commuterDude: Bike Week is coming

April 18, 2011

Bike Week is coming

May is a strong month for local utility-cycling and commuting in KC - and, yeah-yeah... it's on all the news lately and people are running it into the ground ... but, for-real folks... since I started paying attention in 2002 I haven't seen the press that gas prices are getitng lately. $3.50/gal in February is downright frightning. $3.80/gal was seen this morning in Olathe. Regardless of what the barrel prices are doing, I doubt it will drop much. We may not see sub-$3.00/gal gasoline ever again.

Economically, on a personal basis where it matters, it's going to be a tough summer.

Jump on a bike for your short trips and your daily commute to work and you could end up saving $100 a month, easily. If you're finally thinking about getting on the bike to save some money this year, these are events you'll want to attend, and you should definitely bookmark these webpages.

This May BikeWalkKC is teaming up with partners across the region to present greater Kansas City's 6th annual Bike Week May 14-22. This is your opportunity to sample all things bicycle-related around the metro area. Whether you're into racing, bike commuting, mountain biking, fixed gear, or just want to learn how to get around town safely – we have something for you. Learn about our fun events at www.bikewalkkc.org.

If you want to be more confident bicycling on city streets you should consider joining BikeWalkKC's Spring Smart Cycling series to learn more about traffic skills, bikes and the law, hauling cargo, and maintaining your bike. Check out www.bikewalkkc.org/education. It's a great value at $65 for the full five class series, or just $20 per individual class.

These classes are more in-depth than the free versions offered in recent months, and they culminate in the League of American Bicyclist's Traffic Skills 101 certification.

Check out BikeWeek on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=93541222463

Twitter: @CarFreeKC

Finally, volunteers make things happen: BikeWalkKC has a few volunteer opportunities left to prepare for Bike Week.
Please contact sarah.shipley@bikewalkkc.org to learn about them.

This is a great time to get started!

(Reposted with permission)

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What is bicycle commuting?

Simply put, bicycle commuting is the act of travelling to a place of work or education by bicycle. In many areas it is common to combine bicycle commuting with public transport. Worldwide, the bicycle remains the most common commuter vehicle, and bicycle riding the second most common form of commuting, second only to walking. While the absolute number of bicycles in existence globally is unknown, it is clear that significantly more bicycles are manufactured than automobiles. In the United States about 40% of automobile trips are two miles or less; using a bicycle for these short trips can reduce your emissions and expenses. If you live within ten miles of work, you could save thousands of dollars in fuel, insurance and automotive maintenance costs each year. This webpage seeks to highlight bicycling as a viable transportation platform and a fun, exciting, healthful way to improve your life! Visit the commuting links below and get started today!

What is Randonneuring?

The French term "randonnée" loosely translates as a long tour or ramble along a defined route, and persons embarking as such are dubbed "randonneurs". In cycling, the term defines a hard-riding enthusiast attempting a long-distance randonnée (called a "brevet", usually 200 kilometers or greater) within a certain time allotment. Non-competitive by design, randonneuring encourages camaraderie: riders test themselves against the clock, the weather, and a challenging route - but not each other. Randonneuring's ethos embodies self-sufficiency and mental toughness; support vehicles are not allowed and brevets are held regardless of weather. Randonneurs USA (RUSA) organizes brevets in the United States under the auspices of the Audax Club Parisien (ACP) and the Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM), and rider's results are recognized world-wide. This website seeks to highlight the excitement and challenge of long-distance bicycle riding by sharing personal ride accounts, with the hope of growing the sport. If this type of bicycle riding interests you and you'd like to find out more, visit the RUSA webpage to find rides in your area!

For ride announcements and discussions on randonneuring in the greater Kansas City area, visit KC Ultra Cycling, and join the KC Ultra-Cycling Email List:

Subscribe to KCUC

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Visit this group

Courtesy Randonneurs USA

What is Ultra-Marathon Cycling?

Just as the 26.2-mile marathon represents a benchmark for runners, bicyclists generally consider the "century", riding 100-miles, a worthy endurance challenge. Ultra-marathon cycling involves exceeding that benchmark, often several times over, offering the long-distance challenge of randonnuering with a more competitive flavor. This is the world of 24-hour races, double-centuries, and beyond. Where randonneuring rewards all finishers equally and emphasizes self-sufficiency, ultra-racers compete for time and placing, maximizing speed by utilizing support crews for hand-ups and fast repairs. Event courses can be long and scenic, but may take the form of many laps of a looped course. Winning ultra-distance events requires the rare combination of endurance and a high average speed. Randonneuring and Ultra-Marathon often complement one another: brevets can offer base-training to prepare for racing, and fast randonneurs often enter ultra events for a new challenge. Visit the World Ultra Cycling Association's website for more information.

Courtesy World Ultra Cycling Association

April 18, 2011

Bike Week is coming

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