It was a Monday. What more can I say? Back to work. Not much news, except that the M-I, yesterday, had a Sunday Editorial supporting the paving of city streets with bike lanes. It even acknowledged that, "While this effort has been described as about "transportation, not recreation," it's inevitable that if more people biked to work, we would become a healthier community, something sorely needed here." Amen! The people working on City Connections gets it, the M-I gets it, and with some luck and visibility, Owensboro can become a bike-freindly city, too.

It was another beautiful day, tying a record high of 80 degrees. I was able to bike in to work wearing shorts and a t-shirt and enjoyed the ride home in the warm weather.

Today's Mileage: 3.4 miles
2007 Year to Date Mileage: 37.0 miles

Spring is here!

What a beautiful weekend! Wonderful biking weather! Today I headed out to the Horse Fork Trail. It was about a 4 mile ride to make it to the trail head at J.R. Miller. Then it was a nice 2.5 mile ride to the end of the trail. There were quite a few people walking their dogs, jogging, and biking this morning. I had never been on this trail before. It meanders around Owensboro Country Club, along, the 60 East bypass, to the GE plant and ends at Yewell Heritage Park. There is parking and restrooms there and benches and water along the trail. One landmark to check out on my next ride ifs the Dairy Queen at the intersection of the Horse Fork Trail and New Hartford Road. They also have bike racks to lock up while getting a "Cool Treat".

Today's Mileage: 12.8 miles
2007 Year to Date Mileage: 33.6 miles

Yesterday's Messenger-Inquirer had an update on adding bikes lanes to Owensboro city streets. Earlier this week, City Commissioners took a bus tour to inspect many miles of the proposed 30-mile network of bike lanes. The city is expected to begin striping 5-foot-wide bike lanes in May. During weekdays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., vehicle parking will not be allowed on streets that have bike lanes. Parking on the street will be allowed on weekends and holidays.

Although Susan Fowler, Main Street Manger with the city's Community Development Department, stated that the bike lanes are not geared towards recreational bicyclists, but for people who use bicycles as alternative transportation, I am hopeful that more people will begin riding around the city and the Greenbelt park for work AND fun. Personally, I applaud people who use bikes as their primary transportation. I'm not even close to that, but am trying to commute by bike more often. Hopefully, the bikes lanes will just be a more visible prompt for people to see that bikes belong on the street and can be quite useful for short trips around town.

First Day of Spring! And what a beautiful day it was to bike commute to work. It was in the mid-50's when I went in this morning. There were 2 other bikes in the rack today. When I left to come home it was in the low 70's, but winds out of the south. All-in-all a wonderful day to bike, even if it was a bit windy.

Today's Mileage: 3.6 miles
2007 Year to Date Mileage: 20.8 miles

Got the new Trek 1200 SL out on the rode for a nice long ride this weekend. Took my normal route down Griffith Avenue to the West Trail of the Greenbelt. I continued on to Bon Harbor to see a friend. It was a beautiful day - about 15 degrees above normal.

This Weekend's Mileage: 12.1 miles
2007 Year to Date Mileage: 17.2 miles

Well, it's a new year and the weather is finally warming. That means its time for me to get back on the bike. You see I'm more of a fair weather commuter. I like it to be warm and dry in order for me to ride to work. today it was cool in the morning, about 40 degrees, but the ride home was wonderful - almost 70 degrees! I do believe that is important to do what we each can to reduce our consumption of oil and recycle whatever we can - paper, aluminum, steel, plastic, cardboard, etc. So, I try to do my part when the weather is nice by riding the bike into work 2 or 3 times per week. My goal is to get some exercise (I'm training for a sprint triathlon) and to help the environment and save money on gas. My commute is short - 1.5 miles each way. I could probably ride more and hopefully I will this year.

Here are some tips if you are interested in trying to commute by bike:

• Start Easy - Bike to work on an off-day to find the safest, most direct route. If you take a relaxed pace, biking is no more effort than walking. After a while you'll be able to speed up
  
• Plan ahead - If you have a long ride and will sweat, see if there is a shower you can use at work or a gym nearby. Others just use hand wipes at work to clean up.
• Dress for success - Many professionals bike to work. They either bring their clothes in on a day they drive, have a laundry service deliver to work, or carry their clothes in a backpack or panniers. Rolling clothes instead of folding reduces wrinkles.
  
• Have wheels, will bike - It is not necessary to spend thousands of dollars for a commuter bike. You can use a mountain bike or an old ten-speed. Just have it tuned about at your local bike shop (LBS).
• Road-side coverage for your bike - Have a plan in case you get a flat tire. Carry a spare tube, air pump, patch kit and tools, if you can. Or a cell phone to call a buddy to help.
  
• Be Safe - Always wear a helmet and a light if you will be leaving early in the morning or late at night, and be visible and predictable to cars on the road.
• Just ride - Most people live within 5 miles of their workplace. The freedom from traffic and parking, the stress reduction, the fitness factor, and saving gas money will make you a bike believer!!!

Today's Mileage: 5.1 miles
Year to Date Mileage: 5.1 miles
2006 Mileage: 164.5 miles

The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route was featured in articles today in the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer and the Louisville Courier-Journal. The trail travels through Owensboro on its way North, stretching from Moble Bay, AL to Ontario, Canada. The route is broken into 5 sections.

• Section 1: Mobile Bay, AL to Fulton, MS
• Section 2: Fulton, MS to Owensboro, KY
• Section 3: Owensboro, KY to Milford, OH
• Section 4: Milford, OH to Erie, PA
• Section 5: Erie, PA to Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada

Maps connect cyclists with Underground Railroad history

03/04/07

Associated Press

LOUISVILLE -- History can be healthy.

That's the message two groups hope to get across to veteran and beginner bicyclists with a set of maps intended to get riders closer to a painful chapter of American history.

The last three sections of the Underground Railroad Bicycle Route were recently released, completing a path from Owensboro through Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, and eventually ending in Canada.

The first sections trace the route from Mobile, Ala., across to Mississippi, through Tennessee, into the Land Between the Lakes in western Kentucky and north to Owensboro.

The Adventure Cycling Association and the Center for Minority Health at the University of Pittsburgh began a partnership on the route with the aim of encouraging blacks to seek out their cultural history and improve their health.

It's also seen as a way to erase cultural tensions and diversify the demographics of the bicycling set.

"As people experience this route, they are going through small towns and neighborhoods, meeting people whose stories will intrigue them and they'll be able to share their experiences," said Ginny Sullivan, new routes coordinator for ACA.

For more information on the route, you can go to the Adventure Cycling Association Web site, www.adv-cycling.org