I got an email today from Eric Rogers who is coordinating all the activities for Bike Week and the Car Free Challenge. It looks like they have LOTS of activities planned in May. Yay! Good work guys and gals!

Here’s a link to the Car Free Challenge and Bike Week website. http://www.bikekc.org

The best link on the page (it should be at the top if you ask me) is called How Not To Get Hit By Cars. Rules to live by. Literally. Riding a bike should be intuitive but unless you ride a lot, there is a lot to be learned about bikes and cars coexisting in traveling harmony and on a bike, lessons you don’t learn can kill you. Just sayin’. Sometimes I see people riding bikes and I’m sure they have a death wish. Riding the wrong way (bike salmon), no lights AND dark clothes at night, riding in groups 3 abreast going up a hill with 5 or more cars behind them. Yes, I know, you CAN take up the whole lane, it’s not against the law and after all you DO have an expensive carbon bike and a cool team jersey on but WHY? Just get in single file for less than a minute and let them pass! I drive too and it makes me nuts.

Anyhoozles, I’m making 250 wallets for Bike Week so if you want one,  just show up at any of the events and I bet you can get one.

I am the captain of  Team Re-Velo for the Car Free Challenge. OK, so it’s only me but I’m STILL the captain. But if you want to be on my team, I’d love to have you join! There are rules however…

1- Must be able to ride a bicycle

2- I haven’t thought of the second one yet.

Here’s a link to the Car Free Challenge site. Just do it!

This Saturday is the final stage!

I’m not sure how I did but I don’t think I was last AND I think I was the oldest participant so I am pretty happy about it.

Granted, it was the Urban Cyclocross Challenge in the West Bottoms of KC, MO, so it was far from a traditional cyclocross race – BUT, my bamboo bicycle performed great and I even did a cyclocross running dismount. My re-mounts need work to say the least but great fun was had by me and all who attended. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. Perfect for being outside. It was in the high 20′s but no wind to speak of. I couldn’t feel my toes by the end of the race but other than that, it was very comfy for riding a bicycle.

I have movies on my camera that someone took for me so I will edit those and put them on my Flickr page next week.

I scrubbed, lubed, and waxed (yes, I wax my bike) the bamboo bike when I got home so it’s ready to go. I also re-set my computer so I’m starting at zero miles today. Now to start working on my 2,010 miles this year.

Tomorrow it’s back to sewing some bags!!! I’m way far behind on getting them done and re-creating my store on this site.  Argh.

Get your urban on with the Cyclocross Challenge!

Stage 4 is TOMORROW. NOW IN THE WEST BOTTOMS. Meet at the corner of Hickory and St. Louis.

View Larger Map

Mark your blackberries, iphones, daybooks, territory…just remember to be there! I hear they’re serving peeps and beer.

Need even more info?

The computer says...

I actually did probably 100 miles more than that since I rode the bambina a few weeks sans computer. Also didn’t have one on the mountain bike during my epic snow rides.

Anyhoozle, my goal is to do 2010 this year.  How original. And hopefully ride faster in the process.

This is from the KC Port Authority website:

ASB Underpass Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Please join the Port Authority for the ribbon cutting of the ASB Bridge Underpass on the downtown riverfront January 15 at 10:00 a.m. The much anticipated underpass is the critical link along the Riverfront Heritage Trail, connecting Richard L Berkley Riverfront Park and the Riverfront West/River Market Area. The ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony will feature a catered gourmet brunch prepared by Executive Chef, Albert Tash, within a heated tent provided by Ameristar Casino. The event will be held at the Underpass, with parking available beneath the Grand Avenue Viaduct. Bicyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to join us as we celebrate this milestone for the Port Authority and Downtown Riverfront.

For more info and to RSVP…

Depressing movie =  fun evening.

KC Cyclist merino wool jersey at Family Bicycles

Plus, got to see the merino wool bike jerseys in person. I SO want one. They are perfect for Spring, Fall and Winter biking. And they aren’t itchy like wool back in the “good old days.”

You should stop in and see them, and go to the next movie. It’s free AND they have free snacks and drinks. You can’t beat that!

Here’s the schedule for the next flicks.

Plus, you can shop for Re-Velo bags there too, of course. I certainly won’t discourage that.

The 2nd in the Street Cred Series

Come on out and test your legs in this January 16th crit race in Kansas City, MO.

Sign up at 12:30pm, race at 1pm.

James B. Nutter parking lot, 4153 Broadway.

You look sexier in a helmet, so wear one. And bring $5 .

Prizes include my Re-Velo bags (Which ones? You need to show up to find out.) so what better reason to ride your bike on a cold day through the mean streets of KC? Hopefully the snow will be gone by then or it could get interesting. Oh, I’m sure it will be interesting no matter what.

Hope to see you there!     Need more info?

My hero….