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Just a reminder that next weekend is the Arctic Bike Club’s Annual Bike Swap.
It is at the AT&T Sports Complex behind Alaska Club South, in the building immediately north of the O’Malley Sports Center Hockey Rink (between the Hockey Rink and Alaska Club).
Addresss: 11051 O’Malley Centre Drive, Anchorage, AK
Arctic Bike Club 2010 Bike Swap
Alaska Randonneurs,
Rando-Info night will be at the Anchorage REI this Tuesday, 4/6 at 6:00PM.
http://www.rei.com/event/3777/session/4448
Bob Voris (PBP ancien ‘99) and I will introduce you to the basics of riding brevets. If you’re new to randonneuring, Rando Info Night will help get you started. We’ll cover all the basics, such as: Rules, French Words, History, Riding Styles, Contrôles, Brevet Cards, Equipment, Nutrition, Training, and more. There will be plenty of time for questions too.
The Kenai 200K brevet is coming right up. It’s a wonderful course, a great season-opener, and the flattest one on the calendar. It’s early in the season for Alaska riders, but if you can ride 100K at this point, you most likely can roll for 200K.
If you’ve never made the effort to ride the Kenai roads, you’re really missing out. The course is stunningly scenic and varied, and the roads are very low traffic; at least until the fish start running in July. If you’re aiming to ride the Clean-Air, the Eklutna Challenge, the Fireweed, etc. come join us for some high-quality training miles. Last year’s brevet attracted riders from Homer, the Mat Valley, and Anchorage, as well as local Kenai riders.
All the ride information for the Kenai 200K brevet, including links to the course map, cue-sheet, start time/location, etc., may be found at:
http://sites.google.com/site/alaskarandonneurs/Home/north-kenai-peninsula-200k-brevet
Last spring, the Redoubt Reporter did two nice articles about our Peninsula rides. Check ‘em out:
http://redoubtreporter.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/letting-it-ride-—-
Looking forward to seeing you in Kenai!
*****************
Kevin Turinsky
BOARD MEETING
March 18, 2010
ATTENDANCE: Ed Sniffen, Janice Tower, Jim Baker, Christopher Souser
Directors and Officer Insurance: Ed reported that Alaska statute provides 4 layers of liability protection for board members. However, these levels may not be enough to protect the board of directors from all liability. Ed will continue to get quotes for D&O insurance.
Municipal Bike Plan Ed said that our resolution urging the support of the Anchorage Assembly for the bike plan was well-received.
Bike Swap: Janice submitted the event for publication in the Anchorage Press and the Anchorage Daily News. Mike Vania with PIP Printing generously donated the printing of the poster which Christopher designed. Board members should arrive at the swap at 11:00 a.m. to help set up on April 10th. We will have a table with bike club membership sales and other information.
Stickers: Janice received approval to print 1,000 stickers of the bike club logo. The stickers can be given to all paid members of the club. They should arrive in time for the bike swap.
Website: Christopher continues his research and will report at the next meeting.
Next Meeting: Thursday, April 15, 6:15p.m. at Guido’s.
The Anchorage Municipal Bicycle plan was unanimously approved on the evening of March 23, 2010 by the Anchorage Assembly; without any of the Mayor’s amendments.
The plan will make Anchorage more bike friendly city, especially for commuting and road riding. The plan will double the number of paved bike miles in the city to over 500 miles over the next several years.
The Draft Plan:
http://www.muni.org/Departments/traffic/AMATS/Documents/WEBAnchBicyclePlan_PublicHearing%20Draft_0809.pdf
&
http://www.muni.org/Departments/traffic/AMATS/Documents/Attach1-BikePlan_PZC_Reso2009-051.pdf
Anchorage Daily News Article on the plan:
http://www.adn.com/2010/03/20/1192613/two-wheeled-travelers-pumped-for.html
Anchorage Daily News Article on its Approval:
http://www.adn.com/2010/03/23/1196662/assembly-approves-bicycle-plan.html &
http://www.adn.com/2010/03/24/1197071/anchorage-assembly-approves-bicycle.html
/CRS
this year’s 2010 brevet schedule. We’ve got more rides than ever this year! Remember, August 2011 is PBP.
RUSA’s advice to those aspiring to do PBP in 2011: Ride an full Super Randonneur (200, 300, 400, 600) series in 2010 if you can, or a part of one. It’s good training and will provide a fitness baseline for 2010 upon which you can build on in 2011. Try not to stress out, just do your rides, have fun with them and relax. Or, as the French might say, “Gardez vôtre sang-froid”.
