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Tour of Missouri: Kinder remains hopeful for '10

In a recent interview with KMOX-AM radio in St. Louis, Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder says the money should be in place soon for the 2010 Tour of Missouri, slated for Aug. 31-Sept. 6

Kinder, the biggest supporter of the race in state government, says the professional cycling event could still go on, even if state funding falls through, "It's possible, but it becomes much more challenging because the $1.5 million in tourism tax money is about 45% of our budget," Kinder told KMOX.


Last year, Gov. Jay Nixon had threatened to withhold the $1.5 million tourism subsidy for the Tour of Missouri, but an onslaught of public support led the administration to change its mind.


The Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation isn't taking any chance. It's calling upon supporters of the race to contact Nixon to express their support for the race. Executive Director Brent Hugh is suggesting people thank the governor for his tole in saving the Katy Trail bridge in Boonville and to ask him to preserve state funding for the race.

Labels: Tour of Missouri

Roger 0 comments links to this post 12:48 AM

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Olney, Ill.: Known for white squirrels --- and bicycles?

If you've ever heard of Olney, Ill., you probably know it for its white squirrels -- albino squirrels that seemed to have found a permanent home in the Southern Illinois community.

But did you know the town's known for bicycle distribution? I didn't until I read a story in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News about the community, located about 150 miles east of St. Louis.

Here are at least six distributors that have operations in Olney:

• Pacific Cycle: The manufacturer of Schwinn, Mongoose, Roadmaster and Dyno bicycles.
• SKS USA: A manufacturer of tools, tire pumps, mudguard, chainguards and bags.
• Highway Two: A distributor of Brooks saddles, Continental tires and Crank Brothers pedals and wheelsets.
• Magura: A manufacturer of bicycle brakes and suspensions.
• KHS Bicycle Parts: A distributor of motorcycle and bicycle parts, including manufacturers Sapim and Pletscher.
• Joe Hunt and Associates: A distributor of USA Brand spokes and generators.

Olney's ties to the bicycle industry began in 1962, when AMF began manufacturing its Roadmaster bikes there. If you grew up in the 1960s or 1970s, there's a possibility you rode a Roadmaster at one.time. Also, the Roadmaster was immortalized in the classic 1979 movie "Breaking Away," in which racers in the Little 500 rode Roadmasters in Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

According to the article, the Roadmaster plant in Olney employed as many as 2,000 people as recently as 20 years ago. Alas, Roadmaster found it was cheaper to build bikes in Taiwan than in Olney, and manufacturing ceased there about 10 years ago. Pacific Cycle now uses the Roadmaster plant as its distribution center. Two German companies, Union Frondenberg and Weinmann, also opened bicycle parts plants there in the 1970s, but those have closed as well.

While Olney might not have the "cycling panache" of Portland, Ore., or Boulder, Colo., according to the article, Olney's industry lore is cemented because of Roadmaster. I was unable to find any bicycle trails in Olney, although I'm sure the roads of the town and surrounding Richland County provide lots of good cycling opportunities.

Just don't run over a white squirrel while you're in Olney. It will land you a $200 fine!

Labels: bicycles, Illinois

Roger 6 comments links to this post 3:06 AM

Friday, February 05, 2010

Bridge saved for Katy Trail use

Bicycle advocates concerned about the future of the Katy Trail won a victory Thursday when Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced that the Union Pacific Railroad has agreed to give the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy) Railroad bridge that spans the Missouri River to the city of Boonville.


The Union Pacific had planned to tear down the historic bridge and use the scrap metal to build a bridge across the Osage River near Jefferson City. However, federal stimulus money targeted for high-speed rail servicein Missouri will be used to build the Osage River bridge. That meant meant the bridge could be turned over to Boonville, The Associated Press reported.

Groups, including the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, had feared that demolition of the Boonville bridge would have broken up the 225-mile trail corridor, making it vulnerable to legal challenges by landowners.

The bridge has not been used for at least 20 years, and Katy Trail traffic now crosses the Missouri River via the U.S. 40/Missouri 5-87 bridge. The old railroad drawbridge has been locked in the up position since its abandonment, allowing Missouri River barge traffic to pass.

The Save the Katy Bridge Coalition has been working for years to preserve the bridge. Take a look at the group's site to learn more about the bridge.

Labels: Katy Trail, Missouri

Roger 0 comments links to this post 12:51 AM

Monday, February 01, 2010

Tour de Stooges registration open!

Registration for the 2010 Tour de Stooges bicycle ride is open!

The 13th edition of the Tour de Stooges takes place Saturday, May 1, at Lindendale Park in Highland, Ill.

We've made it more economical to attend this year's ride. If you pre-register for the ride, the cost is $20 for adults, $10 for children 5-12 and $50 for a family pack (2 adults, 2 children). On the day of the ride, the cost is $25 for adults, $15 for children and $60 for the family pack.

T-shirts will be sold separately. The cost is $10 for people who pre-register and $15 day-of-ride. We recommend you buy your shirt in advance because quantities likely will be limited the day of the ride.

