tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52765252009-07-12T23:38:59.775-05:00Veteran bicycle tourist Roger Kramer discusses his current rides, bicycle safety and advocacy issues and other issues of the day.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.comBlogger82312538.50046-89.976545This is an XML content feed. It is intended to be viewed in a newsreader or syndicated to another site, subject to copyright and fair use.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-64693361312755896092009-07-12T22:17:00.003-05:002009-07-12T23:38:59.787-05:00

As of this weekend, cyclists now can ride on bike trails or designated on-road bicycle routes all the way from downtown St. Louis to Staunton, Ill. -- a one-way trip of 44.8 miles.On Friday and Saturday, Madison County Transit dedicated two sections of the MCT Quercus Grove Trail, a section between Staunton and Worden on Friday and a section between Worden and Hamel on Saturday. The two new

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-64097251917235962212009-07-10T19:00:00.003-05:002009-07-10T19:11:49.610-05:00

The Missouri Tourism Commission voted 7-0 today to maintain $1.5 million in state funding for the Tour of Missouri bicycle race.The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader reports many of the commissioners said the independent panel has an obligation to fund the Tour of Missouri this year, but future years would be subject to further debate.Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's Department of Economic Development has

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-25257602712197011812009-07-10T10:13:00.004-05:002009-07-10T10:37:23.599-05:00

Several Missouri news outlets have posted stories about the possibility that Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's administration may cut off $1.5 million in state funding for the Tour of Missouri bicycle race:St. Louis Post-DispatchKMOX-AM 1120 (Radio interview with Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, the major backer of the race in state government)Kansas City StarVeloNewsSpringfield (Mo.) News-LedgerMissouri Bicycle

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-84540638591398471682009-07-09T15:57:00.004-05:002009-07-09T19:33:57.981-05:00

UPDATED 7:30 P.M. CDT: Several sources – the Springfield News-Leader, the new Save the Tour of Missouri blog and The Associated Press – are reporting that Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is considering cutting $1.5 million in state funding for the 2009 Tour of Missouri.If the money is indeed cut, it would in effect kill the race for this year.Nixon's Department of Economic Development has proposed

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-753102101352867102009-07-09T11:37:00.005-05:002009-07-09T12:07:24.363-05:00

Two of the St. Louis area's largest group rides are coming up -- the Tour de Belleville on Friday night and the Tour de Donut on Saturday morning -- and it's time to offer these tips to make your ride a fun and safe experience.These same tips can be used for rides such as the St. Louis World Naked Bike Ride on Aug. 15 and the Moonlight Ramble on Aug. 29-30 in St. Louis, as well as other similar

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-84066823235452954222009-07-07T14:46:00.003-05:002009-07-07T21:13:52.958-05:00

In case you haven't noticed, American cyclists hold 5 of the top 17 spots -- and 4 of the top 12 sports -- after four stages of this year's Tour de France.Thanks to Astana's dominant performance in the Stage 4 Team Time Trial today, Lance Armstrong is virtually tied for the overall lead, just two-tenths of a second off yellow jersey wearer Fabian Cancellara.Astana teammate Levi Leipheimer is

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-55705678520688533992009-07-02T13:40:00.003-05:002009-07-02T14:05:49.701-05:00

There's no doubt that the folks over at Versus are absolutely thrilled that Lance Armstrong is back in the Tour de France. There no doubt Armstrong's presence should boost ratings for the cable TV channel, and it also helps there will be six other Americans in the race.The question, of course, is how well will Armstrong do. Is he capable of winning after spending three years away from the world's

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-49860884766830702702009-06-25T21:13:00.002-05:002009-06-25T21:34:03.866-05:00

Swiss cyclist Dani Wyss has won the 2009 Race Across America men's under-50 solo division. Wyss arrived in Annapolis, Md., at 9:25 p.m. today, completing 3,021.3 miles of cycling in 8 days, 5 hours and 45 minutes. His average speed was 15.29 mph.Going into the final day, Wyss had been embroiled in a duel with defending champ Jure Robic. However, the 60 minutes of penalties Robic has accumulated

