CYCLING SANCTUARY - Spokes Magazine

Serving Cyclists in the Mid-Atlantic States
JUNE 2009
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CYCLING SANCTUARY
Maryland's Dorchester County
Photo: courtesy Dorchester County Tourism
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“I DON’T NEED NO STINKING MOTOR....” That’s what
one bike store owner was quoted as saying in a bicycle
trade journal this month.
You don’t know it, but there’s a battle brewing in
the bicycle retail business. A handful of mid-Atlantic
shops have begun to sell electric powered bicycles (ebikes)
alongside the pedal powered models. A majority
have decided not to.
Best Buy, the electronics retailer, recently announced
it will begin offering e-bikes in some of their West
Coast stores, and if they catch on expect to see them
in other stores nationwide.
Many bike retailers, according to industry press, are
choosing not to sell e-bikes because motored powered
(or assisted) bike transit is not part of the bicycle culture
or lifestyle they espouse.
Truth be told, about 20 years ago, I owned a Velo-
Solex, a bicycle that had a gas powered motor that
could be used to assist the pedaling or used to eliminate
pedaling entirely.
It was fun, but hardly exercise. The one time I had to
pedal it was when I ran out of gas in Rock Creek Park.
It was heavy and really tough to pedal all the way
home. I only had it a few months until it was stolen in
front of my apartment building.
I’ve toyed with the idea of getting a motor assisted
bike for years, but everytime I talk to my wife about it,
she points to the garage full of real bikes and asks the
all important question:
“Why?”
I ride a bike to work on nice days (about a 16 mile
round-trip commute) but I don’t have to wear a suit
or nice clothes to the office. I often wonder if I did,
whether an electric bike would take body perspiration
out of the equation (we don’t have an office
shower). But then again, I wonder how I would feel if
I was back in the urban environment of DC, Northern
Virginia or Baltimore, and used bike trails and paths
to get to work. How would I feel riding alongside
electric powered bicycles? Would I be accepting or
would I be resentful, telling them whenever possible
“get on the road with the other powered vehicles!”
I’m still up in the air on this one. I mean, if you want
to get religious about it, how about those new electric
motor driven gear changers on top end road bikes
ridden in the Tour de France. They are, my friends,
motors on bicycles. If the batteries wear out the
gears don’t get changed. Is that truly any different? A
motor is a motor.
The jury is out on this one but watch how your local
bicycle retailers respond in the coming months and
years. Will they “cross the line” and start selling
“motor vehicles,” ooops, I mean “e-bikes” or not?
Bike stores are perhaps best suited to do so since the
platform of an e-bike is a bicycle. But what do we lose
when a bicycle retailer crosses this line? Anything?
Happy trails,
Neil Sandler
Editor & Publisher
ON
COVER
THE
Maryland's Dorchester County is a cycling sanctuary.
Photo: courtesy Dorchester County Tourism
page 6
Touring • Racing • Off-Road
Recreation • Triathlon • Commuting
JUNE 2009
SPOKES is published monthly eight times a year — monthly March
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throughout Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and parts
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June 2009
5

CYCLING SANCTUARY
Maryland's Dorchester County
by BRENDA RUBY bruby@verizon.net
Why do we bike? We bike for fitness, sure, but I have a hunch that many of us are hooked
on the intoxicating way biking frees our soul. And what better way to experience personal
freedom than to bike wide open roads with eagles soaring overhead, traversing the same
landscape through which Harriet Tubman ushered dozens of slaves to freedom?
Photo: courtesy Dorchester County Tourism
VISIT BLACKWATER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE in
Dorchester County on the Eastern shore and you can
do just that.
“The first time I rode there I couldn’t believe what
I was seeing. I just had to stop because it was overwhelming.
I’d never seen anything like it.” says
Georgena Terry of Terry Precision Cycles.
Dubbed the Everglades of Maryland, Blackwater is
just a short drive (about an hour and a half) from
Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Northern Virginia,
but seems worlds away, boasting over 28,000 acres of
marshlands, forest, freshwater ponds, and farmland.
Established in 1933 as a haven for birds migrating
along the Atlantic Flyway in the spring and fall, it’s
recognized as an internationally important birding
area which is home to the largest concentration of
bald eagles on the East Coast outside of Florida.
It was trying to spot an eagle that got Terry into trouble,
making her late for a family wedding, but Terry
was so taken with the area that last year she established
the annual Wild Goose Chase Ride to benefit
the refuge. In doing so, she turned on a whole lot of
people to the quiet charms of the sanctuary.
Participant at this year’s ride, Amy Goodwin told
SPOKES, “The scenery was phenomenal. In my mind
I have this ideal picture of the tidal marshes on the
Eastern shore and it came to life as I biked through
Blackwater.”
Likewise, Stephanie Helline declared, “It fills your
senses! From afar you can’t even see that there’s a
road to ride on but in a matter of minutes you’re surrounded
by this magical combination of open water,
marshes, and sky as far as the eye can see. The road
winds through it all, surrounding you with the refuge.”
Rave reviews like that don’t surprise Maggie Briggs,
the Visitor Services Manager for Blackwater. She’s
seen biking increase considerably over the years. She
stresses that the refuge offers wildlife-dependent recreational
activities, which means that any biking or
other activity, such as hiking or kayaking, must take
into consideration the purpose of Blackwater, which is
to protect the beautiful environs and its inhabitants.
