The Freewheel The New Mexico Touring Society, founded in January 1980. A recreational bicycling club promoting safe enjoyable road and off-road cycling via organized day and overnight rides for all ages and abilities. Web Site: http://www.nmts.org/ November 2014 Helmets Are Required for All Rides Upcoming One-Time Rides See More Detail on Page 4 Nov 1 9:00 AM Double Eagle Half Century X-3, 50 miles Bill Thompson, 299-0302 Alameda Open Space parking lot Nov 8 9:00 AM Breaking Bad Tour C-1, 50 miles Chris Marsh, 891-3464 Los Ranchos Rail Runner Station parking lot Nov 8 8:30 AM Breaking Bad (Fast) Tour C-1, 50 miles Mark Pasnewski, 241-2797 (work) 350-9689 (cell) Los Ranchos Rail Runner Station parking lot Nov 8 9:00 AM Women Ride to Placitas X-3, ~40 miles Sandy Gold, 899-1328 Alameda Open Space parking lot Nov 15 9:30 AM Bernalillo Blast X-1, 45 miles Barbara Titus, 980-1095 Parking lot by the Tingley Beach train station Nov 22 9:00 AM East Perimeter Variation Backwards X-3, 54 miles Donna Chavez, 856-2710 Smith’s parking lot, SE corner of Central and Tramway Nov 29 8:00 AM Belen and Beyond X-1, 45 miles David Satter, 215-429-1281 Los Ranchos Rail Runner Station parking lot Vol 35-11 President’s Corner So far this year I've written on all sorts of topics having to do with bicycles and riding them. This month I'd like to about NMTS itself, specifically its budget. We had a lively conversation about the budget at a recent NMTS board meeting, and I thought I'd bring you the highlights. The budget lays out our expected income and expenses for the year. Most of our income comes as a steady stream of membership renewals, but our expenses are paid in fewer, larger chunks. We can control the size of some expenses, such as parties, but others like insurance we cannot. The budget helps us match our expenditures to our income and thus reassure ourselves that we will be able to pay for everything we need to. (One thing the budget doesn't, or at least shouldn't, include are independent projects whose income and expenses are tied together. A good example of this is our recent Rob Oakes Memorial project. Such off-budget projects stand alone.) Of course the budget is a prediction and can't be perfect. For various reasons our income and expenses may differ from what we expect, so we carry a cushion and we try to budget conservatively. In each of the last two years, ignoring the off-budget projects, we've brought in about the same amount as we've spent. That's good, right? Well, not so fast. The liveliness of our recent board meeting arose because of a disturbing trend: it seems that without some “help”, we would have spent more than we took in during those two years. Roughly 20% of our total income the last two years was our share of the tips from the Balloon Fiesta bike valet service. The “help” was that in those years we also had budget line items for give-aways and publicity at the bike valet, but we didn't actually spend anything for those. The income is nice to have, but Balloon Fiesta tips are potentially quite variable based on weather and other factors, so budgeting to depend on them isn't a good idea. Furthermore, we really should be spending some money on handouts and publicity at the bike valet site. It's a great opportunity to make ourselves known to bicyclists of all ages and experience levels, given the number and variety of riders the valet service draws. How should our budgeting change? Three things need to happen, I think. First, we should be spending some money on outreach and publicity at the Balloon Fiesta bike valet site. Second, we should be more conservative in how we treat bike valet tip income in our budget. We could budget for only 80% as much in tips each year as we actually took in the year before, for example. Third, we need to increase income and/or reduce expenses to make up for the resulting smaller net bike valet tip income. Over the years our expenses have risen, mostly due to inflation. We haven't had a dues increase for something like two decades. Maybe it's time for a small one. The NMTS budget cycle will start soon. If you have input on any aspect of the budget, the board would very much like to hear from you! Greg Titus Riding and enjoying the scenery, Cochiti Dam – Tent Rocks Ride on October 25, 2014. Photo by Bob Griffith. The Freewheel NMTS Board Members Greg Titus President(@nmts.org) Bob Griffith VicePresident(@nmts.org) Linda Olson Secretary(@nmts.org) Dianne Cress Treasurer(@nmts.org) Bill Thompson FreewheelEditor(@nmts.org) Mary Ann Sweeney RideChairman(@nmts.org) Mark Pasnewski MileageChairman(@nmts.org) Will Ferrell Webmaster(@nmts.org) Chris Marsh Bike Advocate ([email protected]) Don Simonson Bike Advocate ([email protected]) Blame it on the Bulgarians Will Ferrell 699-4745 897-3122 299-0483 294-2928 299-0302 247-4866 241-2797 903-4415 891-3464 271-9265 As cold weather approaches, we reduce the number and the distances of bicycle rides. Crosstraining, in the form of hiking, running and weightlifting, becomes the logical replacement for some. I have been looking at "The Cyclist's Training Bible" by Joe Friel. It is my first and only reference to bicycle training. Friel uses periodization, training cycles which juggle intensity with volume, and base training, peak training, recovery training. The terms and the methodology all remind me of weightlifting regimes that I undertook for years. In fact, all of this started with weightlifting. Everyone, from East German swimmers to Nordic skiers, used weightlifting to increase their strength. Weightlifting training influenced athletes and they began to adapt these concepts of weightlifting training to their sports. Where did weightlifting get its ideas? The U.S.S.R became a weightlifting powerhouse starting in the sixties. Perhaps you remember watching obese Alexeev lift 561 pounds on TV? The U.S.S.R was king until Bulgaria came along. This small country of 8 million dethroned the Communist giant of 300,000,000 people, along with its East European neighbors. I was told, and did not confirm this, that Bulgarian lifters at one time held 27 of 30 weightlifting records. The Bulgarian training system was a well guarded secret. Westerners eventually uncovered its treasures and they are the mainstay of training in many different sports today. Why is the Bulgarian training system of interest to me? As part of my physical therapy this summer after my accident, I dusted off the barbell and tried some cleans and front squats. Even though I