Race Across America? - Spokes Magazine

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GOLD continued from p.13 It’s had a full-time bicycle coordinator for 20 years. Other bike-related county jobs include: bicycle promotion manager, bike planner, and bike-sharing program coordinator. Two of the county’s top elected officials, County Board Chairman J. Walter Tejada and Board Member Chris Zimmerman, are avid cyclists who fall somewhere between the Type B and Type A riders – they don’t wear spandex, but they’re frequently on their bikes. Tejada says he wants “bicycling to be part of the culture of Arlington.” The county’s goal is to become “transportation friendly” by offering as many alternatives to the automobile as possible, Tejada says. Zimmerman, who lost about 35 to 40 pounds last year through diet and exercise — much of it cycling — praises the county network of trails which can take riders along the Potomac River and through largely wooded areas along the northern part of the W & OD Trail. Zimmerman says he’d like to see a time when riding a bicycle in Arlington is considered as commonplace as it is in some European cities such as Copenhagen. “I think we need to get to where bicycling is something anybody can do any time,” he says. To reach that point, Goodman sees the need to make it easier for the casual rider to take a bike, rather than a car, for errands and to work. The first impediment to reaching that goal is where to ride. Efforts are underway to expand the county’s bike network by adding five more miles of shared-use trails and 10 more miles of bike lanes in the near future. Seth Turner, president and founder of Lanterne Rouge, an Arlington-based bicycle club. But Goodman acknowledges that in many places the network is not connected: bike lanes suddenly disappear and there are gaps that make it difficult to cycle from one place to another. Over time, he says, those gaps are being closed. It is county policy to create a new bike lane whenever new roads are installed or, if physically possible, when existing ones are repaved. But because repaving jobs often may cover only a few blocks, the new bike lanes may not connect to existing lanes. BIKE ALEXANDRIA FUN RIDES Every Sunday at 2 p.m. meet at Cameron Run Regional Park, 4100 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, Va.,. for a free family fun ride. Trail is paved, two ride options: 5.6 or 6.9 mile loops. Both lead to nature area. Visit bike.meetup.com/288 or contact Susan Schneider at (202) 403-1148 for details. “We’re trying to build a much more connected network so there are more ways of getting around, not just a single way of getting from one side of the county to the other,” Goodman says. The county is often frustrated by its inability to control the conditions on many of its major roadways because they are under state control. Among those are traffic-heavy highways such as Arlington Boulevard (U.S. 50), Lee Highway (U.S. 29), Washington Boulevard, Glebe Road, Columbia Pike and the Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1). “We don’t have a lot of control over how those get maintained and designed and built. Sometimes we would like to make changes on those roads that VDOT won’t allow us to do,” Goodman says, referring to the Virginia Department of Transportation, which he describes as “less bike friendly,” than the county. But Goodman says the county is relentlessly trying to find ways to make it easier to cycle in and around the area. For example, on new development projects, his department works with developers to provide such amenities, as putting in shower facilities and restrooms for cyclists. The county also participates in the annual Bike to Work Day in May and hosts an annual bike ride with Alexandria. This year’s Arlington-Alexandria event — offering an eight-mile loop and a 23-mile loop — will be held Saturday, June 7 under the sponsorship of WABA. Entry fees are $18 for an adult ($15 for WABA members) and $34 for a family. More details can be found at http://www.waba.org/events/cbr/index.php. A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA - go GREEN and become a bicycling beast! Pick up a REWARDS CLUB coupon book at one of our revolutionary stores: 2731 Wilson Blvd. CLARENDON (703) 312-0007 3411 M Street NW GEORGETOWN (202) 965-3601 100 Susa Dr. STAFFORD (540) 657-6900 1066 Rockville Pike ROCKVILLE (301) 424-0990 www.revolutioncycles.com 14 May 2008
ARLINGTON TO HOST TWO PRO BIKE RACES! Most communities would be proud to host one major pro bicycling event. Arlington hosts two. Okay, maybe it has something to do with the fact that the race promoter Rob Laybourn lives in Arlington with is wife and two daughters. And perhaps it helps that the name of his race promotion company is Arlington Sports, Inc. But ask Rob and he’ll tell you it’s much more than just that. “This community just lends itself to these types of events. Arlington is young, progressive, and the community’s leaders understand the value of providing citizens with more than just trash pickup and bus service. “Come and watch our races and you’ll see bike savvy people sitting in cafes or restaurants watching the race go by while reading their Sunday Washington Post. These events are not just races, they are happenings. CSC (the Computer Sciences Photos by Douglas Graham Corporation) Invitational (now in its 11th year) is now an established event that local businesses put on their calendars six months in advance. It’s an established happening.” This year’s CSC Invitational is set for Sunday, June 1. Laybourn also hosts the U.S. Air Force Classic, CSC’s younger sibling pro race, in nearby Crystal City on Sunday, May 4. For more information on both events log onto www.arlingtonsports.org Serotta • MOOTS • Colnago • LOOK • Pinarello • SCOTT • Gary Fisher • Rocky Mountain WHY SHOP AT LUTHERVILLE BIKE SHOP? W&OD TRAIL PATROL SEEKS NEW MEMBERS The Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail runs through the communities of Arlington, Falls Church, Vienna, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Hamilton, and Purcellville, Virginia. The W&OD Trail Patrol is seeking new members to be on-scene ambassadors of safety, courtesy, information, and goodwill. All adult trail users--cyclists, walker, runners, skaters, carriage pushers, dog walkers, horse riders, or wheel chair users--are eligible to apply. Two orientation sessions are scheduled for May: The first will be at the Raflo Park in Leesburg on Saturday, May 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. and the second will be Saturday, May 17 at the Vienna Community Center from 10 a.m. to noon. For further information and sign up please contact John Boone at (703) 726-6993 or jmboone1@verizon.net. • Areas largest selection of Road Bikes • 50+ years of mechanic experience • Custom built bikes & wheels • 3 Serotta-Certified fitters • Demo program for saddles & wheels • Finest selection of cycling apparel and shoes Monday-Friday 10-7 Saturday 10-5 Sunday 11-4 1544 York Road Lutherville, MD 21093 410-583-8734 May 2008 15
Page 1 and 2: Serving Cyclists in the Mid-Atlanti
Page 3 and 4: ON COVER THE Having completed many
Page 5 and 6: The American Diabetes Association p
Page 7 and 8: Shuart (left) with RAAM teammates J
Page 9 and 10: ANNAPOLIS MAYOR ENVISIONS BIKE FRIE
Page 11 and 12: COMMUTER CONNECTION by RON CASSIE r
Page 13: Arlington County Board member Chris
Page 17 and 18: THE CYCLIST'S KITCHEN by NANCY CLAR
Page 19 and 20: friendly greeting or bell is consid
Page 21 and 22: manage my travel, training, and wor
Page 23 and 24: COLUMNS SPOKESWOMEN by ANNE MADER
Page 25 and 26: At press time we are rapidly approa
Page 27 and 28: CALENDAR OF EVENTS Griffin Cycle 49
Page 30 and 31: CALENDAR continued from p.28 JUNE 7

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