Occasionally that means partially closing trails to protect
nesting birds or animals.
A trip to the Visitor’s Center will acquaint you with
your options where you’ll be able to pick up maps
and information on nearby trails. There are two short
two- and three-mile paved hiking trails which can easily
become stops along the 20- and 25-mile bike routes
suggested by the refuge.
Pick up the offered bike map and you’ll see that you
can combine both loops for a longer, more comprehensive
ride. Be sure to inquire about parking as
Briggs mentions that bikers should park at one of the
trailheads and the refuge does not offer parking for
big events or rides; case and point, Terry’s ride started
from South Dorchester High School, just off of Route
16, about 8 miles north of the refuge (for ease, location
is noted on the refuge’s bike map and is the
northernmost point on their north loop).
Steve Palincsar, biker and often ride leader for the
Potomac Pedalers Touring Club (PPTC) and Oxon
Hill Bike Club, has, on occasion, led group rides
to Blackwater and recalls that Time Magazine once
called the place “nature on the throne of her glory.”
Photo: Betsy & Mike LaPadulam
To him, “this place defines ‘scenic’” and communing
with nature is a distinct possibility. Fond of back
roads, Palinscar recalls leading a group down Liners
Road, one of the least used roads in the area at the
southern edge of the refuge and describes, “As we
were riding down the narrow one-lane wide blacktop,
surrounded on both sides by tall marsh grass and
trees, a large bird with a wing span of almost six feet
swooped down and just barely skimmed the top of my
helmet before it soared up and rested on a branch.
The rider behind me exclaimed, ‘He’s taken us to
Jurassic Park!’”
Most experiences are little more serene, but no less
dramatic. Landscapes that haven’t changed much
in 200 years and an area rich in history give Susan
Meredith of Blackwater Paddle & Pedal an excitement
she passes on to anyone lucky enough to go on one of
her kayak or bike tours.
Betsy LaPadula did just that recently and raved not
only about Meredith’s knowledge, but how she managed
to get 15 participants into kayaks and on their
way within minutes of a paddling demonstration.
Meredith notes that the refuge offers different scenery
throughout the year and that no trip is ever quite
the same. “In the fall the Monarch butterflies come
through and you should see them all! Then we wait
for the geese to come through—people say the earlier
we see them, the worse the winter.”
Blackwater Paddle & Pedal (BP&P) is in itself a destination.
It operates out of the Bucktown Village Store,
which, according to Meredith, is not only the oldest
operating store in Maryland dating to at least the
Photo: courtesy Dorchester County Tourism
6 June 2009

Photo: Bill Thompson
1830s, but also the place of Harriet Tubman’s first act
of defiance.
Meredith explains, “The local people call her ‘Minty’
because here real name was Araminta. Well, Minty was
working as a field hand as a young teen and was sent
to the store to pick up supplies. While she was here,
she was commanded to help hold a slave boy down
for a beating, but Minty refused and because of this,
the boy had a chance to run away. But as he was running
away, an iron weight was thrown to try to stop
him; it hit Minty instead. After that she had seizures
and narcolepsy but this is what she credits to giving
her the visions from God telling her to lead others to
freedom.”
It’s an amazing story and just one of the nuggets
Meredith is eager to share with you on their
Underground Railroad Bike Tour. The tour, about 20
miles and three hours long, goes to Tubman’s birth
place, church, and along the rivers and marshes that
Tubman took refuge in while helping to usher over 70
slaves to freedom in dozens of trips.
Looking out and knowing that you’re seeing pretty
much what Harriet Tubman saw is a powerful thing
Photo: Betsy & Mike LaPadulam
Photo: courtesy Dorchester County Tourism
and it’s not lost on the Merediths. She and her husband
Jay are the fourth generation of Merediths to
own the store. You can rent bikes or kayaks from
them, hire them for personal tours, go on one of
their group tours, or simply visit the landmark store
and start a ride from there.
Leaving the store and taking all “lefts” will give you a
20-mile loop that passes two rivers with plenty of wildlife
sightings like hawks and ospreys.
Amanda Fisher, assistant director of tourism for
Dorchester County says the flat terrain, and wide scenic
roads have increased in popularity among cyclists.
With 1700 miles of shoreline along the bay and rivers,
she understands why saying, “With pretty water views,
low traffic, and roads with safe, wide shoulders, you
could bike just about anywhere and have a good time.”
The Terry ride, which attracted 700 riders this past
May, is just one example of the cycling boon in the
region. Joining the already established Eagleman
Ironman, widely popular because it’s a Kona qualifier,
and the ChesapeakeMan Ultra Triathlon, two
more rides will debut in 2009: the Six Pillars
Century, which coincided with the Terry Wild Goose
Chase ride in early May, and the Rivet 100 Tour de
Dorchester, slated for August 22.
Matt Beletsky manages On the Rivet bike shop in
Cambridge and can vouch for the recent upswing.
“We’ve seen a huge increased interest in biking even
since the shop opened just a little over a year ago.”
