in this issue
GAINESVILLE-HAWTHORNE
TRAILHEAD DEDICATION THIS SATURDAY
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP
JOIN THE FLORIDA GREENWAYS & TRAILS FOUNDATION
ADVENTURE CYCLING ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS
RIDE TO BENEFIT JOSH KUCK MEMORIAL FUND
AND THEN SOME
We envision a state where people of all ages see bicycling as an enjoyable,
practical and safe activity and transportation option, and where drivers of
motor vehicles respect and appreciate bicyclists who use its roadways.
We inspire and support people and communities to enjoy greater freedom and well
being through bicycling.
Strength lies in numbers and every voice counts towards making Florida a
bicycle-friendly community. Better bicycling means a better Florida.
GAINESVILLE-HAWTHORNE TRAILHEAD DEDICATION THIS
SATURDAY
Alachua Conservation Trust acquired the property at the SW corner of the
Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail and CR 234 last year. If you have been riding out
there you have seen all the work they have put into developing new Trailheads
there and at the intersection of CR 2082 and SR 20. These are huge improvements
to the amenities of the Trail, and we all owe a big debt of gratitude to ACT for
this effort.
A dedication ceremony of this development will be held at 10:00 AM this
Saturday, November 10, at the Witness Tree Junction Trailhead at Rochelle. All
cyclists are invited. I suggest that everyone park at Boulware Springs and ride
to Rochelle, arriving a little before 10:00. A big turnout of cyclists would be
particularly appropriate. Refreshments will be provided.
There are new off-road single-track trails just completed at this location, one
dedicated to Jane Walker, and one to Susan Wright, so folks with fat tires can
try these out.
This project is truly a grand thing for ACT to do, and it directly benefits all
users of the Trail. Let's all go out and show support for these good folks.
Sounds like a lot of fun, besides. See you Saturday.
George Edwards, Gainesville
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP
Gainesville is a unique community that supports and maintains a huge group of
active cyclists. Our local cycling community is supported by the folks that take
part in the Citizens Pedestrian Advisory Board, as they can help the City and
developers incorporate bicycle needs into future construction and development.
Additionally, because of the large number of local cyclists, Gainesville is able
to support numerous bicycle shops, all of which provides a unique outlet for
bicycle wares. These shops should be applauded for simply keeping their doors
open and their wrenches turning. In the age of the "Internet Consumer" it is
imperative that local cyclists support their LBS (local bike shop), which ever
shop that may be. In order to have a healthy and thriving Cycling Community, it
is important to have healthy and thriving Bicycle Shops. Gainesville has fallen
upon dark times, the era of the Boutique style bicycle shop died with the
closing of BWA, Primo, and the power-house that SpinCycle used to be ten years
ago. Goodbike has top quality mechanics and leads local off-road rides. They are
truly the hub for off-road local rides. The Bike Route has been a fixture in
Gainesville for as long as I can remember and should be applauded for their
tenacity, even through several locations and owners, they are still open 7 days
a week and continue to provide quality service. Recycled Bicycles is always
happy to provide service and is owned and operated by local cyclists. Gatorcycle,
the largest shop in town, is nothing short of impressive for their massive
inventory. Chain Reaction, after undergoing an ownership change, still continues
to be the primary outlet for student bicycles as well as upper-end road and
mountain bikes. With the recent addition of Gainesville Cycles and the changes
going on at Bikes & More, it is evident that Gainesville is a cycling community.
Support your community and use your LBS, no matter who they are. If you haven't
already, make the trip to each and every bike shop in town just to check them
out. You never know what you'll find. Ride on!
Paul Schmidt, Owner
Bikes & More
JOIN THE FLORIDA GREENWAYS & TRAILS FOUNDATION
Many of us ride the trails of Florida, both paved and off-road. For some this is
our primary place to bicycle or walk, and in this way we are able to see much of
what is best about our State, away from the crowded highways and deep in the
forests and prairies. The Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation has now made
it is possible for us to participate directly in the expansion and up-keep of
our wonderful system of trails and greenways.
PLEASE JOIN THE FLORIDA GREENWAYS AND TRAILS FOUNDATION NOW, and help support
their programs. In the current atmosphere of State budget problems your
membership is needed more than ever.
Go
http://gccfla.org/pdf/FGTFMemApp.pdf to download a membership application
and send it and your to check FGTF. Be part of the action: Help us MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN.
George Edwards
Florida Greenways & Trails Foundation
ADVENTURE CYCLING ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS
Adventure Cycling is pleased to announce the winners of this year's Pacesetter,
Trail Angel, Bike Shop and Volunteer of the Year Awards. These awards are our
organization's way of saying a big, collective 'THANK YOU', and sharing that
appreciation with people far and wide. And what a big challenge our nominators
handed us this year - the nominations were spectacular and it was hard to pick
just one winner. But here we go.