progressed very slowly and cautiously, I found I was unable to come anywhere close to the training I used to do. I eventually got too sore to continue and stopped lifting. So now I am reconsidering my approach. Joe Friel recommends doing sets of 5 to 20 reps for each exercise. When you reach the Maximum Strength period, as he calls it, in the squat you want to do 2 sets of 6 reps using a barbell loaded with your bodyweight. In the past this would have been laughably easy. Today, with my arthritis and my reduced rate of recovery, I think this would be difficult if not impossible. I would be injured before I got very far. So I think back to the Bulgarians. The Bulgarians used sets of a single rep. Granted they increased the weight with each set until they reached enormous weights. My thought is that I could do the same with my modest weights. In fact, I think with such a method, I could squat 30 to 40 pounds above bodyweight. I think this is a practical approach for many older people, especially those who suffer from arthritis. I think I will give it a try. Stay tuned for the results. • The Freewheel deadline is 6 PM on the Sunday after the last the Friday of the month. • December Freewheel information is due Sunday, November 30. Email inputs to FreewheelEditor. • Mileage information to Mark Pasnewski: Email to MileageChairman or phone 241-2797(w), 350-9689(c). • Mileage ride sheets, change of address, and newsletter distribution: NMTS Treasurer P.O. Box 1261 Albuquerque NM 87103-1261 Treasurer. • Send web information to Will Ferrell Webmaster. • Paid advertisements are accepted on a space available basis. • Members can post free ads in The Freewheel and on the NMTS web site. • Ride submission: Members-only section of NMTS web site. Ride Rating System Pace: Terrain: A B C D X K 1 2 3 4 5 20+ mph steady pace 15-20 mph a few stops 12-15 mph occasional stops 8-12 mph frequent stops All paces Very easy child’s pace Flat as possible Minor hills Moderate hills Frequent steep hills Advanced difficult climbing Easy Intermediate Advanced Off-Road: Treasurer’s Report (Dianne Cress) as of 10/20/2014 Last Month’s Balance $6,013.63 Income $273.84 Expenses $74.21 New Balance $6,313.16 Welcome New Members! Brett McDowell Carlos Barreto ROTM Donna Chavez !2 The Freewheel Weekly Rides Sunday 9:00 AM Mary Ann Sweeney 247-4866 Bosque Trail, X-1, 37 miles Ride south on the Bosque Trail to the Chris Chavez Loop south of Rio Bravo and return; brunch / coffee stop downtown at Java Joe’s on the way back. Alameda Open Space parking lot Monday 9:00 AM Last ride for the year is Nov 10 Will Ferrell 903-4415 Tramway / La Luz Trailhead Ride, X-5, 27 miles This ride is designed to be a muscle building rather than an endurance activity. The opportunity exists for people on the East side to start the ride at County Line BBQ at 10:00, climb La Luz and return home, or drop down Tramway to the Valley and then climb up Tramway to end their day. Alameda Open Space Parking Lot; alternate at County Line BBQ on Tramway at 10:00 AM Tuesday 9:00 AM Don Simonson 271-9265 Ed Kjeldgaard 268-8835 NE / NW Loop, C/D-2, 45-50 miles Route alternates with 1) the Bosque Trail route on even-numbered Tuesdays (September 6, 20 etc) with pickup points at Tramway and Manitoba, Top of Tramway Hill and Alameda Open Space and 2) the North Diversion Channel route on odd-numbered Tuesdays (September 13, 27 etc) with the same pickup points except S. Guadalupe at Alameda instead of Alameda Open Space. Flying Star Café, Juan Tabo and Montgomery Gary Shaw 508-1140 NE / NW Loop, A/B-2, 49 miles Down Tramway to Alameda Open Space, Bosque Trail with a stop at Flying Star Café on Rio Grande; return by Paseo del Norte Trail, North Diversion Channel Trail, Paseo del Nordeste Trail, and Comanche / Morris / Lagrima de Oro back to Flying Star Café on Juan Tabo Flying Star Café, Juan Tabo and Montgomery Tuesday 9:15 AM Chris Marsh 891-3464 Westside Ride, C/D-2, 37 miles Starts at the Rio Rancho Sports Complex on High Resort in Rio Rancho and goes down to join Ed and Don's “NE /NW Loop” ride at one of two locations along Alameda, depending on whether it is an even or odd day. Rio Rancho Sports Complex (by the tennis courts) on High Resort in Rio Rancho Wednesday 9:00 AM Bob Griffith 977-5571 Susan D’Lamater 897-7066 WWAM (Westside Wednesday AM) Ride, A/B/C-2, 25-35 miles Various routes, mostly in the valley or on the west side. View this week’s ride description online (www.nmts.org/wednesdayride.php); usually updated by Tuesday evening. Alameda Open Space parking lot Wednesday 5:30 PM Mark Pasnewski 241-2797 (w) or 350-9689 (c) Evening Road Ride, X-1, 20-22 miles Various routes in the valley. Old Town – parking lot on the west side of 20th Street, north of Mountain Thursday 9:00 AM starting Nov 6 Eric Russell 856-2710 Get Fitter Faster, B/C-4, 40 miles A route east of Tramway, including the climb to La Luz Trailhead; 4100’ elevation gain. See the description at http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4551338. Canyon Center, SW corner of Tramway and Encantado. Park in the lot behind the buildings. Thursday 9:00 AM Don Simonson 271-9265 Ed Kjeldgaard 268-8835 NE / NW Loop, C/D-2, 45-50 miles Down Tramway to Alameda Open Space, Bosque Trail including Chris Chavez Loop, and food stop at one of several different restaurants Downtown or the UNM area; return by Constitution / Paseo de las Montañas Trail / Morris / Lagrima de Oro to Flying Star Café on Juan Tabo. Flying Star Café, Juan Tabo and Montgomery Thursday 9:00 AM Gary Shaw 508-1140 NE / NW Loop, A/B-2, 45-50 miles Down Tramway; various routes in the valley or on the west side. Flying Star Café, Juan Tabo and Montgomery Thursday 10:00 AM Chris Marsh 891-3464 Thursday Morning Westside Ride with a Twist, C/D, 35 miles Route joins Ed and Don’s “NE/NW Loop” ride at Alameda Open Space until the lunch stop, and then returns to the start by varying routes. Alameda Open Space parking lot Tuesday 9:00 AM !3 The Freewheel Upcoming One-Time Rides Check http://www.nmts.org/displaySchedule.php for updates. Saturday Nov 1 9:00 AM Bill Thompson 299-0302 Double Eagle Half Century, X-3, 50 miles The ride heads south on the Bosque Trail for a short distance and then west along the Paseo del Norte Trail to Coors Blvd. From there, we work our way through Taylor Ranch on trails to reach Unser Blvd. At the top of the mesa, we take the Paseo del Mesa Trail, headed west out to Double Eagle Airport. After a break at the Airport, we head south on