Great Lakes Courier

Rust Belt Battle of the Bikes: One Month Review

Shelli Snyder — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

The rules are simple
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The rules are simple: 1. Sign up at nationalbikechallenge.org. 2. Ride your bike. 3. Log your miles. 4. Win prizes and BEAT PITTSBURGH.

So why is it that we are so far behind?

There are many who think this is just fun and games. But it's really not. You know that, right? This is big folks. Big. I mean, we have national coverage on this Battle (go on, Google it. You will see!)…and right now? Pittsburgh is showing the nation that they are better than us at biking. That is unacceptable.

Second? We have a crown at stake. A crown! Rustbelt Welding is sponsoring this Battle and hooking us up with a fantastic work of art to call our own. However, right now? Pgh is going to be wearing that puppy if we don’t do something about it. Right. Now.

Let celebrate bronze, but then get back to work

Jacob VanSickle — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:42:10 EDT

Detroit Avenue
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As bicycling continues to grow in popularity across the country, there is a growing competition among city leaders to be known as the best city for bicycling. One benchmark in this competition is to be designated a Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB).

In May 2013, five years after receiving an honorable mention, the City of Cleveland has finally joined the ranks of 259 other communities across the country and now holds the distinction of being a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community.

We all know it is an exciting time to be on a bike in Cleveland, but there is still work to be done. Over the past two-years advocates have worked with the City of Cleveland to help pave the path for faster implementation through policies like the Complete and Green Streets Ordinance and better enforcement through the Bicycle Transportation Safety Ordinance, which requires motorists to give bicycles 3-feet when passing. While policies are helpful tools in forcing decision makers to think about biking, we still have a long way to go in terms of installation of on-the-ground bicycle facilities compared to many cities on the BFC list.

Learning what everyone else is so happy about

Jarrod Zickefoose — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

Author Jarrod Zickefoose with his 1989 Miyata 512.

On August 30, 2012, I rode my first Cleveland Critical Mass. Many people reading this were probably there. CCM is always, relative to the weather, well attended, but that one drew more than 700 cyclists.

On a whim the night before, I had decided to go. I had not been on a bike in any meaningful way since college, which was a long time ago, but in the garage, I still had my bike from school, a Trek 810 Sport mountain bike. The front derailleur didn’t work, the seat post was broken, and I only had access to four cogs.

In terms of comfort, that CCM was not the greatest time I have spent on a bike, but the experience was revelatory.

Six Days in Solitary, Not Confined

Alex Nosse — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:41:28 EDT

Self-supported touring means packing it all on your bike.
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Any experienced cyclist is well aware of the therapeutic benefits of a nice, long bike ride. The satisfying burn of lactic acid in your thighs; the beautiful, unexpected sights along the way; and the musical hum of rubber against pavement are just a few of the countless pleasures that are uncovered when you put your butt on a bike. It was these joys and all the others that I hoped to find in setting out on a solo bicycle from Durham, NC to Cleveland, OH this past March.

As a bike shop owner, my passion for bike touring is confined by a cruel irony—during the warmer months when touring is most pleasant (often referred to as “the cycling season”), the shop tends to be very busy, so I simply cannot find the time to ride my bike as much as I’d like to. For the last couple years, however, I’ve found a decent solution to this conundrum. Renato and I close the bike shop for a week or two in late winter and I go ride somewhere.

What is "Practicable"�?

Jim Sheehan — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

What is “practicable”?

Most people would agree that a government should not do things that endanger its citizens’ lives, or unduly restricts their freedom, or their ability to improve their own lives. It’s also generally accepted that societies, through their governments, have a responsibility to reasonably prohibit their citizens from infringing on others’ rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

One place where government has a clear role in protecting the safety and freedom of its citizens, and in regulating their behavior towards each other, is in the public commons. The simplest example of this is on our public roads. Everyone has a right to use the road to get wherever they need to go, as long as they don’t unreasonably infringe on others’ rights to do the same.