Located in downtown Cambridge, On the Rivet
doesn’t rent bikes, but is a full-service bike shop catering
to all, from the recreational rider to the serious
triathlete; the shop specializes in vintage restorations
and is worth a visit just to see their unique leatherwrapped
frames. He notes that while the whole area
is cycle friendly with very aware drivers making it an
easy place for beginners and families, anyone looking
for a more challenging workout can always look to
work against what he calls the Eastern Shore mountains—the
wind.
Beletsky also reminds that there’s more to the area
saying, “Most people know of Blackwater, but there
are a lot of other little areas and towns out towards
Vienna and North Dorchester.”
As a local rider, he’ll often ride with Cambridge Multi-
Sport on some of their weekly rides.
“It’s a pretty welcoming group,” he says and encourages
visitors interested in spirited rides to contact them.
SANCTUARY continued on p.10
June 2009
7

SANCTUARY continued from p.9
Photo: Bill Thompson
Photo: Bill Thompson
Beletsky, himself, keeps it interesting by varying the
routes, biking into different areas such as out towards
Vienna, or over to the Neck District (which is north,
towards the Bay), or Ragged Point (below the Neck
District and west).
The Dorchester County Tourism Office offers a
cycling brochure showing all these areas and suggested
routes for each. Most of the rides are posed
as out-and-backs, but the map shows how easily they
could be combined.
Assistant Director Fisher says they’ve been overwhelmed
by the response to it, noting it’s their most
requested brochure. Like Beletsky, Fisher also mentions
other attractions along routes, like Spocott
Windmill on Rt. 343, heading out towards the
Neck District, and Old Trinity Church. Constructed
sometime before 1692, it’s thought to be the oldest
Episcopal Church and is a nice stop on the way out to
Taylor’s Island. Bike even further south to Hooper’s
Island and you’ll be treated to spectacular bay views
while cycling through small fishing villages and towns.
Says Betsy LaPadula, “It is quite something to see the
lifestyle of the watermen of in this region.”
Wherever your biking preference, the perfect hub
for any weekend in the area would be Cambridge.
This small town is going through a huge revitalization
with new restaurants and stores opening “almost
every week it seems,” says Fisher. One of the newer
restaurants, Bella Luna is already attracting a lot of
attention and rave reviews (the pasta with sausage
and sun-dried tomato is a real winner). It joins the
Bistro Poplar, a French restaurant which just made
Chesapeake Life magazine’s list of top 20 restaurants.
For a hopping nightspot with live music, there’s
Jimmie & Sook’s, and if water views are your thing,
Portside and Snapper’s won’t disappoint.
For off-the-bike entertainment try strolling along
Cambridge’s historic High Street, popping into one of
its five art galleries, antique stores, or any handful of
other shops and boutiques ranging from the eclectic
(Pear Tree South) to the hip (Sunnyside). For accommodations,
the Holiday Inn Express and the Hyatt
Regency are just a few minutes drive from the downtown
area, but if you want a four-post B&B experience,
the stately elegance of the Victorian Mill Street
Inn would certainly satisfy.
If biking the pristine and historic area isn’t enough of
a reason to visit, Fisher reminds that “there’s a lot to
look forward to” and a visit to the website (www.tourdorchester.org)
will fill you in on all of the county’s
upcoming events—the Taste of Cambridge in July,
the Seafood Festival in August, the Native American
Festival in September, and the Kite Festival in October
to name just a few.
Ride with Professional Cyclist, Floyd Landis!
Save-A-Limb Ride
Metric Century – 30 Mile – 6 Mile Family Fun Ride
Benefits the
Save-A-Limb Foundation
Register Online Today!
www.savealimbride.org
Photo: Bill Thompson
Sunday – September 13, 2009 – 8:00am – 2:00pm
Oregon Ridge Park – Hunt Valley, MD
Picnic, Fitness Fair, Kid’s Carnival & Fun
FREE
CLASSIFIEDS @
www.spokesmagazine.com
8 June 2009

Photo: Georgena Terry
Still, the favorite for most will probably be gliding
through Blackwater, with marshes stretching as far as
the eye can see and birds filling the water and skies.
But before embarking, remember this bit of sage
advice from Palinscar, “Don’t forget the insect repellent.
You may encounter deer flies; they may be tiny,
but they have a full-sized bite!”
Resources:
Dorchester County Office of Tourism
www.tourdorchester.org
Dorchester County Cycling Guide
www.tourdorchester.org/downloads/brochures/
cycling_guide.pdf
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
www.fws.gov/blackwater/
Friends of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
www.friendsofblackwater.org
(FAQs tab offers downloadable bike map
www.friendsofblackwater.org/bikemap.pdf)
Blackwater Paddle & Pedal
www.blackwaterpaddleandpedal.com, 410-901-9255; 4303
Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD 21613
kayak tours--$70/person; bike tours--$65/person;
bike rentals (Trek 7100)--$30/half-ay, $35/day
On the Rivet Cycle & Sport
www.ontherivt.com, 410-221-9981;
2833 Ocean Gateway E., Cambridge, MD 21613
Cambridge Multi-Sport
www.cambridgemultisport.com
Annual Rides:
Wild Goose Chase www.terrybicycles.com
Six Pillars Century www.6pillarscentury.org
ChesapeakeMan Ultra Triathlon & Eagleman Ironman
www.tricolumbia.org
Rivet 100 Tour de Dorchester
www.ontherivet.com/Rivet100Main.htm
Accommodations:
Holiday Inn Express
410-221-9900; 2715 Ocean Gateway, Cambridge, MD
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
www.chesapeakebay.hyatt.com
410-901-1234; 100 Heron Boulevard, Cambridge, MD
Mill Street Inn Bed & Breakfast
www.millstinn.com
410-901-9144; 114 Mill Street, Cambridge, MD 21613
Photo: Bill Thompson
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Must present coupon to receive offer. Offer expires June 30th 2009.