Alameda Open Atrisco Vista and then east and down the hill on Dennis Chavez Blvd. At Isleta, we turn Space parking lot north to take an interesting route on side streets west of the river, including a stop at the “pot plant”. At Bridge Blvd, we cross the river and continue north, with a stop at Rolling in Dough Café in Old Town. After the break, we return to the Bosque Trail for a few more miles back to the starting point. Satuday Nov 8 9:00 AM Chris Marsh 891-3464 Breaking Bad Tour, C-1, 50 miles Just in time for the Breaking Bad Fan Fest in Albuquerque. We will ride by many of the locations used in the award-winning TV show Breaking Bad. See where Walter and Skyler live. Find out where Hank and Marie's house is. Ride by Jesse's hangouts. Get legal advice from Saul and eat lunch at Gus's fast food restaurant (they need a new manager). This ride will try to stay together as a group so we can enjoy hearing about all the locations from NMTS Breaking Bad fans. Satuday Nov 8 8:30 AM Mark Pasnewski 241-2797 (work) 350-9689 (cell) Breaking Bad (Fast) Tour, C-1, 50 miles This is the faster version of Chris Marsh's “Breaking Bad Tour”. We'll check out the same locations made famous in the show, but at a faster pace. We'll be starting 30 minutes earlier than the regular ride so folks don't get confused and end up on the wrong ride. Come on along. Satuday Nov 8 9:00 AM Sandy Gold, 899-1328 Satuday Nov 15 9:30 AM Barbara Titus 980-1095 Saturday Nov 22 9:00 AM Saturday Nov 29 8:00 AM Los Ranchos Rail Runner Station parking lot Los Ranchos Rail Runner Station parking lot Women Ride to Placitas, X-3, ~40 miles Alameda Open This one is for the women. We’ll take NM 313 to Bernalillo, then the back way to South Space parking lot Hill Rd. and NM165 to the end of the pavement. Food stop at Flying Star in Bernalillo. Bernalillo Blast, X-1, 45 miles Ride the Bosque Trail north to Alameda, through the neighborhood to 4th St and then to NM 313. Lunch stop at Flying Star in Bernalillo, then return the same way. Parking lot by the Tingley Beach train station Donna Chavez 856-2710 East Perimeter Variation Backwards, X-3, 54 miles This ride is basically the East Perimeter ride with an additional stretch that passes by Mesa del Sol. Ride north on Tramway, down Tramway to Alameda trailhead. South on the Bosque bike path, start counterclockwise on the Chris Chavez loop and take a detour to Mesa del Sol. Wander to University to Gibson to Louisiana to the Veteran Memorial, continue through the neighborhoods to Wyoming. Take our usual route from Wyoming back to the starting point. Ride leader will lead near the back. IMPORTANT NOTE: Route cue sheet (pdf) will be available via Mary Ann’s weekly email blast. Please print out your own route sheet and bring to the ride. Ride leader will bring a few. Smith’s parking lot, SE corner of Central and Tramway David Satter 215-429-1281 Belen and Beyond, X-1, 45 miles We're heading back to Belen, and this will be a good ride to burn off that Thanksgiving feast. We'll take the usual southbound route and stop at the usual rest stops. Riders will have the option of doing up to 15 extra miles once we get to Belen. Lunch is at Pete's Café and the northbound train departs Belen at 1:04. Complete cue sheets will be provided, and this ride will be swept. Los Ranchos Rail Runner Station parking lot Bike Carrier For Sale Draftmaster Tandem Carrier; will also hold two single bikes. $225. See http://www.atoc.com/draftmasterlong.php • Walk-up access to your tailgate - without removing bikes. Get at your stuff easily. • Rack swings back & down for easy loading. No high lifting required. • Bikes are always fully accessible. Get to any bike at any time. • Bikes ride \"in the draft\" for better gas mileage. • Simple assembly and easy operation. • Easy to remove and store with our quick-connect design. • Modules are interchangeable to accommodate changing needs. Contact Paul Matthews, 505-268-9309, [email protected]. !4 The Freewheel Happenings and Announcements NMTS Monthly Meeting for the month of November will be at 6:30 PM on Monday, November 17th, at the Trek Superstore, 5000 Menaul Blvd NE. The presentation will be by Ralph Monfort. Approximately 1 year ago Ralph took a little tour of China and Southeast Asia. The tour was called The Bamboo Road – three months long, 4,795 miles from Shanghai, China to Singapore while biking through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Ralph will give a slide show and talk about this tour. The NMTS Holiday Party is tentatively scheduled for the evening of Saturday, December 13. We've just started our planning for it. Look for details in upcoming weekly email blasts and the December Freewheel! Election of NMTS Officers for 2015. Election of new officers will take place during the November monthly meeting and via email. All current members over the age of 18 are eligible to vote. (NMTS Bylaws Article V-9) Early voting begins at 12:00 a.m. on November 1 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on November 15. Ballots will be sent via email to all members by October 31. Return your vote to the email address provided with the ballot. If you choose not to exercise the early voting option, you can still vote in person at the next meeting on November 17. Results will be announced at the meeting and in the December newsletter. The slate of NMTS officer candidates is as follows: President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Freewheel Editor Ride Chairman Bicycling Advocate Position 1 Bicycling Advocate Position 2 Mileage Chairman Web Master Gordon Pegue Robert Griffith Linda Olson Dianne Cress William Thompson Mary Ann Sweeney or Sandy Gold Chris Marsh Don Simonson Mark Pasnewski William Ferrell The one contested position is that of Ride Chairman. The two candidates, both long-time NMTS members, are Mary Ann Sweeney and Sandy Gold. The candidates have provided the following statements, to help NMTS members decide when voting. Mary Ann Sweeney: The duties of the NMTS ride chairman are to send out the weekly e-mail blast, to encourage people to lead rides, to approve rides that are submitted by members who wish to lead them, and to inform first-time ride leaders of their responsibilities. I am the current ride chairman and have held the position for the past seven years. I have been an NMTS member since 1996. I lead the Sunday Bosque trail ride. I have enjoyed serving as ride chairman and would be pleased to continue doing so. Sandy Gold: I have been