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-11104608351154241702009-06-25T09:57:00.002-05:002009-06-25T10:29:05.986-05:00

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that a 65-year-old man who was riding his bicycle from California to Washington, D.C., to protest government bailouts was killed Sunday by a suspected drunken driver in a hit-and-run crash on U.S. 50 near Carlyle, Ill.Jim Gafney left his home in Chula Vista, Calif., on April 27 for his "Mad As Hell Bike Ride Across U.S." with the goal of hand-delivering a

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-2389468182699207182009-06-25T00:27:00.003-05:002009-06-25T00:59:32.869-05:00

Four-time Race Across America winner Jure Robic is looking rather vulnerable going into what likely is the final day of racing for the two leaders in the men's under-50 division.Robic arrived in in Grafton, W.Va., at midnight EDT Wednesday, but Dani Wyss arrived in Grafton just five minutes later.Given that Robic already has amassed an hour in penalties -- two 15-minute penalties and one 30-

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-73834996874772484402009-06-22T18:40:00.003-05:002009-06-22T18:51:57.884-05:00

Four-time Race Across America champion Jure Robic once again led the long, lonely parade of ultramarathon cyclists into the St. Louis metropolitan area.Robic, a solider in the Slovenian army, arrived in Washington, Mo., at 5:59 p.m. CDT today and is making his way to the Mississippi River. He's expected to arrive at the river just across from Alton, Ill., about 10:30 p.m. and Greenville, Ill.,

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-23096024832829274882009-06-22T13:30:00.000-05:002009-06-22T13:37:16.654-05:00

UPDATED: If you're in the St. Louis area and want to catch a glimpse of the two leaders of the men's division of the Race Across America, today's probably the day.Four-time champion Jure Robic made it to Jefferson City, Mo., at 12:50 p.m. CDT today, and Dani Wyss arrived in Camdenton, Mo., at 11:15 a.m. today.If they continue at their current pace, Robic will arrive in Washington, Mo., about 5:30

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-58214018498498376692009-06-20T19:50:00.003-05:002009-06-20T20:03:54.073-05:00

If you're looking for some hot Father's Day bicycle racing, come out tomorrow to the Tour de WingHaven in O'Fallon, Mo.The Tour de WingHaven is sanctioned by USA Cycling as a National Racing Calendar event, meaning top teams such as Jelly Belly, Team Type 1, and Colavita-Sutter Home will be there. Also slated to be there is 2005 U.S. pro champion Chris Wherry.Action begins at 8 a.m. with the Cat

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-13385386890010667082009-06-18T12:00:00.002-05:002009-06-18T12:25:58.068-05:00

After nearly a day of competition in the men's under-50 solo division of the Race Across America, it should come as no surprise that Jure Robic is in the lead. Robic already has a 46-minute lead over Christoph Stoffer after 397.6 miles of the the 3,021.3-mile race from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md.Robic and Stoffer were the only two men's under-50 solo competitors to make it to Prescott,

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-41808792919655627662009-06-18T11:11:00.002-05:002009-06-18T11:56:40.872-05:00

It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to say stupid things when you're hiding behind the cloak on anonymity.The latest example of this is in the Boulder, Colo., area. An anonymously written flier is calling upon residents of rural mountain communities in Boulder County to stage a blockade of the return leg of the Sunrise Century ride on July 25. Here's what the flier says, according to the

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-17494600240554709492009-06-17T10:41:00.005-05:002009-06-17T10:50:24.909-05:00

Fresh off its designation as a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists, Columbia, Mo., has adopted an ordinance that makes harassment of bicyclists — including throwing objects, verbal assault and other offenses — a misdemeanor offense punishable by a $1,000 fine or one year of jail time.On Monday, the Columbia City Council approved the new ordinance

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-56138496200787845072009-06-13T02:21:00.003-05:002009-06-13T12:08:40.805-05:00

