints. Their reward is satisfaction and a few "thank-you"s. Add the job of fixing up 50 miles of single-track to the list and would-be promoters would likely decide to pay their money and enter a race themselves. That is, if they can find a race to enter.
I'm not deeply immersed in mountain biking, but almost all of the trail building/work that I've witnessed has been done by volunteers, either as individuals or as part of community efforts. A good example of a well-organized community effort is Salida Mountain Trails. Take a look at their website and see what good things can happen when riders get together and go to work with local bike shops and other stakeholders.

Single-Digit Double-Dog-Dare Ride

We all have memories from our childhood days of doing something deemed unwise by our closed-minded parents. My Mom sometimes just shook her head when I told her I had jumped off of a high bluff at the rock quarry or had done something else questionable with a buddy because, " he dared me" (or I dared him), but she usually took my survival as an indicator that it wasn't that bad, though I would get the standard, "If he dared you to jump off of the roof, would you do that?!"  By this point in the conversation, I was usually wise enough not to shoot back, "how high is the roof?", and settled for a contrite, "No, ma'am".
The Challenge
All of that was simply to lay a foundation for explaining why I found myself riding the River Trail toward the Big Dam Bridge at 6:15 on the past Tuesday morning, which was the coldest day in the past few decades. I've got a neighbor buddy, who prefers to remain anonymous, with whom I've embarked on some rides in questionable conditions. On a recent cold ride we were reminiscing about our coldest ride to date, which took place on a 17-degree day after we had been home-bound for a week due to an ice storm. That ride was not only cold, but was marked by some sketchy bridge crossings and several detours  to avoid still-ice-covered hills. At some point in that conversation, he said, "We need to do a single-digit ride.', to which I thoughtfully responded, "OK".
You see, I am a bit of a student of local weather, being in the HVAC business and engaged in many outdoor sports, so I knew that I would get man-points for agreeing while also knowing that single-digit weather is seldom seen in Central Arkansas. Well, like betting against an inside straight, the odds were in my favor, but sometimes the cards fall to make that straight. With an arctic blast approaching, my phone rang over the past weekend and neighbor's voice asked, "Have you seen the weather forecast." Well, shit, here we go! Game on.

Monday evening shakedown. Sun on the horizon and 18 on the BDB, 14-degrees a short time later in the Icebox.

With temperatures already in the teens Monday evening, we decided to test our plan, so we rode out from Burns Park headed to the notorious Icebox trail section that lies between the BDB and Two Rivers Bridge. The area is shaded for most of the winter and is always a few degrees colder that anywhere else along the trail. We caught the last rays of sunshine while crossing the bridge but the wind was blowing 15-20 MPH so it was still harsh. My Garmin showed a low temperature of 14-degrees, so we had already hit a new low for us. We actually saw a couple of folks walking dogs or just strolling but no other riders.

Concerned: 5:00AM and a balmy 11 Degrees
It's usually coldest just before dawn, so with sunrise coming at 7:17, I was only a little concerned that my thermometer showed double-digits when I got up at 5:00. Depending on which forecast you put stock in, the predicted low was to be from 6 to 12 degrees. We left my house at 6:00AM and were on the bikes at about 6:15 at Burns Park. We were still reading above 10 at the BDB, but that marked the end of the warm spell.

It was a beautiful clear morning for a ride.

At 6:33 it was 10.5 on the BDB and we were on our way to the Icebox! I was moving to get into some light, hence the 1.4 MPH.

 

My Garmin graph showed 46.4 when I took my bike out of the cab of my truck and started recording. It was downhill from there!

 

From the Garmin report:

Avg Temperature:	12.8 °F
Min Temperature:	6.8 °F
Max Temperature:	46.4 °F

The temperature remained around 7 degrees for the ride back to the truck.

 

Playing in the lights on the Two Rivers Park Bridge. Crowds were not a problem.

 

Traffic was building on I-430 as the day brightened.

 

There was really no purpose in this ride other than to be able to say we did it and to expand the range of conditions in which we have ridden. For me, the 6.8 degrees stands at one end of the scale and a 114 degree day anchors the other.

