tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82121732024-03-23T14:18:24.201-04:00bikevoiceRoad, mountain, cross and fixed. Since 2004.Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-68928154796039271312015-01-16T20:34:00.000-05:002015-01-16T22:32:24.861-05:00ISO bears in the Great Dismal Swamp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l61VZ6s4kg4/VLmnxBAV0kI/AAAAAAAAG8M/6urLKlAQBhs/s1600/Lake%2BDrummond.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l61VZ6s4kg4/VLmnxBAV0kI/AAAAAAAAG8M/6urLKlAQBhs/s1600/Lake%2BDrummond.JPG" height="75" width="320" /></a></div>
I think I am like many in this region who are guilty of not appreciating the natural resources right in our back yards. I finally made it a point over the last couple of years to explore The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife refuge.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iufbhg5qaI8/VLm9GTmv6TI/AAAAAAAAG9E/cJ9j0Lg8nWE/s1600/Dismal%2Bmap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iufbhg5qaI8/VLm9GTmv6TI/AAAAAAAAG9E/cJ9j0Lg8nWE/s1600/Dismal%2Bmap.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a><br />
Lake Drummond (above) is one of only 2 natural lakes in Virginia. It sits in center of the swamp, virtually untouched. It's not easy to get there. The shortest way by bike or on foot is down Washington Ditch. I like riding from the Jericho parking lot, heading down Lynn Ditch to Washington which gives round trip of about 16 miles to lake and back. The only way to get there by car is to use the Interior Ditch, and by canoe, kayak or small boat through the Feeder Ditch. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h5rdy-aqr34/VLm6SeqUvGI/AAAAAAAAG8w/bW25LG-xKuI/s1600/P2141377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h5rdy-aqr34/VLm6SeqUvGI/AAAAAAAAG8w/bW25LG-xKuI/s1600/P2141377.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TRNgr5A0Sgc/VLm5DcpfF1I/AAAAAAAAG8o/f_aJOuQhDq8/s1600/Dismal%2Bmap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Riding the double track looks simple enough, but the map is very misleading. Below is an image of the East Ditch which appears on the map to connect to Camp Ditch and back to Jericho. The disconnects in the trail are sometimes completely overgrown portions, and sometimes flooded portions like the one to the right. It gets scary in there, slogging around with no way out, knowing the place is crawling with bears. Actually, I still haven't seen any bear but would love to. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wAqLnLCxl9c/VLm97f8dbcI/AAAAAAAAG9Y/Yk3_6SEkEbA/s1600/P2141368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wAqLnLCxl9c/VLm97f8dbcI/AAAAAAAAG9Y/Yk3_6SEkEbA/s1600/P2141368.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
It's also not possible to access the Suffolk trails from the Chesapeake side. And there is a similar network of trails to the south of the NC line that do not meet up neatly with the Suffolk side. <br />
<br />
Information about the <a href="http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Dismal_Swamp/about.html" target="_blank">Virginia side</a><br />
Information about the <a href="http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/disw/main.php" target="_blank">North Carolina side</a><br />
<br />
There is a Dismal Swamp Canal Trail that is easily confused with all of this. The Canal Trail is a paved trail that runs on the far eastern border of the swamp (see map). You cannot get from that paved trail to any of the dirt trails unless you get off your bike and get into a boat.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e3puoC5Q5iM/VLm-PzjBZ_I/AAAAAAAAG9g/_EporP0fPec/s1600/PB301753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e3puoC5Q5iM/VLm-PzjBZ_I/AAAAAAAAG9g/_EporP0fPec/s1600/PB301753.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is Bethany on Washington Ditch. It's the most recent picture I have, taken in December 2014. Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-79321957681323346062014-02-07T09:39:00.001-05:002014-02-07T09:45:30.174-05:00Remembering Austin King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JrCO7d-hK0A/UvTr8_RHA0I/AAAAAAAAG6M/VW2ZVHYpZHg/s1600/Austin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JrCO7d-hK0A/UvTr8_RHA0I/AAAAAAAAG6M/VW2ZVHYpZHg/s1600/Austin.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Austin King passed away on March 21, 2013. It was untimely in the most awful of circumstances since he was a victim of crime. It remains a shock, tragedy and everlasting question of "why." Austin was best described by Sally who said he was an anchor. She meant that in every physical and metaphorical sense of the word. Blair commented that Austin, in his quiet and polite manner, understood his fellow cyclists more than the rest of us understand each other. These observations about Austin are reflected in the poem below.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's a poem constructed to be read aloud as it was during a dedication ride July 7, 2013. It's also directed to an audience that knows where Austin would position himself during a group ride--at the back, as an anchor. He served as the guy who placed himself between the pack and any cyclist who dangled off the back, struggling to hang on. If necessary, he'd fall back to pull that person back to the group.</span> <br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7w-7mWLb5pU/UvTsm5FnJuI/AAAAAAAAG6U/J4a8WPmeqQE/s1600/P7070811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7w-7mWLb5pU/UvTsm5FnJuI/AAAAAAAAG6U/J4a8WPmeqQE/s1600/P7070811.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On the July ride, about 80 cyclists gathered at Conte's in Virginia Beach to ride out to the Creeds store and back as a dedication ride. 55 miles is a long dedication ride. However, it was Austin's routine on Sunday to do this loop, so it seemed best to honor him this way. Also, he had purchased a bike rack for the store a couple of years before since the store marked a common layover for cyclists riding in the rural part of Virginia Beach. He made the purchase and paid for the installation without any big announcements.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Austin contributed in other selfless ways to the cycling community. It is common in cycling to help with the
promotion of bike races IF a person is a racer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, Austin helped with races for no other reason but to support the
racers on the team since he did not race himself. He worked behind the
scenes at about 40 Tripower-sponsored road events dating back to the mid-90's. He
hauled and set up hay bales, cones, extension cords, and caution tape
for races held in Downtown Norfolk, at Little Creek Amphibious base, at
Mt. Trashmore, and even a few in Smithfield.</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3PEZm83d7s/UvTtF_96c3I/AAAAAAAAG6c/5ZTLnPTP6A4/s1600/P7070861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3PEZm83d7s/UvTtF_96c3I/AAAAAAAAG6c/5ZTLnPTP6A4/s1600/P7070861.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The July dedication included the installation of 3 benches: 2 at the Creeds store and 1 at Conte's. Numerous contributors made this happen. We gathered there at Creeds with Austin's wonderful family. His wife Melanie spoke to us and said so eloquently how much Austin enjoyed the rides and the people. I felt strange hearing how much he enjoyed us when I had always viewed Austin as one we relied so heavily upon rather than the other way around. It made me think about how much we all really need each other.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">In Memoriam, Austin King</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Summer
came slowly<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">stalled
by an April chill<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">
<br />
</span></span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">without
you here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Winter
lingered <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">as
if waiting for the deep frost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of
losing the kindest of souls to melt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What
hasn’t melted is the mirage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of
you here safely in our pack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
shiver, you shake a full fingered ski glove:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Oh
quit complaining you’ll be sorry when it’s hot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
would laugh at me now,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">standing
here sweltering in July,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">your
predictable annotation:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“You’re
going to read a POEM—in spandex!?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Yes,
and I had to train for this ride <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">designed
to trace your path, your Sunday, your church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">to
Creeds,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and
I have no idea how I’m getting back in cell range<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">without
the steady, sure, reliable wheel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">called
Austin King.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Over
the years, between raising kids, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">chasing
work, breaking in pets,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">we
slide back to your bar, your clean well lit space<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">to
catch an inside joke you make <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">only
loud enough for one at a time to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Where
I try to vent about the pace <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">ramped
up too high, too fast,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">You
say, “Oh, quit complaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d both be
up front <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">if
we could.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve
heard you called an anchor, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">a
bookend to counterbalance the tipping weight <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of
a disciplined lead train.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But
you understood<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">we
don’t measure our ship by its anchor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">or
even by its mighty topmast or figurehead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But
by its journey, its miles logged,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">its
solitary movement through time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We
gauge the success of Canada Geese<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">when
gathered in a Boulevard median,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">not
by the goslings’ brave steps into traffic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">nor
the matriarch’s warning squawks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">but
we applaud them making the journey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">across
four lanes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">as
a flock compacto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">to
carry on the legacy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">of
our dear friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