Here's a couple of notes of interest about the Madison County Transit network of bicycle trails:Schoolhouse Trail closure: Fortunately, I found out about this one before I took off riding on the MCT Schoolhouse Trail on Friday afternoon. A segment of the MCT Schoolhouse Trail was closed at Lakeview Acres Road in Maryville on Friday, and it will be closed for subsequent days in coming days. The

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-23617221384883395302009-06-11T10:14:00.002-05:002009-06-11T10:25:32.508-05:00

It looks like a movie about Lance Armstrong and his amazing comeback from cancer is in the works.The Hollywood Reporter's Risky Biz Blog reports Gary Ross, who wrote and directed multiple-Oscar nominee “Seabiscuit,” has been hired to pen the Armstrong script. Shooting could begin as early as next year.The blog says the movie the pic is based on Armstrong’s first book, the 2000 tome he wrote with

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-29128687631418377522009-06-08T12:06:00.003-05:002009-06-08T12:38:56.001-05:00

I'm all supportive of the big efforts to promote bicycling such as Bike to Work Day, but I'm also supportive of the small efforts as well.The ITS Trail Committee -- based in Staunton, Ill., the home of the original Tour de Donut bicycle race -- is starting an effort called Second Saturday Tour.In a press release distributed by ITS Executive Director Jarid Ott, the group says the purpose of the

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-62559774229507162632009-06-06T12:11:00.004-05:002009-06-06T12:47:00.629-05:00

The Soulard Art Market and Contemporary Gallery is calling for submissions to “Spoked!” a juried exhibition of local artists. Exhibition runs from Sept., 4 through October 2. S.A.M. is looking to represent a select group of artists in our Contemporary Art Gallery, to exhibit alongside our 15 resident artists.Here's what the gallery has to say about the event: "In conjunction with the Tour of

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-87919880750975827192009-06-06T11:54:00.002-05:002009-06-06T12:08:28.778-05:00

Very early in my journalism career, I learned the importance of the adage "free food is good food."This Sunday, you can get free food and a free bicycle ride!The St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation, in partnership with the Gateway Council of Hostelling International, will be putting on the Bike the Bridges ride. The ride begins at 8:30 a.m. at the top level of the Gateway Arch Parking Garage in

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-17947578326035710042009-06-03T12:44:00.002-05:002009-06-03T12:56:39.930-05:00

We're about two weeks away from the start of the 2009 Race Across America, and once again the route will be skirting the western and northern parts of the St. Louis metropolitan area.Female racers and men 60+ will begin their trek Tuesday, June 16, the men solo racers begin June 17, and the team begin their competition June 20. All the races begin in Oceanside, Calif., and will end in Annapolis,

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-67022281692340550862009-06-03T11:12:00.003-05:002009-06-03T11:31:51.803-05:00

Officials in Portage des Sioux, Mo., are mulling an offshoot of the Katy Trail that would connect the Mississippi River community with the 225-plus mile trail.The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the town's leaders are planning a meeting for 7 p.m. Monday at the Portage des Sioux City Hall to gauge reaction to the trail, which would take cyclists to the town's nature area that was created

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-20172476368705850332009-05-20T12:08:00.003-05:002009-05-20T13:07:16.512-05:00

Few American highways have the lure of historic Route 66 -- the Mother Road -- and two Midwestern organizations are planning multiday rides this year on portions of the highway.The League of Illinois Bicyclists will be putting on the 2009 Route 66 Trail Ride on Aug. 29 to Sept. 3 from St. Louis to Chicago. LIB is billing the ride as is a loosely-organized, (generally) self-supported bicycle tour

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5276525.post-88020400399754852342009-05-20T11:47:00.003-05:002009-05-20T12:01:32.143-05:00

Tonight is the Ride of Silence, a slow-paced bike ride in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.The Ride of Silence will take place at 7 p.m. at numerous locations nationwide, and St. Louis is no exception. The St. Louis edition of the ride begins at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park and is slated to go 10 to 12 miles, according to the Ride of

Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06299633199465525149noreply@blogger.com0