2014 is going to be a great year for cycling in Sumner County

For all the Fogbee members who are recent additions to the club, the staff at the Bikers Choice is thrilled that you have made the decision to join the largest riding club in the North Nashville area.

2014 has some great riding opportunities coming up and we would love to help all the club members prepare to accomplish their fitness and cycling goals. As a member of the Fogbees, you automatically receive a 10% discount off every purchase at the Bikers Choice. If our staff members haven't met you yet, please stop in, introduce yourself and let us know you are a member of the club and we will gladly give you your discount at the time of your purchase.

As many club members are aware, the staff at the Bikers Choice has had some changes this past year and we are very fortunate to have our new Service Manager, Chris Smith with us(some of you met him last Monday at his first Fogbee ride on his single speed).  Chris brings nearly 10 years of local Nashville bicycling retail experience to The Biker’s Choice, and he is one of two active bike fitters in Tennessee who holds certifications through the Serotta International Cycling Institute (S.I.C.I.). As we are entering a new cycling season, if you did not get the opportunity to get your bike tuned up or get fitted to it at the end of last year, feel free to stop in, meet Chris, and get your bike ready for the new season which is almost upon us. 

Looking at the calendar for 2014, it amazes us that we are less than 2 1/2 months away from the Pedals for Paws ride on April 12th this year. The ride has been included in our Grand Tour series of events for 2014. Along with the wonderful cause, fantastic support, beautiful course, live music and post-ride meal, this event will now have $1000 in prizes given out to participants of the event. There will be $500 in gift certificates from the Bikers Choice given away in random drawings to participants of the event as well as $500 total to the fastest male and female rider who climbs our Strava segments on the course that day.

Again, we are happy and proud to be a part of the Fogbee cycling family and look forward to a great season of riding with our friends in 2014.

RAGBRAI Route Announcement Tonight

We currently have 10 riders committed for RAGBRAI.  Tonight when they announce the route I will be attempting to reserve rooms near the end point for our first night in IOWA.  Register today on our team to ensure your place and a first night hotel room.  Go to the RAGBRAI event link on this blogsite and follow the registration instructions.  I will check the registration at 7:00 and make sure we have double occupancy rooms for all that are registered on the ragbrai site.  If you want a single room, contact me directly.

SPRING TOUR

Bruce and Dave_S have been busy putting together a unique Spring Tour.  

They have a website with all the details.  Click here to learn all about it.

If you plan to join this ride, PLEASE REGISTER on the ride website (CLICK HERE). We will use these registrations to plan shared transportation, SAG support, and lodging shares. If you don't register, you still can join, but you are ON YOUR OWN.

You know your gettin old...

With great sadness I note the passing of Russell Johnson, the "Professor" on "Gilligans Island" at the age of 89...

RAGBRAI Information and Organization Meeting Wednesday Jan 15 7:00pm

For those of you who are not aware, the FOGBEES are forming a group of riders to participate in the Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa July 20 to 26 known as RAGBRAI.  We are blessed to have 2 former participants who will share information and experiences about the ride, Shan Boone and SpinJunkie Charlene Alcorn.  We will have registration information available too.  The meeting is at my house (Doug Depew's) at 7:00pm Wednesday.  Snacks and soft drinks provided BYOB.

Even if you aren't interested in this year, this will be a great time to come hang out with friends and learn about this grand ride!!  Help us by posting, if you need address or directions call me on my Google Voice Number at 431-9821.

Great Fogbee Spin turnout tonight!

16 Spinners working hard to get fit for the coming bike season. (Not pictured Mike K. , Kristi D. and Woody)...

Safe Group Riding and Etiquette for Sumner County Riding Clubs

We are seeing record numbers of riders showing up for the Fogbee weekend rides, even in January. As a cycling community, the Fogbees take on the responsibility of helping new club members not only become better, more efficient riders, but also safer, more responsible club members. With that in mind, we, at the Bikers Choice have discovered some great resources that will help new Fogbees become safer and better riders as well as helping experienced club riders become more efficient at teaching new riders safe practices while out on group rides.

Active.com has a great resource page filled with helpful tips on group riding and safe techniques while riding in pace lines, handling tight corners, as well as climbing and descending. Along with that site, Bicycling.com has a great online page with a test that has helpful tips on group riding also. You can access both of these pages at the attached links above.

70 plus? Race Across the County in a Week.

. . Michael Patterson started biking in his 40s and began entering races in his early 60s. Having heard for many years about the 3,000-mile Race Across America—known as the ultimate cycling endurance challenge—he decided that going after the record for the 70-plus age group "would be a reason to look forward to turning 70."
. . In 2012, he and three teammates rode from Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md., in six days, 13 hours and 13 minutes. The four-man relay team averaged just over 19 miles an hour and set a record for the 70-plus and 60-plus age groups.  Click here for the story

Awesome and huge turnout for this mornings FOGBEE ride. Over 35 riders counted.

SHARE YOUR JANUARY NEWSLETTER

. . The January FOGBEE Newsletter has several important announcements along with an invitation to other bicyclists to join our group.  Unlike our other monthly newsletters, which issue only to members, we request everyone share this release.  Click here for a website link to it.
. . This newsletter also kicks off the update of our Membership roster.  If you are a FOGBEE, are reading this post, and have not received your newsletter, we have a problem.  Please contact us at FOGBEES@gmail.com for help.