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<br />Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-42588544441240855912013-09-08T22:01:00.001-04:002013-09-08T22:02:38.617-04:002013 Spokin' Through History TT map<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-28440322464778376672013-01-26T20:17:00.000-05:002013-01-26T20:29:01.363-05:00Church Street Congregation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cat Slate and David Demin lead the youth group of the Church Street Clean up congregation. This is a quarterly project by Bike Norfolk to clean the bike lane on Church Street.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mike Evans and Wes break cornbread on Church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had to laugh as Wes quoted (I think) George Carlin, something like, the problem with kids today is they don't play in the dirt, and they end out allergic to peanut butter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dirt there was. Church Street still lived up to its reputation despite recent gentrification. . .</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">But any street has its dirt if you look hard enough I guess.</span> Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-50801495564696931882013-01-14T23:57:00.000-05:002013-01-15T00:38:33.739-05:00An office of one's own<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Back to blogging. I need to start somewhere, so I'll start with the last 24 hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I commuted to work for the first time in the two years I have been working at TCC. Thanks to the new massive </span><a href="http://www.figgbridge.com/Images/Bridge%20Portfolio/Long%20Span%20Bridges/Jordan%20Bridge/Jordan_Bridge_3_new.png" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jordan Bridge</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">, getting to Portsmouth from Norfolk is much easier. It also requires going over the Berkely Bridge. One story idea that Wes Cheney gave me a long time ago was themed "Gentrification of the Berkely Bridge." I still have that story on the burner, along with a new idea "Jordan Bridge: The Innovation of using feet to travel." The bridge has brought out critics who are horrified that a bridge should be built that allows people to walk and ride bikes over. "People will get robbed at the top," and "People are going to be jumping off" are some of the comments I have read on line. My commute is 13.5 miles one way and difficult to make in under an hour since there are so many lights. Glad to have my own office for drying the laundry.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d9faXzkg0Ew/UPTHy_Q67PI/AAAAAAAAGxg/gN_gHEvaWGQ/s1600/Neandriol+Man%2527s+Great+Dismal+Gran+Fondo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d9faXzkg0Ew/UPTHy_Q67PI/AAAAAAAAGxg/gN_gHEvaWGQ/s320/Neandriol+Man%2527s+Great+Dismal+Gran+Fondo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yesterday was a huge day in terms of mileage and boosting confidence for me. It started out with plans to do the annual Teeuwen memorial ride (24 miles). An additional 55 were added when Keith sent word that his group would leave from Hilltop to meet the ride. And then Mike Carhart thought it would be a good idea to add 19 by riding from Norfolk to Hilltop. I never got word about the additional 15 that were added to "complete the loop" as shown here. I did 98 with Mike and Mike Park completing 114.</span> <br />
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</a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now the confidence boosting part is illustrated in the casual conversation of Keith and Paul. I have long given up the idea that I can keep up with these guys (and women like Laura Cook and Ali Ingram who were also on the ride) during the warm summer months when full throttle rides are in gear (think Bully). But I was beginning to wonder if I had lost the ability to even stay with them on base winter rides when Keith enforces a 20-24 mph pace. It's not like I'm some star-struck rider who wants to be seen with the elites. It's that their experience, handling, etiquette, and lack of bonehead stupidity on the road is so much better than many local groups.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOVk2x6BvXQ/UPTD-f9XoDI/AAAAAAAAGww/J6qnKf6G5Xc/s1600/P1130093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eOVk2x6BvXQ/UPTD-f9XoDI/AAAAAAAAGww/J6qnKf6G5Xc/s320/P1130093.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Carhart dubbed the 114-mile trek "Neandriol Man's Great Dismal Gran Fondo." Here he eats 2 donuts with one hand. I saw him down two fully packed sandwiches over the course of the ride. He speaks two languages (that I know of), has an awesome wife and two great girls, writes books and is flanked by graduate assistants. It just all seems important right now. Maybe because I want to get back to writing, and by far my #1 source of inspiration are the people who ride and my hope of telling our stories. In an office of one's own I suppose. (Thanks Mike, Mike and Robert for a great day.) </span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-17942211759069910632012-03-05T00:46:00.001-05:002012-03-05T00:47:13.207-05:00Matt Chrabot was HERE<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The late great JB Blaszczak documented the 2006 Conte's Cycling Classic in Downtown Norfolk where a guy name Matt who was new to cycling broke away from the cat 4 men's field. That person was none other than Olympic hopeful Matt Chrabot, whose story I tell in altdaily's magazine at this </span><a href="http://www.altdaily.com/features/news/brains-telling-you-youre-tired-local-matt-chrabot-reaches-for-london-olympics.html"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">link</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jWsKEeXzHT8/T1RRPP3OTRI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/I8ueA9JKlOQ/s1600/JB's+post+on+Matt.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jWsKEeXzHT8/T1RRPP3OTRI/AAAAAAAAGwQ/I8ueA9JKlOQ/s320/JB's+post+on+Matt.bmp" uda="true" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is the page that documents Matt in downtown. This is the same downtown course that Lance Armstrong raced in the late 1980's, long before he won the World Championships or Tours de France. The link to JB's page can be found </span><a href="http://love2ridezzzzz.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_archive.html"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">, though you must scroll down to near bottom of page to find Conte's Cycling Classic coverage.</span></div>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-66162647677042340362012-01-10T21:30:00.001-05:002012-01-10T21:31:04.879-05:00Monster Cross recon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ApVtGQiq04E/TwzwFRgW2WI/AAAAAAAAGwE/ETJVZMqbGeA/s1600/100_2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" kba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ApVtGQiq04E/TwzwFRgW2WI/AAAAAAAAGwE/ETJVZMqbGeA/s320/100_2748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had the pleasure of pre-riding </span><a href="http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=14679"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Monster Cross</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> course with the promoter Mark Junkerman and about 30 other riders this past Sunday. This 50 mile endurance cross event is happening at Pocahantas State park on Feb. 26 and follows a format similar to cross endurance and fondo events that have become pretty popular in the last few years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The course is smokin' fast, with Williamsburg-type climbs that last no more than 30-45 seconds a piece. 95% is on double track with only a fraction of that being gravel. The rest is nice packed dirt. There is one stream crossing (x2 since there are 2 laps), a couple of road crossings, and a road portion near the end of the loop. Cross bike is by far better than mt bike for this course in my view, but I am reserving the option to use mountain bike if there is ice on the ground. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are a couple of very short sections with some embedded fist-sized rocks that could puncture cross tires Ironcross style. There were no flats in my group, but in the lead group there were at least 3. No need at all for tires that are geared toward doing well in grass.</span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-41667593931250495972011-10-02T20:00:00.001-04:002011-10-02T21:07:19.118-04:00Back to it<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I did my first race since the spring today, Frogs on the Farm cross race in Chesapeake. Nice that there is a 40+ Women's category this year which was very competitive but not crazy blow your doors off pro fast either. I got 5th out of 10 which was actually my goal going in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I guess it will always be hard to explain how much fun competing can be. It's a excercise in preparation, discipline, focus, persistence and that rush of hunting and being hunted. I hope there are photos available of Mary Ann Snavely and me racing because she became my nemisis du jour--everyone has one nearly every race. She passed me late in the race and ended up 3rd, me 5th. I got a few shots of the mens 35+ and 45+ races:</span><br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Flizschleeper%2Falbumid%2F5659043700101227313%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-14723065714152295782011-09-22T21:34:00.005-04:002011-09-22T21:52:54.154-04:00Summer 2011<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Flizschleeper%2Falbumid%2F5655354277312394161%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed></embed>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-25943499206403019022011-07-23T17:25:00.001-04:002011-07-23T17:32:49.271-04:00Please don't go<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have seen lots of statistics and numbers associated with attracting and keeping good talent in communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s widely known that educated professionals often seek cycling friendly communities when it comes time to settling into a career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.louisvilleky.gov/BikeLouisville/bikefriendly/">Louisville</a>, for example, has stated one goal for a bike friendly designation by LAB is to “attract and retain young professionals to expand the economic base in Louisville.”</span><span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These four Eastern Virginia Medical College students are good examples of people that we probably want to retain here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matt is from Chesapeake, while the other three relocated here to attend EVMS—Anton from Northern VA, Beth from Boston and Melanie from Toronto. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have ridden alongside them for a couple of years now, and what I have learned is that their rides in Norfolk make up most of their very limited recreation time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have YMCA memberships, complements of their paid tuition to EVMS, but their outdoor exercise time is limited to a couple of rides a week, resulting in them being heavily dependent on cycling for recreation right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so, their perceptions of how cycling friendly the region is not the most pressing thing on their minds right now, but I wonder what will be going through their minds when residences and internships end a couple of years from now. </span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I wonder how excited they will be about staying in Hampton Roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will they want to practice closer to where they grew up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will they gravitate toward another region of the US where they have always wanted to live?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they will serve in developing countries desperate for physicians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wonder if any of them will weigh the benefits of staying here in town to build a career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, it appears that cycling will play at least some role in their decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IF they have had had favorable experiences with drivers, city involvement and improvements throughout their EVMS years, I think cycling would be just one of many factors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, I think it becomes a MAJOR factor in a decision if these experiences have been unfavorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would they want to stay in a community after working so hard if they can’t enjoy their sport?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does it say about a community if there are no advances made in improving cycling over after 5 or 6 years, especially in an era when large, more condensed cities like New York, Chicago, DC, San Francisco have been successful in making it happen, and areas with populations similar to ours—Louisville, Raleigh-Durham for instance—have made strides also?