 

Our dress was not all that extreme compared to usual winter ride gear. I wore tights over knickers, knee socks, a light fleece in addition to the usual cold weather base layers under my jacket, ski gloves, and a more robust hat with ear flaps. Feet are always the weak link. I have some wool socks with cut-outs for cleats that I put over my shoes and under my shoe covers, but after an hour or so, the cold had crept in through the cleat area. That is easily solved with some $2.00 chemical toe warmers, but I'll save those for a longer exposure.

Commuters in Minneapolis would probably laugh at us, but we're southern boys! Neighbor boy is already talking about a ride at zero. The odds are against that happening, so I'm in!

Big Turnout For BACA, Southwest Trail

US Pizza in Hillcrest was packed with 90-100 cycling advocates, cyclists, and representatives of local governments attending last night's BACA meeting. Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines and BACA's Mason Ellis presented details of the proposed Southwest Trail to Hot Springs from Little Rock along with other topics of interest to this community. You can follow the link above to an earlier post for details of the  ambitious SW Trail project. The meeting was attended by  Bryant Mayor Jill Dabbs, who enthusiastically endorsed the plan, as have officials from Hot Springs, Benton, Bauxite, and other entities along the route. The trail will likely see development of stretches within these communities first, and as that happens, momentum will build to connect them.
Politics
The trail is expected to be a 5 to 10 year effort, though much of the mileage follows an abandoned rail line, making for relatively easy construction. Challenges include right-of-way property title and acquisition issues, several expensive water crossings, and political resistance from some corners.

To that point, Judge Villines reminded all that this is an election year and that politicians listen to their constituents. As we are approached by candidates, it is important to express support for projects like the Southwest Trail. They are certain to hear from the "anti" crowd who are resistant to transportation that does not include cars or to anything that requires government support. I've found that even a few voices can influence the direction of government at the local level, so let one of those voices be yours!
Keep in mind that the conversation should not be just about bikes. Broaden the discusion to include walking, public health, tourism, and economic development, as all of those things are proven to benefit from the presence of trails.

(If you want a few talking points, take 15 minutes to hear Oklahoma City's Mayor tell what resources like trails, sidewalks, friendly streets and improved public health can do for a city. It is an interesting development within a very conservative state. http://www.ted.com/talks/mick_cornett_how_an_obese_town_lost_a_million_pounds.html
Keep in mind that Oklahoma is even more "red" politically than Arkansas.)

Judge Buddy Villines explained the Southwest Trail proposal and pitched his project to place a sculture representing families in Two Rivers Park. I'll post some details of that project when I have them.

 

Judge Villines is rightfully proud of his accomplishments, particularly the Two Rivers Park Bridge and projects within the park. Residents and visitors to the area have expressed their approval with their feet and their wheels, as over 900,000 people have crossed the bridge since last April.

BACA president Judy Lansky opened the meeting and kept things moving along nicely. BACA has been a consistant voice in Central Arkansas for decades and the results of BACA efforts are clear. We have become a bike town! If you are not a member of BACA, click the link and join to add your voice to the conversation.

BACA Meeting-Tuesday, January 7

It's way too cold for most folks to be playing outside in the dark, so come on out to U.S. Pizza in Hillcrest tonight at 6:30. If you have not seen the details of the proposed Southwest Trail bike route from Little Rock to Hot Springs, you need to check it out and join in the excitement. Oh, yeah, they also have pizza and beer.

BACA General Meeting

Buddy
Villines will speak about the new Southwest Trail and BACA VP Mason Ellis will
have a slide show prepared. Come learn about this exciting new trail
project!

