Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Va-Jay Jay or your Puddy Pat


Newbies

Many of you who have not yet bought bike pants - I need to explain something to you. The bike pants will NOT make an uncomfortable seat comfortable. They will not fix a poorly placed seat. All the bike pants do is to help protect the soft tissue skin of your Va "Jay Jay" or Puddy Pat. Whatever we call our gentle area, bike pants keep it from getting torn up by underwear seams.

A good bike pad is a seamless area that will not bunch up. Never wear underwear with the bike pants.

Again I recommend you go to Hot Foot Cycles and try on some pants so you have an idea about your size.

Helping a newbie

Chicklets

I have had many people ask me how I can stand riding with newbie ladies going slow? How do you have the patience, Libby? How can you take so much time out of your day and spend it waiting around for newbies? I would go nuts most say.

You would only ask these questions if you have not yet had the chance to introduce a newbie to biking. I want all of you chicks to know and understand, YOU CAN NEVER bike too slow for me.

On the Schuylkill Trail today, I could have been crawling on my hands and knees and would still have enjoyed this picture perfect day. Margie and Eileen and Connie and I had the best time ever.

I have another SRT ride up for Sunday April 19, if you are new and afraid of the roads, COME TO THIS ride. The trail is really the best place to start. No cars and no busy intersections.

SO get off of your fannies and come bike.

Lucky 4

Three chicks and I had the good fortune of having today free, no work, we are retired. Connie, Eileen and Margie and I had the absolute best time today. We did the Phoenixville Extension of the Schuylkill River Trail. It is 14 miles round trip and a great ride to help newbies learn to ride.

Connie and I continued to ride and ended up doing 34 miles. What a day and what joy to help introduce new ladies to the joy of riding. But a great great great ride. Pics below are of the clinic and a few of today's ride.

Monday, March 30, 2009

weather updates


Chicklets

Always check blog 1 hour prior to ride to see if I am leading it. Weather calls are always iffy and you have to be flexible. This Saturday is right now forecasted to be beautiful but you never know. As a rule, I do not bike on wet roads with puddles.

CUE SHEET FOR Saturday April 4

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pbW0Z11CjMtiCvtbjdsmqWg&hl=en

I publish my cue sheets to a website via google documents, follow above link, PRINT the cue and bring it on Saturday. When you hit PRINT, a window will open and it will say open with...Adobe

click that option and your computer will print the document,

I just did it and I can hear my printer upstairs running.


Hot Foot has cue sheet holders so bring some cash in your bike bag and buy one for the cue sheet.

fabulous bike clinic and party

For those who could not attend, we had one fine bike clinic, not sure how many ladies came as I was too busy to count, but it was over 20 ladies and all learned tons.

I got no pics as I did not have a chance since helping so many ladies change tires and clean bikes was all consuming. Lots of new faces and lots of motivated bikers.

The dinner was beyond fun, everyone had a blast and got a chance to talk bikes with other ladies for over 2 hours.

Victor of Hot Foot gave a great talk on bike fit. SOOOOO helpful. Hope to see lots of chicks out for Saturday's ride. Already have some ladies coming to the Tues 11 am SRT ride.

Get the bike out and come bike.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Rides for week of March 30

Tuesday, March 31 - 11 am at Betzwood, 25 or so miles, I leave at 11 am sharp, so if you get there late, I will be gone on the trail.

Saturday April 4 9:30 am First chick ride on Saturday for all riders. Come prepared, water bottles and snacks and AIR in your tires, for newbies and oldies, 14 miles, come learn how to ride on the road, practice shifting your gears BEFORE this ride.

check tire edge for optimal pressure

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pbW0Z11CjMtiCvtbjdsmqWg&hl=en

click link above for cue sheet

REQUIRED VIEWING FOR ALL CHICKS

all chicks are required to watch this video, very very helpful and very very good,

you must be constantly thinking when on your bike, watch video for safety tips


this is the coolest

New York City already has a bike map site that will plot a bike route for you throughout the city of New York. Check it out. Very cool. This is what Google Maps should be doing. Follow link in post below to vote on Google Maps for bike maps.

suggest bike maps for Google Maps


found this on the Net, click on the Send Feedback link and scroll down to the add bike trails and hit "suggest it"



Suggest a Feature for Google Maps!

March 20, 2009 By: Peter Smith Category: Advocacy

The Google Maps Help section has a ‘Send Feedback‘ link that allows you to vote for new features you want to see on Google Maps. One of them is called ‘Add bike trail information and biking directions’. Please feel free to head on over the click the ‘Suggest’ button next to this feature.

To navigate there from Google Maps, click the Help link in the top-right, then ‘Send Feedback’ on the right.

The ideal would be to vote for (’Suggest’) just the ‘biking directions’ feature — that would probably help make it stand out a bit better — but feel free to vote for other features you really really really want, too. :)

If you’re feeling particularly frisky, you can head over to the Google Maps Help Group and ‘Post a question’ to the ‘Features Requests / Suggestions‘ Google Maps Group. Any details you add about why you want this feature and how you would use it are a great way to show support for this feature — it really helps the engineers and product managers at Google know what you want. So, you’re answering the question, “If Google Maps adds bicycle directions today, how will I use them tomorrow to get where I need to go? How will they help make me safer, my life better, etc.?”

I know I’ve posted in those groups before, but I’m going to try to get back in again with a good example. For whatever reason, I can’t seem to get a good mental map of San Francisco in my head, so I’m constantly heading to the San Francisco Bike Map hanging on my wall to figure out how to get somewhere. It usually includes leaning over furniture and zooming my face into the wall, trying to get a close-up of street names and things like that.

rain rain go away

no ride, too wet, too dangerous on wet roads, see you all at the clinic tomorrow,

no ride today, saturday march 28

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Get Road ID

Pimp your bike



about the same price as a GPS and it has a live rear view mirror! click here for info,

has all the features of a GPS plus a very cool ability to show you what is behind you

the ultimate bell


Biking should be fun

March 25th, 2009

Ding, Ding

I’m surprised by the number of bicyclists I see who don’t have bells on their bikes. I suppose some might view them as childish and uncool, but I find them to be an important safety item and I think of them as the goodwill ambassadors of the bike trail.

