The Cue Sheet

The Newsletter of the Elmhurst Bicycle Club
Riding Strong for over 31 Years

July
2009

Helmets Required

By Steve Josephs

At the June EBC board meeting, we passed a motion requiring all riders to wear helmets on our club rides. This previously had been "strongly recommended" but we felt that it was time to formally require this important safety practice.

Please note that the ride sheets available on the website have been been updated to reflect this change - please use these if possible. We'll be getting a stock of these printed as well, which will be available at club meetings.

Captains Needed!

By Steve Sinderson

Last year I responded to an email from Susan Sperl requesting a Captain on a tandem bike for a blind bike rider named Mike Delaney. After receiving the email I pondered the thought of becoming involved. A week went by and I decided I would pick up the phone and call Mike and offer to ride with him. While talking to him for a few minutes I learned that he lost his sight from diabetes and that he is trying to stay active in order to keep up his health. I offered to come over the next day and give one of his two tandems a try. The next day came and I met Mike at his house and we went for a short 8 mile ride, which was all he felt comfortable with at the time. During the course of the next several weeks we went out 1 - 2 times a week and slowly worked our way up to 25 miles at which time I told Mike he was now ready to try one of the evening club rides. We decided that the best ride for the two of us to tackle first was one of Larry Gitchell's Monday Night Rides. I headed over to Mikes house and we readied the tandem and off we went; I believe we put in 28 miles on Mike's first club ride. After his initial jitters wore off, we took on Jeff's Tuesday night ride as well as his Thursday night ride. We continued through the end of September trying to get in rides per week averaging 30+ miles on each ride. The ride schedule came out for October '08 and I noticed a ride to St. Charles on the 11th. I called Mike and asked him if he would be interested in taking on this ride, as this would be his longest at 62 miles. As is always the case with Mike, he responded with an overwhelming "Yes, I want to ride" and several days later we were riding to St. Charles on a 62 mile ride.

It is now June of 2009 and I have been riding with Mike for almost a year and have had many great rides. Mike is always looking to ride, and this is where I put the hook into all of you reading this. In order to help keep Mike on a bike and exercising I'm asking that potential Captains step-up and volunteer to Captain a tandem to help out a fellow rider.

Please contact Mike at mike.delaney at mcmaster.com or check the club directory for his number. Thanks for your help!

Crossing Paths Far from Home

By Cindy Reedy

EBC members and veteran bicycle tourers Rich and Freda Diebold left from their Schaumburg home on fully loaded bicycles Sunday, May 24th. They headed to a Schaumburg Bicycle Club (SBC) event - Excursion to Petosky (Michigan). SBC member Mike Hill accompanied them for the first week, then headed back on the Ludington ferry. Rich and Freda reached Petosky a day early on June 4th. Thirteen other SBC members drove their cars to Petosky and enjoyed the three day biking event. Afterward the Diebolds continued biking around Lake Michigan, traveling counter-clockwise. Why not, when you are almost half way around? EBC members Dave and Cindy Reedy left on their first unsupported bicycle tour from their Villa Park home on June 2nd, heading clockwise around Lake Michigan. A couple of days into their trip it occurred to Cindy that they might be able to meet up with the Diebolds. She emailed Freda, who had a computer with her also. Freda sent back their cell phone numbers. After a few more connections the meeting point was set at the Best Western motel in Escanaba, Michigan (Upper Peninsula). The Diebolds helped the Reedys plan the last days of their trip - through the scary areas of northwest Indiana and south Chicago. Then they went off to dinner and enjoyed the good company with many bicycle touring stories from the veteran Diebolds. The Reedys were inspired by the Diebolds.

Freda and Rich arriving in Escanaba The Reedys and The Diebolds ready to ride.

EBC Green Jerseys

By Susan Sperl

Like the new green club jersey but you didn't get one for an award? Own a new club jersey? How about getting a long sleeve jersey or a jacket for cooler weather? What about matching shorts or knickers? They'll look really good with your jersey. Get all of the details about ordering EBC cycling ware from the Voler site below.

Important things you should know before starting or completing your order:

1. There will be NO EXCHANGES OR REFUNDS!
2. The pricing is based on a total club order of 101 items or more.
3. Each category has to have a minimum of 15 items. Categories are:
   • Tops = short sleeve and sleeveless
   • Bottoms = shorts and knickers
   • Long Sleeve = long sleeve jerseys and jackets.
4. Check sizing tab. Some items only come in men's sizes.
5. Cost will be charged to your credit card at the time of the order.
6. Credit for items not meeting the minimum order will be issued at the time of the deadline.
   The deadline is July 13th.
7. The order will be shipped to me for distribution.
8. Accessories are available. Each category also has the 15 minimum order requirement.

