commuterDude: Bike week is coming! Do it, do it, do it!

May 11, 2011

Bike week is coming! Do it, do it, do it!

Bike Week is nearly here!
May 16-20th, 2011
If you've been on the fence about riding to work, this is a GREAT week to start because of all the support mechanisms in place.
I'm sure I'll miss some here, but this is a quick list:

Johnson County, KS trail guide

Overland Park's version of the trail guide

The trail system is a large part of my daily commute, and I'm lucky enough to live and work close to a terminus that actually serves my needs. Dig into the map -- that busy street you're nervous about MAY be avoiadable using this ever-expanding and well maintained paved trail system.

Mid-America regional Council Carpooling resources

If you have to use a car, get friendly with your co-workers. Using a car, sadly, may be unavoidable, but at least you can share the gas costs, strike up a conversation, and help ease the costs this summer.

Bike Month - from the League of American Bicyclists

Good info concerning the national scope of May as bike month.

Overland Park, KS., Events for Bike-to-Work-Week

Metro-wide Trail breaks and rest-stop guides

Swag, advice, coffee and bagels.... just some of the things I was surprised and delighted to find last year at some of the breakfast stops. I hope to hit more of the stops this year, even if they take me far afield from the route to work.

http://bikeweek.bikewalkkc.org/

The official Bike Week website for information, logging miles, starting a team or starting a car-free or car-light trend in your life.

Get into it!

Local commuter and car-free bloggers:

Noah Dunker -- reluctant local hero, gadget-gawd, good friend and friend of the show

Carfree American -- no car use for a year, and going - how its done

Kansas Cyclist -- THE source for Kansas cycling news and info

Missouri Bike Federation -- on both sides of the MO/KS line, your advocacy heroes at work

bikecommuters -- the source for product reviews, stories, tips - national scope

KC Sprints -- because sometimes its not about saving gas at ALL. Crack a cold one, and check it.

... the above is a short list, and I know there are more --- I'm more than happy to pass your link along, so feel free to email.

Amatuer radio operators?

Bike Week goes "geek" on the air - back-pocket talk-ins on 442.150+

Spotty coverage, weak audio, scratchy into the machine.... just how we cyclists like it.

Zombies. Run.

OKay... that's all I have for now.... get a bike, get a bag, get a route, and DO IT.

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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

May 11, 2011

Bike week is coming! Do it, do it, do it!

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