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

• This Weekend
• Sport Bars & Gels
• Nova Scotia Tobacco Stats
• Feedbacks
• Invaluable Gift to NS Cycling World
• For Sale / Wanted
• A Couple

HEAVY PACEMAKERS ON HEARTLAND TOUR

Nick Giacomantonio and the core group on Heartland Tour 2010 are receiving an overwhelming response in the communities visited so far this year. Local organizers are really doing their 110% to set the pace for all types of cyclists to participate in the rides. So far the little town of Bridgewater had the most participation with a reported estimate of 200 kids on bikes.

Here in Sydney today, 8-year old Tyler led the group of nearly 80 cyclists at an incredible pace on the last 5km leg on Kings Road from Sydney River to City Hall. Tyler is an example of the new generation of more active kids well supported by their parents conscious of the importance of physical activity at an early age for their future mental, physical and intellectual well being.

Zillion thanks to Heartland Tour to bring this opportunity to Nova Scotia communities. Heartland Tour is in Antigonish Thursday, in Wolfville on Friday. HT ends in Yarmouth on Saturday where over 175 cyclists have registered so far.

Long Live HEARTLAND TOUR!

http://www.heartlandtour.ca/

THIS WEEKEND

Saturday, July 17,

Guess what? AHC '10 with a record of 73 participants. 17 in the 25k, 56 in the 60k.

Can't wait to get going!

Sunday, July 18

Port Hood Triathlon.

To participate individually or on a team as a cyclist, swimmer or runner, contact, Chris Milburn @ 539-6852 or millburn.chris(at)gmail.com

More info http://www.atlanticchip.ca/events/details.php?show=487

SPORT BARS & GELS

link submitted by: Phil Milner, Antigonish

People who exercise for more than about two hours at a time can benefit from sports drinks. Most of us know that, of course. The carbohydrates in the drinks provide immediate fuel, which allows our bodies to avoid dipping into its own energy stores, meaning that, theoretically, you can exercise longer or more intensively before running out of fuel.

More at: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com

NOVA SCOTIA TOBACCO STATS

The facts

• This year, approximately 1600 Nova Scotians will die from smoking related illnesses and 200 will die from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Nova Scotia
• 85% of all lung cancer cases in Nova Scotia are due to tobacco

A pack of 20 cigarettes cost approximately $5. At the rate of one pack a day, this is $1800./year or $18,000. for 10 years and increaqsing if you're not dead by then. Smokers are nuts. I had no idea suicide was that expensive... There must be better and cheaper ways, don't you think?

FEEDBACKS

RE: NO-Excuses Bike Commuting

Hi Jacques

I'm surprised you missed it: a single solution covers all excuses:

Just Say NO to Working!!

-Leo Smit , Mt Uniacke

_________________

RE: Halifax - Paving Project won't Have Bike Lanes.

...it was a token gesture to "add to the milage" of bike lanes but was really aimed at reducing speed on that stretch...it is probably just as safe to bike on regardless, Most of our bike lanes are dangerous and "just end"...

I am on our ratepayers assoc in Waverley and we are trying for road improvements such as wider corners etc to assit biking and walkjing in our area which is probably the most used area for bikes in metro. - Steve Saunders, Waverley

INVALUABLE GIFT TO THE NS CYCLING WORLD

by: Bob White, Bicycle Nova Scotia Board member, President, NS Ramblers Bicycle Club

Hi everyone,

A week or so ago, I received a rather large cardboard cartoon from Rambler Derek Watts. It contained a life time collection of cycling books, tour guides, advocacy books, maps, how - to and other bicycle related writings, with an emphasis on cycling in the UK.. This is a real treasure - I am already looking forward to cold, snowy winter days and nights when I can climb up on my lazy-boy and nibble away!

Among the treasures is the original draft work, accompanied by dozens of slides** taken in the 1880's and 1890's; all in preparation of the book Derek's wife Heather Watts wrote named the "Silent Steeds". I have really enjoyed this book; a great piece of Nova Scotian Bicycle History and over the years, I have purchased (guessing) about 50 copies and as I only have 1 on hand, must have given away 49! The formation and name of the NS Ramblers was motivated by Heathers book; we have so very much to be thankful.

Getting back to Rambler Derek, personally I owe so very much to him. We are all a product of those who came before us; Derek pre-dated me in both Velo Halifax as well as the board of Bicycle NS, where he served for a dozen+ years. Derek, over the years has contributed as much as any other Nova Scotian toward the development of all aspects of cycling and all ages - the next time you bike over the MacDonald Bridge, think of Derek. For the past several years, Derek has been a direct link for me and others to CTC - in Britain. Better still, I have been most lucky to have shared the roads and trails with him over the years, cycling with Velo Halifax, Centennial and most recently the Ramblers.

Heather and Derek are moving out of their Wolfville residence to an apartment; hence, I am the benefactor of this lovely collection. Like all gifts, unless they are shared, there is waste.

Over the next several weeks, I plan to categorize them, and then start a "Rambler Library" - so all of our members will have the opportunity to share in these wonderful writings.

On behalf of all Ramblers as well as bicyclists in Nova Scotia and beyond, I am pleased to extend our thanks and appreciation to both Derek and Heather Watts. We are all in your debt. I think of them as our "Silent Contributors!"

Cheers and many tailwinds!

"Cycle for Health, Cycle for Fun!!"

** I will be looking to reproduce these slides to CD form - maybe "Copy-Cat" can do this - any (inexpensive) suggestions out there?

FOR SALE / WANTED

I have a childís bike carrier. It hitches onto the back of the bike. It is in good shape and I am asking $30.00. See picture attached.

Contact Shirlee at g_shirlee@hotmail.com or 564-6216

A COUPLE

A couple living in a small Midlands village take on an 18-year-old girl as a lodger. She asked if she could have a bath but the woman of the house told her they didn't have a bathroom as such but she could use a tin bath in front of the fire.

"Monday's the best night, when my husband goes out to darts," the woman said. So the young girl agreed to have a bath the following Monday night.

After her husband had gone off to the pub for his darts match, the woman filled the bath and watched as the girl got undressed.

She was surprised to see that the young lass didn't have any pubic hair and told her husband when he came home. He didn't believe her, so she said, "Next week, when you go off to darts, I'll leave a little gap in the curtains so that you can see for yourself, alright?"

The following Monday night, while the girl got undressed for her bath, the wife asked her, "Do you shave down there?"

"No," replied the girl, "I've just never grown any hairs down there. Do you have hairs on yours?"

"Oh, yes," said the woman and she showed the girl her hairy muff.

After the girl had gone to bed the husband came home and the wife asked, "Did you see it?"

"Yes," he said, "but why the hell did you have to show her yours?"

"Why not?" she said, "You've seen it before.î

"I know," he replied, "but the darts team hadn't!"

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Jacques Cote

Editor, Velo Cape Breton eNewsletter