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-31616401684757634052011-07-12T18:38:00.003-04:002011-07-12T18:55:36.026-04:00Out of the funk and into spandex (or not)<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-JVrttt4eI/ThzGWGritZI/AAAAAAAAGk8/wU-zMoxKHfE/s1600/hannah.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R-JVrttt4eI/ThzGWGritZI/AAAAAAAAGk8/wU-zMoxKHfE/s320/hannah.bmp" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hannah with altdaily.com doing PSA.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Last Tuesday, Wes Cheney and I represented </span><a href="http://bikenorfolk.org/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bike Norfolk</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> on Heresay, the local noon </span><a href="http://hearsay.org/post/Pedal-Pushers-The-Rise-of-Cyclists-in-Hampton-Roads.aspx"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">radio show</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> hosted by Cathy Lewis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The past several weeks all came to a head as I was prepared for the show because I finally had to think hard about everything that has happened over the past 2 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not posted on this blog primarily because recent events have been overwhelming and difficult to even navigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been two hit and runs on Shore Drive involving experienced cyclists, one who I have long admired and learned much from; numerous letters to the editor and op-eds mostly about cyclist misbehaviors and driver rage over bicycles even being on the road; a barrage of topics on the cycling listservs about how to best combat angry motorists, our bad reputation, lack of police enforcement; the thumb tack attack in Pungo—the list goes on and on.</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Does this really offend you? The spandex I mean.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I had to snap out of it hard to prepare for the radio show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have never agreed to do the show if Wes had not been invited because he has a knowledge base, charisma, articulation and likeability that I will never have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add to that a photographic memory—I watched as he rolled out points and facts on the air that we discussed over a 3-day period with none so much as a sticky note in front of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cathy Lewis was clearly not as enamored with his sidekick (me) who had more notes in front of her than the host herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She ran a tight ship for the hour, bringing in our points as well as those of street interviews from her interns, including one from Paul Flannigan, owner of Conte’s Norfolk, a book author interview and several listener phone calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wayne Wilcox, Virginia Beach city planner, was also in the studio with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually spaced out a little watching Cathy coordinate everything so effortlessly, especially considering she is not an expert on cycling. The program was pretty darn good, and Wes and I celebrated with an early afternoon beer and omelet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://hearsay.org/post/Pedal-Pushers-The-Rise-of-Cyclists-in-Hampton-Roads.aspx">Listen Here</a>. </span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vfq_v6208ZA/ThzKHF45fmI/AAAAAAAAGlE/7a3m4i3GHiw/s1600/100_1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vfq_v6208ZA/ThzKHF45fmI/AAAAAAAAGlE/7a3m4i3GHiw/s320/100_1765.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Urban riding--this guy lives in Larchmont.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">One regret that I have is that Cathy did not ask me the “To spandex or not to spandex” question she directed to Wes. Had I answered, I probably would have said, “Well, the real question is to helmet or not to helmet” because I really hoped that some helmet talk would make the show. Upon further reflection, however, I realize that “To spandex or not to spandex” is the most critical question of all and one that has flung me into such a funk here lately. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The most difficult task in every community of riders is the problem of unity. We talk endlessly about how the cycling community needs to be on the same page with issues, behavior and goals, yet the task seems impossible when there are different issues, behaviors and goals that each faction of the community expects of its members. The spandex question is one of the most popular gauges of just how serious a person is about this biking thing, and at its root, there is often resentment, laughter, headshaking and maybe awe but that’s probably pushing it. Certainly the person who wears spandex takes himself just a little too seriously—geez, it’s a bike, a way to escape—let’s not make a profession out of reverting back to a few light minutes of childhood fun. With the spandex comes a set of goals, or at least perceived set, that are remarkably different from those who wear baggy workout clothes. And maybe different from those who wear street clothes. Certainly different from those who wear work clothes on their way to the jobsite. Completely different from the child on training wheels, or the surfer pedaling to the oceanfront. However, if pushed on the subject, most would probably say that our goals must be very similar, but there is enough distain and misunderstanding between the groups to prevent the conversation from even starting. What has been nagging at me, really, is the tremendous task of bringing all these groups to the same table to lobby for a set of agreed-upon goals. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EMBMByXpNBQ/ThzKfBZTgjI/AAAAAAAAGlI/YiWVuyLIkLQ/s1600/100_1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="213px" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EMBMByXpNBQ/ThzKfBZTgjI/AAAAAAAAGlI/YiWVuyLIkLQ/s320/100_1706.JPG" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's not always about the bike.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wes could undoubtedly point me to scholarship on this subject and to writers who more eloquently convey these hierarchal tensions, but I would be more interested in reading about how—or if—a community anywhere has successfully resolved it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look around me and listen, and depending on what bike I ride, what clothes I’m wearing and how fast I’m going, conversations of the “otherness” of different riders emerge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t call me crazy—if you have ever asked “was he a rider like us” when you hear about a cyclist getting hit by a car, that’s what I’m talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have ever said that you have no interest in helping some wanna-be racer get his workout in but are only interested in helping those who commute to work, that’s what I’m talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPRT1n3k0xw/ThzLiro5tFI/AAAAAAAAGlQ/oDRYFQSOB6Y/s1600/broad+creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="213px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPRT1n3k0xw/ThzLiro5tFI/AAAAAAAAGlQ/oDRYFQSOB6Y/s320/broad+creek.jpg" width="320px" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Riders in Broad Creek line up for a bike parade.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I challenge those who only ride skinny tires with spandex, to take a ride on a cruiser with your grandmother to a restaurant one day and then tell me sidewalks are always bad. If your riding consists of trips to the market, try doubling your mileage and then tell me spandex sucks. If you typically drive to a mountain bike trail, map out a road route to get there from your house, and then tell me a roadie has no skills. If you only ride cruisers in the neighborhood, jump into a group ride and then tell me how much healthier and energetic you feel the next day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There is a different and important perceptive to be gained with a different route, different tires, a different reason for getting on the bike in the first place, and certainly different clothing. “To spandex or not to spandex” –the answer is simply “yes.”</span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-4967913179147159442011-05-31T20:10:00.009-04:002011-05-31T20:41:22.330-04:00Mountains of Misery 2011<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">This weekend, I completed my 7th Mountains of Misery century with a slow time (8:30) but a contented soul. It was the hottest year that I have ever participated in this grueling event, but that did not stop first timers and teammates Anette Johnson, Dai Roberts, Todd Miller, Mike Carhart and Bethany Cahill from doing a great job!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It appears that Dai, with a time of 6 hours flat, was a top 10 men's finisher for the day. In fact, I am not sure if any Tripower guy has ever finished that quickly. Jim Dunham said he and John Flora finished in 6:01 back in 2011, but it's not a perfect comparison since the course has changed since then. The ride now starts in Newport whereas in the early days, it started in Christiansburg.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anette tore it up with a 6:39 time. I think that may be a Tripower women's record. Last year, Sally and Brenna finished in the 6:50 range.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Todd Miller finished with a 6:54. I have yet to meet Todd but from what I know, this is his first year racing and doing challenge centuries like Mountains of Misery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Mike Carhart completed the double metric (120 miles) century in 9:17. I think others have done this ride with the Tripower jersey (Wayno? Justin Samuel?) but not sure of their times. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bethany set a goal to complete 70 of the 100 miles and did just that. At the 70 mile point, the ride swings back past the parked cars at Newport Rec Center, so that's where she completed the day. She has been riding for a few years, but not huge miles. She completed her first 100 in the flats 2 weeks ago by completing the Knott's Island Century. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I met two NCVC riders, Tim and Cynthia, on the ride. I could tell as they passed me at about mile 30 that they were experienced riders that were setting a reasonable pace. I tagged on the back and asked Cynthia if I could stay with them for a while. She agreed, and I realized soon after that Tim was setting the pace of the day and did not expect help from either of us. A Northern Virginia resident, Tim told me that he'd been "avoiding mountains all his life" and that he recently started trips to the hills to prepare for a trip to the Pyrennes. I could tell that they'd drop me on John's Creek Mountain (mile 60), so I bid them farewell at that point. But as I grinded up the climb, I passed them back as they fixed a flat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I did not see them again until the last climb of the day, the ass-kicking brutality of Mountain Lake. Tim passed me first at the bottom. Cynthia passed me with 2 miles to go and we died together at the finish. As it turned out, I actually crossed the line with another NoVA resident, a cool guy whose name I wish I could remember. He said that I kept him motivated which made me happy. He started in a different wave from me, so his time is different than mine even though we crossed the line at the same time as Elizabeth, Anna and Madeline Carhart cheered us in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As much as I enjoyed (and hated) the main event Sunday, I think staying at Jean Troutman's house in Peairsburg will be what I really remember about the weekend. Jean, Carol, Bethany and I relaxed in style at the Troutman's country house which has the best sunrise and sunset views imaginable. Memorial Day weekend has become one of my favorite holidays thanks to Jean's hospitality. Most of the cycling photos below were taken during the laid back Wilderness Road Ride on Saturday, our stay at Jean's, and images of an overstuffed bike shop on Main Street in Radford. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.cyclingdoubleheader.com/2011-mountains-of-misery-results"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.cyclingdoubleheader.com/2011-mountains-of-misery-results</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Results link for all riders 2011.</span><br />