a member of NMTS since 2003. Over the years, I have observed several changes in the club, the most visible being the number of retirees who now ride during the week. There are now 6 rides available during weekday mornings, up from two in 2003. For members who work, there is now one evening ride; there used to be three. There is generally one Saturday ride, usually listed as an X pace, which may draw up to 25, 35, or 40 riders. What this means is that riders separate out into several smaller groups. Some leaders stay at the back, most are up at the front. Most of the riders are riding without any leader. And rides are not being geared to those who may be new to cycling or group riding or a little slower. This current year, 21 members came on one club ride and another 12 people came on two rides. That’s 33 people who have put a toe into NMTS waters. I’d like to know why they haven’t returned, and if I were the ride chairman, I’d be contacting them for feedback. Club membership has gone from a high of 300 to it’s present day of 188. Along with a drop in membership, I’ve also noticed changes in the culture of the club, starting with our reputation of not being friendly. If a new member shows up for a ride and is not an experienced rider, he or she is basically on his or her own. We offer no guidance or training, and often no company. Currently, there is a random listing by those wishing to lead rides. This means that there may be an out of town ride with no in town alternative, or perhaps a climbing ride with no flat alternative. Or a fast ride with no sweep. If I am elected as ride chair, I will be actively involved in soliciting rides from our enthusiastic membership, 50 of whom have ridden 1,000 miles so far this year. Many people are willing to assist; some just want to be asked. I will be asking. And planning. I would like to see at least 2 rides offered each Saturday and Sunday. Rides for both experienced riders and those looking to improve their skills. Flat rides, hilly rides, long rides, shorter rides, in town rides, rides requiring a drive to the start. Training rides for those interested in improving their bike handling skills. Community outreach. We need to try something new before we lose any more members. !5 The Freewheel Happenings and Announcements, Continued Possible NMTS team for the 2015 RAGBRAI. NMTS member Sam Chavez has agreed to help coordinate a contingent of NM Touring Society riders to participate in RAGBRAI (Ride Across Iowa) which is scheduled for July 19-25, 2015. Registrations are being accepted beginning November 15, 2014 and selection takes place by lottery. Our understanding is that most who apply are drawn. If you are interested in more information or being a part of this, call Sam at 505-280-2160 or email at [email protected] As soon as a cutoff date for applications is known, the NMTS cutoff will likely be 30 days prior to the RAGBRAI application deadline but that remains to be determined. We will meet to discuss all logistics. Trudy Bergen “Celebration of Life” – October 26th, Donna Chavez. Friends of Trudy Bergen (and Don Keenan) organized this event for those who knew Trudy and Don to gather and share memories. Donna Chavez organized and led an NMTS ride in Trudy’s memory earlier in the day, and many riders joined the gathering at Don and Trudy’s home after the ride. Trudy’s friends celebrated her life with touching stories, fond memories, pictures of her and Don, seeing the beautiful quilts made by Trudy and the shedding of many tears. A NMTS ride, one of Don and Trudy’s favorites, will be offered later next year in their memory. I along with many others will miss her. Rob Oakes Memorial Dedication on Saturday, October 18th. The Saturday for the Memorial Dedication was beautiful – sunny and warm. About 57 people turned out for the dedication of the Rob Oakes Memorial bike rack at Alameda Open Space, including Rob’s wife Maureen and her sister, Donna Hammond; many Oakes family friends; and a large contingent of NMTS members. The Dedication itself opened with a bagpipe tribute, performed by David Reynolds, an Oakes family friend. The NMTS President, Greg Titus, spoke on behalf of NMTS, and several other friends passed on their memories of Rob and his love of the outdoors and bicycling. Mike Barker, the sheriff’s deputy who received the donated bike components from Rob’s bike, also attended the Dedication, and he spoke about his appreciation in receiving an almost new bicycle. Maureen and Donna then unveiled the plaque, formally dedicating the bike rack to the memory of Rob Oakes. It was a fitting and moving ceremony. After the Dedication, Rich Cullison led a short (21 miles) bike ride for those interested, which included some of Rob’s bicycling friends from his days in Los Alamos. Most of the group then repaired to the Boxing Bear Brewery for a cold one, lunch, and a chance to share memories of Rob with other riders and with his family and friends. Thanks to Dee Friesen for organizing this event and presiding as master of ceremonies, and to Saul Segura, who took the photographs. !6 The Freewheel Jiggle The Handle – Mark Pasnewski Greetings, fellow club members. Indian summer has certainly been great this month. The temperatures have been warmer than usual, which is always welcome. Hopefully, that doesn’t translate into colder than normal weather coming up. Last month’s Rider Of The Month was Rita Wormwood. Rita has been on several rides this month, so she’s not sitting on her laurels. On one of those rides, she told me that she found out about being the ROTM from another rider, and was surprised that she had won. No need to be surprised, Rita. You’re a most worthy recipient. Congratulations. The ROTM award for this month goes to a person who’s been a member for quite a long time. She’s been a steady rider over the years, sometimes doing more miles with the club, sometimes less. She leads several rides during the year, so she’s giving back to the club, as well. She’s been on several of my Wednesday night rides this month, along with hosting a club ride of her own (more on that in a minute.) She’s a very strong rider who can keep up with the fastest folks in the club, but she stays with the slowest folks when “leading from the rear”. She’s also easily the most courteous person to ride behind in a pace line. Whenever I ride behind her, there is NOTHING that’s coming up that I don’t know about. She is very consistent in signaling to those behind her about approaching