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June 2009
9

COLUMNS
SINGLETRACK by JOE FOLEY jfoley441@gmail.com
Laird Knight, An Overnight Sensation?
It wasn’t mountain biking but cross country skiing
that brought Laird Knight to Davis, West Virginia, but
that move set off a chain of events that has left a massive
imprint on the sport of mountain biking.
Knight first moved to Davis to manage a nordic ski
center in Blackwater Falls State Park. While managing
the ski center. Knight and his fellow employees
would be busy all day while there were guests to be
served, but at the end of the day they’d all still want
to get out to ski. After closing up for the day they’d
head into the woods under the full moon and explore
the woods by moonlight with small headlights to help
them see.
“That really opened my eyes to the possibility of athletic
pursuits at night,” Knight recently told SPOKES.
During the summer would explore the cross country
ski trails on mountain bikes, still a nascent sport at
the time.
By the early 90’s Knight was promoting mountain bike
races, but felt they lacked an opportunity to incorporate
the camaraderie that he felt in the mountain bike
community but that didn’t have any outlet for team
competition.
Advances in lighting and battery technology were
making lights that were lighter and more powerful
and that combined with the embers of the ideas he’d
had while managing the nordic center, elements of
adventure racing, and memories of watching endurance
motor sports like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At
the awards ceremony of the 1991 Tour of Canaan he
announced his plans for a 24 hour team relay to be
held the next year.
Over the next winter he wrote the rules for this new
type of racing and the 24 Hours of Canaan debuted
the next year.
“It was the culmination of ten years of race promoting
and mountain biking for me” he says. Knight raced
on one of the 36 teams that came out for the inaugural
race and “at the end of the race that first year”,
he said, “we were standing around grinning at each
other. We’d had more fun than even I’d imagined.”
Over the years the original race has moved venues
several times but lives on as the 24 Hours of Big
Bear. Granny Gear has promoted many more races
across the country and established a 24 hour point
series with races that this year will stretch from Utah,
through Wisconsin, and back to 24 hour racing’s West
Virginia roots.
Knight made a decision to scale back the point series
to 3 races this year to make sure he’s got plenty of
time for the 3 children he and his wife Barbara have
recently adopted from Ethiopia, 10 year old twin
brother and sister Redeit and Helen and their 8 year
old brother Abel.
“I don’t know how parents get anything done,” says
Knight.
Knight lived in Ethiopia as an army brat for a time as
a child.
“I remember it as being a great adventure.” On their
recent trip to Addis Ababa to bring the children
home he visited the house where he’d lived as a child,
now the residence for the Embassy of Sweden, and
recounted a story for one of the guards. Knight told
the guard about how he’d learned ride a bike on the
circular gravel drive at the house and showed him
how he still has a scar from a wipe out on the drive.
“The Ethiopian people are very friendly, and love a
good story,” says Knight, but he still wasn’t able to get
the guard to let him in to look around inside the house.
Laird and family (clockwise)
Laird, son Rediet, step-daughter Jordan Roof,
son Abel, daughter Helen, wife Barbara.
Knight also realized only recently that he had a
strange connection to another member of mountain
biking royalty, this time through his time in Ethiopia.
While reminiscing about their time in Addis Ababa
and looking at the house on Google maps, his brother
and sister mentioned knowing a Neddy Overend
while they were there. Knight did a little digging and
sure enough, it was the one and only national and
world champion Ned Overend who’d lived two doors
down.
“I really didn’t know Ned at all, I just remember him
as a 5-year old might. He would have been 9 or 10 at
the time and he was a lanky goofy kid,” said Knight.
This year’s Granny Gear National Points Series will
consist of 3 races this year, kicking off with the 24
Hours of Big Bear in Hazelton, West Virginia on June
13th and 14th, continuing on to the 24 Hours of 9
Mile at Nine Mile Park, Wisconsin, and closing with
the traditional season ending 24 Hours of Moab in
Utah.
Granny Gear purchased the 9 Mile race from Kevin
Eccles and TS Events last year after Eccles approached
him. The 24 Hours of 9 Mile has become a very successful
race in the last 10 years, and has been the USA
Cycling 24 Hour National Championship event for
the past three years.
According to Knight, “The race has a great reputation
and a great community around it, people love it and
keep coming back year after year.” That, he says, is
“the keystone to a successful event.”