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<a href="http://bikevoice.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://bikevoice.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> My previous finish times</span><br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Flizschleeper%2Falbumid%2F5613005040545554705%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-37048577073010815042011-05-04T16:46:00.000-04:002011-05-04T16:46:24.173-04:00Hit and Run on Shore Drive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0jI2_STzb4/TcG2xddeGAI/AAAAAAAAGd8/zXa9-qXl4cs/s1600/Jim+and+Barb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0jI2_STzb4/TcG2xddeGAI/AAAAAAAAGd8/zXa9-qXl4cs/s320/Jim+and+Barb.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">A hit and run driver has temporary disabled one of Hampton Roads’ most experienced and respected cyclists. Jim Dunham suffered a broken pelvis, 9 broken ribs and a broken collar bone after being hit from behind on Shore Drive, near the corner of Shore and Atlantic Avenue. I heard that a witness said that Jim was thrown 30 feet into the air and that the vehicle was a truck, perhaps an F-150, perhaps blue or a dark color. The driver apparently was travelling about 55 mph, and if the reported location of the hit is accurate, the speed limit is 35mph on that portion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">More to come. As reported in <a href="http://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/bicyclist-struck-injured-hitandrun-shore-drive">Virginian-Pilot</a>, “Police ask that anyone with information call Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (562-5887) or text “VBTIP” and the information to CRIMES (274637).”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(<em>photo right</em>, Jim poses with his wife Barb Ryan during Bike Virginia in 2009. Photo by BJ Samuel.)</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaT7gB0bf5A/TcG23wLVQ8I/AAAAAAAAGeA/O8sDHtYDaRg/s1600/chicks+dunham+smiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaT7gB0bf5A/TcG23wLVQ8I/AAAAAAAAGeA/O8sDHtYDaRg/s320/chicks+dunham+smiling.jpg" width="320px" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Clearly, the driver does not know the networking activity that he or she has unleashed in the cycling community. People like Jim who have been around since the 1980's and who can hang with the elite riders of all ages automatically gather a wall of protection and enthusiasm that is sure to assist in extracting the perpertrator. To rephrase, there are lots of people from all walks of life looking for the driver. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(<em>photo right</em>, Jim rides on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge prior to the opening of the new span in 1999.)</span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-29173819520589981082011-04-25T18:56:00.001-04:002011-04-25T18:57:30.600-04:00Gentrification of Bike Culture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxBprXKf2ys/TauReTp822I/AAAAAAAAGcg/E2dool7AQx8/s1600/100_1665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dxBprXKf2ys/TauReTp822I/AAAAAAAAGcg/E2dool7AQx8/s320/100_1665.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The beginning of something new in Norfolk was appropriately foreshadowed by the barista hanging out on the roof on 35<sup>th</sup> street two weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sat atop a building in the Park Place neighborhood that has long been abandoned but is on the market looking for a new owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know the beginning of a revival in a neighborhood starts with young people (or is it the gays and the artists?) who shout from the rooftops that hey, this place is cool (or insert a synonym for cool) so get in now before it loses its edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I couldn't help but be drawn in by her symbolic presence. </span></span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1DF-Vr0bT0/TauRpx0w6eI/AAAAAAAAGck/FQPkyUDZf9o/s1600/100_1668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E1DF-Vr0bT0/TauRpx0w6eI/AAAAAAAAGck/FQPkyUDZf9o/s320/100_1668.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">People have been making their homes in the Park Place section of Norfolk for over 100 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Most would agree t</span>here are contractions there—the neighborhood is on National Register of Historic places, and it was once home to a thriving middle class black community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet it has a high crime rate for the past couple of decades, and revitalization efforts are slow to bring back the middle class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a wide newly paved 35<sup>th</sup> street business district sitting ready for a surge of flight back to the city, yet the complications of zoning stores once used by for a automobile driving public have helped slow efforts. </span></span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2KOBCDC_Yc/TauSUlQNfsI/AAAAAAAAGco/PZzHJiuqdCw/s1600/100_1667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2KOBCDC_Yc/TauSUlQNfsI/AAAAAAAAGco/PZzHJiuqdCw/s320/100_1667.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s the perfect location for a bicycle planning meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The abandoned building sits next to Kerouac cafe, the 24 hour antithesis of IHOP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no fighting a Panera crowd or making sure we have on collared shirts or being worried about letting an expletive slip out when we meet a Kerouac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Don’t get me wrong though, this was a power meeting if I have ever been to one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It marks one of several meetings that have taken place—the first time EVER such meetings have taken place—in which the city of Norfolk is partnering up with a loose conglomerate of cyclists (Bike Norfolk) to make the first EVER organized Norfolk Bike Month happen.</span></span></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ogCi-3BJyac/TauScFei76I/AAAAAAAAGcs/LjQyBVTdjmU/s1600/100_1672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213px" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ogCi-3BJyac/TauScFei76I/AAAAAAAAGcs/LjQyBVTdjmU/s320/100_1672.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Jesse lead a meeting of cyclists ready to change infrastructure, safety and attitutes toward cycling in Norfolk. He kept us focused on the goal of assisting with </span><a href="http://www.norfolkbikemonth.com/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Norfolk Bike Month</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> in May with the view that success there will lead to more coordination with the city on other concerns we have long had about riding bikes in Norfolk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Melissa with Seven Venues, and Jennifer with City of Norfolk Parks and Rec are leading the city's efforts in raising bike awareness and fun during Bike Month. They are working with Bike Norfolk, vendors and sponsors to present 5 days of events in May. It was awesome to sit next to people who are being paid to make cycling fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wes presented the plan for Bike Norfolk to participate in Art Everywhere, a downtown Norfolk grassroots, get art in the street effort. It happens this year beginning Saturday, April 30. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are few places left that let you write on the walls as here at Kerouac. I guess the tipping point in any gentrification process is the point in which the markers disappear, a fresh coat of paint builds a new wall, and cyclists are safely riding the streets of Norfolk. I look forward to that day.</span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-27028176466635983412011-04-03T18:51:00.004-04:002011-04-03T19:07:18.381-04:004 down 31 to go<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYrwU8_zzfE/TZj4zhZ4-WI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/GNu53dQ3dQg/s1600/state+park+map.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYrwU8_zzfE/TZj4zhZ4-WI/AAAAAAAAGZQ/GNu53dQ3dQg/s320/state+park+map.bmp" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bethany and I have a goal to visit most of </span><a href="http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Virginia's State Parks</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> in 18 months. DCR is celebrating 75 years of state parks which were launched in response to putting people to work during the Great Depression. Communing with all the parks would not be a difficult thing to do in a state that isn't over 500 miles from East to West with us living in the easternmost corner. I think we will fly into Bristol and rent a car to hit all those on the western tip!Anyway, the meat and potatoes local ones have been easy to knock off: First Landing, Chippokes last weekend and York River and False Cape this weekend. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wFT3LZFTv8A/TZj5FaSwmKI/AAAAAAAAGZU/0N5KJPo1TDg/s1600/DSCF0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wFT3LZFTv8A/TZj5FaSwmKI/AAAAAAAAGZU/0N5KJPo1TDg/s320/DSCF0163.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We rode through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to access the remote False Cape State Park. At right, Bethany rides a wooded trail near an old church steeple, one of the few remains of a community of 300 who lived there late 1800's.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZGh9SKC9Io/TZj5fEZKFVI/AAAAAAAAGZc/XHTvJWIOY9g/s1600/DSCF0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZGh9SKC9Io/TZj5fEZKFVI/AAAAAAAAGZc/XHTvJWIOY9g/s320/DSCF0137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-82347921939116708112011-03-11T13:58:00.001-05:002011-03-11T13:58:58.409-05:00Building a better Norfolk<div align="center"><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Flizschleeper%2Falbumid%2F5582649794792436225%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="267" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400"></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have been part of several bike meetings lately. The exciting news in Norfolk is that we have two members of council, Theresa Whibley and Tommy Smigiel who are interested in greater support for bikes as transportation and recreation. In addition, we have a new city manager, Marcus Jones, who appears to have a similar vision. It's a small town really--I had Theresa Whibley's daughter in my English class back when I student taught at Maury in the early 1990's, and both Tommy and I started working at Norview High School in 2000 and worked there for the next several years. Tommy was a judge for my creative writing class when they presented their one act plays the day a nervous student threw up in a chair next to him. Anyway, back to bikes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am part of a new advocacy group, </span><a href="http://www.bikenorfolk.org/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bike Norfolk</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">, who is being led by some real doers in this community. Wes Cheney, Kelly Walker, BC Wilson, Patrick Dale, Markus Wegener, Scott Cramer, Michael Shipp, Jesse Scaccia, John ?, Brent ? and several others have been meeting to push for better riding availability and conditions in Norfolk. We are preparing to present an array of ideas to city leaders about how to get people on bikes, improvements to infrastructure, education, communtiy and image. Here is an excerpt of the "homework" I did after Jesse (the taskmaster according to Kelly) suggested we take pieces to research:</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">VDOT’s Safe Routes to School program</span></u><br />