When	Tue Jan 7, 2014 6:30pm – 8:30pm Central Time
Where	U.S. Pizza in Hillcrest (2710 Kavanaugh Blvd.) (map)

Local Rides: BDB To Pinnacle Mountain State Park Visitor Center

Most of us settle into a bit of a routine when it comes to local road rides, choosing a "route o' the day" based on the time available, training needs, degree of ambition, or group dynamics. The more experienced riders among us have likely explored many of the established rides surrounding the City and have a menu of courses from which to choose, while many folks stick mostly to the River Trail rather than take to the open road. If that describes you, check out this little ride to expand your horizons. 
Here is a ride that combines some River Trail miles with some open road within the Arkansas River Trail System. The distance makes it just right for an after-work summer ride, being an 18 mile loop from the parking lot on the Little Rock side of the Big Dam Bridge and 25 miles from the parking lot near Victory Lake in North Little Rock's Burns Park. From my house in Park Hill, it is a 40 mile loop, making for a nice mid-distance winter ride. There is enough climbing to remind off-season legs of their job, but not so much as to seriously intimidate novice riders.
The Pinnacle Mountain State Park Visitor Center is located off of Pinnacle Valley Road, just over 5 miles from the Two Rivers Park gate on County Farm Road, or about 9 miles from the Big Dam Bridge.

Cycling supermodels David Williams and Diane Barton leaving the park for the open road.

 

Beyond the park gate, County Farm Road has bike lanes to its junction with Pinnacle Valley Road. It is 1.5 miles from the park gate to the right turn on to Pinnacle Valley. Though Pulaski County built "bike paths" along Pinnacle Valley Road to the 90 degree left turn near the entry to Maumelle Park, the quotation marks above are employed for a reason. The paths are seldom used by road riders, as they are narrow and often interrupted by driveways and sharp jinks around trees and other obstacles.

 

The entrance to the state park is marked by a sign and a half-mile climb.

 

The hill east of the VC entrance is the sketchiest point of the ride as far as traffic is concerned. There is no shoulder and very limited sight distance, so both drivers and riders need to exercise caution here. When traffic is present, it is imperative that cyclists ride single-file, especially when approaching the crest of the hill.

 

After cresting the hill, the fast descent takes riders to the well-marked turn to the visitor center. This entire area is popular with road riders, so expect to see other cyclists.

After turning into the visitor center entrance, riders face a 3/4 mile climb to facility.

Halfway up the climb to the center, riders can choose to add a little spice by descending 1/2 mile to the launch ramp on Big Maumelle River. What goes down, must come up!

 

The Visitor Center offers a shop, exhibits, spectacular views, restrooms, information, and refreshments.

The ice cream case is looking sadly empty in late December, but is a big attraction for me on hot days. Well, OK, it doesn't have to be hot. A buddy and I split the last Fat Boy ice cream sandwich on a ride last weekend.

 

 

The summit of park namesake Pinnacle Mountain as seen from the Visitor Center.

 

 I had passed by the VC entrance many times before I ever ventured up to check it out but it has since become a regular desitination for short rides.

From the BDB, go west over the Two Rivers Park Bridge and through the park.

Turn right on Pinnacle Valley Road and follow it until you see the signs marking the right turn to the visitors center. From the BDB to the VC and back is 18 miles and includes about 800 feet of climbing with some fun descents as a reward for your efforts.

There has been friction between riders and local drivers in the area, so please be alert to traffic and ride single file as appropriate.

 

 

Danger-They Drive Among Us!

It's not the zombie apocalypse, but it is frightening. I'm talking about the inattentive, distracted, totally unpredictable drivers that populate our roads. Unlike zombies, they don't exhibit the lurching walk, ragged bloodied clothes, and dangling shreds of flesh to warn us that they are on the march. Like zombies, they do have human form making it difficult to distinguish them from true, living humans when behind the wheel.

Potential drivers lined up at the DMV for drivers licenses.

 

Runners struck by newspaper carrier on Chenal Valley Drive

 

On this past Saturday morning a group of 4 runners was struck by a 67-year-old newspaper carrier. The time was pre-dawn, about 6:30, and the details are murky from there. A friend, who had just begun his own run nearby heard the commotion and was among the first to the scene, reported it to me.

From his report:

 

3 adult male victims were down on the ground along side the road and on the grass between the road and the sidewalk. A third adult male victim was on his feet frantically screaming for help into his phone. He was trying to explain to the 911 operator in a very panicked, almost impossible to understand voice where they were located. My partner, knowing exactly where we were located called 911 himself to allow them to hear instructions in a more calm voice. We then evaluated the situation checking out all 4. 3 of the 4 had what appeared to be serious injuries. They were all conscious and able to talk but complained of extreme pain, difficulty breathing etc. At least two of the three also had visible head injuries. A doctor who lived right at the scene heard the commotion and came to the scene to assist. Eventually the fire department, ambulances and police arrived and all victims were transported to the hospital. The injuries appeared severe and I overheard an EMT say "critical" but my guess is that all will survive.

