Hendersonville FOGBEES meet Montreal FOGBEES

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In his CGOAB journal, Bruce reported on our 2019 bike tour around Lake Champlain and our visit to Montreal. In this great bike-friendly city, he tells how we met a unique bike club—the Montreal Bike Club (read his CGOAB journal). Maybe they don't want us to call them FOGBEES, but they were as close as we found similar to us.

    Besides their age and girth (like us), they seem to follow the same FOGBEE practices that were atypical of most bike riding clubs—socializing (not just riding), bike-touring, supporting and getting involved in their community, advocating bicycling, and building long-term traditions. 

    I was especially interested in their regular written minutes and photographs of every activity. These are critical for any organization that wants to maintain its traditions. Aussie Bob, Bruce, and I (Tom) are the only ones who provide written reports, and Phil is our remaining photographer who shares pictures and videos.

     Big Bob used to brag, "We have no rules and no fees." 

     But I followed, "We always ask every member to lead something of their choice."

     Unfortunately, I can no longer participate in FOGBEE activities to observe the members' work. I hope the FOGBEES aren't losing those above-atypical practices that make us special.

Birth of the FOGBEES

Over twenty years ago, FOGBEES started in Brett's backyard. Doug, Brett, and Tom would ride about 20 miles around Indian Lake Peninsula and then drink beer.       We called ourselves the 'Yazoo Patrol,' hoping we could get free beer from Yazoo Brewery. After no free beer, we became the FOGBEEs.      We then moved to BIG LOEY's pizza which became our club house for several years. Our group grew to almost 200 cyclists.    Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures. This is ChatGPT's best guess. I'm the one with the beard.

FOGBEE's Great Bike Tour to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone

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12 years ago, FOGBEES made one of our best bike tours to Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.  You can read about our adventure in - Crazy Guy on a Bike or in - Indian Lake Peninsula Living magazine.

FIGHTING the MOUNTAIN, the MACHINE, and the MUSCLE

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In the spirit of historic advances and competition between ever-evolving modes of transportation, the 3M Challenge features a timed challenge between two of Mountain Maryland’s oldest mechanized modes of transportation, the WMSR 1309 Steam locomotive, the largest operating steam locomotive of its type in the world, and the legs of cyclists. The 15.6-mile route is on the GAP between Cumberland and Frostburg.

The FOGBEE touring group has ridden the fantastic Great Allegany Passage (GAP) at least three times, just not in the direction of the 3M Challenge or racing the train. This year, Dave Irvine plans our reverse. We plan to follow his training on one of America's most scenic trails.

OLD JACK IS DAVE's MOTIVATION - DAVE'S OUR MOTIVATION

Our eldest FOGBEE, Dave Irvine at 88, wants us to know "he is not crazy!" Check out his motivational video above. Dave is training in 2025 (or 2026 or 2027) for the "3M Cumberland - Beat the Train."

LESS THAN ONE MONTH - REGISTER NOW

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MAY 3, 2025 GALLATIN, TN PEDAL FOR PAWS Past PHOTOS

NASHVILLE BICYCLE FESTIVAL

This event brings together a wide variety of bicycling enthusiasts – from supporters to mechanics, from beginners to experienced cyclists, from commuters to mountain bikers to cargo haulers and more.

Where: South Inglewood Community Center, 1624 Rebecca Street (approach from Moore Street if not on foot/on a bike.)

https://nashvillebikefun.org/event/nashville-bicycle-festival-april-2025/

UNBELIEVABLE FACTS FOR SOME - WHY WE RIDE!

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https://unbelievablefactsblog.com/page/5

How exercise in old age prevents the immune system from declining

TODAY'S THOUGHT

In Search of the Bell Witch

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The Bell Witch Ride to Adams, TN, is often a popular Saturday club trip. It has a lot of Middle Tennessee history and great cycling roads. Likewise, some have pedaled on the Avery Trace or thought they did. If you want to know more about Tennessee pioneer history read my book, In Search of the Bell Witch. It is FREE and on my website. www.evanscenter.com/misc.html Tom

COGNITIVE FOR THE ELDERLY

- Both exercise and stimulation from the environment can improve cognitive function and well-being in older adults. 

- E-bike participants improve in processing speed (reaction times in go trials of the Stop-It task) after the intervention compared to non-cycling control participants. 