Horns are for cars
I tried one of those super-loud air horns made for bicycles. I found it largely ineffective for getting the attention of motorists, but far too loud for use on multi-use paths and bike lanes. Every time I used the horn on a path to get someone’s attention, they practically leapt off the trail they were startled so badly. Needless to say, this is not an effective way to develop good relations between bicyclists and other trail users.

Approaching others carefully and politely builds goodwill and presents a positive image of bicyclists and bicycling, something we should all be trying to do.

Yelling is…well…yelling
The old “on your left” method for announcing your approach is OK among seasoned bicyclists because they’re accustomed to hearing it, but casual bicyclists and pedestrians have no idea what it means, particularly when it’s yelled at them from behind. Like the horn, more often than not it startles other trail users and reinforces the stereotype that bicyclists are rude and unsafe.

The friendly bell
Bells, if used properly, signal your presence to other non-motorized road and trail users in a gentle, polite manner. I think this is very important.

I usually ring my bell a couple of times from a fair distance to give others an opportunity to figure out where the sound is coming from, then, if they don’t respond, I slow and give a couple of more rings as I get closer. This works nearly 100% of the time and I rarely startle anyone.

Consider the friendly bell if you don’t already use one. Approaching others carefully and politely builds goodwill and presents a positive image of bicyclists and bicycling, something we should all be trying to do.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Biking on Copenhagen's Green Wave


The Green Wave in Copenhagen from Colville Andersen on Vimeo.

Ride up for Saturday morning March 28

Meet at 930 am at Hot Foot Lot, WEATHER DEPENDENT check blog Saturday morning after 8am.

This ride is open to anyone who wants to ride, newbie or oldie, does not matter to me. We will do 14 miles or more depending on the group.

BUT, you cannot ride unless you come with 2 water bottles filled with water or gatorade and some snacks. YOU do not need Power bars, any sugary substance works, cheap breakfast bars are fine, but bring food.

Bring 2x what you think you will need.

Wear a helmet and have a spare tube for your bike. I have a pump and CO2 for inflation. Be there by 9:20 am if you need to get bike off of car etc. We leave at 930 am sharp. DO not come flying into the parking at 9:29 and make everyone wait for you.

Go buy a bike bag as well to carry your stuff. If you do not want to buy a bike bag and have pockets that works as well.

BUT you must come prepared and be on time. If you want to ride fast, join another group, this ride is open to all and requires patience if you are a fast rider. ALL are welcome, any level. This is an opportunity to help other ladies get into cycling.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

my clothes came


ladies, i posted this post before, my bike clothes came and the stuff is awesome. Considering the most I spent on a top was $29, I got two for just $14, both tops and shorts look very good.

Suggest you try this site first, order somethings and see if they fit, you can always return them.



I found a great site for bike clothing that is currently running some spectacular close out sales. The company is Voler, click here for website. The top above is selling for $14. Not all tops are available in all sizes. This company's jerseys run true to size and have NO elastic on the bottoms. This is the same company WCCC used to use for our club jerseys. For some unknown reason, WCCC switched to some other company that most of the chicks are not happy with.

I ordered several jerseys and 2 pairs of shorts, again, all on closeout or sale priced. If new to cycling and looking for a bargain, suggest you take a look at the site.

I get no money for saying this!!

Bike Clinic and Bike Fit talk and dinner

March 29

2:45 -4 for Newbies

4:00- 5:00 for oldies and newbies

5-6 for Bike Fit talk for everyone

6-7 potluck dinner for everyone

If you are reading this and this is the first time you have heard of the clinic and dinner, email me at libby.maxim@gmail.com

ALL ARE WELCOME, just email me and let me know.

Also if reading this and you have not gotten any emails about the clinic, email me.


If you are new and have no bike, do not go out and buy one for the clinic. Wait till you hear the bike fit talk.

If you want to learn to change a tire, bring tire levers, I recommend the ones below. Pedros is the brand. Also buy a spare bike tube for your bike and bring it. BRING BIKE as well.


This is a good chain lube and I recommend it, easy to find in most bike stores. Bring some old tshirts or rags to clean bike. DO not bring thick towels to clean bike. Flat rags are best.

how to prevent dropping your chain


We have all dropped our chain while riding, it happens. One way to help avoid this problem is to plan your gear changes more carefully. Let's assume you are in the FLAT TERRAIN gear. If you see a hill approaching, take your right hand and click your derailleur so that your chain moves down the chain rings in back if it is not already there.

Imagine this chain moving away from the bike. This puts your chain on the small rings in back. Not the smallest but the next from the bottom.

As you approach the hill, continue pedaling until it is apparent you need to drop the front chain to a smaller ring. DO this FIRST before moving the back chain.

As the hill gets steeper, you can now easily move your back chain up the rings to the biggest ring for the easiest gear.

This keeps the strain on your chain to a minimum and keeps that front chain from falling off the rings.

If you move the back chain all the way up through the rings first, and then try and drop the front chain, this is when the chain drops.

Avoid this by THINKING before shifting. I know this sounds complicated but it is not.

Try it in your neighborhood, practice downshifting the back chain, then dropping the front chain then raising the back chain all the way up through the rings.

DO this several times so it becomes automatic.

let's move past the 19th Century

How the Bicycle Emancipated Women
by the mag - August 18, 2008 - 9:10 AM

On this date in 1920, Congress ratified the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote. To mark the occasion, we’re re-running Chris Connolly’s piece on the role of the bicycle in the women’s movement.
bicycle.jpgSusan B. Anthony once said, “I think [bicycling] has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.” A woman on a bicycle, the equal rights champion observed, presents “the picture of free and untrammeled womanhood.”

Susan and her fellow 19th-century women had been severely trammeled their entire lives. Forget the glass ceiling; women in those days were trapped under the glass floor. Battles like “equal pay for equal work” were decades away. The Victorian woman’s cause was more along the lines of, “We’d like to leave the house, sometimes … please … if it isn’t too much trouble.”

The fashion for women at that time tended toward helplessness and frailty. Consider the image of a Victorian lady: She’s sickly and pale, relies on men for everything, and occasionally peeks out from behind an ornamental fan (usually before touching her wrist to her forehead and fainting). The frailty of a “lady” was such that preventing females from studying, working, voting and doing much of anything at all seemed a rational measure.

