Fly-By Videos

. Mapped your route and want to see what is looks like? Try the new MapMyRide feature (in Beta) - - a fly-by video. The tool switches you to a Google Earth view and skims along a couple-a-hundred feet above your route, like in a helicopter. If you get motion sick, you can click a stop-start button to slow your helicopter down.
. I found this addition while try to decide whether to put together a MapMyRide self-training course describing how to use it and how to print maps and cue lists without having to buy a membership. However, I don't want to waste my time if no one is interested in this training material.

People For Bikes

Google Bike Maps

Washington, D.C. - March 10, 2010 - Google announced at the Opening Plenary Session at the National Bike Summit that they are adding biking directions in the U.S. to Google Maps."This new tool will open people's eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding," said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. "We know people want to ride more, and we know it's good for people and communities when they do ride more - this makes it possible. It is a game-changer, especially for those short trips that are the most polluting."

They released the application in beta and acknowledged that much work is needed to refine. They asked that cyclists use the "report a problem" link in the lower right hand corner to send map corrections (after zooming to the area in question). They also talked about a new map application that will allow users to make corrections directly to the map database that will go to beta testers in the next couple of months.

Visit http://maps.google.com/biking to try out this new feature. Follow the League's news feed on the new Google feature on the League's Blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Beer Beer Everywhere

Just a note since the Fogbees are lovers of the Brew. There are two (2) major articles in today's "Tennessean" newspaper concerning Beer. One article is about the use of beer in desserts and the other about a preacher who wrote a book about the history of a famous beer! Pick up a copy of the paper or you can probably go to the newspaper link online.

New Group

Hey for anyone who has a really hard time making it to the Fogbee afternoon rides in Hendersonville, cause they are over here in White House (like me) I am starting a weekday ride group over here. I have a FaceBook group for it. It's called "White House Cyclist" if you want to search it and join to watch for posts and scheduled rides. Don't worry Fogbees, I still will come ride with you on some weekends and on the Big Out of the way rides... Also Doug if you want I will take over the Silver Comet ride if you want me to? Just let me know and I'll head it up. My schedule is just too difficult to make it into H'ville during the weekdays to ride, so I'm making a group over here. I'll still try to come have a beer with ya every once in a while!!

Bike Computer For Sale

I have a Cateye V3 Triple Wireless computer for sale. I purchased it from Rei last August. It records Speed, Distance, Cadence, Heart Rate and Lap info for you. It was $200 new. I'm asking $75.

498-9516
mpoole93@yahoo.com

thanks!

Silver Comet - Postponed - the Facts

I have held off postponing this ride to poll the interests and see if someone would step up to complete the initially planned ride. So far no takers. Most FOGBEES I have talked with are OK with postponing. Truth is I have blown my knee and have to have surgery on 3-26, so I won't be back on my bike full time until June. I will post a survey again and we WILL DO THIS RIDE in 2010, just later in the year, which will probably be better as people will be in prime condition. Feel free to contact me with your comments.

Jack and Back MS accomodations

Spring is in the air and it's not to early to make overnight arrangements in Tullahoma for the Jack 'n' Back MS 150 which occurs October 2-3 this year. Please note that NEW rooms are now available at the Quality Inn which is on the premises of our old time fav , the Executive Inn. The phone # is the same for both 931-455-4501.

If you desire similar accomodations as an Executive the rate is $ 89. If you desire a step up then the Quality experience awaits you at $ 119 per night. ROOMS ARE ALREADY GOING FAST !!! So don't procrastinate and miss out on the fun and convivilization that FOGBEES have brought to this worthy event for Multiple Sclerosis.

Spring Rides

The FOGBEE Web Site maintains the most complete list of Sponsored Rides in our area. I have updated it for 2010. Most of these rides are fun and we always have a contingent going to them. If I have missed a favorite, let me know.

We have some problems this spring, however. Our special ride leaders Bruce and Doug are not likely to be able to plan and join us, so we need other volunteers. Typically, we have an "away ride" (this year Doug was planning the Silver Comet) and a two/three day tour (where ever Bruce gets the urge). These tours are always the highlight of the season. If you haven't been on one, you are missing a great experience. If you have been on a tour, you get instilled with wanderlust that makes you just want to hop on the bike and go some where any where. So bottom line - I hate to miss out this spring. How about some volunteers? I'll help you. Please comment.