THE 2007 PACESETTER BICYCLE TRAVEL AWARD
The 2007 Pacesetter Award goes to Neil Gunton from St. Louis, MO. Neil built and
maintains the free and independent
www.Crazyguyonabike.com website that serves thousands of cyclists and
inspires countless others. On the extensive website, you can find 1,800 touring
journals with over 198,000 photos that are updated in real time, 90 bicycle
travel articles, hundreds of gear and bicycle reviews, extensive forums and
abundant resource listings.
www.Crazyguyonabike.com helps to support cyclists by making their trip
journals and photos viewable in real time, all free of charge. Neil has helped
to inspire new cyclists by showing ordinary people accomplishing the
extraordinary. Thank you Neil!
THE 2007 SAM BRAXTON BIKE SHOP AWARD
The 2007 Sam Braxton Bike Shop Award goes to Bicycle Outfitters from Seminole,
Florida for their support of the active bicycling lifestyle. The staff at
Bicycle Outfitters patiently and proficiently guides customers through the
process of gearing up, fitting bikes and choosing routes. As Marci Moore, a
member of Adventure Cycling, proclaimed in her nomination, "This shop
specializes in getting people on bikes for life. These guys are terrific and
they have in a way saved our lives. We are healthier and happier. They change
lives everyday by helping people at all levels embrace cycling for a lifetime."
Bicycle Outfitters is committed to getting more people excited about bike travel
and go to incredible lengths to achieve just that. Visit their shop today.
Bicycle Outfitters
THE 2007 JUNE CURRY TRAIL ANGEL AWARD
The 2007 June Curry Trail Angel Award goes to Toaster House hosts Nita Larronde
and Don Kearney, and Pie-O-Neer Café owner Kathy Knapp from Pie Town, Colorado.
Pie Town is on Adventure Cycling's Great Divide Bicycle Route, and hundreds of
cyclists have found a place to rest and a sense of camaraderie with Kathy and
the folks at Pio-O-Neer Café. Nita Larronde and Don Kearney have been providing
complimentary lodging, supplies and generosity to traveling bicyclists for
almost a decade at the Toaster House. Pie Town has helped to renew and reinforce
bicyclists' belief in the kindness of strangers.
THE 2007 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award goes to Chuck Harmon from Dublin, Ohio for
his outstanding volunteer service to Adventure Cycling Association. Chuck has an
incredible set of skills that, when combined with his worldly experience and
passion for bicycling, make him a reliable, effective, and valuable friend to
bicycle travel. An eleven-year member, Chuck helped to research the Underground
Railroad Bicycle Route in Ohio and helped to add depth and fullness to our
programs in the area. Chuck has given countless hours of volunteer time to
inspire others to travel by bicycle, and we acknowledge and applaud his
dedication. Thank you Chuck!
Congratulations to our award winners and thank you to everyone who sent in award
nominations. Thanks also to the countless other individuals and organizations
who are helping to promote bicycle travel and improve traveling cyclists'
experience. We will be accepting nominations for the 2008 Awards between July 1,
2008 and September 30, 2008. Please tell us about those who helped to pave the
way for your great bicycle travel experience, and nominate someone for the 2008
awards.
Adventure Cycling Association
RIDE TO BENEFIT JOSH KUCK MEMORIAL FUND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tampa Bay Freewheelers and University of South Florida Cycling will be
sponsoring a cycling tour in honor of Josh Kuck, a member of the USF Cycling
Team who was tragically killed on October 21st on the HillyHundred Bike Ride.
The event will be held on Saturday, November 17, at the Pasco-Hernando Community
College in Dade City, Florida. We are also raising money for the Josh Kuck
Memorial Fund. If you or your fellow cyclists wish to donate $10 (donation
optional) to the Josh Kuck Memorial Fund and would like to pre-register for the
event online, please do so by November 15, 7:00 PM (Eastern Time) at
www.tbfreewheelers.com. If you do
not wish to register online, day-of-ride registration will also be available. We
will be doing a relatively short ride of 20 or 34 miles. Pre-registered rider
check-in and Day-
of-Ride registration is at 7:30 AM ET with a mass start at 8:30 AM ET.
Ruben Watson, Tampa Bay Freewheelers
AND THEN SOME
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You must stick to your conviction, but be ready to abandon your assumptions."
-Denis Waitley
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." -Martin
Luther King, Jr.
"How you start is important, but it is how you finish that counts. In the race
for success, speed is less important than stamina. The sticker outlasts the
sprinter." -B. C. Forbes
"You know that it never has been easy. Whether you do or do not resign. Whether
you travel the breadth of the extremities. Or stick to some straighter line."
-Joni Mitchell
"The bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories
into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon." --
Bill Strickland, bicycling writer and editor of Bicycling Magazine