Even though the 24 Hours of 9 Mile won’t be the
national championships this year, Granny Gear will be
hosting them. When the previous venue fell through,
Knight suggested Moab, already a very popular race,
as a venue and USA Cycling liked the idea. 2010 will
see 24 hours nationals visit the birthplace of 24 hour
racing for the first time as nationals will be at the 24
Hours of Big Bear. Knight intends to bid for nationals
again in 2011 for 9 Mile, but will gladly welcome any
competitive bids.
So what’s on tap for our local race, Big Bear, this year?
In a word, kids. Because he’s seen such an increase
in the number of families with children traveling to
races, Knight and Granny Gear are going to be working
hard to make their races more child and family
friendly. Granny Gear races have long featured kids
races, but these have mostly been around the venue.
This year “we’ll be doing a real race in the woods for
the bigger kids” says Knight, and they’re also working
with the venue owners to created a shaded kids play
area along the side of the venue.
Knight also hopes to see some of the pro’s out racing
at Big Bear this year to scope out the course for next
year’s national championship race.
What’s next in mountain bike racing? Knight hopes
it’ll be “mountain biking itself.” But he’s hopeful and
for the first time in several years he’s seeing fields
growing at grassroots races in West Virginia, two and
three-hundred strong fields, with more kids coming
out. For kids, he says, “mountain biking has so much
to offer, it empowers them.”
Mid-Atlantic Super Series in Full Swing
The Mid-Atlantic Super Series is in full swing with several
rounds complete, including a day of epic weather
conditions at the Escape from Granogue. Racing
continues this month with Tour de Tykes on June 7th,
Stupid 50 Marathon on June 14th, Guy’s Neshaminy
Classic on June 21st, and the MASS Festival Weekend
in Marysville, Pa., running June 26-28. Visit www.masuperseries.com
for more information.
FountainheadProject.org
Members of Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts
(MORE) are embarking on an ambitious plan to turn
the trail network at Fountainhead Regional Park in
Clifton, Va., into a model of sustainable, technical,
and challenging singletrack. While the existing trail
system is technical and challenging, it’s got numerous
sustainability issues that need to be addressed.
Implementation of the full trails plan developed by
IMBA Trail Solutions would result in a stacked loop
trail system that would provide 12-16 miles of trail
with areas suitable for many skill levels. For more
information, or to donate to the project, visit www.
fountainheadproject.org
National Trails Day is June 6th
Take some time on June 6th to give back to the trails
you love. National Trails Day, organized nationally by
the American Hiking Society, encourages the public
to discover and celebrate their local trails. Many local
advocacy organizations will be holding events for
National Trails Day, so keep an eye out for them. You
can also get a list of events by state on the American
Hiking Society website at www.americanhiking.org/
ntd.aspx
June 7th is Cyclefest at Lake Fairfax Park
One of the many events taking place to coincide with
National Trails Day is Cyclefest at Lake Fairfax Park
in Reston, Va., organized by The Bike Lane. Events
include supported mountain bike and road rides in
the morning, an expo area featuring demo bikes from
Trek and Gary Fisher along with other vendors, and
workshops in the after ranging from mountain bike
skills clinics conducted by MORE to yoga for cyclists.
Registration is $35 on the day and includes lunch.
The expo area and demo rides are free and do not
require registration. All proceeds from Cyclefest will
go to rejuvenation of the Lake Fairfax trail system.
10 June 2009

SPEEDWEEK GOES DOWNHILL AT WISP
AND SEVEN SPRINGS
Gravity East, America’s biggest downhill racing series, wraps up
its Southern Swing with Speedweek June 5 through June 14th.
Featuring six days of lift assisted riding and training in a ten day
span on two mountains less than 50 miles apart, Speedweek
will be punctuated by four days of USAC sanctioned Gravity
East downhill racing and the opening round of the Gravity East
e.thirteen Dual Slalom Series where riders will be competing for
well over $10,000 in cash and prizes.
Speedweek kicks off with the Chumba Racing Capital Cup at
McHenry, Maryland’s Wisp resort, June 5-7, before continuing
the following weekend at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in
Champions, Pa.
In a departure from the normal downhill program, the Chumba
Capital Cup will be run as a combined-time event as racers
tackle two different courses over two days, plus a dual slalom,
for over $10,000 in cash and prizes.
Race promoter Mike Hartlove of The Racer’s Edge explains,
“We’ll have practice all day on Friday. Then on Saturday, we’ll
start with dual slalom qualifying on one of the best courses in
the country before moving up the big hill for the first downhill.
After the downhill we’ll have the e.thirteen dual eliminations
and a party, though I’m not sure there’s much of a distinction
between the two, before moving on to the post race party at
Mountain State Brewing Company. Then on Sunday, we’ll have
the second downhill on a different course. The winner of the
Chumba Capital Cup Downhill will have the best combined
total time from the two downhill runs.” With the addition of
a no-added-cost day of riding the Monday following the race,
an entry fee to the Chumba Racing Capital Cup gives racers a
virtual four-day lift ticket at one of the most active four-season
resorts in the East.
The following weekend, June 13-14, the series heads 47 miles
due north for the downhill at Seven Springs. As at Wisp the
prior weekend, a Mad March Racing Pre-Race Clinic will be
held at Seven Springs from 8 – 10 a.m. on practice day, Sat.,
June 13. Mad March Racing, founded in 1998 by Shaums March,
provides hands-on mountain biking instruction. Clinics feature
detailed instruction by certified personable, professional riders,
delivering personalized bike fit with secrets passed down
from some of the top pro riders and mechanics in the industry.