Active Community Transportation Act

Representative Earl Blumenauer just introduced the Active Community Transportation Act, H.R.4722. This groundbreaking bill creates a competitive grant program with $2 Billion to help communities build bicycling and walking networks. For the first time, communities would be able to compete for multi-year funding to build active transportation systems, just as they do for transit and road infrastructure. Read More

Stop Light Law

The Bicycle Stop Light law has passed the General Assembly and is headed for the Governor's office. For details of its progression click here.

Bike Touring Presentation

Ryan Van Duzer (of Travel Channel fame) is going to be giving a presentation about bicycle touring at our West End shop this coming (3/2/2010) Tuesday night at 7pm. He has ridden all over the world, including a ride from Honduras to Colorado and a cross-country trip on a beach cruiser. He is a lot of fun, and the presentation should be great. It's free to the public, and New Belgium will be providing free Fat Tire beer. Hopefully you can make it!

Adam Trapani

Do you guys mind passing it on to the Harpeth club?
Thanks!
Custom bike sales.

TB Note: I have more details which I can email to anyone interested.

National Bicycle Route System

Adventure Cycling is coordinating New National Bicycle Route System. This massive proposal is moving ahead despite tight budgets and lack of bicycle advocacy groups in some states.

“It’s exciting because the states that are on board, about a dozen so far, are actively engaged, more than what I expected,” Director Ginny Sullivan added. Among those that have expressed the most interest so far are Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, and Tennessee.

Bruce Day is leading the Tennessee contribution. Visit his Blog and offer your assistance.

Friends of Warner Parks Ride

Here is an upcoming ride that I wanted to share with the club.

For your riding pleasure.

Click Hear for info

Official Fogbee Bottle Opener

These guys make headset spacers/bottle openers. They will custom engrave for an order of 12 or more.

One reviewer said "Yes, I am now the proud owner of bottle opener with a bike around it."

http://www.ahrensbicycles.com/

More Rumbling on TV

In case you missed the latest report on Rumble Strips on Highway 100.

http://www.wsmv.com/video/22569181/index.html

TDOT says they have closed the breakdown of communication that allowed the above rumbling to happen. We shall see!

Please Help with PRO-BIKE Legislation

NOW is the time for you to ACT and do something very easy for bicycling advocacy

This evening the directors of Bike Walk Tennessee unanimously voted to adopt a resolution in support of Tennessee state legislation HB3131 / SB3057. This bill authorizes bicyclists, after coming to a full and complete stop and exercising due care as provided by law, to proceed with caution through traffic lights. This is due to the inability of many traffic signals to detect a waiting bicyclist. The law has long been available to motorcyclists, and this bill will provide similar treatment for bicyclists. READ HOW WE NEED YOUR HELP

2/18: Bill passes Senate unanimously. Now headed to House Safety Committee

HIGHWAY 100 GETS RUMBLED

First impressions suggest our attempts to find reasonable compromise have failed. A popular bike route - Hwy 100 - got rumbled. Click HERE to view pictures. Comments?
From: Jessica.L Wilson, February 12, 2010 7:51 AM
To: tom@evanscenter.com

Tom-
I've gotten several inquiries about this project and talked to Pat about it earlier this week. Unfortunately, this particular project was part of a contract let back in Sept. 2009 before we had our new system in place. If you have questions or want to talk about it more then feel free to give me a call and we can discuss it- its usually easier for me to talk over the phone rather than type everything out.