- E-bike participants improved in their mental health score after the intervention compared to non-cycling controls 

Importantly, researchers showed sometimes larger effects for the e-bike group compared to the pedal cyclists. 

With the outdoor environment with e-bikes

potentially providing greater benefits.

This PLOS One article 

provided by Carey Rogers, Tennessee Electric Bike Forum , March 16

SAUNDERSVILLE GREENWAY IN THE PLAN

We asked for Sanders Ferry Greenway in 2000, and we received our beautiful Bike/Pedestrian path in 2024. In 2021, Bruce and Tom walked and designed a new Greenway. It's in the PLAN.

HENDERSONVILLE TRANSPORATION PLAN

2025-2035 HENDERSONVILLE TRANSPORATION PLAN

GOT A PROBLEM?

REGISTER NOW - Pedal for Paws 2025

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REGISTER NOW

FOGBEE Loss

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I just learned that fellow Fogbee Joanne Huss passed away on Friday. Most of you knew her and Bob. They were all-around good people and avid cyclists. Marilynn and I knew them from church and a pretty regular weekly meetup for Mexican. I also spent many days with them on multiday bike camping trips, which Jennifer will also remember.

Here is the schedule for the visitation and funeral.

Tom Benim

Joanne C. Huss Obituary February 21, 2025 - Hendersonville Memory Gardens, Funeral Home &Cremation Center 

KATY TRAIL - YOUTUBE

https://youtu.be/4u8VP1ccFs4

KATY TRAIL TOUR WEBSITE

CUT STRESS !

Nashville Bike Friendly Award

Bicycle League assessment of TN

Fifteen years ago, Jessica Wilson (TDOT) and Tom Evans (BWT) completed Bicycle League of America's Bicycle Friendly 100+ questionnaire about Tennessee. Our prior rank was 47th out of 50. By completing this questionnaire for several years, our ranking jumped to 17th. Since then it has dropped due to lack of continued interest since they left their jobs.

Winter Over?

Bike Days Will Return

Today's Bike Ride

 

At least it isn't rumbled.

SNOW FOGBEE

Bike Walk Tennessee

In August 19, 2009, Pat Clements, Bruce Day, and Tom Evans formed Tennessee's first bicycle advocacy corporation, Bike Walk Tennessee. Tom did the legal work, paid the fees, and Pat and Bruce signed as incorporators.

Although the three have long time retired, the corporation is still active. Like proud papas, on 1/6/25 we received a copy its latest Newsletter

Cold Yet?

Are You Ready?

WHY I RIDE!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Note from Debbie Emery

REMEMBER WHEN !!!

PEDAL FOR PAWS 2025

Oh well, so much for biking

This Saturday - Ride, Cookout and Pool at the Short Residence

The Shorts have graciously invited us to their place at 201 Cherry Lane, White House, for a cookout and pool party following our ride. To go along with chicken and burgers from the grill, please bring along your drinks and a side dish to share. Help with planning please by commenting if you will be attending and what you plan to bring. And if turnout is strong, you may want to bring a chair.

Red Boiling Springs October 25th, 26th, 27th

October 2024 ride to Red Boiling Springs with great friends, great routes, excellent food and good times is just around the corner. We will leave Gallatin on Friday October 25th, ride to Hartsville for lunch and then on to RBS for fun, fellowship, food and drink. Saturday 26th we will have a few local long and short routes planned, fellowship and dinner Saturday night, then ride back to Gallatin on Sunday. I know of one birthday we will celebrate. 

https://fogbee-rbs.blogspot.com/

My Social Security Accounts Moving

I know this is a weird post for a cycling blog, however, I have encouraged many of you over the years to create a "My Social Security Account" to first secure you SS# from hacking, then to be able to run what if retirement senerios, then when you want to get your SS or Medicare, it is almost essential to have this account. The government is transitioning access to your My Social Security account to Login.gov or ID.me If you have either of those accounts, your existing My Social Security will be linked, and no action is necessary. If you don't, I would reccommend you sign into your My Social Security account very soon, and follow the link to transition it. At some time in the near future, if you don't transition you will lose access to the account and have to start over. One final note, it is sort of a PITA to do the transition, for me I had to verify my Drivers License number, Type of vehicle I owned, the license plate of the vehicle and last 8 digits of one major credit card. Here is the official Press release link. SS Press Release