Cycling Books and Fogbee Ball Cap

I am doing some housekeeping and have a number of books on cycling and a never-worn Fogbee ball cap. I can bring to Spin Saturday.

I am giving these away but if whoever takes the books would like to pass them on to another, it would be nice.

Membership Update

. . We need your help.  Click here for a list of people that we plan to remove from our Membership List based on their rating with MailChimp.  This rating is based on their OPENING of our newsletter in HTML format.
. . We can't track those who have set their email client to open in TEXT, which we recommend against.  If you feel you must open the newsletter in TEXT mode please send us a note as to your reasoning.  TEXT mode is a horrible and incomplete way to view the newsletter.
. . These people may not be opening the newsletter for three reasons: we have their wrong email address, their address domain is an employer who blocks personal mail, or the newsletter is ending up in their SPAM folder.
. . Here is how you can help.  If you know anyone on this list and they don't want to be deleted from our membership list, please contact them and have them send us a note to Fogbees@gmail.com.  People deleted from the membership list will also be deleted from access to post to our blog.
. . This update is a pain to do and we REALLY appreciate your help.  Thanks in advance.

New Year Ride and Membership Update.

 

Click on picture to enlarge.

. . Starting next week we will initiate our annual update of FOGBEE membership records.  We use "Opens" of the newsletter as recorded by MailChimp to determine who is still active. (Yah, we and NSA know who is reading our newsletters.) If you have been opening the newsletter, then we know we have current info for you.  If you have missed the December newsletter, then we have problems.  We will delete you from our roster.  

. . On Sunday 1/5/2014, I will issue a short newsletter explaining this process.  We will use "Opens" of that newsletter as part of our update record.  If you don't receive it, please contact us at Fogbees@gmail.com.  We have had problems with some members not receiving the newsletter, which we work to clear up.

Now is the time to work hard for yourself...

Join us at the Ymca at 6:30 pm on Thursday

Great start for the New Year!

Almost 40 Fogbee riders happily hit the rode for 32+ miles and celebrated 2014 at Bluegrass Bar & Grill!

Bring InThe New Year Ride, Jan. 1st

Due to popular demand, we will ride from Bluegrass Bar and Grille at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 1st.  Late night News Years Eve partying no excuse.  We will do a 30 mile ride.

See You There,

Mike   Knake

31 Mile Route

Ate too much, drank too much, need to ride Rde-Saturday, Dec 28th

Saturday looks like a good time to rid yourself of some of those bad radicals that you have been storing over the last few weeks. We will shoot for a 10:00start time from Bluegrass Bar and Grille.  I will post two routes of about 30 and 40 miles by Friday.  Ride will be followed by food and beverage at Bluegrass Bar and Grille.

See you on the road,

Mike Knake


30 Mile Route

36 Mile Route

MERRY CYCLING AND A HAPPY RIDING NEW YEAR!!!!!

What do Big Red Bicycles, Christmas Lights Rides, and Polar Bears have in common ???

   

 FOGBEES, of course !

Christmas Card from David Irvine

Bicyclists march to their own music, really.

Frostbite Run - January 1'st

Sumner County YMCA Frostbite 5k & 10k

Wednesday, January 1

Time(s)/(Cost):

8:00am- Registration

9:00am- Kid's 1 Mile Fun Run ($5.00)

9:30am- 10k ($30.00 or $35.00 on Raceday)

9:45am- 5k ($30.00 or $35.00 on Raceday) 
10:45am- Frostbite Freeze ($10.00)

Register to Run here: https://give.ymcamidtn.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=429&cid=1&ceid=47 ; or pick up a registration form at the Sumner County YMCA.

Can't Run? Don't wanna Run? In town? 
Still wanna be a part of the excitement?

VOLUNTEER!

Bring your New Years Eve Noise makers, Christmas Bells, Cowbells, Family Friendly Music, a big travel mug of something HOT and wear your craziest warm hat!

The Frostbite 10k/5k Course Volunteers have almost as much fun as the runners themselves! PLUS!...you get a free shirt!

I NEED lots of COURSE VOLUNTEERS!

Email me at: spinjunkie@comcast.net if you can volunteer.

Charlene Alcorn, Frostbite Volunteer Coordinator

THE FEW. THE PROUD. THE FOGBEES...

Feeling good after an hour Spin.

Another video from the Christmas Lights Ride

Indian Lake Peninsula Living

. . The FOGBEES in a joint effort with Biker's Choice Bike Shop have re-launched the Bike 'n Walk Hendersonville website (www.bikinhville.com) and is providing a monthly biking column in the social magazine Indian Lake Peninsula Living.  The first article issued in December.  In case you didn't receive a copy in the mail.  CLICK HERE for a copy.  The focus is to promote bicycling as it relates to Indian Lake Peninsula. What topics would you like to see covered (or write) in this column?