Thanks!
Jessica L. Wilson
Transportation Planner 4
TDOT Long Range Planning

Internet Training

Bob, has asked for face-to-face help on his Blog (Assignments 1 &2). I told him to bring his laptop over this Saturday 2/13/10 (weather for peddling not looking good) and we would work on it.
If anyone else wants to join this work session, please Comment to this Post and we'll work out the timing.
Since Gary and Bruce have doe great jobs with the blogs, I have decided to add one more section for Blogs - adding JibJab (Gary's favorite), YouTube, and other embedded HTML to a Blog.

cassettes

Thinking about getting an Ultegra 11-28 cassette. Any opinions? And what types of cassette are you running? Just looking for some info so I can have an informed decision. Thanks - Scott

Bicycle Legislation - IN PROCESS

Dear Friends:

As cycling enthusiasts, I wanted to bring to your attention legislation currently before the Tennessee General Assembly that may be of interest to you. As you most likely know, bicycles are often too light to trigger many of the traffic signals throughout the state. This creates an unnecessary and unpleasant delay for cyclists as they are forced to wait for vehicles to trigger the lights. I’ve recently introduced a bill to address this small but potentially aggravating issue.

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The bill, SB 3057, will allow cyclists in the state to proceed cautiously through red lights when they are rendered inoperable due to the bicycle’s weight. This is certainly a small change in state law; but, hopefully, it will improve the quality of cycling throughout the state. If you would like to see the bill being considered before the Senate Transportation Committee, you can watch it live Tuesday, February 9^th, at 11:30 a.m. at http://www.capitol.tn.gov/ , or just come to view the proceedings in Room 12 at the Legislative Plaza in Nashville, Tennessee. You can also watch an archived version of the hearing on the same site at anytime.

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If you’d like to hear more about other current Tennessee issues, you may sign up to receive the Woodson Weekly, a weekly periodical of legislative news relevant to Tennesseans, at jamiewoodson.com.

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As you know, cycling is an American tradition. It is a cherished pastime, and a great way to stay healthy and enjoy the outdoors. Tennessee values its cyclists, and we want to help them continue to enjoy their experience.

Yours in Service, Jamie Woodson, Senate Speaker Pro Tempore

Fogbees Triathlon Challenge

A slight change of plans. The GJCC Triathlon has been canceled, but do not fear we have a alternative. There is a tri event in McMinnville, TN on Sat May29,2010. The link below is updated with information to this event.

As everyone can see the list of people wanting to enter this event has grown. It is recommended that you sign up early as this event fills up fast. As of today Bob G. and Phil V. are registered. There will not be any organised training for this event, but several of us have been swimming at the YMCA in Hendersonville.

Click Here for McMinnville Triathlon information

Tips for Beginners

McMinnville Triathlon
May 29 , 2010 - Memorial Day - Monday
200 meter pool swim / 10.5 mi bike / 2 mi run / walk

Other Blogs

It's a COLD, deary, day. Time to look at some blogs. How about Hockey for OLD Men? Can you believe that Mr "Can you post this for me" has created this. I still think he is paying someone.

We also have Tennessee Bicycle Interstate Routes. Also quite good, but I've seen him do this stuff before so I don't question it's author.

What does anyone think?

I wish I could show some more, but the others have nothing new since December.

Even though I haven't completed the assignments, these guys have accomplished everything I wanted to do with Blogs. Time to move on to Working with MapMyRide.

Today's Winter Entertainment

Copenhagenize.com - Winter Cycling from Copenhagenize on Vimeo.

New Bike Lanes - Nashville

Hi, I found your organization online and wanted you to be aware of some new bike lane traffic markings that our company has recently installed in Nashville. When completed later this month, Davidson Street near downtown on the east bank of the Cumberland River, will feature a bi-directional dedicated bike lane with 42 new green field bike symbols. The symbol is manufactured by Flint Trading Company. The layout was developed by Collier Engineering in Brentwood and approved by the Metro Public Works.

We hope your organization enjoys using these improvements.
Scott Adams, Project Manager

Saturday's Ride

Buffalo Dip

Here is the recipe for the Buffalo Chicken Dip that I brought to the Fogbees Party on Sat. Some of you requested it so here it goes. Enjoy!! Good dip to take to your Super Bowl Party. Go Colts!

2 10 oz cans of chunk chicken, drained
2 8 oz packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup ranch dressing
3/4 cup pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot)
1 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

Heat chicken and hot sauce in skillet until heated through.Stir in cream cheese and ranch dressing. Cook, stirring until well blended and warm. Mix in half of cheddar cheese. Transfer to crockpot. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese and cook on low until bubbly.