To register online or by mail, go to the Tour de Stooges site, follow the links to registration page and follow the instructions for registering.

The Tour de Stooges consists of five routes -- 17, 22, 30, 42 and 64 miles -- through the rural countryside ine Madison, St. Clair and Clinton counties. After the ride, we serve you lunch and all the slapstick comedy you can stand!

Hope to see you May 1 in Highland!

Labels: Tour de Stooges

Roger 0 comments links to this post 12:45 PM

Sunday, January 31, 2010

News from the Midwest Bicycle Expo & Swap Meet

It's always fun to visit the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation's annual Midwest Bicycle Expo & Swap, which took place today in Collinsville, Ill. It's always fun to catch up with my cycling friends and let people know about the upcoming Tour de Stooges.

Although the number of vendors appeared to be down there -- I'm sure the recession had a lot to do with that --  Federation officials say attendance was up this year.

The biggest news to come out of the show was the announcement of a partnership between the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation and the Missouri Department of Transportation. MoBikeFed will work with MoDOT and other transportation entities to identify the highest priority bicycle, pedestrian and disabled projects in Missouri.

MoBikeFed Executive Director Brent Hugh revealed the initiative during the show. MoBikeFed has developed an online form for people to nominate a project. The page includes detailed instructions on how to nominate the project.

MoBikeFed will work with MoDOT and their transportation partners to narrow that list down to the best and truly practical projects.The shortened list of projects will then be added to MoDOT's planning process with the hopes of completing them in the next 5 to 7 years, provided funding is available and the projects are supported by the public.

Labels: Missouri, St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation

Roger 0 comments links to this post 11:00 PM

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society: What an awesome name for a bicycle club

I'm a regular reader of Gene Bisbee's Biking Bis blog, but I somehow missed a recent post titled "Biking Bis Top 10 list of awesome names for bicycle clubs".

To my surprise, the Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society made the list!

I wish I could take credit for our club's name and its mascot, Weinerman, but they already had been established when I started riding with the group in late 1992. I've been active with the group ever since, first as a rider, then a ride leader, then the club's webmaster when I created the B.A.B.E.S. site in 2001 as a part of the Roger Kramer Cycling site.

Other top names on Gene's list include the Old Kranks Bicycle Club in Ventura, Calif., and the Slow Bicycle Club of Chicago. To find out the rest, read the article.

Speaking for the B.A.B.E.S., we appreciate the recognition Gene gave us!

In case you're wondering, the B.A.B.E.S. Wednesday Evening Rides resume in April in Collinsville, Ill. Later in the season, we'll have several Winery Rides, in which we tour the countryside near several Southwestern Illinois wineries, and some Donut Trail Rides, in which we explore some of St. Louis' best family-owned donut shops.

Labels: Belleville Area Bicycling Eating Society

Roger 1 comments links to this post 6:43 PM

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Tandem Travails

I'm sure many a first-time tandem rider can relate to this video from KTVI-TV, Channel 2, in St. Louis.

While doing a preview of the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation's Midwest Bike Expo & Swap Show (Jan. 31 in Collinsville, Ill.), KTVI personalities Tim Ezell and April Simpson attempted to ride a tandem down the studio's hallways.

April's cries of fear and loathing are just precious! Tim's not a whole lot better!

Fortunately for the Bike Expo, the Federation's Joe Torrisi did a fine job of getting the facts out of the event.

Labels: St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation, television

Roger 0 comments links to this post 12:50 PM

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Review: "Bicycle Dreams"

"Bicycle Dreams," Stephen Auerbach's documentary about the 2005 Race Across America, has been out for some time and has been reviewed by quite a few bloggers. It's my turn.

I've written frequently about RAAM over the years, mainly because RAAM passes through the St. Louis area almost every year. I've always wondered what goes through the heads of anyone who would attempt to bike across America in 8 to 12 days. "Bicycle Dreams" gives me a pretty good clue.

I'm old enough to remember the early days of RAAM in the 1980s and early 1990s, when ABC and NBC aired extended segments about RAAM on their sports anthology shows. Those segments made me aware of ultramarathon cycling giants such as Lon Haldeman, John Marino and Pete Penseyres.

The segments, normally aired weeks or months after the race, did a good job of giving viewers a taste of the race. Sadly, RAAM doesn't get the attention it once got from the networks, so "Bicycle Dreams" fills a major void.

Fortunately for us, "Bicycle Dreams" goes a step further than the networks were able to do.

Stephen and his crew worked around the clock to film RAAM. They had an advantage over the networks; they had 18 cameras in the field to give an more intimate look at RAAM.

While RAAM athletes have to be in incredible shape, "Bicycle Dreams" makes it clear that the mental battles are the biggest challenges they face over the course of the race. Even someone like Slovenian soldier Jure Robic -- a four-time winner of the race -- fights the effects of long days or riding with little sleep. For example, Robic speaks of seeing a dolphin's head in the road and speaks of forgetting what his wife and children look like. He even speaks of quitting the race -- something he wouldn't do until 2009.