State Championship, Velo Kids, and Training Races energize Cleveland Velodrome in June

Michael Gill — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

June is a busy month for Ohio's velodrome racing scene, not only because the Cleveland Velodrome training race series is in high gear, and because the Velo Kids program for developing new riders age 12 to 18 gets underway, but because of two regional events on consecutive weekends: The Midwest Challenge (Friday and Saturday June 14 and 15) at the Major Taylor Velodrome in Indianapolis, Indiana; and the Ohio Elite and Masters State Track Championship Friday through Sunday, June 21 – 23, at the Cleveland Velodrome, in Slavic Village.

Rewarding Rides 2013. Washington D.C. to Lakewood, Ohio

Mohammed Farunia — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

Button worn by Mo and Gabe during the ride, honoring Mr. Vagi.
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Rewarding Rides is the creation of two friends: Mohammed 'Mo' Farunia and Gabriel 'Gabe' Williams. Each year Mo and Gabe will use cycling as a tool to raise money for a charity of their choosing; embark on a different cyclling tour with a varied destination, distance, and charity. Through the rides they promote healthy living and their motto, "Do something nice for someone, today and everyday."

Mo and Gabe's first tour took place in May of 2011. They cycled from Lakewood, Ohio to Athens, Ohio in 2 days, covering over 180 miles. During this first ride, the two were able to raise over $1,600 for St. Jude's Research Hospital.

On June 25 of 2012, Mo and Gabe rode from Lakewood, Ohio to Chicago Illinois and raised funds and awareness for Good Works Inc. of Athens, Ohio. The 5 day ride spanned a little over 400 miles, camping and meeting nice and interesting personalities along the way.

Becoming a Dirt Rag at the Dirt Fest

Erika Durham — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

Fat tires for stomping through the roots and through the mud.

People have been telling me for years now to try trail riding. I've heard over and over again how much I would love it...how much fun it would be...how they could just SEE me becoming obsessed.

Not that it's always been too easy to just jump on a mountain bike and find a trail around Cleveland, but I also never really made the effort to try. It wasn't for any particular reason, I simply just hadn't gotten around to it yet.

The Dirt Rag Dirt Fest changed ALL of that. It's a three day thrill ride on some of the most well manicured trails many riders say they've been on. Three days of riding bikes so far out of my price range it made my eyeballs spin. Three days of nonstop biking, beer drinking, eating, camping, and a ridiculous amount of fun.

April 2013 Critical Mass: Strength in Numbers

Michael Gill — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

Arrival in the Cleveland Flats at the Harbor Inn
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Three Hundred Thirty-Five riders set out from Cleveland's Public Square for the April, 2013 Critical Mass Ride.

That's April, folks. Clocks had been set forward for the season, so the ride proceeded in daylight, and the sky was indeed a beautiful robin's egg shade of blue in the twilight. But the temperature didn't climb out of the high forties, so the riders still had to bundle up a bit for comfort. This was not weather for shorts or T-shirts. And yet there were 335 riders. In April. In Cleveland. Which has us all wondering how it's going to go in August.

We wound our way around Downtown and out to the west on Detroit, looped around West Boulevard, Clifton, and Lake, and then proceeded back east on Detroit to our destination, the classic bit of Cleveland drinking life known as the Harbor Inn: A rugged looking old Flats joint that still has mechanical cash registers dishing out the change for your beers.

2013 Bike to Work Day Series Kicked Off in May

Jacob VanSickle — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

Bicycle commuters enjoy a break at the Bike Rack on the first Bike To Work Day of 2013.

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The 2013 Bike to Work Day series kicked off in May with over 450 people celebrating the joy of arriving to work by bike. On Friday, May 17th people on bikes were greeted at Energizer Stations and Bike to Work Day Parties where they were offered free coffee, breakfast,

Upcoming Bike To Work Days, Summer 2013

June 28

July 26

August 30

September 27

October 25

All these Bike To Work days offer coffee and pastries at Bike to Work Day Parties from 7 to 9:30 a.m. at the Downtown Cleveland Bike Rack.

massages, free bike tune-ups and much more.