4/17/10 Kenai 200K
5/1/10 Homer “End-of-the-Road” 200K
5/16/10 Matanuska Valley 200K
5/22/10 Anchorage/Palmer/Anchorage 300K
5/29/10 Denali Hwy 200K/300K (in conjunction w/ Alaska Endurance Association’s “Denali Classic”)
6/5/10 Anch/Seward/Anch 200K/400K
6/13/10 Bread & Water populaire 100K
6/19/10 Gakona/Delta Junction/Tok 200K/400K/600K
7/17/10 Denali Dirt Road Randonnée 200K/300K
8/7/10 “PBP” Nord populaire 100K
8/28/10 “PBP” Sud populaire 100K
9/11/10 Glennallen/Chitna/Glennallen 200K
9/18/10 Chugiak/Talkeetna/Chugiak 300K
Here’s the link to the Brevet Calendar on the website:
http://sites.google.com/site/alaskarandonneurs/Home/2010-brevet-schedule
And, we’re having 2 “Rando-Info” nights at REI:
4/13 6:00PM
5/11 6:00PM
Kevin Turinsky
RUSA RBA - Alaska
907-317-6030
http://alaskarandonneurs.blogspot.com/
http://sites.google.com/site/alaskarandonneurs/Home
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60334356017&ref=ts
rusa.org
The BCA Winter Bike Fest is only a few days away. This Saturday, March 6th from
6:30-8:30pm at the BP Energy Center, BCA will host its first annual Winter Bike
Fest. If you are not sure where the Energy Center is, this link provides a
helpful map: http://www.pnwis.org/Ch_AK/BP_Map.pdf.
The Winter Bike Fest includes:
- A screening of the award winning movie “Fat Bike” from Anchorage’s very own
Carl Battreall.
- A presentation by winter extreme cyclist pioneer Roger Cowles about his trips
to Nome on the Iditarod Trail. It’s a fascinating story of innovation,
adventure, and determination. It’s also a story about the impact of the
incredible powers of Mother Nature during our intense Alaskan winters. In 1989,
four men wondered if it would be possible to ride the Iditarod Trail by
bicycle, in the middle of the Alaskan winter. They decided the only way to find
out, would be to try. Now fast forward to 2010, where we can purchase snow
specific bikes at any one of a number of local bike shops. But twenty years
ago, if you wanted a snow bike, you had to build your own. And that’s just what
Roger Cowles did. A four wheeled snow bike. The quadracycle performed so well,
he built a six wheeled bike the next year, and raced skiers in the 1990 Nome
Odyssey. It was the precursor to the worlds longest winter ultra race, which
became an annual event starting in 2000. Since then, only thirty racers have
made it all the way to Nome. Come here more about his winter bike adventures.
- And a Most Visible Bicyclist contest. So come by bike and show us all how you
stay lit.
- We will also be given out door prizes and prizes for the contest winners,
thanks to kind donations from Chain Reaction Cycles, the Bicycle Shop, Sunshine
Sports, REI, Paramount and Speedway Cycles. Prizes include Bike Glow lights,
blinkie bike lights, bike clothing and a gift certificate for $100 to the
Bicycle Shop.
Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage
www.bicycleanchorage.org
info@bicycleanchorage.org
Dear Bicycle Enthusiasts,
I apologize for multiple emails about the upcoming hearing and creating
confusion about the process. Unfortunately, developments today have resulted in
the Assembly continuing the hearing to March 23rd.
Around 2:00pm today the e-mails started flying regarding last minute questions
raised by the Mayor’s office concerning the Plan. On Friday afternoon, the
Mayor had acknowledged that he supported the Bike Plan. This afternoon we
learned that the Mayor has new questions for the drafters of the plan and would
like to conduct further “senior staff” review. Consequently, the Mayor has
requested that the Assembly continue the public hearing to March 23rd. The
Assembly will still hold a public hearing on the Plan tomorrow but BCA will not
testify until the 23rd, so we can be fully apprised of the outcomes of the
“senior staff” review and respond as necessary. That said, BCA will attend the
hearing tomorrow and provide bicyclists with answers (to the extent we can).
We are disappointed by this latest development. To hear of this at the 11th
hour is disconcerting from a public process standpoint. It is sure to create
confusion and frustration with the public. It is unclear why the Mayor’s office
elected to wait until the 11th hour to continue the hearing to the 23rd. The
Plan has been available for review for many months and all questions or
concerns could have been addressed in a timely manner to avoid this unneeded
delay that only frustrates the public and raises questions about how the public
can be meaningfully involved. However, we still remain encouraged by the
support the Assembly has shown for the adoption of this Plan.
If you are unsure about whether you can make the 23rd Assembly meeting, please
come tomorrow and testify (you can only testify once). We will be on hand if
you have any questions. Due to the change in events, BCA encourages any
interested party to testify before the Assembly to show their support for the
Plan and its implementation.
Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage
www.bicycleanchorage.org
info@bicycleanchorage.org
Arctic Bicycle Club
A Non-Profit Corporation
P. O. Box 230130
Anchorage, AK 99523
Hotline: 566-0177
Web Site: www.arcticbike.org
Feb 25, 2010
Anchorage Assembly
C/O Municipal Clerk
P.O. Box 196650
Anchorage, AK 99519-6650
Re: Anchorage Bicycle Plan
Dear Members of the Assembly:
The Arctic Bicycle Club submits these comments in support of the Anchorage Bicycle Plan (the “Plan”). The Arctic Bicycle Club is the oldest and largest cycling organization in Alaska. Formed in 1982, The Arctic Bicycle Club averages over 400 members annually. The Club organizes and supports a variety of cycling events in South Central Alaska each year, including over 35 road bike races, 20 mountain bike races, and 70 touring events. The Club organizes Alaska’s largest bicycle event — the Fireweed 400, and the largest women’s bike event 
in Alaska — the Bike for Women. Our members are dedicated to enjoying the sport of cycling, and supporting every effort to make cycling a safe, accessible activity in our community. The proposed Plan promotes these same goals.