Participants for this clinic must pre-register.
WINNING SUBMISSION IN THE DOMINION RIVERROCK DIGITAL PHOTO CONTEST
Photo by Marlene Frazier, courtesy of Sports Backers
According to Gravity East Director Dan McDonald, Speedweek
is an important part of the development of gravity racing in
America. “In order to hone their skill in a dangerous and competitive
sport, racers need constant practice on real downhill
courses and trails. Being able to accumulate four consecutive
days of practice and racing at Wisp, and six days of runs within
a 10 day span if they also go to Seven Springs, is like being in a
highly effective training development camp. But it’s a camp that
also has great food, jet skiing and four wheeler rentals, golf and
a mountain coaster.”
For more information log onto www.GravityEastSeries.com.
EXPERIENCE ANNAPOLIS BY BIKE
Maryland’s capital city Annapolis is hosting a “experience
Annapolis” weekend, June 12-14, that includes seeing the city
and its many scenic and historic Chesapeake Bay side sights
from the seat of your bicycle.
Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer told SPOKES “Annapolis is proud
of its environmental heritage. During your visit to Annapolis
you can bicycle around the town, touring public/private partnerships
that have blossomed into bike trails, green roofs, the
region’s first urban living classroom, conservation easements
preserved by the nation’s only municipally-owned land trust,
and Bayscape gardens.”
The cycling component of the weekend is being orchestrated by
Capital Bicycles, the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club, Wholeness
for Humanity, and the city of Annapolis.
Organized bike rides will range from 13 to 66 miles on routes
designed by experienced Annapolis cyclists.
The 13 mile “Eco Tour” shows over 50 activities including rain
gardens and community greening projects.
Those wishing to stay for the weekend should note that the Best
Western Annapolis, 2520 Riva Road (888-333-7959) is serving
as the host hotel for cyclists. A whole weekend of activities,
including a boat tour, Saturday dinner, ice cream social and City
Hall reception are planned.
For more information go to www.bikepptc.org
12 June 2009

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ROCKVILLE'S
BICYCLE BELTWAY by ROLAND LEISER
The Millennium Trail, known affectionately as the Bicycle Beltway, circles 12 miles around
the northern Washington, D.C. suburb of Rockville, Md.
TRULY THE BICYCLE BELTWAY is as varied a ride as
you’d likely find in the metropolitan area. Almost
exclusively off-road and paved, the route took me past
modest homes on First Street (Route 28), through the
commercial areas of East Gude Drive and along forested
flanks of West Gude Drive.
Further west, the trail snaked through woods away
from the din of vehicle noise, wound around level
and gentle grades through a subdivision of huge
townhouses and detached homes the size of mansions
and along Wooten Parkway past the city’s
elite Thomas S. Wooten High School (named for a
Revolutionary War figure, so I was told). It continued
briefly through Orchard Ridge Park, traversed I-270
over the Friendship Bridge and headed across Viers
Mill Road and back to my starting point on Grandin
Street off of First Street.
I chose a mid-Friday afternoon for the ride and arbitrarily
picked that location to park, eight miles from
my Silver Spring, Md., home. A service road with
a share-it-with-bikers sign was on the other side of
First Street where the trail eventually dog-legs on to
Norbeck Road.
Laurel
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14805 Baltimore Ave.
Laurel, MD 20707
301 953-1223
301 490-7744
Monday–Friday: 10-8
Saturday: 9-6
Sunday: closed
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Bikers can
usually park
at Wooten
High School
if there are
no classes or
any day at the
Thomas Farm
Community
Center near
Fallsgrove
Park where
restrooms and
drinking water are available. To “go green”, drive your
vehicle at a Metro lot and take your wheels on board
to the Rockville or Shady Grove stations (except during
rush hours and holidays). Get off and head out to
a signed shared-roadway or a preferred through-city
bike route to start your Millennium Trail adventure.
"Although bike trails criss-cross other sections of
Rockville, the Millennium is the city’s only loop," Jon
McLaren, community recreation manager, remarks. A
short stretch on First Street requires sharing the road,
which can be quite busy on Fridays.
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Any rider in reasonable physical condition can handle
the steeper grades located just south of the high
school. Heading east from the school, I found two
ascents: a short one that was relatively steep and a
long one that had a gradual pitch. I eventually passed
by Hectic Hill Lane (not an inviting name for bikers)
before reaching route 186.
“East of 270 and toward Route 355, it’s relatively flat,”
McLaren observes, and I would agree with his evaluation.
Virtually all of the trail consists of paved paths
with some sections as wide as 10 feet.
The city’s Recreation and Parks Department has put
up at least 30 “Rockville Millennium Trail” signs, says
McLaren; thus, you’ll never get lost.
Rockville inaugurated the trail project in the
Millennium year of 2000 after adopting a Bikeway
Master Plan in 1998 and revised it in 2004. While a
large part of the pavement had existed previously, the
city “laid out new sections paved specifically for the
trail,” he says.