Obviously, there must have been some inclination that at least part of this frailty was socially projected. A gentleman taking a trip to the market must have come across dozens of hardworking women from the lower classes. In fact, he may have employed one such woman to support the proper ladies at his home while they gossiped, blushed and passed out. But men didn’t see those hardworking females as proper ladies. A proper lady was seen as weak, defenseless and entirely dependent on men.

Seven Pounds of Underwear
Clearly, women haven’t undergone any fundamental alterations of their physiological makeup in the last hundred years, so what allows them to live the robust, fainting-free lifestyles they do today?

Foremost, the Victorian lady rarely exercised or engaged in physical activity, which left her poorly conditioned. Secondly, it was fashionable to be frail. Just as American women in the 1950s were expected to become June Cleaver and young girls today aspire to Gwen Stefani-like independence, the Victorian woman was expected to adopt certain behaviors.

The third contributing factor to the frailty of the Victorian lady was clothing. Their garments were typically thick, exaggerating the female form while concealing the flesh. Curves were accentuated by tightly laced corsets, which, when coupled with long and heavy underskirts, greatly limited women’s ability to move or even breathe. (Hence much of the fainting.)

This attire was not only intended to restrict women physically, but morally, too. In a society where the accidental exposure of an ankle took on the pornographic stature of a lap dance, such dress was required to protect a lady’s virtue. In fact, the term “loose” originated to describe a woman who went uncorseted, while “strait-laced” women obeyed societal dictates.

Eventually, some women began to take a stand, and, in 1888, a letter published by The Rational Dress Society—a group of women who argued for reasonable clothing—stated, “the maximum weight of under-clothing (without shoes) approved by The Rational Dress Society, does not exceed seven pounds.”

Seven pounds of underwear? An improvement? That’s more than any jog bra in the world. Clearly, women needed to change their underwear. And that’s where the bicycle came in.

Bloomers: A Gateway Garment?

The Gateway Garment
By the late 1880s, the bicycle’s popularity really took off. For instance, in 1880, a group of early cycling advocates called the League of American Wheelmen had a membership of 40; by 1898, its ranks had bloated to nearly 200,000. Cycling was so popular that in 1896 The New York Journal of Commerce estimated bicycling was costing theaters, restaurants and other businesses over 100 million dollars per year. Considering the way the bicycle was exploding in popularity, it was only natural that women should get in on the act.

victorian-horse.jpgBefore bicycles came along, the horse was the best means of individual travel. Of course, women’s access to horses was limited. Horses were dangerous and difficult to control; conventional medical wisdom suggested that riding them could damage a woman’s genitals. Women were supposed to ride sidesaddle, with both legs hanging off one side. In that unnatural position, women were unable to ride for long distances, reinforcing the idea that they shouldn’t be riding at all.

Bicycles, by comparison, were easy to manipulate. There was no reason a woman couldn’t get on a bike and sedately pedal farther from her home than she’d ever been before. No reason, that is, other than her cumbersome attire and the convention that if she did so, she’d either have her virtue corrupted or die of exhaustion.

In order for women to take part in the new craze without becoming entangled in the bike’s chain, they needed to wear shorter skirts or even (gasp!) bifurcated garments called bloomers. It was also necessary that they leave the house and exert themselves physically—all activities previously considered unladylike.

The severity of the outcry against women participating in these activities is proof of their effectiveness. The brave women who donned rational dress were criticized, denied access to public places and widely mocked in the media. A satirical poem in one U.S. paper, for instance, suggested bloomers were a sort of “gateway garment,” the wearers of which might go on to participate in such dastardly pursuits as business or reading.

Female cyclists were often accosted verbally and physically as they rode. Emma Eades, one of the first women to ride a bike in London, was attacked with bricks and stones. Men and women alike demanded that she go home where she belonged and behave properly.

Many people feared that the unprecedented mobility the bicycle allowed women would corrupt them morally. In fact, a business called The Cyclist’s Chaperon Association provided “gentlewomen of good social position to conduct ladies on bicycle excursions and tours.” These gentlewomen had to satisfy strict criteria to qualify as guardians of virtue. They were married ladies, widows or unmarried ladies over 30. They needed three personal references, two from ladies of unquestionable social position, and another from a clergyman of the church—all this to protect women from becoming morally debased by their bikes.

Even in the face of this overwhelming social condemnation, cycling groups persevered and eventually wrought fundamental changes in society’s view. Women did get out on their bikes and, to everyone’s surprise, didn’t faint or commit egregious moral atrocities. In fact, they discovered what everyone who rides a bike learns: It makes you more fit, more relaxed, and more aware. Women gained increased self-sufficiency, better physical conditioning, and, as a bonus, won some freedom from their restrictive clothing and its attendant social bonds.

The Vehicle of Women’s Lib
The 1900 United States Census Report, released more than 20 years after the introduction of the bicycle, said, “Few articles ever used by man have created so great a revolution in social conditions as the bicycle.” For women, this held especially true.

jacquie.jpgThe bicycle continues to endear itself to free thinkers. Even today, it’s the centerpiece of many reform movements. Jacquie Phelan (pictured), for instance, is a feminist mountain biker who founded WOMBATS, the Women’s Mountain Bike and Tea Society. A three-time world champion voted one of the 10 best mountain bikers of all time, Phelan is a tireless warrior in the fight for equality. She advocates two prices for bikes based on the 59 cents women make to every dollar earned by a man. (She was inspired to take action when she finished sixth in a race and was mistakenly given the $400 dollar men’s prize instead of the $42 allotted to the female finisher.)

As the bicycle continues to lend itself to causes of all kinds, it is important to remember its first battle. Liberating is a word easily associated with cycling. Flying down a tree-lined road with the wind in your face is certainly a liberating experience, but for early female cyclists, a simple bike ride was liberating in a much more significant way.

This article originally appeared in mental_floss magazine, available wherever brilliant (or lots of) magazines are sold.

Monday, March 23, 2009

YOU must carry food and drink for bike rides


Ladies,

Many ladies have a hard time eating and drinking on bike rides terrified of the calories. This is just plain stupid. YOU must carry good food and drinks while riding. We had a chick yesterday bonk on just a 10 mile ride. SO ride length is not the determining factor. Your calorie needs ARE.