hazards, obstacles, people, animals, posts, traffic, etc. You name it, if it’s up there, you’ll know about it from her signals. In addition to all that, she hosted one of my Wednesday night rides last month, which I forgot to thank her for in my column. So, thank you very much. And if that wasn’t enough, she even led the non-club (or at least nonclub-miles) “A Ride For Trudy”. That should be plenty of information for anybody to figure out who she is, but in case you still don’t know, she racked up 212 miles this month on 8 club rides. Congratulations, ROTM. Thankfully, it’s been fairly quiet on the M.A.S.H. front this month. I noticed that David Jewell is back riding with the club, which is good to see. Welcome back, David. There was also a near-miss this month. The reason I know about it is that I was the one who was near-missed. Gary Shaw and I were on the Mountainair Meander earlier this month. After lunch, we were riding back to Estancia along highway 60. I had started out quite a bit ahead of Gary, but he caught and passed me after a few miles. Sometime later, I caught up to him, although he didn’t know it. I was riding on the shoulder of the road and he was on the roadway. About that time, he decided to cut over to ride on the shoulder, and as he did so he missed my front tire by no more than an inch. There is an awful rumble strip on that stretch of road, and the close call caused me to go into it. By the time I gained control of my bike again, I was headed into the ditch. Thankfully, I didn’t crash, and didn’t even flat a tire. I told Gary that he’d run me off the road, and I’m sure he felt bad about it. But later that afternoon, as I was describing the incident to my wife, she pointed out (correctly) that I should have let Gary know that I was in his blind spot. He had no way of knowing I was there. And she’s right. So I’ll take this opportunity to say “I’m sorry” to Gary for accusing him of causing me to almost wreck, and I’ll pledge to be more diligent about letting fellow riders know when I’m around. One other minor item on the M.A.S.H. front – from one of the recent Wednesday night rides, I came to a stop at an intersection and couldn’t get my foot unclipped. BAM. Other than a small scrape on my leg and a sore knee for a few days, I was no worse for the wear. But that spurred me to check the cleats on my bike shoes when I got home. I found that one of the cleat screws was missing, and a couple others were loose. This would be a good time to check that on your bike shoes, before you pull an “Arte Johnson” like I did. It seems like a long time ago, but the Balloon Fiesta was earlier this month. I managed to make it out there one morning, and used the bike valet service while there. This continues to be a great way to get to and from the Fiesta. There was even an article in the newspaper, which hopefully won’t overwhelm the place next year. According to that article, there were 3100 bikes parked there this year, which is a new record (up from 2200 last year). If you haven’t tried it yet, make a point of doing so next year. It’s ultra convenient, and it’s free (although you should definitely tip them for the service). We have a major accomplishment to acknowledge. Earlier this month, two former ROTMs were on Chris Marsh’s Rio Grande Century ride, and both completed it. Cindy Sommers and Rita Wormwood both did a slick 101 miles that day, and it was the first century ride for each of them. Thanks to both Chris and Gordon Pegue for pointing out this great feat. And congratulations, Cindy and Rita. That is quite a milestone. I mentioned earlier that our ROTM for this month had hosted a Saturday morning ride. She mentioned in her description of the ride that, in accordance with the club’s paperless crusade (i.e. no more paper copies of the newsletter), she was requesting that everyone print out their own copy of the cue sheet. The ride was also available on RideWithGPS or whatever that site is that the club is now using. It turned out that most folks didn’t question the paperless part (which was kind of the point), but instead just printed off their own cue sheets or did their own downloads. This may well be the wave of the future, but until it becomes the standard, it is going to cause some problems. Ride leaders are going to need to bring some cue sheets for those that don’t print their own, but aren’t going to know how many to bring. It’s also going to be extra work on the part of the ride chairman, assuming she agrees to start including electronic copies of the cue sheets for any and all upcoming rides. And speaking (writing) of ride chairman, it appears that we again have a challenger for the office. At the urging of at least a couple of other members, Sandy Gold has thrown her hat into the ring again. I’ve said in the past that I think Sandy would make a good ride chairman, and I still believe that’s the case. I think she would do more than is being done now to promote ride leadership, which is sorely needed in this club. She is nothing if not determined – this is about the third or fourth time she’s run. Here’s hoping she’s successful this time. As of November 2, we stop saving all that daylight for this year. We get an extra hour of sleep that night (good), but we have to re-program every clock, VCR, faucet and refrigerator in the house (bad). That’s also the time of year when the Wednesday night ride stops moving around town. No more consulting the newsletter to see where the ride starts. It starts in Old Town every week (behind the Hotel Albuquerque, on 20th street north of Mountain). It still starts at 5:30, but it’ll be dark (or near dark) for the ride for the next several months. Lights and tights are pretty much required, but most nights the temps aren’t too bad. Grab yours (lights and tights, that is) and check it out one of these weeks. You might even get to see La Llorona. She seems to show up this time every year, once it’s dark enough for her to walk the ditch banks. That’s all for this month. Temperatures are dropping, but there are still a lot of really nice days this time of year. This is a good time to get some extra miles in. Don’t wait until the cold winds of December sneak up on you. Grab that light jacket or arm warmers and hit the trail. Enjoy the ride. !7 The Freewheel BICYCLING ADVOCATE REPORT -- October 2014 Chris Marsh and Don Simonson Complete Streets Proposed Ordinance. City Councilor Ike Benton will hold a pubic hearing on the Ordinance (O-14-27) on November 5 at 6 pm on the 