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<a href="http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/ted_Rt2_school_pro.asp"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/programs/ted_Rt2_school_pro.asp</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are federal dollars available for creating better bike passages to schools. The Safe Routes grants give money to communities that create plans for getting children and teens to school by bike safer. It appears Parks and Rec has worked on applying to this program to some extent (?) and it’s vital that schools and other stakeholders be involved if any momentum for these applications. An inquiry is needed to see who has started this process (if anyone) and how we can combine efforts to make it happen. The Norview community appears to be ideal for working with. Norview Elementary, Middle and High schools are in close proximity to each other. There is a one mile multiuse path around Norview High. Norview High also has a fleet of bikes that could be used for getting students out for a ride to solicit their suggestions (and perhaps create a media opportunity). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">According to Robert Williams, the Safe Routes to School coordinator in Richmond, Norfolk does not have an application submitted for consideration for this round of funding (due now). He said that Norfolk applied in 2007 and was not granted funding. He also said that Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake were awarded funds previously and are in the middle of their projects now. With the right people at the table, Norfolk should start now for the next cycle of funding (hopefully 2012). Robert said that there is a training day this that has not been announced yet that would help us prepare for a 2012 funding application.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Contact: Robert Williams, Safe Routes Coordinator, VDOT Central office, 804-371-4868, robertj.williams@vdot.virginia.gov </span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Bicycle Laws Printed</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Educating the public about bike laws, in my view, needs to start with the bike riders and the Norfolk bike shops. Unlike in many other communities Nationwide, there are no local pamphlets available to educate riders/ drivers on their rights and responsibilities, and I recall only seeing one (had a low circulation) in the past 25 years of riding in this region. I have been working on one, and can have a very simple one sheet tri-fold ready for press by spring 2011. The city could help by printing, say 1000 to begin with. We could distribute these to the local bike shops. That is a critical start in education since shops are the obvious place where that education is missing. </span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Street Closures</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Unfortunately, there are no parks in Norfolk that have what Central Park in NYC and Rock Creek Park in DC have: roads that travel through them that may be closed to traffic on weekends. Therefore, the chances of having roads closed for cycling are diminished greatly. If one side of Ocean View Ave were closed, it would have a negative impact on residents who have driveways going to the street. If one side of Brambleton were closed, the same is true for businesses. The Commerce Park off Robin Hood Road appears to be an option, but even likely there are at least a couple of businesses there that are opened on Sundays. Even if there aren’t, we may be faced with people using the bathroom on the grass and behind buildings if we had a circuit there closed to traffic since we would be creating a recreational environment without facilities. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Perhaps an option is this: close Granby street and LaValette Ave. to create a one mile circuit with the roads in Lafayette park on Sunday. There are other ways to get out of Riverview, so closing LaVatte would work if done early morning, and the northbound traffic on Granby could be detoured down Broadway to Llewellen and then to Delaware. None of the closures would impact residents or businesses. The zoo opens at 10 am, so this would need to be done during early morning hours, perhaps 7am-9am. It would be best offered to families with young children, rather than to teens or adults, and imposing a “speed limit” of 10 mph would be ideal. This type of closure is not the same a Central Park or Rock Creek that work well for recreational riders travelling at faster speeds, but it gives families an option. Facilities and parking are available in the park, though it would require clear signage for cars to avoid riders while parking and for the city to open the bathrooms early. I honestly don’t know that it would be a good investment as a regular thing, but offering it as part of the Parks and Rec May bike ride series is an option.</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Professional and amateur bike race</span></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Norfolk has been home to outstanding professional and amateur bike races in the past. There was a Ghent evening bike race series in the early 1980’s. There was a downtown race in the late 80’s/ early 90’s that was part of the Southeastern Cycling Classic. The race hosted big names in bike racing including 7 time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. The race was revived again 2000-2007 with city support, and it attracted about 200 racers each year, including Olympic silver medalist Marty Nothstein. The city provided funding for the street closures and Norfolk police to man the closures. The 2000-2007 races were held on a one-mile circuit downtown, on Sundays to avoid conflicts with businesses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are two local bike race clubs, Tripower Cycling and Celerity Cycling, that have the expertise for putting on downtown races. The critical missing piece since 2007 has been city support, especially the funding for street closures and police. Neither club is in a financial position to fund these two aspects of the race, but they have the membership and sponsorship connections for other aspects of putting on the race. They also would fully execute the race. The clubs and races are sanctioned by USA Cycling </span><a href="http://www.usacyling.org/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">http://www.usacyling.org/</span></a>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-61390315972208431582011-02-23T21:27:00.004-05:002011-02-24T12:48:09.414-05:00Battered Bike Syndrome<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VsjRrVRVzVk/TKTbrK9ZNlI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/pW6LZ3nohes/s1600/100_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VsjRrVRVzVk/TKTbrK9ZNlI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/pW6LZ3nohes/s320/100_0071.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iBRvB4TCTDM/TJbW8Xh-9oI/AAAAAAAAFuw/HT-c_Rzygwg/s1600/000_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iBRvB4TCTDM/TJbW8Xh-9oI/AAAAAAAAFuw/HT-c_Rzygwg/s320/000_0081.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">There is an unfortunate disconnect in the cycling community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It starts with definition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I am cyclist if I ride out of sheer necessity after a DUI or due to inability to afford a vehicle?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I fit into the community if I ride against traffic or without a helmet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about if I just ride around the block with my kid on Saturdays? Am I more of a community member if I train 15 hours a week with a powertap and participate in 25 racing events per year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if I ride frequently but only on designated bike trails and never on the open road?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Photo: Riders in Broad Creek community gear up for YMCA's bike rodeo, September, 2010)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">I have heard cyclists say, “Was he a rider like us?” when the media reports that a bicyclist has been hit or killed by a car. Shoot, I have asked this question myself, and intended no harm, just sought clarification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But underneath this question implies that anyone who is not like “us” has made a mistake on the road that probably would not happen to us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Well, I have been riding solo more lately now that I have a new schedule, and I am finished with that kind of talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each time I go out alone—dare I say it—I nearly get hit at least once, usually a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rely heavily on skill, and it’s clear that anyone who does not have the years of experience that I do is at an even higher disadvantage against some people who appear to have no regard for our lives and against a Hampton Roads infrastructure that sucks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Photo: Hund's Recycle Factory on Colley Avenue offers repair and bike refurbusing services.)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8X-VPg7Z6Q/SSDP5WtbzoI/AAAAAAAACCI/pastdPhGkoM/s1600/DSCN0504%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8X-VPg7Z6Q/SSDP5WtbzoI/AAAAAAAACCI/pastdPhGkoM/s320/DSCN0504%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Close calls when riding alone are something that I and probably many other riders of all varieties have grown so accustomed to that we have the attributes of battered wife syndrome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I accept certain behaviors in a way I have heard some refer to as Uncle Tom in nature, but I think the battered wife syndrome is a better metaphor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We go out alone, risking our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law says we can be on the road and that drivers must treat us like other moving vehicles, give us a 2 foot clearance, allow us to take the lane in certain circumstances, but we face abuse and ignorance of these laws daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We seek shelter in group rides, similar to a battered wife surrounding herself with friends and siblings, where the drivers are forced to give us respect and can’t touch us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, let it be clear that should we venture out alone, the abuser returns, thereby making us prisoner to the group ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> No longer obstructed by extra bodies, the aggressor returns, the cycle of abuse continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>The things we should be able to do with a measure of freedom—head out to the park on a sunny day, jump on a bike to ride to work, train around town in the breeze—become mired in dark calculations of risk vs. reward. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Photo: Regional r</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">acers demonstrate riding 2-abreast, a legal practice in Virginia under certain circumstances.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What also makes our plight similar to battered wife syndrome is inaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am frustrated with my own inaction over the past 40+ years of riding a bike. I have ridden since I was a toddler and have no excuse for not working harder (at least in post-college years) to help make roads safer for myself and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Additionally, we have</span> done a terrible job at gathering “people who ride bikes” to speak about the abuse rather than just “cyclists,” so we appear in state legislator committee meetings as a narrow-minded special interest group rather than a conglomerate of Virginians who own bikes and would like to be able to ride to ride out for a loaf of bread without risking our lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I have now been on the <a href="http://vacycling.org/">Virginia Cycling Association</a> listserv long enough (about 15 years) to see the same conversations (amongst mostly racers) generated over and over again, and hardly ever is there consensus, and even more rare is there follow up action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latest letter writing campaign to state senators and delegates to pass the 3 foot law appears to have had an impact and unifying effect even though the proposals were ultimately shot down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very aware that there are huge issues surrounding 2 and 3 foot clearances, mostly the lack of enforcement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, it’s fine to disagree that the buffer is not ultimately the fix, but the larger issue is how many cyclists said things like, “Oh, I didn’t even know there was a 2 foot law and what does it matter, the drivers don’t care anyway.