I will send periodic updates on how many orders have been placed in each category.

If you have other questions, please call Voler or contact me.

This is what you will see when you go to the Voler website for the club order.
https://oos.voler.com?orderID=A4QyZ7mg/1o=Order

Welcome to the Voler Online Ordering System Your cycling team has chosen to use Voler's new online ordering system for your next clothing order. Please follow the steps below to place your portion of the teams order.

• Create a "New Account. Once you log-in, click on "Get Started" to begin your order.
• Choose your items and options from the Like Item Categories.
• When you are finished, open your shopping cart and carefully review your items. Because each item is custom built, refunds and exchanges will not be accepted. When you have confirmed your order, continue to the secure Checkout.

After you process your order, you will receive an e-mailed order confirmation for your records. Once the order deadline date has been met, you will not be able to add or modify your order. The order ship date is listed on the homepage.This is the date that your order will ship to your Coordinator. Thank you for your order. If you have any questions, please call 800-488-6537.

Bike Riding Safety

An excerpt from a League of American Bicyclists letter written by Andy Clark

"Cyclists are their own worst enemy." I've lost count of the number of times I've heard that statement.

"[The cyclist] got what they deserved" is the more extreme version of the same idea. You've probably read it in comments on-line after newspaper reports of a fatal crash involving a cyclist.

"We have met the enemy…and he is us!" is how the '50s cartoon character Pogo famously put it.

"Because cyclists don't follow the rules, we can't expect or don't deserve any protection or respect. We shouldn't expect to be treated fairly. We shouldn't be asking for more bike lanes or trails until we put our own house in order."

It's easy to see why people say this. We've all been on club or training rides that are all over the road; where packs of riders get into that group mindset and blow through stop signs or red lights with varying degrees of impunity. Riding to work every day I see fellow cyclists pulling all kinds of crazy stunts - riding the wrong way; hopping on and off the sidewalk; going hands-free (and I'm not talking about their cell phone usage); even taking the center line instead of the lane!

Sometimes we don't do ourselves any favors.

If you have ever stepped up and spoken out on behalf of cyclist - whether it's at a family party, in front of city council, at a neighborhood meeting, or with your member of Congress - you've almost certainly had the "bicyclists behaving badly" line thrown back at you.

We hear about it and deal with it every single day as we work tirelessly to promote and protect the rights of cyclist like you. Believe me we live in fear of a Member of Congress getting mown down on a Capital Hill sidewalk by a kamikaze cyclist!

We also hear all the excuses.

• Motorists behave awfully as well - and it's true, they so. Jaywalking pedestrians and unleashed dogs shouldn't be immune from criticism either.
• When the system accepts cyclists, cyclists will accept the system. Every traffic signal that fails to detect bicyclists lends credence to this argument.
• We don't hurt anyone but ourselves if we break the rules - the recovering law student in me says this isn't a particularly convincing argument for rule-breaking!

This is one reason our education program is so important; it's a clear statement that we take our responsibilities as traffic participants very seriously. Forget the excuses; we have to play our part. That's why we are using our Smart Cycling conference in San Jose to announce a new set of "Rules of the Road" for cyclists. The five simple rules are:

1. Follow the Law - it's the safest way to ride. Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as other drivers and need to follow the same traffic laws.
2. Be Predictable - ride in a straight line, signal turns and check behind you before turning or changing lanes.
3. Be Conspicuous - ride where drivers can see you, use lights at night and wear bright clothing.
4. Be aware - anticipate the next move of drivers, pedestrians and other cyclists. Watch for debris, potholes and grates.
5. Ride Ready - tires need air, brakes must work, chains should run smoothly, and quick release wheel levers must be closed. Carry repair and emergency supplies. Wear a helmet.

We have to set a good example, both individually and as an organization.

Please submit articles and/or photos for the newsletter to Cindy Reedy (cmreedy_prodigy.net) AND Sharon Hermach (ganskesh_hotmail.com). The deadline is the 15th of the month.

Note: The most current ride schedule can be found on our website at http://www.elmhurstbicycling.org/rides/currentRide.aspx.