The Bicycle Shop
3315 Highland Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: 225.344.5624

Website:  http://bicycleshop.com

Facebook Link:  https://www.facebook.com/events/345293842203855/

Date:            Wednesday – May 16, 2012
Time:            6:30pm until 8:00pm
Location:      LSU Vet Med Game Day Parking Lot

Organizer:  Chris Clark

Map:  http://tinyurl.com/csjr3m7

Website: http://www.bodyfactorybtr.com

All Baton Rouge Bike Club members  get a 1 free class for both services and 15% off sessions.

Velo Louisiane is a weekend-long celebration of bicycles in our capitol city. The Festival is the flagship event: a day of fun on all types of bikes for all cyclists. Come and pass a good time!www.velola.org

Baton Rouge has an amazing weekend lined up! On friday after Critical Mass – Baton Rouge everyone should check out the Let’s Radio! art show at Baton Rouge Community Radio WHYR 96.9 FM featuring interactive pieces from many LSU sculpture grads, oh yeah Neighborhood Threat will be djing!! On SATURDAY come check the 2012 Velo Artiste Bike Evening at Bricks N Bombs from 6-9 followed by an after part at The Radio Bar with GOLD SPRINTS!!! Check the event pages above for all the details! Hope to see all your beautiful faces this weekend!! This is all in culmination of the 2012 Velo Louisiane Festival this Sunday!!!! Make it happen Baton Rouge!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/events/311030205628653/

The Saturday 31 March Intermediate Ride will be joining the usual Saturday Tour du Cafe through quiet neighborhoods, lakes, LSU, levee trail, Saturday market, Capitol Park and Bike Day festivities at Farr Park including blessing of bikes and dedication of the newest segment of the levee top trail and the Mayor’s annual family bike ride.

If you have a BRBC club jersey (any edition) please wear it for this ride. We need to show our colors and courtesy for the community.

There are three start points for this ride.

1. Begin at Chez Conestoga (my house at 7614 Conestoga in Central) at 7AM for a B pace (16-18 MPH) ride for a total of 55 miles to the start at Goodwood Park.

2. Begin the ride at Goodwood Park 8AM about 30 miles C pace (12-16 MPH) or B pace (16-18 MPH) splitting into two groups if necessary, BUT no one left behind, arriving at City Park start at 8:30 AM

3. begin the ride at City Park 8.30 AM sharp to arrive at Farr Park in time for the brief ceremonies at Farr Park where yours truly has a speaking role. This is a C pace (12-16 MPH) ride with no one left behind.

Call if you need additional information

Bruce
225.963.8616

Future Intermediate Rides
07 Apr – Clinton Market Day ride
14 Apr – Port Allen Bike Day with out and back to New Roads Bridge
21 Apr – Jackson LA rolling hills ride on NEW pavement.
27 Apr – Doyle’s Bayou Park to see the longhorn cattle on LA-956 OR the kangaroos on LA-959

also fyi:

Mar31st National Day of Recognition “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans” At the levee near the USS KIDD, 9:00am-5:00 pm . Ceremony at 11:00 am. Speakers include Governor Bobby Jindal and Louisiana Hall of Honor members. Pack a lunch and bring your own lawn chairs or purchase from on-site vendors (Heads&Tails Seafood and Livingston Parish Veterans Association). Please no BBQ pits, tents or pets! Free admission to the USS KIDD Museum. All veterans and their families tour the USS KIDD (DD-661) for ½ price. More info:www.usskidd.com

One of the reasons I lead the Sunday Tour Du Cafe is to have the opportunity to pass on learnings to newer riders, so that hopefully they will not have to learn the   hard way.  I have several learnings that the group experienced during Sunday’s ride.

THE FLAT

Jim experienced a flat, which is something EVERY rider will have.  He had all the right equipment, a replacement tube, tire levers and a pump AND CO2 inflation.  (Doubly prepared is not a bad idea).  One of the things to do when experiencing a flat is to figure out the cause, so that the incident will not repeat in a mile or two if the offending wire/glass/protruding spoke is not addressed.

In this case, Jim hit a large bump, which caused the pinch or “snake bite” flat.  The snake bite giveaway is always a pair of slits in the inner tube on the same side as the tube valve.  It is caused by the rim of the wheel as the tube is pinched when the tire fully deforms as the wheel hits the bump, pinching the tube.

After the incident, we repaired the blown tube so that Jim would have a second spare, in case of a second flat.  Stick-ons work, but we used the rubber cement and patch technique.  First find the holes and then rough up the surface with abrasives found in the patch kit.  Then apply the cement to the tube and wait for it to dry.  After 5 minutes or so peel the foil back off the patch, being careful not to touch the patch surface, and press onto the newly dry cement.  That’s it. Now check for leaks by inflating the tube and you are done.