9th floor of the City/County Government Building. If you attend, I think the City will pay for parking in the downtown underground lot. We’ve talked about Complete Streets before. The American League of Bicyclists (of which we are a member) has recommended that NM adopt a statewide Complete Streets policy. Albuquerque’s proposed ordinance would finalize development – actually, city engineers and consultants have been working on it a long time. But it will only cover Albuquerque, not NM as LAB wanted. Here’s what we said on Complete Streets back in April this year. “The idea is to ensure that transportation planners and engineers are trained to consistently design and operate the entire roadway safely with all users in mind – including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities.” Somebody said “Roads are not for cars. They’re for people.” Nice idea. In 2008, the U.S. Congress tried to pass a law making every state adopt a Complete Streets policy but it failed in the House -- too much government interference I suppose. California passed an extensive Complete Streets bill in 2008. Also, Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCoG) is presenting a webinar on Complete Streets by the Association of Pedestrian and bicycle Professionals on October 29, 1:00 - 2:15 pm, at its offices at 809 Copper NE. The APBP presenters will discuss how to learn more about practical applications of Complete Streets policies. They will explore guidance alternatives and design criteria and how to develop and evaluate design alternatives for Complete Streets project. The MRCoG meeting sounds sort of bureaucratic, but its another great learning opportunity. As a side comment, we’ve noticed Councilor Benton’s advocacy and activism for multi-modal transportation over the years. He’s especially interested on promoting bicycling over adding more cars to our streets. Attending the hearing is a show of support for this dedicated council member. Long story short, the hearing is an opportunity for educating yourself on what our future streets will look like. Strategic Highway Safety Plan. NMDOT (NM Department of Transportation) is holding 4-hour focus group meetings around the state to review its proposed strategies, identify additional strategies, and to discuss the need for information/ research. On December 3, a special session will cover emergency capabilities for serving special road users including bicycles. If you want to add your voice, you can write Katie Bridgewater at [email protected] or call 505 412-1872 for an invitation to attend -- tell her Don and Chris recommend you. “The Loop” Graphics. James Lewis from Parks and Rec has come up with the following logo for what used to be called “The 50_mile Loop” (now just “The Loop”). Not sure what the “15 mi” means but we’ll ask around. This logo is the format for similar logos calling out different segments of the loop (e.g. Bosque, South Valley, international district, etc.) Greater Albuquerque Bicycling Advisory Committee (GABAC). No report this month. !8 The Freewheel NMTS Monthly Meeting, October 20, 2014 Submitted by Linda Olson, Secretary The meeting was called to order at 6:35 PM by President Greg Titus, with 23 members present. Announcements • Barbara informed us of the need to change the date of the Volunteer Party to November 2nd at 6 PM. Long time member Trudy Bergen’s Memorial Service was scheduled for Oct. 26th, from 12-8 PM • The weather was gorgeous Saturday, October 18th, for the dedication for the Rob Oakes Memorial Bike Rack. There were 56 members and guests present. Greg words were eloquent, the ride very pleasant, followed by a reception with Maureen Oakes and her sister, Donna Hammond, at Boxing Bear Brewery to celebrate Rob. Program Bill Thompson, substituting for Bob Griffith (who was out of town), introduced our very own Ken Levine and Holly Evans, who gave another event-filled slide show; this time of a 9-day, approximately 300-mile biking and camping tour of the International Selkirk Loop, in July 2014. Organizing the ride for a Canadian bike club with a limit of 20 riders, their quota was filled within 5 minutes of registration opening, with 19 more wanting to ride. A 2nd tour on the same route was then organized, to began the following day with another leader. Starting in Salmo, British Columbia, they went CCW through eastern Washington state’s Pend Oreille Valley and western Idaho’s panhandle, ending back in BC. • A scenic and flat terrain, riders had dedicated sag support, reserved bike friendly camping facilities, meals prepared daily by teams of 3-4 riders, even an alcohol meister kept track of the 1.5 L of alcohol each rider could bring into Canada, most brought wine. There was also a food inventory. • Typical meals for breakfast: gruel, oatmeal or cereal; lunch: meat, cheese, bread; and dinner: whatever was wanted that was within budget. Road info, attractions, points of interests, routes they needed to follow, directional maps and elevations came off the internet. Each AM there was also a coffee break and snacks. • The weather was beautiful, even hot, being in the 80’s. Riding along the east side of the river it was flatter and they were able to swim most nights. One night, the women cheered as it was guys Only on cleanup! • There were no accidents, no falls, few flats, though 1 dog bite to the face of a rider who had been told by the owner...his dog was friendly. The owner took him to the hospital for 18 stitches. Then as 1 lady was working on her wheel, 3 guys watched! • Canadian customs was relaxed, they looked at your passport and said, “Welcome to Canada.” US Customs was: Name, Address, Citizenship, etc., your first born...only kidding. When crossing back into Canada only the detailed mapmaker went the wrong way. • The scenery was majestic and a major highlight was located in northern Idaho nested at the confluence of the St. Joe and St. Maries rivers, 2 of the prettiest rivers one’s eyes can behold. The hidden jewel of the Gem State: St. Maries, started as a timber, logging, and hunting community, to became a sportsman’s paradise. There was also the 220 curves by Crawford where each curve provided more beautiful scenery than the last. • Cost of the trip? $750, of which $350 was refunded for those 8 days and 9 nights. Cross Canada Touring Cycle Society is a great organization, led by volunteers, so trips are at cost. Few Americans are in the club though all are welcome to join! Google the International Selkirk Loop to