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds like a battered wife to me: “Oh, I didn’t know there were laws to protect me and what does it matter, my abuser is going to hurt me anyway.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DAothUvI-A/TJbXY8nUQRI/AAAAAAAAFvA/C5Lh9yUnSXY/s1600/000_0086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DAothUvI-A/TJbXY8nUQRI/AAAAAAAAFvA/C5Lh9yUnSXY/s320/000_0086.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>When laws are proposed to our state representatives, we have also become accustomed to being portrayed as lawbreakers ourselves and therefore not worthy of more protections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many submit that we have a serious image problem, usually due to actions of pack riders and urban fixies which are 2 varieties of riders most visible to the average motorist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pack riding 3 abreast clogs a road, the fixie blows through the red light—we all know the transgressions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We work hard to argue that transgressors should be ticketed accordingly (even knowing that we ourselves deserve those tickets sometimes), but that legislators have no right to deny us protections based on the actions of a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We seem to break from battered wife syndrome with our defense, but here is the real question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>do we put off action for a later time when we are “fixed” and doing all the right things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we shrug and say, “Things are not going to improve until we fix ourselves.” And what if every rider were to begin behaving in unison, do we really believe we will suddenly earn respect?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, I think we are in denial and back to being battered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> (Photo: A bike has found a home under the Tidewater Drive overpass.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I have been trying to educate myself on advocacy issues recently. I have tried to put aside frustrations—like the fact that longstanding advocacy groups like <a href="http://www.vabike.org/">Virginia Bicycling Federation</a> and <a href="http://www.sharingtheroadinvirginia.org/">Sharing the Road in VA</a> appear to do very little to reach the enthusiast, let alone the average rider, about taking action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other than information from Jake Helmboldt (Sharing the Road advisory board member), there has been little presence or information from these groups on the longstanding <a href="http://vacycling.org/">VACA</a> listserv, which is very likely the most active cycling forum in the state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have rarely if ever seen information about them at the local bike shops. All groups of cyclists need more information about legislature proposals and how to show a unified front to commonwealth attorneys who make decisions about whether or not to prosecute drivers who kill cyclists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJIV1qwGihs/TOkwKGARRpI/AAAAAAAAGGA/E4hwnBBOmGc/s1600/100_0650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MJIV1qwGihs/TOkwKGARRpI/AAAAAAAAGGA/E4hwnBBOmGc/s320/100_0650.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I started by getting involved in <a href="http://www.bikenorfolk.org/">Bike Norfolk</a>, a year-old grassroots advocacy group that focuses on making cycling more accessible and safer in Norfolk, VA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think our biggest assets right now are strong communicators—Jesse Scaccia, Altdaily.com editor, writers Wes Cheney and BC Wilson—along with other awesome people who love bikes and love Norfolk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The momentum is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A committee has met Norfolk's recreation and planning staff to give input on a new master plan that will be unveiled this year that includes bike infrastructure improvements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The media has sought members twice to comment of bike related issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The group serves and educates the public with bike valets during outdoor events, bike lane cleanups, and workshops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's time for me to stand up and lend a hand in changing things around here. Battered wives who want change start by not being invisible. (Photo: Markus Wegner decorates the Bike Norfolk Grand Illumination float, November, 2010)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">(If this rant seems ununified, critical of others, low on solutions, I couldn't agree more. I just needed to say that I am sick of nearly getting hit and it's painful to think of those less fortunate and/ or skilled out there navigating the roads. I realize there are layers upon layers associated with every issue, so I don't mean to oversimplify things here.)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-53098498472446931712011-02-07T12:22:00.001-05:002011-02-07T12:23:57.544-05:00Winter 2011<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Flizschleeper%2Falbumid%2F5570987847732840993%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-65052173236857274592010-12-30T18:12:00.016-05:002011-01-01T22:41:19.396-05:00Person of the Year<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TRuXvlquqxI/AAAAAAAAGN0/AxIW4Rja5ss/s1600/myTimeCover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TRuXvlquqxI/AAAAAAAAGN0/AxIW4Rja5ss/s400/myTimeCover.png" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nick at VACX state champs, Mt. Trashmore</span>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nick Tempest is bikevoice’s 2010 person of the year. He was a clear favorite because of his cross country ride across the USA June-July, and his cyclocross championship win in Virginia’s Cat 4 men’s cross series October-December. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The transcontinental pilgrimage is one that every cyclist ponders, seeing the country in “slow motion” as Nick says, undergoing a trip under one’s own pedal power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nick, age 35, started his 48-day adventure in Yorktown, Virginia, finished 4454 miles later in Astoria, Oregon, then tacked on 6 extra days to ride up the Pacific Coast to Vancouver for a total of 4873 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frank Hitch and Nick’s 67-year old father Pete pedaled with him the first 1000 miles to the Mississippi River, and his mother Jo-Anne flew out to Portland to congratulate Nick at the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This “bookend” support system is standard operating procedure for the Tempests, a close-knit Virginia Beach family that includes locally his grandfather Ian, sister Sally McMahon, as well as extended family scattered around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nick and Surly Long Haul Trucker in Royal Gorge, CO.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">According to Nick, it was Sally and her husband Mike who encouraged him to enter the Virginia cyclocross series this fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nick had never raced cross, but the old school mountain biker easily crossed the barriers, racing 8 of 9 events in the series and winning the <a href="http://www.vacycling.org/cgi-bin/cross-results.cgi#Cat4">cat 4 championship</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nick echoed what many cross racers probably already know:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Cyclocross is way harder than cycling across the country.” While averaging 97 miles per day across the States, Nick said his head was up, he felt the way, enjoyed the ride whereas he found cyclocross events, held at city parks and small farms, to be 30 minutes of head’s-down “nonstop anaerobic pain.” </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Isaac and Nick enter Oregon.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Perhaps every inch of USA landscape has been found, surveyed, claimed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Even still, t</span>o pioneer westward is to start over, remake yourself, to begin again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nick captured what it is to be American—to battle Kansas headwinds, tackle the Rockies, navigate the Wyoming dessert, commune with his favorite wilderness, <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hpxaqo7FS9c/TNsM8ImLJyI/AAAAAAAACu4/EYeLKUAl1Qc/s1600/geology%2B-%2BRocky%2BMountain%2BFront.jpg">Lochsa River</a> in Idaho.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t we all dream of leaving the East Coast as one person and arriving at the Pacific changed somehow? As with most pursuits like these, one comes out with only a few soundbites, securely anchored in the psyche for life, those he may previously have known in theory but had never submerged in challenges deeply enough to test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Nick’s case, two themes emerged over the 54-day trek:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There is hardly anything we actually need,” and “You are never alone.” </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TRuYxVZqNAI/AAAAAAAAGOA/pCS36nteu4Y/s1600/100_1045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TRuYxVZqNAI/AAAAAAAAGOA/pCS36nteu4Y/s320/100_1045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em>"There is hardly anything we actually need</em></strong>."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these words, I found a similarity in Nick and Time Magazine’s <a href="http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2036683_2037183,00.html">Person of the Year Mark Zuckerberg</a>, creator of facebook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zuckerberg is motivated by the connections people can make through facebook that would otherwise not happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His biggest personal goal is “eliminating desire” for material things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s true he’s a billionaire, but also a minimalist who drives an Acura, rents a home and spends most of his time working to improve and perfect the “transhemispheric reach” that facebook affords over 500 million users.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite the apparent similarity, Nick does not have a facebook account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add that to his list of things he does not need or have time for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His carried 51 pounds of gear on his Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bike for about 3500 miles of the trip after Frank and Pete returned home to jobs in the vehicle they used to sag him the first 1000 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 51 pounds were dispersed over 2 panniers and a handlebar bag and consisted of 118 items of clothing, tools, camping gear, journal, and copy of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living with only 51 pounds of “stuff” helped Nick with “pairing down the excess to get to what’s important.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Family ranks highest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaching children and exploring the world made the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Five years from now, for example, Nick sees himself as an established elementary school teacher preparing to embark on the “big dream” to bicycle from Alaska to Argentina, an 18,000 mile journey. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em>"You are never alone</em></strong>."