The Plan will promote bicycle safety and encourage a healthy lifestyle through recreational and utility (commuting) cycling. A primary goal of the Plan is to increase the number of bike lanes, and join together the “gaps” in the existing bike infrastructure. Cyclist are statistically more likely to be involved in an accident while riding on a sidewalk or multi-use path than in a bike lane. Other safety measures in the Plan - including education, improved signage, and maintenance - will help reduce bicycle and pedestrian/traffic encounters, and make bike routs safer for everyone.
The Plan will encourage a healthier lifestyle for many Alaskans by increasing the number of, and access to, bike routes. There are several obstacles currently facing Anchorage residents when they consider riding their bike to work, or riding around the neighborhood for exercise. It is difficult to get from some parts of Anchorage to midtown and downtown locations because cyclists are often forced to ride in heavy traffic, often with no shoulders, and endure scowls and profanity from motorists. In spring, cycling is discouraged because existing bike lanes and trails are not swept of winter gravel (very hazardous to cyclists) until late June or July! By creating clearly marked bike lanes and providing easy access to them, and maintaining bike routes, more residents are likely to ride their bikes.
Several of our members have been involved in the drafting of the Plan. We appreciate the opportunity to provide input on the Plan, and encourage the Assembly to give it full support.
Arctic Bicycle Club
Board of Directors
by
Ed Sniffen
President
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Anchorage to Valdez to Anchorage—7 day ride
Would you like to do something amazing? You could embark on an Alaskan adventure and be helping school children in Malawi and Ethiopia at the same time. By participating in a 7 day bike ride through Alaska, you can make a difference. This ride has all that Alaska has to offer; beautiful mountains, glaciers, wildlife, and of course great adventure.
VALDEZ RIDE 2010 FACTS
FINISH DATE: July 23, 2010 NUMBER OF DAYS: 7 TOTAL NUMBER OF DAYS RIDING: 6 TOTAL NUMBER OF REST DAYS: 1 MILES: 365 NUMBER OF RIDERS: 10 REGISTRATION FEE: $50.00 MINIMUM FUNDRAISING AMOUNT: $1600.00 REGISTRATION CLOSES: May 1, 2010 To register contact April @ 907-306-6526 |
| Minimum amount needed to raise: $1600.00 (this covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and accommodations, a ferry ride from Valdez to Whittier, and many bikes to schools and healthcare facilities in Africa that need them!!!) -PLUS- $50.00 non-refundable registration fee
Accommodations & Meals: 1 night at a private residence, 2 nights in a school, and 3 nights in “Alaska” style lodges. Breakfast, lunch, and 6 dinners will be provided. Bikers will be responsible for all drinks, desserts, and all meals on the rest day as well as any extra activities.
July 16, 2010 arrive in Anchorage and assemble bikes.
Day 1: Anchorage to Knik River Lodge (63 miles). Spend the remainder of the day at Knik River Lodge relaxing or participating in the many activities available including a jetboat ride down the Knik River or aerial glacier viewing. A delicious dinner and breakfast will be served in a yurt.
Day 2: Knik River Lodge to Sheep Mountain Lodge (64 miles). Spend the rest of the day relaxing, hiking, taking a tour of the glaciers, or soaking in the hot tub. Dinner will be at the Lodge.
Day 3: Sheep Mountain Lodge to Tolsona Lake Resort (56.5 miles). Spend the rest of the day relaxing, hiking, or fishing, or enjoy the sauna and hot tub at their spa. Dinner will be at the Lodge.
Day 4: Tolsona Lake Resort to Tonsina River Lodge (54 miles). Spend the rest of the day relaxing in their Russian sauna, soaking in the hot tub, or schedule a massage. There is also fishing, aerial sightseeing, and hiking. Dinner will be at the Lodge. Russian food is their specialty.
Day 6: A rest day in Valdez. There are many activities available from hiking to kayaking and many more.
Day 7: Board the ferry in Valdez to Whittier. Bike from Whittier to Anchorage (60 miles). The trip ends at April’s house. |
As many have noticed, many of our existing images in the artwork are over 10 years old, so the Arctic Bicycle Club is seeking submission of photos of ABC Event, and Alaska cycling that could be used on the redo of the ABC website.
We need a good variety of road racing, mountain racing, cyclo-cross, winter, and recreational/touring rides from South Central AK’s popular mountain and road riding trails.
Please submit any that you have to media @ arcticbikeclub.org as soon as possible as we need them to begin our website re-build in the end of March. If you wish to send them on CD, or DVD; please email for the address to send them too.
Thanks!