Picture above is what my son carried on a 63 miles ride. The pic above does NOT include his beverages. In order to bike, you must eat and drink along the way. Dieting during a ride is again, just plain stupid.

You bike to have fun, not to lose weight. Things to carry on bike.

1. Gatorade or whatever beverage you like in your water bottles. Carry TWO bottles of a good drink.

2. Two to FOUR Power Bars or equivalent.

3. Stick some bananas in your jersey pockets and GET some bike bags for your bike. Highly recommend these.

http://www.rei.com/product/780453

I use this bag and like it as it has lots of room and attaches to the seat well. Easy to get it off, simply twist and the bag comes off while the bag holder stays in place.




http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23200&subcategory_ID=2310

I also use this bag. It is handy for your snacks, phone, camera and things you want to grab easily.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

shifting gears


We have had two great newbie rides so far this season. Lots of new faces and chicks on brand new bikes. But we do have ONE problem that I want to address.

Shifting Gears 101

1. Before coming on a ride, YOU MUST take your bike out in your neighbor and practice shifting gears.

2. Most women's bikes have 3 chain rings up front. Don't panic if your bike only has two.

3. Front chain rings are controlled with LEFT HAND. The biggger the ring up front, the harder it is to pedal

4. The back chain rings range from 7-10 rings. Really not sure.



5. TO move chain on back chain rings use RIGHT HAND.

Hill climbing gear is small ring up front and large ring in the back.

Flat terrain gear is large ring up front and middle or lower chain ring in back.

PLEASE go out and practice using ALL of your gears, as it is very hard for me to try and tell you how to shift on busy roads.

To move the chain up to the big ring up front takes a GOOD push on the lever. DO IT. And practice doing it.

When Chicks ride, we use the flat terrain gear a lot and in order to not fall behind, you must get comfortable with riding in the flat terrain gear.

world bike map


View Larger Map


Click on View Larger Map, look on left column, look at the lower part and click on a location, take your cursor and move the map around, enjoy some scenes of nifty bike lanes and bike friendly communities.
There are 3 in the USA and the others are in Europe.

will get pics today and post

got pics from last big group ride and will get pics today and post on the blog in a slideshow, supposed to hit 60, remember this ride has two parts, you can do 24 miles or just 13, depending on what you choose.

Either meet at my house at 12:45 or at Cheyney U at 1:30

hope to see lots of you

Saturday, March 21, 2009

you might be a bike weenie if....

You hear someone had a crash and your first question is "How's the bike?"

You have stopped even trying to explain to your husband why you need two bikes...you just go buy another one and figure it will all work out in the divorce settlement.

You buy your crutches instead of renting.

You convert your car's brake & gas pedals to clipless.

You see nothing wrong with discussing the connection between hydration and urine color.

You refuse to buy a couch because that patch of wallspace is taken up by the bike.

You have more money invested in your bike clothes than in the rest of your combined wardrobe.

Biker chick means black spandex, not leather, and a Marinoni, not a Harley.

You see a fit, tanned, Lycra-clad young woman ride by, and the first thing you check out is her bicycle.

Despite all that winter weight you put on, you'll skim weight by buying titanium components

You use wax on your chain, but not on your car.

Your bike bag consists of an outdated Power Bar, one tire lever, a questionable patch kit, a run-over spoke wrench, an all-in-one, a rusty allen wrench, change with god knows what stuck on it, a couple of tubes without a clue which one has a hole, and that peanut butter sandwich you swore you brought on the ride two weeks ago, all tucked into a bag the size of your fist.

Your first course when you eat out is a large banana split.

You yell "On Your Left!" when passing another car.

You yell "Hole!" when you see a pothole while driving your car.

Your bike has more miles on its computer then your car's odometer.

You wear your riding gloves when driving your car.

You wear your bike shorts swimming.

Your bikes are worth more than your car.

You buy a mini-van and immediately remove the rear seats to allow your bike(s) to fit .

You have more bike jerseys than dress shirts.

You take your bike along when you shop for a car - just to make sure the bike will fit inside. (Tom Weaver)

You use the Yakima or Thule Fit catalog to pick your next new car instead of Consumer Reports.

You start yelling at cars to "hold your line."

You view crashes as an opportunity to upgrade components.

You clean your bike(s) more often then your car.

You install bike mounts in the back of your van or pickup truck.

You're on the Board of Directors for a Bike Club.

You spend weeks during the summer spraying arrows on the sides of roads.

You and your significant other have and wear identical riding clothes.

You mount a $600 cap, on a $1,000 pickup truck, so your $3,000 bike doesn't get wet.

You put your bike in your car and the value of the total package increases by a factor of 4 (or better).

You can't seem to get to work by 8:30 AM, even for important meetings, but you don't have any problems at all meeting your buddies at 5:30 AM for a hammerfest.

You can tell your wife, with a straight face that it's to hot to mow the lawn and then bike off for a century.

You regard inter-gender discussion of your genital pain/size/shape/utility as normal.

Your New Years resolution is to put more miles on your bike than your car, and you do it.

Your kids bring a rear derailleur to "Show & Tell".

Your car sits outside your garage because your garage is full of bikes and cycling gear.

You know your Bike Nashbar customer number by heart.

There is no time like the present, for postponing what you ought to be doing, and go bicycling instead...

by Barb Bergin

How NOT to get killed

PA Safe Passing Law Campaign State Representative Rob Miller (R-York) is planning to introduce a safe passing law in that would require motorists to pass cyclists within 4 feet and protect cyclists from motorists turning right into their path. This would be the second time that Rep. Miller has pursued these changes to the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. The potential bill has twelve co-sponsors to date, but needs more. So far, Babette Josephs is the only Democrat and Philadelphia regional Representative who has pledged to co-sponsor. PA Bikes and Walks , a new online network of PA bicycle advocates, is asking all bicyclists to please call your Representative and ask that they co-sponsor Representative Miller's Safe Passage bill.

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NOW

Consider joining the West Chester Cycling Club


The West Chester Cycling Club is one of the largest clubs in our area. Joining makes you a member of a great group of cyclists and you get a great bike jersey. Some members and some of our sponsors are pictured above.