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sally told me that Nick repeated these words several times as he narrated his cycling journey to <a href="http://www.allsaintsvabeach.org/">All Saints Episcopal</a> church’s congregation in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spoke in his family’s church about the generosity of strangers who touched him along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom-Dad-two sons driving to a baseball game, pulled over in the middle of a scorching Kansas day to give him cold water and a Granola bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on the 129-mile ride to Lander, Wyoming when the father-son pulled over to offer him a Coke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On both occasions, Nick was “rejuvenated” and understood the connectedness of events, his dependency on others, the watchfulness of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is worth noting that Nick found himself riding and sharing expenses from Kremmling, Colorado all the way to Oregon with Isaac, an 18-year-old who happened to also be riding solo in the same direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something tells me this union was an answer to at least one parent’s prayer. He also used his trip as a mode to raise money for the Lymphoma Association after "personally witnessing the suffering that lymphoma can cause." </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.justgiving.com/NicholasTempest"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">DONATE ON NICK'S PAGE</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> to the Lymphoma Association on behalf of Nick's successful transcontinental trip!</span></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Nick’s year is part of a much broader narrative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was born in Bradford, England, moved to USA (Virginia) at age 5, and graduated from James Madison University with a BS in Geography and French in 1997.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ventured back to England after college out of “curiosity,” earned a Master’s in Environmental Management from University of Nottingham, and served as Waste Contract Manager for Cambridgeshire County Council.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He returned to the states in 2009 mostly because of family ties and to pursue an elementary teaching career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finished Old Dominion University’s career switcher course work in 2010 before the June-July cross country trip. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">For all that he accomplished in 2010, Nick does not see it as a remarkable year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We are always changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning who you are is a lifelong process,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another commonality between him and Zuckerberg is nicely summed up by Zuckerberg:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I usually don’t like things that are too much about me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nick was apprehensive about this blogpost, but never about his focus on adventure and connecting with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has switched careers to more deliberately touch lives and to pass on his perpetual curiosity to children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He currently works 3 days a week at All Saint’s preschool as a science teacher and hopes to land a full time position with a public school system on the Southside soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">(Top photo by <a href="http://bobandbj.smugmug.com/Cycling/Trashmore-Cross-11-28-10/14845088_CWQKv#1107519750_NLkYp">BJ Samuel</a>) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Past winners: <a href="http://bikevoice.blogspot.com/2009/12/person-of-year.html">2009</a>, <a href="http://bikevoice.blogspot.com/2008/12/person-of-year.html">2008</a>, <a href="http://bikevoice.blogspot.com/2007/12/peacemaker-of-year.html">2007</a>, <a href="http://bikevoice.blogspot.com/2006/12/person-of-year.html">2006</a></span></div>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-29688760733603132292010-12-16T16:31:00.005-05:002010-12-17T10:22:55.960-05:00Tag renewal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TQqCx0YNGfI/AAAAAAAAGNE/FhinTGriud8/s1600/100_1009%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TQqCx0YNGfI/AAAAAAAAGNE/FhinTGriud8/s320/100_1009%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I started working full time for Tidewater Community College this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gives me a great sense of pride to teach in an institution that I also attended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My car tags expire in December, so I set up the Division of Motor Vehicles on-line screen with the TCC plate to personalize and purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tag comes with a six character maximum so I brainstormed ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite local plates is Kevin Horvath’s 757CX.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found that MX757 is available, though MTB757 is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked the contradiction—living in a flat area code with mountain bike tag—but I wanted to see what else was available. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">My selection criteria was 2 part—I wanted a technical cycling term that also implies a deeper or psychological connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here were some ideas:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">SETBAK –indicating a riding position and more specifically a seatpost style. Not enough mojo in that one, though, and it has the added issue of sounding like I went through a divorce or bankruptcy.</span></div><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">SCHWAG—This tag is not available in Virginia. That would have been a good one because of the multiple meanings. I wonder who has it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">MTCXRD and various combinations of “mountain” “cross” and “road” are all available in Virginia. It encompasses the bike disciplines well, but it just wasn’t speaking to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">GFYFTD—I played with various ways to indicate “Goofy footed.” I associate it with ski-surf, but found out while scanning cycling lexicons that coasting goofy footed (left foot forward) puts more wear on the drive train. Sounded intriguing since I am goofy footed, but it still lacks a deeper meaning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">VTT—means Velo All Terrain in French. That’s cool, but no one would get it. People would assume my first name is Violet or Veronica, names I could never live up to!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">VELOAT or ATVELO—these are both available and encompass multiple disciplines (AT) but every combination seemed too sterile. Velo is too roadie and not enough dirt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">MYAPEX—This one came the closest to mixing the technical (science of cornering) with the personal (choice of picking the right lines). I liked it a lot until I googled it and found that there is a weight loss company called My Apex. I also started to think it may be misinterpreted as “My Ape Ex.” Hmm :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">ECHLON—I could not believe this one was available. I am guessing that the correct spelling ECHELON on tags with over six characters has been taken. It encompasses the science of drafting along with the valued social and clearly hierarchical aspect helping one another in a paceline. I liked this one and it seemed like the obvious choice. But I just couldn’t commit to it.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">MYMNTN—I settled on this tag for several reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means “My Mountain” which was the name of a 4 person co-ed team that I raced 24 Hours of Canaan in West Virginia with one year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beneline Williams and I teamed up with two guys whose names I don’t even remember since I only knew them for the duration of the 24-hour relay race afterwhich they returned to WV or NoVA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>. Anyway, one of the guys named the team “My Mountain” and though the details of that late-1990’s race have faded, I often think of what “My Mountain” really means to a cyclist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There is nothing more sensory, nothing more mind engaging, nothing that slows down the senses more than throwing full concentration behind grinding a bike up a mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to be ridiculous, but I can’t think of many times that I felt more alive than when fighting for air and strength while climbing a mountain, whether it be on or off road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some epic road climbs in Virginia include Love Gap, Reeds Gap (Sherando side and Wintergreen side), Mountain Lake climb, long Blue Ridge Parkway ascents like Peaks of Otter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grind up the Parkway and onto the top of Grandfather Mountain and Mount Mitchell, both in North Carolina, have a special significance to me also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any off-road mountain bike climb is a test of mettle for me, and some of my favorites in Virginia include Hankey Mountain, Sherando switchbacks, Douthat climbs, Reddish Knob, Iron mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bike climbs rank the highest in memories when I think of trips to France, New England and Colorado.</span></div><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">"My Mountain" also seems to reference the environmental tenant that a mountain (or waterway or greenspace or beach) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>belongs to everyone and no one at the same time. Though there are usually multiple property owners of any given mountain, from the standpoint of a cyclist gritting out a climb, the ownership is so clearly a collective one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one other than the cyclist owns the bubble of temperature, moisture, pitch and most important constant change that we carry like a giant molecule to the top. To conquer a mountain is to own it, yet to conquer a mountain is to acknowledge that something larger has made the climb possible, something out of grasp no matter how high or how fast we go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I fully realize I will need to explain this tag every time some asks what it means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may simply say that I like the word “mountain” since there are 4 consonants and 4 vowels in the word, giving it a poetic balance, and leave it at that.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Cycling tags gallaries: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lizschleeper/MoreCyclingTags#">Tags 1</a> <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lizschleeper/CyclingTags#">Tags 2</a> </span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-57529337968974555472010-11-28T21:22:00.002-05:002010-11-28T21:37:03.272-05:00Mike Hosang, race director<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TPL8cEJttcI/AAAAAAAAGMk/RpGYVubSGdA/s1600/Picture+274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TPL8cEJttcI/AAAAAAAAGMk/RpGYVubSGdA/s320/Picture+274.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have started, deleted, restarted, redeleted several profiles of Mike Hosang on this blog. If I were a better writer, I would be able to capture his dynamic personality, wit and ability to inspire others. But I will need to settle for simply describing him in terms of a race he has directed for 5 years, Trashmore Cross. </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TPL8iDipInI/AAAAAAAAGMo/hJ7TLBLMzlg/s1600/Picture+305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TPL8iDipInI/AAAAAAAAGMo/hJ7TLBLMzlg/s320/Picture+305.