Another competitor, Anna Catharina Berge, chews out her crew for allowing her to sleep for four hours, even though it was clear she was in desperate need of it.

While Robic gets his share of face time, the real centerpiece of "Bicycle Dreams" is Dr. Bob Breedlove, who died June 25, 2005, when he was struck head-on by a pickup truck near Trinidad, Colo., during the race. Bob lived in Des Moines, Iowa, attended Illinois State University, the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the University of Missouri School of Medicine Orthopaedic Residency Program.

It's eerie to watch Bob on the roads, riding strong, commenting on his tactics to beat the heat of the Arizona desert, realizing that only days later, he would be dead. His death had a devastating impact on French rider Patrick Autissier, who did not finish the race.

Much of the photography is incredible, especially of the western part of the course. Other than sections of Kansas, the Midwest plays a lesser role in the movie. I recognized a lot of the Missouri River valley near Marthasville, Mo. The uprights of the Clark Bridge, a suspension bridge that crosses the Mississippi River at Alton, Ill., are clearly visible in one scene, although the film does not include images of the river or of cyclists crossing the bridge.

"Bicycle Dreams" has won awards at a wide range of film festivals, including the Fallbrook, Los Angeles Sports and Solstice festivals. It won for a reason: "Bicycle Dreams" both tells and shows the physical -- and mental -- exhaustion RAAM athletes endure.

As an independent filmmaker, Stephen Auerbach is relying on a grassroots campaign to spread the word about the race. You can purchase the film for $19.99 through the film's Web site, http://bicycledreamsmovie.com.

As a longtime follower of RAAM, I recommend "Bicycle Dreams."

Labels: cycling, movies, RAAM

Roger 0 comments links to this post 10:03 PM

Central Illinois race is qualifier for Nature Valley Grand Prix

Hillsboro, Ill., may not be Paris, but it does play host to a bicycle race called the Hillsboro-Roubaix Road Race. The 9th annual edition of the race takes place April 10, and it's a qualifier for the Nature Valley Grand Prix, a June stage race taking place in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

So why would a small Central Illinois county seat town about 60 miles north of St. Louis have a race named after the Paris-Roubaix classic? This description from the race sponsors, the International Christian Cycling Club, gives you a clue:

"The racers will traverse the brick streets of Hillsboro while racing over a 28.75 mile loop that has all you want in a spring classic. Flat open back roads with no cover from the spring winds, rolling terrain, short but challenging climbs, twisty descents and village streets paved with bricks.  Sorry no pavé , but the bricks will have you diving for the smooth gutter!"

The additional incentive for amateur men (Cat 1) and women (Cat 1 and Cat 2) is to earn a spot in the Hidden Valley race. Five other races nationwide will serve as qualifiers for the event. Riders selected through these events will earn free entries to the June 16-20 event and receive generous travel stipends, team clothing, housing, ground transportation, and staff support for their composite teams. They will also receive pro-level recognition before, during and after the events, including pre-race call-ups and participation in promotional and media appearances.

ICCC uses Hillsboro-Roubaix as a fundraiser for the Montgomery County Cancer Association, which helps county residents in need of financial or transportation help for cancer treatment.

Registration opens Feb. 1.

Labels: cycling, Illinois, racing

Roger 0 comments links to this post 4:43 PM

Monday, January 18, 2010

UPDATE: Matt Wilhelm's parents on Oprah

UPDATED (JAN. 18): The parents of Matt Wilhelm. the Champaign-Urbana area cyclist who was killed in 2006 when he was struck by a car driven by a woman downloading cell phone ring tones, appeared on today's episode of Oprah Winfrey's TV show.

Gloria and Chuck Wilhelm briefly described how their son died and how they worked to get Illinois laws changed, culminating in the texting ban that went into effect Jan. 1.

"If you get a ticket, you can blame it on us because we were the ones who went to Springfield to work with the senators," Gloria said on the show.

You can see the video of the Wilhelms and other families who lost loved ones in accidents involving distracted drivers at Oprah's Web site.

Oprah launched her "No Phone Zone" campaign on Monday's show. According to an Associated Press story last week, Oprah said she wants people to know "how absolutely stupid it is that we continue to text and drive." She's asking drivers to take a pledge to avoidt text-messaging or talking on cell phones while driving.

Oprah's show is aired at 4 p.m. CST on KSDK-TV, Channel 5, in St. Louis and WCIA-TV, Channel 3, in Champaign-Urbana. You can check where the show appears in your area here.

Matt Wilhelm's death prompted some changes, including better education about cyclists' right to the road and a task force that recommended more laws to protect users of Illinois highway. While progress has been made, more progress needs to be done, including laws that would make it a felony if a distracted driver kills or critically injuries a cyclist, pedestrian or motorist.

You can see a public service announcement about Matt at the News-Gazette.

Labels: advocacy, Illinois, safety, television

Roger 0 comments links to this post 1:30 PM