view their Interactive map and photos. Business Meeting • Our snack folks didn’t make it to the meeting, so Barbara brought along the spare food from the Sipapu ride this past August. It was still edible! • The Freewheel deadline is Sunday, November 2nd at 6 PM. If you want your ride(s) published in The Freewheel, get it to MaryAnn so it can be added to the schedule. • The Balloon Fiesta tips were $1,400, this is less than last year. Over 3,000 bikes were parked. (editor’s note: the final total for tips was $2,118.40, which is slightly more than last year. NMTS and BikeABQ thus each get $1,059.15) • Election: Nominations were taken from the floor. Nominees are: President: Gordon Pegue; Vice President: Bob Griffith; Secretary: Linda Olson; Treasurer: Dianne Cress, Editor: Bill Thompson; Ride Chair: Mary Ann Sweeney or Sandy Gold; Bike Advocate: Chris Marsh; Bike Advocate: Don Simonson; Mileage Chair: Mark Pasnewski; Webmaster: Will Ferrell. Beginning November 1st at midnight you can send, by e-mail, your election selection. If you do not vote early you can vote in person at the Business Meeting, on November 17th. The election results will be announced at the meeting and they will also appear in The Freewheel. • Meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM. !9 The Freewheel ►► Rides That Were ◀◀ East Side Slug Ride – Oct 4, Donna Chavez The East Side Slug ride is always a fun one to lead and ride. When I mentioned there was one modification to the ride, several asked if Zane was still included. Well, of course Zane was still present. Silly question in my opinion, since I was the one who included Zane in the original route. Another question asked, what happened to original map? Given that I modified the route to include Dressage and didn’t have access to AutoCad, let alone know how to use it, a plain text route was my poor replacement. There were multiple surprises that I had not anticipated: construction along Route 66, luckily the construction provided a wide shoulder that ended up being dedicated to riders. We are lucky that the ride was not scheduled for the following Saturday, Meadow to Vallecitos is now an uphill dirt road waiting to be repaved. Another pleasant surprise was the “singing road along Route 66”. I tried riding on the rumble strip but alas the road did not sing to me. Apparently, a vehicle driving along the strip is rewarded with the road singing “America the Beautiful”. Guess I needed to “Reduce [increase my] speed to 45 mph” as the sign indicated. The weather was perfect and the ride was uneventful except for Mark who has had some tire issues. Thank you for those who participated and for printing out your route sheet. Mountainair Meander – October 11, Bill Thompson A group of 6 riders met at the start on the south edge of Estancia, getting ready on a day that started cloudy but soon turned to bright sunshine. We started out at 9 AM, headed west on NM 55, with some low-hanging clouds in the distance. This first leg of the route was 13 miles (and no wind this time), with a slight climb until we reached the rest stop in the little town of Tajique. The clouds burned off as we rode west, so we were in sunshine by the time we arrived. After the break, the route turns south, through the rolling hills east of the mountains. We passed through the little towns of Torreon and Manzano, and started to pick up a breeze from the west. In Manzano, the route turned southeast and slightly downhill, so we were now moving right along with a slight tailwind. After passing through Punta de Agua, the route turned due south for the last five miles of rolling hills to reach Mountainair. In Mountainair, we intended to stop at the historic Shaffer Hotel for lunch. However, we discovered that the hotel and restaurant was closing (too bad!), and the restaurant was serving an all-you-can-eat buffet before closing for good the following day. We were not really interested in a huge meal, so we rode west on US 60 about a half-mile to the Ancient Cities Café, where we stopped for lunch. After lunch, we still had a breeze from the west, so we made good time heading northeast on US 60 for about 12 miles. We then turned north for the last 11 miles on NM 41 back to Estancia, now with more of a crosswind. It turned out to be a beautiful day and a great ride, with little wind; total distance was 59 miles. Rio Grande Century – October 11, Chris Marsh 11 riders headed south from the Alameda Open Space at 8 am to ride 100 kilometers or 100 miles. This was the third attempt this year for the Century and finally the weather cooperated with mild temperatures and no wind. Seven of the riders completed the 100 miles and for Cindy Sommers and Rita Wormwood it was their first Century. Ride leader Chris Marsh thinks it might have been his 130th or 140th Century as he lost track many years ago (his first being in 1974). Rob Oakes Memorial Dedication Ride – October 18, Richard Cullison A beautiful day and a relatively short ride (21 miles) along the North Diversion Channel and the Bosque Trail, following the Dedication of the Rob Oakes Memorial bike rack at Alameda Open Space. See the Dedication recap in Happenings and Announcements. Full Hearts Filling Empty Bowls Ride – October 18, Sandy Gold The ride began at St. John’s United Methodist Church, where the event would be held. Leaving the parking lot, we proceeded south and east, eventually getting onto Constitution, which we took to Tramway, and Elena Gallegos picnic area, before heading back. For a change of pace, we took pretty Spain west, passing Ed’s son’s house and calling out a greeting. Crossing Wyoming, we got onto the trail by the golf course, continuing west to San Pedro where we headed south. When we arrived at the event, we paid our entries, then picked out our bowls and got down to the business of eating and enjoying the company of Jim and Julie Gooding and Dianne Cress who had come to the event. A good time was had by all and we supported Project Share, a very worthy cause. Cochiti Dam – Tent Rocks – October 25 , Gary D’Lamater 36 NMTS members turned out on Saturday, Oct. 25 for the Cochiti Dam –Tent Rocks Ride. Cyclists passed along the Cochiti and Santa Domingo Pueblos as the juniper-pinon landscape featured distant vistas of the Sagre de Cristo, Jemez, and Sandia Mountains. Once again this annual ride was treated to a beautiful autumn day with the cottonwoods putting on a lovely yellow display along the Rio Grande. The ride offered three distances—30, 40, and 46 miles. Some riders went down to Cochiti Lake while others rode further passed the Cochiti Golf Course. Most also opted for riding out to the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument to feast on another scenic view. Afterwards, many hungry cyclists wandered over to the Indian Market and bought a tamale or two from a local pueblo resident. Unfortunately, she sold out before the last riders got there. Pictures of the day taken by Bob Griffith can be viewed on the NMTS website. Bike Case For Sale Bike case by Tri All 3 Sports. Holds 2 bikes, with a lockable steel latch system, 4 heavy duty casters. Interior is 47 x 15 x 32; Exterior is 51 x 18 x 32 (includes the casters). 