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is Mike's diagram for the set up crew this morning for this year's edition of the race. Several of the 102 participants today commented on how much they enjoyed the course which is a tweaked revision of the previous course on Virginia Beach's only "mountain" at Mt. Trashmore city park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Though the source is obscure, the last words of a fictional Sam Byck, "And a man is only remembered for his work," come to mind when I think of Mike. John Blazszack once commented that Mike had done much to inspire cooperation amongst all 757 teams to organize cross training and racing. Indeed, this year, of the 9 Virginia series races, 4 have happened in Hampton Roads compared with only one (Trashmore) from Hampton Roads in the series as late as 2008. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TPL81m5ngBI/AAAAAAAAGMs/WIYmSiR5khc/s1600/town+center+trashmore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TPL81m5ngBI/AAAAAAAAGMs/WIYmSiR5khc/s320/town+center+trashmore.jpg" width="320" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Born in Spain and transplanted to Virginia Beach, Mike carries the tradition of introducing European- born cyclocross to his hometown reminiscent of how the late Peter Teeuwen brought road racing here from the Netherlands. In fact, Mike received the annual <a href="http://bikevoice.blogspot.com/2009/01/teeuwen-winner.html">Teeuwen award</a> in 2009 partly for his leadership in cross. It is no coincidence that Mike's childhood home is right down the street from Trashmore, in clear view of a fledgling Town Center (pictured left) that has grown up to parallel his dreams of bike racing events in his city. </span><span style="font-family: Times;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TPL88yYowCI/AAAAAAAAGMw/eHkuwBxlaTo/s1600/Hosang+at+Trashmore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TPL88yYowCI/AAAAAAAAGMw/eHkuwBxlaTo/s320/Hosang+at+Trashmore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">He makes it a point to race in the events he promotes--a monumental task any organizer would say. Most promoters are happy just to serve as pack fill with a lackluster finish to burn up the remaining fumes left after a week of nursing event details. However, Mike solidly won the masters 35+ event today after no warm up. What I noticed about Mike as he spoke with a newspaper reporter is that publicity for the race is important to him, but what is most important is the sport itself, in isolation to any notoriety it may bring him. Interacting with the course on his bike is where he was most grounded today, in spite of his great job at organizing it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">(2 bottom photos by BJ Samuel. See her <a href="http://bobandbj.smugmug.com/Cycling/Trashmore-Cross-11-28-10/14845088_CWQKv#1107519750_NLkYp">gallery of photos</a> from the race today!)</span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-77781262613442775052010-11-21T21:31:00.045-05:002010-11-21T22:12:51.220-05:00Peer Pressure<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Saturday, I caved to the pressure of a motivated team. Tripower is leading the team points race in </span><a href="http://vacyclocross.blogspot.com/2010/09/2010-vacx-schedule.html"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">VA Cyclocross series</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">, and I have sat out the first 6 of 9 races. Bennett's Creek (#7) was scheduled for this weekend, and since I have been feeling left out, I headed out to Suffolk. Well, "left out" is not the right way to say it. I feel on the one hand pride in my team for leading the series and on the other hand like a huge slacker. They certainly don't need me to win the series, and I thank them for the fire to get me moving. It's like when, unprompted by extra money or orders from the boss, you step up to help a colleague with a project that will ultimately benefit the whole workplace. Or you step up to help even when there is no projected benefit, just because you are on the team and that's reason enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I find myself racing for different reasons as the years pass. I started some 20 years ago with the belief that I had some talent and that I may be able to take it somewhere. That quickly was resolved, and then it became about competing against certain people within my ability range. In recent years, it was about trying to "get back" to where I was at the beginning. Now, I think it's all about stopping for a moment in time to block out the rest of the world and immerse fully in kicking my own a$$. The one thing that never goes away over time--the temptation to quit in the middle of the race. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I finished 4th out of 5 women cat 1-3, with 3 of about 15 cat 4 women catching me. Next stop is the <a href="http://www.teamtripower.com/">State Champs at Trashmore</a> next week!</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u>Team Tripower Cross racers 2010 (photos by Mike Park, Tami Cole and Dan Gibson):</u></strong></span></div><br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Flizschleeper%2Falbumid%2F5542043641175899297%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed> </embed>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-15256918019159948972010-11-15T16:57:00.006-05:002010-11-15T21:30:40.558-05:00Please poachers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TOGX1HY7AZI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/-DiSUf7UPcU/s1600/seashore+singletrack.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TOGX1HY7AZI/AAAAAAAAGFQ/-DiSUf7UPcU/s400/seashore+singletrack.bmp" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a mountain bike rider and long time Hampton Roads resident, I have an enduring relationship with Seashore State Park. First, I will never be able to call my old friend and former employer "First Landing Park" as it was renamed in 1997. I also see the park as an older woman who has not lost beauty or allure over time--the park is well maintained and has the permanent makeup job of protection from developers. Indeed, part of me resents being relegated to only the main double track Cape Henry trail and not being invited onto the singletrack trails that only hikers may enjoy. So it goes that mountain bikers are banned from the best trail system in South Hampton Roads, </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">prompting JB to dub it "Sea Snore." So it goes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">YET,</span> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TOGYDViTzvI/AAAAAAAAGFU/3jZGvfad7WU/s1600/100_0569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TOGYDViTzvI/AAAAAAAAGFU/3jZGvfad7WU/s400/100_0569.jpg" width="300" /></a> <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't have to dig very deep to realize the State </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">of Virginia long ago made the right decision to keep bikes off the technical trails we so love. The Long Creek trail (pictured above) and Osprey trail (right) would quickly deteriorate with regular riding. If mountain bikers really felt banning bikes were an antiquated and unjust ruling, wouldn't we long ago have sought access from the State? If the mass of mt bikers rode here, re-routing trails would be needed within a year, and with precious few acres and tons of interior wetlands, we would tear up the place in probably less than a decade. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Therefore, it was quite discouraging to see several fresh tire tracks on these two highly sensitive trails as I walked the 6 mile loop from the 64th street lot. Discouraging because if they are novice riders, they can't read signs, and if they are experienced riders, they appear to have no respect for something larger--the sport's mutual dependence on the environment. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TOGYLALsvzI/AAAAAAAAGFY/qpksyiv-AIY/s1600/poaching+trails.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TOGYLALsvzI/AAAAAAAAGFY/qpksyiv-AIY/s400/poaching+trails.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is against bikevoice's policy to call out squirrels, draft-attackers, poachers, etc., but one such rider who will remain obscured (right) happened upon us on the most endangered part of the Osprey trail. This section fights erosion and constantly regenerates its trees since nothing tall can even survive along this Broad Creek shoreline. I said to him, "Hey, bikes are not allowed on this trail." He said, "Oh really, I didn't know," in the high pitched tone of a lie. I won't say that mother nature has a way of dealing with poachers (I don't believe in systematic divine intervention and I think that attitude prompts inaction), but I sure hope this post motivates even one person to keep the bike off the singletrack at Seashore.</span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-66932539919892497212010-11-03T20:30:00.005-04:002010-11-04T13:08:07.558-04:00Team Thomas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TNH4Gd9OhRI/AAAAAAAAGDU/aJzpJo948Ug/s1600/100_0549%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TNH4Gd9OhRI/AAAAAAAAGDU/aJzpJo948Ug/s320/100_0549%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Halloween was a little different this year. Thomas Jessop is a 14-year-old triathlete who has peddled </span><a href="http://site.ttaa.us/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">across the USA</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> this summer and fall. He was supported by his 15-year old brother David and father as they travelled in a converted bus with him from Santa Barbara, CA to Florida. Thomas is raising awareness for the homeless, in particular the "half homeless" who live in automobiles but often face difficulties finding places to park them overnight. He has been featured in several news articles across the country including this </span><a href="http://www.independent.com/news/2010/jun/10/thomas-jessops-wild-ride/"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">one</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and this </span><a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/teen-bikes-cross-country-to-help-homeless-8212-and-compete-in-triathlon/1125444"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">one</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">. Bethany met them at her church, Unity Renaissance, and we had them over for dinner during their brief stay in Hampton Roads.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TNH4OzGWcaI/AAAAAAAAGDY/xZAfjy08nc8/s1600/100_0548%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TNH4OzGWcaI/AAAAAAAAGDY/xZAfjy08nc8/s320/100_0548%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We hooked him up with Harlan's Cannondale frame and other parts that were left over from donations we got for the Broad Creek Bike fair. Chad (pictured left) set up Thomas with those sweet Sidi shoes (pictured above) and Wes (right) brought over some components for the frame. We also had some wheels left over and the brand new Fat Frogs insulated skin suit that Amber Goins donated! Thomas is also the proud owner of a <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TNIKpBwh9oI/AAAAAAAAGEs/H5NRD1RLd5M/s1600/757cx.bmp">757cx</a> skinsuit, but I warned him about how impossible it will be for him to breathe in it! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TNIABYp3b2I/AAAAAAAAGDg/7ZzAZA4e5G0/s1600/bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TNIABYp3b2I/AAAAAAAAGDg/7ZzAZA4e5G0/s320/bus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here is their travelling home. Next stop is Washington, DC where they hope to get a meeting in the White House to talk about the homeless. I hope Pennsylvania Ave. can handle this beast!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TNH4WGIUspI/AAAAAAAAGDc/1lHe7RmS3Tc/s1600/100_0543%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C8j2KtR2YyY/TNH4WGIUspI/AAAAAAAAGDc/1lHe7RmS3Tc/s320/100_0543%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We still got to hand out candy and hang with Mini Mouse, so the holiday retained some convention. Kaitlyn is pictured here with Jen Cohen. </span>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8212173.post-25659172188885127912010-10-25T20:54:00.000-04:002010-10-25T20:54:08.792-04:00Flagpole daytrip<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Flizschleeper%2Falbumid%2F5532129526109430897%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Liz Schleeperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03778655053760220253noreply@blogger.com0