Produced almost every Thursday by Velo Cape Breton. E-mailed without cost or obligation to more than 1000 bicycle advocates around the world.

 

 In this Edition

• Did You Know?  
• A Woman With a Big Heart
• 52WBC
• Perception
• Copenhagenize.com
• NS 2010 Cycling Summit 
• Nostalgia
• Christmas Present Suggestion
• Cornering on Wet Roads - No Problem
• International Mountain Bike Magazine
• A Touching Christmas Story

 

 

RIDE PLANET EARTH... 

 

Ride Planet Earth is promoting behaviour change, focusing on environmentally sustainable transport and travel, as part of the action necessary to fight dangerous climate change. Carbon fuel based transport and travel accounts for roughly 35% of industrialised nations’ carbon emissions. Therefore addressing this issue is key to ensuring a safe and stable climate.

Ride Planet Earth is also raising awareness about the impact of climate change on communities in the non-industrialised world. We believe increased awareness leads to behaviour change, as people realise the potential impact their actions can have on vulnerable communities on the other side of the planet.

 

Cyclists from around the globe will take to the streets on the 6th of December 2009, demonstrating the capacity and willingness of ordinary people to take action against climate change. Ride Planet Earth aims at helping convince world’s governments to take immediate action in order to close a global climate deal.

 

Participants will be recording video messages to address the COP15 Climate Conference, stating not only that public action is necessary, but also that they will be taking action personally, to demonstrate that ordinary people will take the lead if governments fail to reach an agreement. 

 

Source: http://rideplanetearth.org/   Ride Planet Earth, started by Kim Nguyen, has begun as a solo bicycle journey from Brisbane, Australia, to Copenhagen, Denmark, to collect messages from people already affected by global warming and their will for economic change. Over the course of the journey a mass solidarity movement has developed and bicycle rides are occurring on every continent as to promote radical alternatives to burning fossil fuel. 

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

 

* Blood takes about 20 seconds to circulate throughout the entire vascular system.

 

* The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet.

 

* The heart beats about 100,000 times each day.

 

* In a 70-year lifetime, the average human heart beats more than 2.5 billion times.

 

* An adult woman's heart weighs about 8 ounces, a man's about 10 ounces.

 

 

A WOMAN WITH A BIG HEART

 

Deby Johnston of Ingonish (VCB #429) started her challenging run around the 300km of the Cabot Trail on Tuesday.  Inspired by the work of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Deby set herself the goal of running a half-marathon a day for 14 days to raise $3000. to help fighting AIDS in Africa.  

 

December 1    Leg 1    1 km before Smokey to Ingonish Center

First run done and only 13 left to go and in my first run I've covered a third of the mountains!!!  How about that!  

 

Also, because the Cabot Trail didn't cooperate by dividing evenly into the fourteen half-marathon distances, I had a few kilometers unaccounted for; with so much nervous energy yesterday  I decided to tie up all the loose ends and ran 24 km, now I can relax knowing that those extra kms are looked after.  

 

It was a great run, and the big guy upstairs must know how much I enjoy the snow because there were light flurries the whole way......the top of Smokey was very pretty with a nice dusting of snow just to make it look nice for me as I approached the top and I appreciated it.  

 

I feel great today and am just as anxious to get going again.

 

 

December 2    Leg 2    Ingonish Center to Halfway Brook

Just finished my second run and it was great, full moon, snow flurries and I didn't mind it at all.   I think I'm going to run in the morning tomorrow because its going to rain in the pm. Start at the hospital and finish somewhere around Arts North.

 

 

December 3    Leg 3    Halfway Brook to just before Kenny MacKinnon's  farm

Ed:  no report yet on today's leg...

 

Here's the plan for the following days: 

 

December 4    Leg 4    Just before Kenny MacKinnon's farm to Lone Shieling 

The North Mountain leg...  "If there is such a thing as studded sneakers then I'm in. So far its just been flurries, running North in daylight on Friday so hope the weather cooperates."

 

December 5    Leg 5    Long Shieling to Bog exhibit

December 6    Leg 6     Bog exhibit into Cheticamp

December 7    Leg 7    Cheticamp to St. Joseph Du Moine

December 8    Leg 8    St. Joseph Du Moine to just before Margaree Lodge

December 9    Leg 9    Just before Margaree Lodge to County of Victoria sign

December 10  Leg 10   County of Victoria sign to Red Barn

December 11  Leg 11   Red Barn to C.J. Rentals (Trans Canada outside of Baddeck)

December 12  Leg 12   C.J. Rentals to North River (Takers Akers)

December 13  Leg 13   (Takers Akers) to 1 km before North Shore sign

December 14  Leg 14  1 km before North Shore sign to THE FINISH!!!

 

You're all invited to join Deby on her daily's half-marathon.  Run the distance you want, it will be appreciated.  But more, visit her webpage here.    

 

Ed:. The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) supports community-level organizations that are turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa by providing care and support to women, orphans, grandmothers and people living with HIV and AIDS. Visit www.stephenlewisfoundation.org to learn more.

 

 

52WBC

 

Incredible!  only 4 weeks to go for the 2009 participants.  Those interested in the 2010 52WBC it's time to get your bike set up and ride it outdoors.  It time to check the efficiency of your clothing but what's more important is to register with Shelley the 52WBC coordinator at email:  blomidonrose(at)yahoo.ca .  It's free to register but it's a commitment on your part that will keep you going with a wonderful group of people for the entire year and have a lot of fun doing...