35 pounds. Used on only two trips. See http://www.triall3sports.com/cases-bike.php This is a Velo Safe II Pro-Series model. Will do best offer. Contact Paul Matthews, 268-9309, [email protected]. !10 The Freewheel Club Ride Miles Last Month (through 10/30) Ed Kjeldgaard 1013 Gary Jones 284 Maggie Zahm 159 Maurice Williams 94 Mary Katherine Biesel 37 Chris Marsh 737 John Gillett 276 Rita Wormwood 158 Roger Chavez 94 Carl Smith 32 Will Ferrell 726 John Gately 270 John Dyer 154 R.T. Odinek 87 Jim Allen 32 John Sturtevant 653 Roger Riggs 262 Dorothy Brethauer 148 Jeff Saul 69 Sandy Gold 32 Gary Shaw 653 Gary D'Lamater 244 Patrick Roddy 146 Ronald Taylor 68 Sam Chavez 32 Gordon Pegue 632 Steve McKenzie 241 Hal Stevens 145 Jerry Grayson 67 Alex Zucosky 32 Tom Sullivan 573 David Jewell 238 Al Zeman 145 Judy Odinek 65 Jane Zucosky 32 Bill Thompson 550 Mark Pasnewski 236 Max Garcia 143 David Olson 60 Tom Sanford 32 David Atkins 529 Bob Griffith 230 Larry Gilbert 136 Frank Bouchier 59 Suzanne Taylor 30 Ralph Monfort 514 Susan D'Lamater 219 Don Simonson 132 Rosalie Rayburn 53 Bill Jacobson 30 Bob Waggoner 483 David Satter 218 Ken Levine 129 Dianne Cress 53 Larry Cash 26 Richard Cullison 452 Jim Fordice 212 Ralph Butler 126 Chris Morganti 45 Deborah Stolk 21 Dee Friesen 440 Donna Chavez 212 Greg Titus 121 Lester Arakaki 45 Richard Youngblood 21 Cindy Sommers 401 Brett McDowell 184 Peter Marks 116 Christina Hartsock 45 Ed Hernandez 21 Fred Mitchell 385 Ernie Schofield 174 Sandy Isabell 112 Art Morganti 45 Christa Keller 21 Tom Snow 341 Mary Ann Sweeney 171 Samson Costales 99 Bob Rundle 45 Richard Torres 20 Russell Stolk 334 Barbara Titus 166 Holly Evans 97 Eric Russell 45 Chris Heimerl 20 Saul Segura 314 Jan Marsh 161 Johanna DeMay 97 Kathryn Urtiaga 45 Paul Henckel 20 Club Ride Miles 2014 to Date – Omitting riders with less than 50 miles Ed Kjeldgaard 7769 Mark Pasnewski 2249 Jim Fordice 1081 David Olson 409 Scott Russell 130 Chris Marsh 7105 Roger Riggs 2187 Larry Gilbert 1040 Sandy Isabell 404 Carl Smith 126 John Sturtevant 5973 Will DeMay 2181 John Dyer 1011 Lester Arakaki 387 Jason Buchta 122 Bill Thompson 5366 Jane Zucosky 2177 Richard Youngblood 1009 Lauralee Dillon 380 Bob Morgan 108 Will Ferrell 4904 Gary D'Lamater 2144 Maggie Zahm 991 Roger Chavez 378 Christa Keller 103 David Atkins 4836 Fred Mitchell 2101 Terrance Frame 988 Mike Hall 344 Ramona Thomas 102 Gary Jones 4488 Al Zeman 2040 Jerry Grayson 967 Rick Myers 344 Carol Meincke 93 Gary Shaw 4185 Steve McKenzie 1981 Sandy Gold 933 Christina Hartsock 341 Tom Sanford 91 Tom Sullivan 4157 John Gillett 1976 Donna Chavez 768 Jeff Saul 252 Keiko Ohnama 91 Alex Zucosky 4078 Ralph Butler 1934 Rita Wormwood 750 Chris Morganti 250 Diane Owens 90 Bob Griffith 3963 Mary Ann Sweeney 1906 Trudy Bergen 736 Art Morganti 250 Erika Rimson 88 Gordon Pegue 3603 Jan Marsh 1731 Bill Jacobson 666 Bob Rundle 244 Sybil Keyser 80 Ralph Monfort 3536 Ernie Schofield 1620 Stefan Travnicek 649 Christine Satter 230 Gus Cronenberg 80 Barbara Titus 3415 Johanna DeMay 1617 Jim Shelton 624 Chris Heimerl 211 Archie Freeman 77 Richard Cullison 3388 David Jewell 1511 Jim Allen 598 Altana Gray 194 Ed Hernandez 75 Saul Segura 3318 R.T. Odinek 1475 Steve Moffat 570 Volney Hildreth 194 Steve Post 75 Susan D'Lamater 3265 Bob Waggoner 1468 Ken Levine 518 Brett McDowell 184 Dianne Cress 74 Don Simonson 3133 Judy Odinek 1361 Mary Katherine Biesel 511 Jeffrey Pifer 175 Peter Chalamidas 63 David Satter 3115 Peter Marks 1318 Margaret Kent 508 Gina Corvetto 168 James Rosel 62 Russell Stolk 2894 Patrick Roddy 1294 Frank Bouchier 505 Kathryn Urtiaga 166 Mary Rosel 62 Cindy Sommers 2833 Ronald Taylor 1264 John Gately 495 Marcy Kupchella 158 Allan Taylor 59 Greg Titus 2711 Hal Stevens 1207 Ron Zabrocki 491 Gary Lueck 154 Carla Jester 59 Dee Friesen 2704 Rosalie Rayburn 1160 Holly Evans 486 Steve Mahieu 148 Kevin Erickson 59 Max Garcia 2676 Dorothy Brethauer 1107 Samson Costales 476 Deborah Stolk 147 Elizabeth Gatica 56 Tom Snow 2249 Eric Russell 1092 Maurice Williams 438 Jeff Burns 141 Thomas Cantrell 50 !11 NMTS Membership Application and Renewal Form Make checks or money orders payable to: New Mexico Touring Society P. O. Box 1261 Albuquerque NM 87103-1261 or, apply and pay online at www.nmts.org New Member Renewal [ ] [ ] Membership Type: [ ] Individual ($20/yr) [ ] Family ($25/yr) Specify names below Name_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City___________________________State_____ZipCode________________E-mail address_________________________________ Phone:Home__________________________Cell______________________________Business_______________________________ All family members must live at the same address Family Member Name:_________________________________________________________________________________________ E-mail address________________________________________________________ Phone: Cell______________________________ Family Member Name:_________________________________________________________________________________________ E-mail address________________________________________________________ Phone: Cell______________________________ NOTE: Indicate with an * next to the item any information you DO NOT want to appear in the club directory. NMTS is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting safe recreational cycling and bicycle advocacy. Our membership includes road cyclists mountain bikers and tourists of all fitness and skill levels. Please print a waiver form http://www.nmts.org/Documents/membership_waiver.pdf Have everyone read and sign it and mail it in with your application. NMTS P. O. Box 1261 Albuquerque NM 87103-1261 Do you need to renew? Check your membership expiration date located above your name and address. November 2014
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