Bicycling, Baseball, and Cleveland

Bob Polk — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

Group photo in front of League Park.
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Bob Polk of Bob's Bike Tours has been offering guided tours of Downtown Cleveland, Ohio City, and Tremont since 2011. He is now also the face of Cleveland Bicycle Advertising, providing an eco-friendly, fun, and personable alternative to ho-hum advertising.

Bob's passion for bicycling, baseball, and Cleveland lead him to start an Annual Ride for the Tribe. Bob said, "I was sitting in the bleachers at an Indians game in late September 2011, it was the 7th inning and, if I remember, we were on our fifth pitching change, which gave me plenty of time to daydream. I was thinking ahead to next Spring, and thought, how about a bicycle ride to the game! What a perfect way to kick-off the bicycling season." He thought, combining the three things he loved; riding, baseball, and Cleveland, this was a no-brainer. As they say, the rest is history.

Mountain Bike Racing Is On

Mark Gibbons — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

331 racers wanting the coveted hole shot in 2012.

Mountain Bike Racing Is On

It’s time to race your mountain bike in Northeast Ohio. Are you a traditional 26 inch wheel kind of rider with front or full suspension? Are you a 29er rider sitting high with your 100 or more millimeters of travel? Are you a trendy 27.5 (aka 650B) wheel rider? Maybe you are one of the single speed unicorn mountain bike riders. Well, here are some races for you.

Heights Free Wheelin' Wednesday Rides

Mary Dunbar — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

The Heights Bicycle Coalition will again host Wednesday evening rides that showcase the Heights and neighboring communities. These are social rides open to all cyclists of all ages. The rides often conclude at a local restaurant or pub for refreshment.

Free Wheelin' Wednesday rides, starting at 6:30 p.m. from the Coventry Peace Park in Cleveland Heights.

June 12, Little Free Libraries, ride to three Heights Library mini book houses providing free books in the Fairfax, Canterbury and Noble neighborhood, led by Sarah O’Keeffe.
June 26, Tour of Heights Community Gardens, led by Alice Stratton.
July 10, Forest Hill Park and neighborhood history and the Rockefeller family connection, led by Joy Henderson.
July 24, Cleveland Heights Pub Crawl, including The BottleHouse Brewery, Rockefeller’s Restaurant, Melt and Winking Lizard Tavern, led by Tom Ligman.
August 14, Wade Oval Potluck, ride to University Circle for a potluck picnic and Wade Oval Wednesday concert, with music by Otis & The Shoreway Saints Rock/Motown/British Mod, led by Lee Reis.
August 28, Democracy in Action: Civil Rights History of Cleveland Heights, led by Susie Kaeser and Joy Henderson.

Electric-Assisted Bicycles Give A Boost To Those Who Need It

Michael Gill — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:40:20 EDT

Dean Brondos at Fairview Cycle stocks a range of Izip electric-assisted bicycles
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To an active bicyclist, setting off on an electric-assisted bicycle feels almost entirely unlike cycling. The feeling of balance is there, as is the sense of one-ness with the neighborhood. But cyclists are accustomed to moving entirely under their own power, and for many – maybe even most of them – that's at the heart of cycling's appeal. Electric-assisted bicycles change that.

But Fairview Cycle proprietor Dean Brondos sees a specific role for them.

“A lot of these—most of them, in fact—are sold to people who would never otherwise ride a bicycle,” he says. “For example, to people who are in rehab. There was one family in particular – he liked to ride his bike from Westlake to meet his wife at lunch. But he had had hip surgery and was going through rehab. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to get home. He bought one of these and rode it for a while. He eventually worked his way back to riding a regular bike.”