. . Bike 'n Walk Hendersonville was formed by the Hendersonville Greenway Committee in 2005.  The committee has provided guidance to Hendersonville Planning Department in the creation of the city's Streets of Indian Lake Greenway and the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan in the city's 2009 "Land Use and Transportation Plan."

. . The Hendersonville Greenway Committee was formed as part of the Hendersonville Tomorrow Committee (more info) and, after it submitted its recommendations to the city in 2006, officially disbanded. 

. . In 2012 Metro Nashville MPO started providing funding to be used specifically for active transportation projects.  In our area, money was given to White House to create the bike lanes on 31W and 76 and to Sumner County to add greenway trails in the Station Camp schools area.  In 2013 TDOT has offered $10 Million for Active Transportation projects.  Hendersonville was unable to participate.  In 2014 TDOT will be offering another $10 Million and the MPO $12.1 Million for Active Transportation Projects.   

Without significant volunteer and community support, 

it isn't going to happen for Hendersonville. 

We again don't anticipate Hendersonville participating in this funding opportunity.  If you are interested is helping, please contact us at FOGBEES@gmail.com.

Xmas Light Ride

You guys and girls looked AWESOME! Nice job.

Another Great Performance

. . Each year the FOGBEE Christmas Lights Ride only gets better because of everyone's fantastic contributions.  We have many new and creative costumes/floats, we have past themes with an extra string of lights added, more elves show up to assist, and the post ride party (even Gary singing) gets more festive.
. . David Evjens, one of the organizers of the St Nicholas Ball, said, "The FOGEES are great.  We have to make their visit to the Ball an annual tradition."
. . The caroling went well and was appreciated at every stop, especially for the little girl whose birthday present from the FOGBEES was a chorus of "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer."
. . Special thanks go to Sgt. Mike Germany of the Hendersonville Police Department who provided for our escort.  The flashing blue lights of the police car warned all that something special was coming. AND you all were truly special this year.  Thanks to Bob, Gary, and the cast of FOGBEE actors who braved the cold and misty evening to make this ride a unique and not-to-be missed annual event.  There was a rumor that the Hendersonville Star News was at the party taking pictures. 

Today's Spin..no words necessary. ..

(Not pictured Mike K. , Joe, Jeff and me)

You ROCK FOGBEES

DETAILED PLAN FOR CHRISTMAS RIDE

Please CLICK HERE to download a detailed copy of the Christmas Lights Ride plan. Check with Gary and Bob for last minute info.  They'll be at the YMCA between 10 and 11AM.  Have a great ride and remember ALL bicyclists must have helmets and lights and be ready to ride by 5:30PM at Blue Grass Bar & Grill parking lot.

Who says Santa Fogbee, Santa Deer and Red Nose Reindeer can't run a 5k...

No Excuses!

The rain is scheduled to move out by Saturday afternoon AND the evening will not be so horribly cold that you choose to miss the holiday fun at the Christmas Lights Ride, the caroling, and the partying at Blue Grass Bar and Grill. Even if you failed to decorate your bike, don't fret.  Grab a couple of glow sticks, pin them to your parka, throw on that bike spot light and join the tens of thousands (well maybe just the tens) at this unique ride.   

Santa's making his list 

and if you know Gary you know I am not kidding.  While you're at it, its not to late to add a toy or two to Gary's Christmas tree and help a child enjoy Christmas.

Saturday Morning Spin at the Bikers Choice

This Saturday, with the bad weather once again rolling in, we will be opening up the Bikers Choice at 8:00 for an early morning spin group. If you want to ride your bike and have a trainer, bring it down to the store and join Bryan for an hour of trainer riding. He will put some fun mountain bike videos on the tv and you can set your own pace and level of exercise. Trainer riding with friends and fellow riders is a lot more fun than sitting at home alone on the bike so come down and join us this Saturday at our Hendersonville location. We should have room for 10-15 riders.

A Christmas Miracle? Who TWINKLED Gary's Tree

Here it is again.

Gary has been blaming the Blog Administrator.

WE are innocent.

We don't have the software.

BUT, it is OUR guess

that the guilty party has initials D.R.

aka, producer of great Christmas videos.

Gary says, "It's a Christmas Miracle!

If reindeer can fly, why can't my tree

spontaneously twinkle?"

He is now expecting to 
walk out of his office and 
see this little tree buried in 
Toys for Tots, Tweens, and Teens, 
especially gifts for the older boys.

Santa's Makin' His List

You have less than one week 

to get that bike decorated and

get me some toys for our BIG Annual 

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS RIDE.

I have made my list and checking it twice,

but I know where you live. I expect to see you on

December 14'th at 5:30PM

I also expect to see you at our

Annual Christmas Party

at The Blue Grass Bar & Grill 

after we spread holiday cheer.

Saturday Spin success

Tom B not included....

Rudoph Says, "Ya Better Be Good"

It's cold enough to freeze the hoofs of a reindeer.

So Rudolph is spending the day

putting lights on the ole sleigh.

Can never have too many for

Christmas Lights Ride

through Hendersonville on

DECEMBER 14'th

He is also planning to chow down at the

Annual Christmas Party at

Blue Grass Bar and Grill

He said,

"Santa's taking attendance."