CRACKS IN THE PAVEMENT

We’ve all seen them, and rolled over them and wondered what would happen if the front tire dropped in.  That quest was answered yesterday, as one rider found the inch-side crack on the north side of Spanish Town road in front of the State Capitol near the curb.  The wheel got stuck and the rider tried to turn the handlebars to get out of it, but to no avail.  A crash resulted.  The rider suffered a bumped knee (which is probably sore this morning).  The rider behind (as is often the case) also crashed after hitting the downed bike of the first rider.  There was a head bump (protected by a helmet), and an injured and possibly cracked lower arm bone at the wrist.

The crash was at low speed (less than 10 MPH) and speed would have contributed to more severe outcomes.  20 MPH does 4 times the damage as 10 MPH   As you might remember from high school physics or drivers education: energy (and damage) is proportional to the square of the velocity.

The ride continued after assessing the injuries, and hindsight says that the best way to prevent crashes like this is to watch where you are riding, and avoid cracks in the road parallel to your path.  Railroad crossings present the same hazard unless you cross them at as close to a right angle as possible, and hold the handlebar tightly to prevent the front wheel from dropping into the slot.

If you do find yourself in “the crack” the best thing to do is slow to a stop.  (Easier said than done)

If you do find that the rider in front is crashing, it is probably too late to stop, and making a fast turn using a practiced “instant turn” technique is your best bet to avoid a crash.  But again prevention by not following too closely is best.

The “instant turn” is from the LAB “Traffic Skills 101″ class, and involves turning the handle bars BRIEFLY in the opposite direction you want to turn to get the bike leaning, then immediately turning the handlebars the other way to stay balanced in what is a very tight turn.  I have used this turn when a driver pulled out from a driveway in front of me, but in order to be effective it requires that you be aware of your surroundings (no other riders, vehicles etc.) and have practiced this skill and are comfortable using it.

Regarding the helmet used in the crash, it is best to check it very carefully; as it is likely cracked (I have 3 cracked helmets from low speed fall/crashes).  The rigid foam is designed to self-destruct (crush and crack) in order to protect your head.  Chalk up a cracked helmet to having served its purpose, and get a new one.

Hopefully there will be more teachable moments on future rides, with less painful lessons.  New riders welcome every Sunday from BUMC @ 12:00, Goodwood Park @ 12:30 and City Park @ 1:00.

Bruce

WHEN:     May 5, 2012
WHERE:   St. Francisville,  Louisiana

Come out for the Red Bug Hill Challenge.  Running AND Cycling events.   All levels.   For more information visit:   http://www.RedBugHill.com
BRBC will be supporting the event.  Come out for a great time.

REGISTER HERE
Proceeds go to Spina Bifida of Greater New Orleans (SBGNO). SBGNO is the only Spina Bifida organization in Louisiana and they support the entire state. 

Reminder to Join us at the Rider Kick-Off!

Still Need to Sign Up for 2012 Tour de Cure? Want to Sign Up someone on your team?

Want someone you know to volunteer?

Please join us for the 2012 Rider Northshore Kick-Off on February 9, 2012
4:30—7:00 PM
Hilton Garden Inn Covington/Mandeville
350 Holiday Square Blvd
Covington, LA 70433

Complimentary appetizers, wine, soft drinks.

Beer and drink specials will be available for purchase.

2 for 1 Tour de Cure registration fees, be the lucky winner of a Tour insignia

door prize item, and stay for dinner to meet new friends!

See you at the kick-off!

RSVP to Kathleen Gross at:
KGross@diabetes.org or 888-342-2383 ext. 6072
Happy Riding!

Kathleen
The above is an FYI from Herb

Hot Hundred…The Hottest Ride in the South…..Saturday, July 28, 2012….Tuscaloosa, AL.

In its 10th year, the Hot Hundred ride headquarters will be the beautiful University of Alabama Rec Center.

Join us for the Friday night, July 27th, Pre-Ride Registration & Party at VeloCity Pro Cycle in downtown Tuscaloosa Temerson Square…6-8 p.m.

Saturday Registration 6 a.m. at Rec Center
Saturday Ride starts promptly 7 a.m.

•  On-site parking and motor home parking
•   Air-conditioned facilities
•  7 well-stocked Rest Stops on route
•  Six SAG vehicles
•  Roving mechanic (courtesy VeloCity Pro Cycle)
• Quiet, lightly traveled roads offering options of 29, 36, 52, 71, and 103 miles.
• Post ride meal
•  Post ride swimming! (Bring the family to enjoy the pool while you ride…$5 ea. )
• Great t-shirt (first 300 to register)
• Jersey (order when you register)
• Proceeds benefit the Tuscaloosa Mental Health Task Force & the advocacy efforts of the Druid City Bicycle Club

Details & Online registration:    www.bikehothundred.com