 

 

 

PERCEPTION

 

Club members in their bike attires are perceived as professional riders but it's absolutely not the case.  Yes, some ride a lot compared to most people, they run errands, visit friends, get their daily exercise fix by commuting to work.  Riding an average of 100km a week (~15 km/day) over the 52 weeks of the year totals oveer 5,000 km.  That's quite something but it's nothing compared to Tommy Godwin.  Have a look at his resume at:  http://wapedia.mobi/en/Tommy_Godwin_(cyclist_born_1912)

 

 

COPENHAGENIZE.COM 

 

Each and every day 500,000 citizens choose the bicycle in Greater Copenhagen. This blog highlights who they are, why they do and how it was made possible.

 

Forty years ago Copenhagen was just as car-clogged as anywhere else but now 55% of the population choose the bicycle for all trips. 37% trips by commuters to work and school are by bikes. Copenhagenizing is possible anywhere.

 

 

 

NS CYCLING SUMMIT

by: Debra Ryan, Recreation Coordinator, Mun. Annapolis County,  VCB #364

 

Saturday May 1, 2010 is the date selected for the 2010 NS Cycling Summit in Annapolis Royal. 

 

Annapolis Royal Legion Community Centre have been booked.  It is centrally located and in walking /cycling distance of all accommodations and eating establishments. (Located at 66 Victoria Street - driveway access next to the Post Office.)

 

Annapolis County is pleased to host the 2010 Cycling Summit.  Mark your Agenda.

 

More information will follow at a later date.

 

 

NOSTALGIA

http://jalopnik.com/5411454/1905-san-francisco-has-always-been-chill

 

 

CHRISTMAS PRESENT SUGGESTION

 

Ever thought of VCB clothing?  Several purchased jerseys, cycling shorts or a wintex jacket.  There are only two items left in the inventory:

 

1 Men's Medium Short Sleeve jersey ($70)

1 Unisex Small Wintex jacket ($155.)

 

First come first serve:  562-8137

 

 

CORNERING ON WET ROADS - NO PROBLEM!

source:  http://www.roadbikerider.com/

 

What's the matter?  Road cycling becomes a whole new game when the pavement is wet.  In extreme conditions, traction can be almost non-existent. In the Giro d'Italia a few years ago, a sudden rainstorm turned the Italian roads into a skating rink. The best bike handlers in the world were sliding across the pavement at every corner.

 

Here's help:  Although cornering on wet roads will never be as secure as on dry pavement, these 5 techniques can help keep you upright:

 

---Slow down, particularly when rain starts. The road will be slipperier in the early minutes of a shower than after the rain has had time to wash away the film of oil and dust. Even pro cyclists will slow almost to a stop in sharp turns when rain begins.

 

---Reduce tire pressure.  If it's raining when you begin a ride, let some air out of your tires. If you normally run 100 psi, go down to 85 or 90 psi, depending on your weight. The theory is that a tire at lower inflation compresses more under load, increasing its contact area. Lower pressure also reduces the risk of tires chattering and losing traction on rough roads. 

 

---Watch out for slick things.  When they're wet, painted lines and markers are very slippery. Turning while on them could easily cause tires to slide out. If you can't avoid riding on paint, do it with your bike as upright as possible. Other damp dangers include manhole covers, metal plates, steel-deck bridges, railroad tracks, fallen leaves and tarry crack filler.

 

---Be smooth.  Don't make any abrupt movements that might break traction. Initiate all turns smoothly in a wide arc instead of heeling the bike over all at once.

 

---Try a tripod.  Although this technique is relatively recent, we're seeing pro roadies using one leg as an outrigger in slow-speed slippery corners. They emulate MTB downhillers by unclipping the foot that's on the inside of the turn, holding that leg out through the corner and "dabbing" if they start to lose traction. Practice this technique and you can also use it on gravelly or sandy turns. 

 

 

Ed:  same technique applicable while riding on snow or icy pavement.  Riding with knobby or studded tires improves traction considerably.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE MAGAZINE

 

IMB is a free online mountain bike magazine that focuses on all aspects of mountain biking. It is published every 2 months and is completely free to read. 

 

Each free issue of IMB comes packed full of articles about the sport of mountain biking. Regular features include our very popular video technique section with moves for beginners intermediates and experts alike. 

 

What I particularly like is the Technique column by Richard Kelly.  He's the man with a plan to improve your riding, his videos make sense and his relaxed teaching style is proving really popular!

 

Check it out at:  http://www.imbikemag.com/issue2/?page=93

 

 

 

A TOUCHING CHRISTMAS STORY

 

There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses.  One day, a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting to God with no actual address. He thought he should open it to see what it was about.

 

The letter read:

 

Dear God,

   I am an 83 year old widow, living on a very small pension.

Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money

I had until my next pension payment.  Next Sunday is Christmas, and I had

invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have

nothing to buy food with, have no family to turn to, and you are my only

hope. Can you please help me?

  Sincerely, 

  Edna

 

 The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars.  By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman.. 

 

 The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends.  Christmas came and went.  A few days later, another letter came from the  same old lady to God.   All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened.

 

It read:

 

Dear God,

   How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? 

Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my

friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful

gift.

   By the way, there was $4 missing. 

I think it might have been those bastards at the post office.

  Sincerely, 

  Edna 

 

 

 

________________

Jacques Cote

Editor, Velo Cape Breton eNewsletter