To join the WCCC, you need to go to the main webpage. You must make an account. Once this is done, hit the word SHOP. There you can buy a membership and pick out a jersey. The jerseys tend to run small, order one size up unless you are a tiny teeny person.

get active politically if not active biking





Sign the Petition to support completing the Schuylkill River Trail






There was a large meeting in Center City last night about completing the missing portions of the Schuylkill River Trail. If you follow the link above, you can download the Power Point presentation, and view the map of the portions that need to be finished. It looks like the portion of the SRT in Manyunk are being looked at. Right now we have to exit the trail and bike through Manyunk which many folks do not like.

ACT NOW

Contact Your Governor
Tell your Governor to Build Bicycle and Pedestrian facilities with Economic Recovery Funding

Take Action!


Congress set aside funding for the transportation enhancement program, which funds bicycle and pedestrian projects. However, they also gave states a time limit. States must identify which projects they want to fund, and to obligate the funding to those projects.
If states do not do so, they will have to give back the money.
CALL or WRITE your Governor now to ensure that important bicycle and pedestrian projects get built, and the funding is not wasted.
On Monday, March 2, 2009, America Bikes sent each of the Governors a letter requesting they obligate their transportation enhancement funding in a timely manner. Now we need you to follow up:
CALL your Governor now to ensure that important bicycle and pedestrian projects get built, and the funding is not wasted.

Contact the Governor’s Office

Governor Edward G. Rendell’s Office

225 Main Capitol Building

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Phone: (717) 787-2500

Fax: (717) 772-8284

E-mail the Governor’s Office

eat like an Olympian

Super Oatmeal Breakfast

Have you ever wondered what Olympians eat for breakfast?

Wonder no longer as sports nutrition expert Bob Seebohar from the U.S. Olympic Training center demonstrates in this Olympic cooking video.

Super Oatmeal Ingredients include:

- Oats

- Whey Protein Powder

- Dark Cocoa

- Blueberries

- Raisins

- Ground Flax seed


Friday, March 20, 2009

wowee!!!, this should get you on your bike

Bachelor Tri-athlete to lead bike ride in PA. His group will be biking on the S ROUTE.
The S Route takes rt 23 across northern Chester County.

Andy-baldwin-athlete Perhaps the most well known triathlete and bachelor (Dr. Andy Baldwin) in the world will join his father (former state Rep. Roy Baldwin), to lead a charity ride across Pennsylvania in October to promote activity for children.

The younger and older Badwin's will ride to promote nrgBalance which hopes to reduce childhood obesity.

According to LancasterOnline.com:

"The “X-PA Healthy Lifestyle Bike Ride” is intended as an educational sweep across the southern part of the state, using the Pennsylvania ‘S Route.’ The Baldwins will advocate for the prevention of childhood obesity at health fairs at schools along the way.

Andy Baldwin garnered worldwide attention as the star of ABC’s The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman in 2007. A U.S. Navy doctor based in Hawaii, Lt. Baldwin bicycles regularly and races as a triathlete. His father, a recreational bicyclist, led bicycle rides through his Manheim Township district when he was in office.

The cross-state ride is scheduled to begin in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Oct. 4, and end Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Baldwins will ride about 70 miles per day on the 425-mile route. Each day’s ride will end with a health fair at a school along the route. The health fairs will be held by school administrators and parents’ groups and coordinated by the Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity."

Biking in Chester County and surrounding areas


We are actually very lucky here in Chester County in that we have gorgeous roads to bike on. Most of the chick rides will be heading south of the boro and towards Kennett Square, Delaware and near Coatesville. We sometimes do rides that go east to the Malvern area and those rides are also very nice and and take us through some nice horse country.

There are many nice area sponsored rides. The French Creek Iron Tour on June 14 is in northern Chester County which again, is beyond beautiful and nice. It is hilly but you ride on some roads where there are NO cars.

Lancaster County does another fabo ride called the The Covered Bridge Metric. This ride is in August and is on mostly flat terrain and you get to ride along the roads with the buggies. The ride is Sunday morning and the buggies are out in full force.

The Schuylkill River Trail is also a nice alternative. Look for a Spectacular ride in August. We will start in Phoenixville and bike all the way around the Art Museum, have lunch in Manyunk and head back. This ride will be around 70 miles. One thing nice about riding on the trail, you can turn around and head back at any point in the ride. But for the adventurous, we will do 70 miles. Remember, it is all flat so that makes a HUGE difference.

SO you have lots of choices when biking in Chester County and surrounding counties.

a watery adventure

I think the young chicks think to be exercising you must be killing yourself on land, dripping sweat and pumping iron. Those water classes they say are for the old folks. I won't get enough of a workout in water.

Only someone who has NEVER done a water class would state the above. Try taking two water weights and head to the deep end of the pool. Now do cross country skiing with those weights under water. DO that for 15 minutes and tell me if you are not sweating.

Water classes are very overlooked by the chicks and by men. Lucky for me, I joined one and now love them.

Do deep water jogging and save your knees. I go to 2 water classes per week. I wear these gloves below.


and I wear these shoes. I bought both at Swim Outlet and I get a first class workout.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Gazebo and Cheyney U


According to Eileen, Gazebo has just been put up at Cheyney, so it is not on Google Earth. But Eileen went out and took a picture, what a chick!! and gathered some more information for this Meet Up

From the corner of Westtown Road and Route 926, continue south on Westtown Road.
.1 mile - soccer field entrance is on the right hand side
.63 mile - Dilworthtown Road is on the right
.9 mile - entrance to one of the Cheyney parking lots is on the right

Turn in at the entrance to the parking lot at the .9 mile spot, the gazebo should be right in front of you. I will be there at 1:15 on Sunday.



THANKS EILEEN

here is how to get out on the bike more

tongue in cheek post but you get the drift, this is advice from another blog

Three Quick Ways to Improve Your Biking Performance

Here is a list of common questions I get from athletes. The questions tend to fall into three categories, so I will show a sample question from each category. The answer to each question is a quick tip for you!


1) Frey, I just don't have enough time to ride during the week. I work late... what do you recommend?

Get a new job.


2) Frey, I have been training hard, but I can't lose weight. How can I drop the pounds?