Last summer, the city’s Division of Traffic and
Transportation published a detailed area map, which
marks the trail in purple and includes all kinds of
neat stuff on the reverse side. Examples include summaries
of state laws on biking, safety tips, maintenance
advice, information on traveling with bikes on
public transportation plus contact phone numbers
for city officials, web sites for biking information and
names and phone numbers of Rockville bike shops
including Revolution Cycles where I had found my
map. For further information, call (240) 314-8626;
email, bikeways@rockvillemd.gov.
Except for one intersection where I wasn’t sure
whether to turn right or left, the map directions are
abundantly clear. And the publication includes a
street index.
"Officially, the trail begins at mile zero just outside
the Community Center at West Gude Drive and West
Montgomery Ave.," McLaren explains. In addition,
mile markers are embedded in the path pavement.
Ahead are plans to widen some trail sections to eight
feet on West Montgomery Avenue and Darnestown
Road, he adds.
Between writing notes, taking photos, talking to riders
and waiting to cross busy intersections, the trip lasted
two hours and 15 minutes. At East Gude Drive and
Frederick Road, an Exxon station provides a picnic
table where you can rest, drink some water, or check
the map.
In late afternoon on weekdays, you’ll see plenty
of biking commuters, according to Bill Majurski,
who often rides from his home in Gaithersburg to
Rockville shops. He and his wife Lynn had been riding
on a tandem, recumbent bike when I met them
on the trail.
"As envisioned by the Bikeway Master Plan, Rockville
residents would utilize the Millennium Trail to travel
to work, to school, to run errands and for recreation,"
McLaren says. Surely, the city of Rockville has thought
out this project well. The city inspects, sweeps and
cleans the trails and I observed no pot-holes or other
obstacles.
If there are drawbacks to this biking treat, they are
the major intersections where you must press a “walk”
button to cross and wait. Among them are Norbeck
Road and West Gude Drive, West Gude Drive and
Frederick Road/Route 355 and Wooten Parkway and
Route 189.
When I passed by Wooten High, dozens of teenagers
out of class had crowded the sidewalk bike path and
I carefully made my way past them, ringing my bell.
At a nearby intersection, Matt Tao, catering manager
at Carmen’s Italian Ices & Café, was busy serving ices
out of a mobile cart. Twice a week in good weather,
he sells the ices from the cart but sorry, bikers, not on
weekends.
14 June 2009

©2008 TREK BICYCLE CORPORATION
VISIT THE STORES BELOW TO CHECK OUT THE THE FISHER ROSCOE
FR_2008_Roscoe_Ad_spokes.indd 1
12/1/08 5:12:53 PM
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DEPARTMENTS
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Columbia Triathlon
In 2007, Chrissie Wellington became the first British
athlete to win the Ironman World Championship in
Kona. Last year, she won Kona again and this April
she won Ironman Australia. In fact, the 32-year-old
Wellington won her last seven races, including the
Alp D’Huez Long Course Triathlon in France, the
Ironman European Championship in Berlin, and
Timberman 70.3 in New Hampshire, prior to entering
the Columbia Triathlon in Columbia, Md., on May 17.
Wellington, however, was bested by not one, but three
women with local ties, and finished a frustrated sixth
overall at the 26th annual event in Columbia. Still
need convincing that the mid-Atlantic is a triathloning
hotbed of talent?
Rebeccah Wassner, 34, originally from Montgomery
County and fresh off a win at St. Anthony’s Triathlon
earlier this spring in St. Petersburg, beat Wellington
and successfully defended her Columbia title.
Wassner’s time of 2:07:25, didn’t match last year’s
mark – the chilly and rainy weather likely had something
to do that – but nonetheless she led wire-to-wire.
On the men’s side, 24-year-old Terenzo Bozzone, of
Auckland, New Zealand, won in dramatic fashion,
catching 20-year-old Andrew Yoder of Columbia, Pa.,
over the last mile and a half. Bozzone posted a time of
1:52:45 across the hilly, 1.5 K swim, 41 K bike, and 10
K run event, 10 seconds ahead of Yoder, who also took
second in last year's race.
“I pushed myself the whole way,” said Wassner, who
came out of the water first. “Christine Wellington was
in the race and I knew I had to stay focused. On the
bike, I kept saying to myself, ‘When is she going to
pass me?”
It never happened, in fact, it was Margaret Shapiro,
33, from Herndon, Va., who nearly caught Wassner on
the bike.
“I saw Margaret, and I knew that she hadn’t raced in a
while, and that was actually inspiring,” Wassner said.
Shapiro, who won the inaugural Columbia IronGirl
race in 2006 on this same course, took second among
the women, posting a time of 2:10:22.
Wassner’s twin sister Laurel, a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
survivor, took third. Rebecca and Laurel now live in
New Paltz, New York and Hoboken, New Jersey, respectively.
The Wassners, as part of their participation were
also representing the locally-based Ulman Cancer
Fund for Young Adults and wore “Team Fight” jerseys.
Rebecca said the next local race she’s concentrating
on is the I.T.U. championships in Washington, D.C.
on June 21 and then the Life Time triathlon series
and races in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Wellington, one the top triathletes ever to compete in
Columbia, admirably refused to make excuses about
her performance. She blamed neither the lack of
ideal conditions nor, the fact, she is probably better
suited to the longer races.