 

My reporter left with the impression that the runners had been running on the right side of the road, likely using the bike lane and the traffic lane, and were struck from behind. It was obviously a confusing scene and the driver possibly went down the road and then turned to return to the scene. His impression is contradicted by a newspaper article on the incident.

 

A report in Sunday's Democrat-Gazette stated that the "Little Rock collision report marked the vehicle of James York, 67, as striking the runners in the southbound lane of Chenal Valley Drive as the vehicle traveled north, just after turning from Serian Circle."  Chenal Valley is a broad avenue so it is not hard to imagine a newspaper carrier moving to the left side of the road in those early hours. The runners told officers that they were running in the bike lane against traffic.

If the newspaper article is correct, it would mean that the runners were properly running against traffic so that they could see oncoming cars, but were struck from behind as the delivery vehicle traveled on the wrong side of the road.

How the hell do you avoid that? Hi-vis, reflective clothing is very effective. They could have run on the sidewalk, but sidewalks typically are crossed with curbs and driveways and are usually not favored by runners. The fact is, that as pedestrians and cyclists we can't always anticipate the actions of drivers.

No citations had been issued as of the time of the article. 

 

This struck a nerve with me...

I had pondered writing an article on the topic of dealing with the random actions of bad drivers due to a near-disastrous experience of my own. On Christmas morning, I left home on Park Hill in North Little Rock to ride my bike across town the my in-laws' home for Christmas dinner. At 11:00 on Christmas Morning there was almost no traffic, I made both of the traffic lights near the bottom of the hill on "green" and was relaxed on the near-vacant 4-lane road. As I passed a gas station on Main Street, a car traveling in the opposite direction suddenly veered in my direction. The driver did not signal or slow as she took a long diagonal across both opposing traffic lanes toward the gas pumps. I was sure that I was about to have a head-on collision with a Buick, but I locked my brakes, put my bike into a skid, and managed to steer into the driveway and onto the adjacent sidewalk as the driver finally saw me and braked as well. We were probably 10 feet away from a crash that would not have ended well for me.

The car that I encountered left the northbound lane about where this white car is located and made a bee-line for the second driveway on the right.

 

I don't recall ever having heard anybody describe themselves as an inattentive, dangerously bad driver, but there are plenty of them out there. I went back to talk to the driver as she got out of her car. "Ma'am, you need to pay attention to where you're going. Nobody wants to get killed on Christmas Day.", to which she responded,  "I wudn't lookin' for no bicycle."  No shit? I'm shocked.

It was broad daylight and the sun was at her back, I was dressed in a bright blue jacket and there was no other traffic in the vicinity.

 

I consider myself to be a very cautious rider, warily eyeing traffic approaching on cross streets, assuming that folks will run red lights and stop signs, and taking it for granted that drivers do not see me, but how do you anticipate the totally erratic? The fact is that we can't anticipate these things. My driver thought she had the road to herself and didn't need to be paying attention. She may have been messing with her phone or simply being lazy and careless. The newspaper carrier had likely followed the same pattern for many mornings without issue before he ran down 4 runners. The odds were in his favor until his luck ran out, along with that of the runners.

 

 

As runners, walkers, and riders we are vulnerable and over-matched in our automobile-centric world. Flouro has made a comeback in the style business, which means that it is once again fashionable to wear hi-vis gear. Having been though a couple of generations of day-glo phases over the years, I not crazy about the look, but in our world visibility is always your friend and hi-vis, along with flashing lights, is probably the most effective thing that we can employ to be seen on the road.

 

 

Black kits have dominated cycling for the last few years, but the more practical hi-vis is now back in style.

 

It's hard for me to make a solid point about dealing with random unpredictable driver behavior. Some things are simply beyond our control, so I'll just wrap this up with the usual "be careful".

Oh, yeah, and ride like you're invisible. To many drivers, we are.