It's a PARTY

Click on picture to enlarge or click here for Gary's Smile Box.

Rumble Strip Update

In November 2008 Bryan brought the Rumbling of SR109 to our attention. Bruce and I made a few telephone calls and pulled together an impromptu meeting with TDOT, Leslie Mehan (MPO), Glen Wanner, Pat Clements, Tim Nichols, and Jeff Sammons to voice our complaint. Subsequent to that meeting Big Bob became a movie star as TDOT rep's watch him maneuvering the rumble on SR109. Rumble Strips became a big issue across Tennessee and led to the formation of the corporation Bike Walk Tennessee (with help of Bruce, Tim, David Irvine, and Tom) to give Bike Advocates across the State a unified voice on issues such as this.
Today, in our Statewide Bike/Ped meeting TDOT announced approval by Federal Highway Administration of new Rumbling Standards that would have stopped what is now on SR109 and acknowledged our efforts that led to this change. The new Standards are the most Bike Friendly we have seen in any state.
The bottom line to all of this is - getting involved in government does work! Every voice and every time we participate in public meetings counts. Try it sometime. Don't depend on the few.

Saturday's Party on? Can I do the Charleston?

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

I'm GETTIN OLD!

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW I AM VERY FOND OF MY "SPAGHETTIoS" ORANGE JERSEY AND RIDE WITH PRIDE IN THE SUMMER WITH THAT JERSEY ON. I SADLY REPORT THAT DONALD GOERKE, AGE 83, THE MAN WHO DEVELOPED "spaghettiOs" for the CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY DIED YESTERDAY. 'UH-OH, SPAGETTIOS"!

Ravenwood Greenway Update

This fine Thursday afternoon I pedaled 22 1/2 miles roundtrip from my house to PP Dam via the greenway routes. The part by Ravenwood CC is completely paved with nice smooth asphalt. The railing which will separate the greenway path from the roadway has not yet been installed. At the intersection with Lebanon Road a greenway turnoff is under construction which goes to the old wrought iron bridge; the crushed stone has been placed but no asphalt yet. At the other end of the bridge (nearest Kohl's entrance) earth-moving equipment was busy constructing a 180-degree bend to route the greenway back under the old and new bridges. Once across Lebanon Road I took a look at the other end of this work in progress. From Kohl's parking lot there is now coarse asphalt pathway going to concrete pavement under both bridges, then graded pathway with crushed stone base course up to the end of the old bridge where work was currently going on. When completed this will be a safer way to get on the other side of Lebanon Road. However, it will be a corkscrew with sharp curves and short steep grades on both sides, esp on the Ravenwood CC side; gearshifting and pedaling thru this smoothly will take a bit of learning I predict.
Cheers!
DTI

Silver Comet Tour May 7 to May 9

The survey indicated 62% could go on the tour May 7 to May 9. In addition, I had 3 verbal withdrawals for May 23 as this is the Komen Ride and high school graduation weekend. 75% of those responding want a morning ride on Sunday, so I will arrange that also. Now is the time to start training. this is a long ride.

I need tentative commitments so I can try to negotiate group room rates. Please post if you plan to ride. More to come soon.

Woman's Jersey For Sale

For sale:

Louis Garneau FOGBEES Jersey (October Batch)
$45 Women's Large Never worn~~wrong size

Laurie Gibbs, lorg@aol.com
cell: 415-2942, home: 826-9577

cold weather advice

O.k., this has probably been done before, but I would love to hear some very cold weather riding advice/tips. I will save everyone the easy one.....just stay home! Miley has called me out on this one already.

My advice, wrap tape around the tips of your shoes (inside of booties) to keep out the cold wind. It really does work.

Filing a Missing Fogbees Report

Fellow Fogbees, I need your help locating a few Fogbees who did not show for the Frozen Toes Ride earlier today in Bethpage. (We all know who they are from the posts below). I can only suspect foul play, because I'm sure a New Year's hangover or cold air would not keep them from this special once a year event. Despite our worry, Jimmy and I, along with Joey and 8 others, pedalled in the new year. Unless I get word they are safe and sound, I'll contact the authorities after the 24-hour waiting period.