Stop eating so damn much.


3) My husband/wife complains to me all the time that I spend more time training than I do with him/her. How can I continue to train while keeping him/her happy?

Get a new him/her.


There you have it! Follow these three tips, and your performance will go through the roof!

My House and Meet ups


View Larger Map



Libby's House

My house address is 206 East Virginia Avenue, West Chester boro

We have several meet ups so far for Chick rides. Click HERE for link to maps or use link on the right of this column about maps for the meet ups.

1.My House

2.Shaws Bridge Park

3.Betzwood Bridge

4.Cheyney University

5.Hot Foot Cycles

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

All by myself

The View from the Phoenixville Trail Extension


Hey, it's a good thing that I love biking all by myself as the SRT was fabulous today. Gorgeous weather, lots of friendly folks on the trail. The Phoenixville extension is quite lovely. It runs right along the Schuylkill River and is peaceful and quiet.

No Biker Chicks in sight but lots of other folks on the trail. Talked to many riders and we all had a great time.

Sunday Fun


Great great ride up for Sunday, so far the weather is looking good for Sunday, 50s and sunny. Two options, 13 miles or 24 miles, whatever you want. Post on the comment section if you are coming! Let's see lots of chicks out for a nice ride. Eileen has planned a great ride, meet at CheyneyU at 1:30 pm. Cheyney is about 1 mile south of rt 926 on Westtown Road. Not hard to find it.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Unbelievable cool story about a Lady Bike Builder

Sweetpea founder finds strength in her frame(s)

by Heidi Swift, Special to The Oregonian
Saturday March 14, 2009, 7:00 AM

Natalie Ramsland, custom bike-frame builder and owner of Sweetpea Bicycles, turns steel tubes into functional art at her Southeast Portland shop. Here, using a hand file, she smooths the brass on the head tube joints of a road bike frame.

There is no draft behind Natalie Ramsland. It's true -- I know from experience. Ride behind her, and you might as well be riding by yourself. At 5-foot-5 and 104 pounds, she is possibly the smallest frame builder alive.

Luckily, Natalie isn't getting paid to ride lead-out -- she gets paid to build handmade, custom bikes that fit people like a glove -- and in this line of work, her diminutive size emerges as an advantage. She understands, firsthand, the unique challenges and frustrations experienced by cyclists whose dimensions fall outside of "average."

In 2005, after six years as a Portland bike messenger riding bicycles that "almost-sort-of fit" (and watching many hard-working, tough-as-nails female cyclists do the same), Natalie hung up her radio and enrolled in the frame-building program at the United Bike Institute in Ashland.

Armed with an arsenal of new technical skills -- welding, filing, brazing -- she cut her teeth building bikes for friends and family. Eventually she used the cash gifts from her wedding to open the doors to Sweetpea Bicycles, determined to address a need that was not being met by mainstream bike manufacturers. She was going to build bikes that actually fit people -- even small people and especially women.

Customers quickly came to appreciate her as a female frame builder in an almost entirely male-dominated industry.

"I really liked the idea of getting a bike made for a woman by a woman," repeat customer Cecil Reniche-Smith recalls. "Cycling is such a testosterone-poisoned sport -- both artificial and natural -- and I have encountered so much sexism in bike shops over the years."

Natalie attributes much of her success to friend and colleague Michael Sylvester -- a renowned bike-fitting expert who's worked with international pros like Giro D'Italia winner Ivan Basso. Sylvester was recently hired by Trek to develop and oversee their custom-fit program.

About 90 percent of Natalie's customers opt to work with Sylvester on the fit, though it's not required. Tyler Cheung, a New Englander, flew in for his fitting after working up the nerve to ask Natalie to build a bike for him (he was worried she wouldn't want to build a bike for a guy). "It would have been easier to get fit locally," he says, "but I figured, I might as well do a Sweetpea bike right from the beginning."

The initial fitting session involves a few hours with Natalie and Sylvester using what's called a "fit bike" to determine the specs for the Sweetpea-to-be.

Use of a fit bike is commonplace in the frame-building world, but Sylvester takes the process to a new level. "You can use a fit bike like a hammer," Natalie explains, "or you can use it like a scalpel." Taking the latter approach, they hone what Natalie refers to as "the invisible craft" of the perfect bike fit, a craft that is both scientific and holistic.

During the process, she considers not just the shape of the frame itself, but also the ways that standard components (like wheel size and crank arm length) are going to affect the fit and function of the frame, as well as factors like injury history, riding experience and cycling goals.

Sweetpea bicycles are ready and willing to take on some of the hardest rides in the world (Reniche-Smith plans to ride hers over 700 miles in less than 90 hours in the 2011 Paris-Brest-Paris Randonee) but are just as happy to enjoy an easy spin through the neighborhood for a steaming mug of Stumptown coffee.

Natalie's goal -- "to get everyone on bikes that they love" -- leaves her thinking of new ways to tackle the challenge. Her soon-to-be-released road bike line called The Little Black Dress is for those who can't afford or can't wait for a custom bike (see sidebar).

In the meantime, you'll find her behind the glow of a welding torch, building bikes that are as sweet, scrappy and strong as the women who inspire them -- and the woman who built them.

-- Freelance writer Heidi Swift; heidiswift@gmail.com

• Read her blog The Everyday Athlete

Sweetpea Bicycles

one more change YIKES

Meet up for Eileen's 13.5 mile ride will be a little farther down Westtown Road, park at Cheyney University, look for a wooden gazebo and park there. Hope to see lots of ladies, and we will have Eileen's hubby along too. SO great fun.

Special Bike Ride Planned for Sunday March 22


Ladies I have made a big change in plans for this weekend.

I am changing the rides for the weekend of March 21. NO Saturday ride, instead a little adventure for Sunday. Meet at my house at 12:45 pm, we bike to the meet up with Eileen at the Soccer Fields at the intersection of Rt 926 and Westtown Road.

The trip from my house to the meet up in Westtown is 5.5 miles. Eileen's ride is 13.5. So total miles for those doing the entire course is 24 miles.

You can pick either route, the longer route or just the shorter route. Time for meet up for second leg is 1:30 approx. SO that is a change too. If you think you are coming, send me an email. Either course.

SO COME ride, i don't want to hear all the excuses you are right now making. Get off of your duff and try something NEW. Two options, should meet the needs of everyone.

Found a great bike gear site


Attention Ladies

I found a great site for bike clothing that is currently running some spectacular close out sales. The company is Voler, click here for website. The top above is selling for $14. Not all tops are available in all sizes. This company's jerseys run true to size and have NO elastic on the bottoms. This is the same company WCCC used to use for our club jerseys. For some unknown reason, WCCC switched to some other company that most of the chicks are not happy with.

I ordered several jerseys and 2 pairs of shorts, again, all on closeout or sale priced. If new to cycling and looking for a bargain, suggest you take a look at the site.

I get no money for saying this!!

Just passing on some info that you might helpful.

New ride leader VOLUNTEER

Yippee, Eileen and Tina are going to get a ride together for Sunday. We will be meeting at the soccer fields at the intersection of Rt 926 and Westtown Road.


Ride will start at 1 pm. For newbies and oldies, if there are hills, we will take our time and walk them if necessary. Plan on spending some time on this ride. If you have other activities and need to ride fast, this ride may not be for you. This ride is for fun and if it takes us 2 hrs to do 10 miles, so be it. Just giving you a heads up.

Learn to use the Google Maps, use maps prompts to bring map closer or farther away.



View Larger Map

click link above, when the Google Map opens, look on the left to view MY MAPS. You can find maps for HotFoot Cycles and Betzwood Bridge too.

advocacy for bikers

Not sure if many of you are active politically as far as biking goes, but the League of American Bicyclists just recently had its national meeting in Washington DC. Below is a video of the DOT Secretary addressing the League and saying that cyclists have a friend in DC. Let's hope so as it impacts what our local communities do to support biking.

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood

Monday, March 16, 2009

Rides for week of March 16


March 18,11 am meet at Betzwood for a nice bike ride on the Schuylkill River Trail, should be great, weather is supposed to be in the 60s. This ride is open to newbies and oldies.


March 21 1:00 pm, meet at my house, 206 E Virginia Ave, WC, 20 miles, Newbies and oldies

March 22 1:00 pm, looking for someone to lead a ride, I put some feelers out, IS ANYONE LOOKING to lead a newbie ride. We can meet wherever you want. I have asked Eileen and Tina if they are interested. So we will see if they can do it or if someone else steps up.

Crazy strong women

To win at the Olympics, you have to be crazy. Watch the slideshow to see what crazy looks like.


Find your inner crazy

Ladies,

In order to bike on the roads of our town and county, you HAVE to give in to your inner crazy. Cuz biking with fast cars whizzing by and narrow country roads requires some fearlessness or what I like to call crazy. IN order to get that bike out and start riding you have to shed all fears and stop thinking negatively about yourself. LET LOOSE. Put on the spandex and wear it proudly. I am so tired of hearing WHY YOU CANNOT bike. How about why you do bike.

I know someone who is into craziness and loves it and does not apologize for it when it comes to sport and riding the bike. This fellow does tri-athlons.

from http://freybird.blogspot.com/2008/03/craziness.html

First, the shamefully crazy behave exactly as their name implies: they are embarrassed to be crazy. In regards to training, the shamefully crazy often talk about putting in "work" - which is their training time - before they can go off and enjoy non-triathlon activities. It's as if they are ashamed to enjoy riding a bike and floating in a pool, as if training is some punishment to endure before life pleasures can be enjoyed. This is a front these shamefully crazy trainees put up, for secretly, they love their training. In order to attempt to conform to our societal standards, the shamefully crazy hides their insane love for multisport, and attempts to "fit multisport into a normal life". A shamefully crazy trainee might talk about how they don't like wearing spandex on the bike, but everyone does it, so they just go along with the crowd. "I don't like to shave for races, but I just do it to fit in," they might say. The shamefully crazy half-ass their commitment to multisport by trying to maintain their connection to a so called 'normal' life.

Then, there's the unapologetically crazy. They wear an all-white spandex cycling outfit, unapologetically. There is no talk of multisport fitting into a normal life. Mutlisport is the life, and it's a proudly crazy one. When it comes to how much to train in a week, the unapologetically crazy think about how much multisport would kill them, then back off maybe 1%. When together with eachother, the unapologetically crazy use the word "training" in atleast 50% of their sentences. They're crazy, they'll tell you they're crazy, and they love being crazy.

Needless to say, I am unapologetically crazy. I hang out exclusively with people who are also unapologetically crazy. Odds are, if you don't fit into the unapologetically crazy category, I don't like you.

Crazy people make sense to me; it's the 'normal' people who I don't understand. It's seems to me that normal people, and even shamefully crazy people, are always trying to hide something or conform to some false indentity. Give me a unabashedly crazy person anyday. Most beautifully, the unapologetically crazy pass no judgment on others, for in accepting their own craziness, they open themselves to accepting craziness in others.

Shakespeare said it best,

"This above all: to thine own self be true"

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Someday we will have our OWN CLUB

Enjoy this slideshow of strong women riding their bikes and loving it. Come on ladies, get off of your duff and come ride. What do you have to lose??

Why are you NOT biking


Advertisement for Manufacturer of Columbia Bicycles, about 1895

Now if you are sitting at home and not riding your bike, this lady from 1895 has more courage than you. And look at all the clothing she was forced to wear.

Top Ten excuses for NOT biking:

1. I have things to do on Saturday morning.

2. My kids have all their activities on Saturday and my husband is busy, probably biking!

3. I am afraid of biking on the roads.

4. I look awful in bike clothing.

5. I don't want to spend money on a new bike because we just bought a new TV.

6. I get so tired biking.

7. It takes too much time.

8. I am afraid of biking on the roads.

9. I might fall down.

10. I just can't! and I am afraid and I look awful.

NO ride today, but will go up on Wednesday

ladies, no ride today, weather is too iffy to make the trip up to the SRT, I will be going up to the SRT on Wednesday March 18, meeting at 11:00 am, we will do whatever miles the group wants to do.

So if you are lucky like me and retired, or maybe you only work parttime, hope to see some of you on Wednesday at 11 am at the Betzwood Bridge Park. Scroll down to past posts to find directions to the Schuylkill River Trail.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

cheering


If you watched the video, this is me cheering you on to come ride today. I have a ride up at 1 pm leaving from my house. 20 miles on the outskirts of West Chester. Blow the dust off of your bike and come ride today.

Friday, March 13, 2009

if this video does not make you laugh, I can't help you

biking is just plain good for you

This is the Schuylkill River Trail heading west, come on NEWBIES, join me on Sunday, March 15 at 1:00 pm

Perhaps it's time we considered reacquainting ourselves with the humble bicycle. Small lifestyle changes can go a long way and you might be surprised at just what a difference replacing a few car trips with bike rides can make.

Most people understand the physical benefits of biking - it's low impact, aerobic, and you don't need to get fit before you start. Most people live within six kilometres of their work, and that's an ideal distance to ride. Try it a couple of mornings a week, and you'll be amazed at how quickly your body adjusts. You'll arrive at work fresher and mid-morning caffeine fatigue will be a thing of the past.

And biking is ideal if you're one of those people who always seems to be short of time. The extra few minutes needed to bike to work - and biking's quicker than you might think - has been spent in healthy exercise. That makes a lot more sense than driving home from work in the car and then paying to go to the gym.

There are mental benefits to cycling as well. Exercising releases endorphins into the blood creating a feeling of contentment and happiness which helps to reduce stress. In fact the psychological benefits derived may be better than those from many other forms of exercise because cycling also involves anaerobic (resistance) activity which has antidepressant effects.

Being active also helps bring on deep, quality sleep at the end of the day. You'll wake feeling more refreshed than ever and much better equipped in body and mind to deal with a new day's challenges.

It's hard to find an activity that ticks as many boxes as cycling does. It's good for the environment and good for you. It's cheap and nearly anyone can do it.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

WCCC Bike Donation and Rodeo

Ladies, if interested in donating to this event, log into the WCCC webpage, click on shop and scroll down to find the donation $$ that suits your budget.
I do not think you have to be a club member to create an account. Ellen, correct me if I am wrong. thanks

All
Our 2009 Bike Donation program is scheduled for Saturday May 16 at 1:30 PM at St. Agnes Parish on W. Gay Street West Chester. As in the 2 previous years of our program, we're hoping to distribute about 40 bikes to needy kids!
This year, Fuji has generously offered to help sponsor the program by providing bikes at a discount. Imagine how excited the kids will be to have brand new bikes!
To make this happen, we need your support. If you would like to help buy a bike for a kid, you can do it by filling out the attached form and mailing in a check, or just go to the West Chester Cycling Club website, log in, and click on "shop" to charge your donation.
We hope that we'll raise enough money to buy new bikes for all the kids, but in the event that we don't, or if more kids are identified, we're also asking for donations of used bikes in good condition. If you have a bike you'd like to donate, you can respond to this email.
And finally, if you would like to help raise funds, you can use the attached solicitation letter to do that.
With your help, we can introduce a lot of kids to the joy of cycling and a life of physical fitness!!!
Ellen Z

Ride up for March 14, Saturday


So far weather looks good for Saturday and Sunday, I am going out both days for rides. Saturday's ride will not be for newbies, Sunday's ride WILL be.

Saturday's ride will be around 20 miles. Head out Sconnelltown and work our way over to Sunset Hollow. Not a hard ride and involves some country roads and some busy roads.

It is not easy to do 20 miles from West Chester and not bike on some busy roads. Map of ride is on My Bikely. Follow link below.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/25-mile-route-on-outskirts-of-West-Chester

I will leave on Saturday at 1 pm from my house and the Sunday ride leaves at 1:00 from Betzwood Bridge park. Link for map is in previous posts. Scroll down.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Bike Fit Informative Talk on March 29


Even if you have no interest in the clinic, this bike fit talk should be very worthwhile. The talk will focus on just what kind of bike you should own. This is based on how much biking and what type of biking you do.

Bike Fit Lecture runs from 5 pm till 6 on Sunday March 29. Some bikes will be on display as well for you to look at it.

First Biker Chick GOAL - JOIN ME



Let's get serious about fitness and make it more than just something we talk about or wish for. So here is our first goal.

I am calling it 10-20-50 by June 14.

So what is 10-20-50 by June 14. Simple, on June 14, one of the best local area rides takes place just a few mile away. It is called the French Creek Iron Tour. Click on link above for ride details. I would love to take a big bunch of ladies to this ride. This ride starts in Kimberton, just up rt 422.

What does the 10 stand for??

Let's trim 10 lbs by June 14.

What does the 20 stand for?

This is one of the choices for the miles you can do on this ride.

What does the 50 stand for??

This is one of the choices for the miles you can do on this ride.

What AM I DOING??

I am going for the 10- 50 goal for this ride. How about you? Join me in helping to make Biker Chicks the premier cycling group in our area.


SIGN THE COMMENT
section and publicly make your commitment.

Now if you do not need to lose any weight, good for you, make cycling the 50 miles your goal.

But sign and make the commitment, no matter what your goal. Maybe you want to bike more. Whatever, sign and share your goal with the others.

Stretch yourself in other ways in cycling. Or add a weight lifting program to your exercise routine.

See you on June 14, ready to ride

Monday, March 9, 2009

Rubber Mallet Fest


Ladies,

Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, the men of WCCC meet at 5:30 pm for what they call the Hammer Fest. They are good riders and go out and just speed around the county on their bikes as fast as humanly possible. Why, I have no clue. Must be a guy thing.

Anyhhooooo, Biker Chicks will also meet for what I call the Rubber Mallet Fest, not quite a hammer but a good ride. These rides will work up to a good pace as the season wears on. I do not race around the county, but will do a decent pace around 12-14 mph average. Again, we will build to this. THESE rides will NOT start till after Easter. Check blog for ride updates.

First rides will be a slower pace until we ALL feel like we can go faster. Now once the weather hits 90 degrees +, pace will be a safe pace for the conditions.

Always bring 2 water bottles filled with good stuff.

These rides TAKE off at 5:30 not 5:45. Remember, it gets dark and we will be doing 20 miles.

But it is kinda funny, cuz we all meet up with the men at Hot Foot and we can watch them prance around like proud roosters with their slick bikes and no body fat bodies. It always makes me smile.