“The weather was the same for everybody, I just felt
flat today,” Wellington told SPOKES. “It’s true, I am
not a short course specialist, but that wasn’t it – I
didn’t have ‘the buzz’ all day.”
Wellington made a point that despite the early morning
rain, the race organizers did a great job getting
the course ready. She added, in fact, she used to live
on the East Coast, and that she’d always heard race
director Robert Vigorito always put on terrific events.
Vigorito and Columbia’s reputation, she said, was a
large part of her motivation for coming to Columbia.
She also acknowledged it was also intended to serve as
a positive training race for her – a chance to work out
on the hills and work on her speed.
Now, however, she has to learn to deal with a result
well below her expectations. Wellington said she
learned she must get out faster in the swim on the
shorter races, but the bigger challenge will be learning
to cope with disappointment.
“My lesson will be dealing with this absolutely disappointing
result, learning to deal with that mentally,
and not get down on myself, “ she said. “The only way
is for me to grow from this experience. “
Bozzone, much like Wellington, is coming off an
outstanding 2008. He set a new course record last at
both the Clearwater, Fla., 70.3 World Championships,
and the Vineman 70.3. He also took first-place at the
Kansas and Boise, Idaho 70.3 races, and XTERRA,
New Zealand. Earlier this year, he took second at his
first full Ironman event in New Zealand.
“I had a pretty good swim – I was right on somebody’s
feet the whole way and I felt a little bad about that
though,” said Bozzone, smiling afterwards. “And then
I felt like a got into a good rhythm on the bike. I
thought I was in a good rhythm at least, until Andrew
(Yoder) passed me like I was standing still. I mean,
I was thinking, isn’t Lance Armstrong racing in Italy
right now?”
Bozzone acknowledged the weather wasn’t easy to
deal with.
“I did have a little trouble turning the knobs on my
cycling shoes, my hands were pretty cold,” he said. “I
prefer it hot.”
Bozzone added that like many of the top New Zealand
and Australian triathletes, he was a swimmer first, and
then picked up running and added cycling. He has
been doing triathlons, however, for close to 10 years,
and won a junior world championship title in 2003.
“My main goal this year is Kona in October, and then
Clearwater after that,” he said.
16 June 2009

Local clubs turnout
As usual, the early-season Columbia event attracted a
huge, sell-out field of over 2,000 athletes. Numerous
clubs from the Mid-Maryland Triathlon Club, to the
Annapolis and D.C Tri Clubs, to the Delaware Swim
and Fitness Center and the new, Gaithersburg-based
Moco Multi-sport Club pitched tents and set up postrace
buffets.
Chip Warfel, president of the Mid-Maryland Triathlon
Club, said membership there has just risen over 300
for the first-time ever.
“This is pretty much our ‘home’ course,” Warfel said.
“We had about 80-85 members racing today. We set
up for 120-125, including friends and family. We had
members out here at 4:30 a.m. getting ready.”
Warfel noted that Mid-Maryland attracts members
from not just Howard County, but into Baltimore
and Montgomery County as well. He expects big
Mid-Maryland turnouts for the upcoming Eagleman
Triathlon in Cambridge and the annual late-season
IronGirl race.
“We’ll also have a smaller group doing the Liberty
to Liberty race (New York to Philadelphia) and the
American Triple-T, a three-day race in Ohio,” said
Warfel, among other events.
Warfel said that his main focus over the past two years
as president has been organizing more club training
opportunities. Currently, Mid-Maryland weekday rides
are held every Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, they
put together a run-bike-run session, and on Thursday
mornings they hold open water swims on the Magothy
River in Arnold.
Saturdays and Sundays, they offer long runs and long
bike rides, respectively. And Warfel said, members
contact each other regularly via e-mail and chat and
organize smaller two and three-member workouts,
including swimming at Sandy Point.
The Columbia Tri is also a big event each year for the
Maryland Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Foundation’s Team-in-Training. Julie LaFee, a spokesperson
for TNT, said that they brought 26 athletes
to Centennial Park this year, including about 20 who
were attempting their first-ever triathlon. LaFee said,
as a group, those 26 participants raised $95,000 for
the foundation.
“We’ve been doing Columbia for about seven years,”
LaFee said. “We did the Frederick triathlon and have
18 or 19 doing Eagleman. Our biggest event is the
Baltimore Running Festival in October. We also do
the Seagull Century and the Marine Corp Marathon.
And we’ll be back here for IronGirl.” LaFee added
that several TNT slots are still available for most of
those races, some of which are otherwise sold out.
Eric Suro, 29, was one of the Team in Training rookie
triathletes. He said that several co-workers at Black
and Decker in Towson talked him into attempting his
first triathlon. He’s dropped 10 pounds since training
started and said he definitely wanted to tackle more
tri’s, probably sprints, this season.
“I had no idea about how to train for a triathlon and
Team in Training really helped in that regard,” said
Suro, who bought his first road bike shortly before
beginning their regimen seven months ago. He also
added that the fund raising, initially, seemed as daunting
as tackling the triathlon, but the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Foundation helped him get a strong start
there as well.
Washington, D.C., grabbed second, third and fourth,
respectively, among the amateur men.
Lou Cookson, 60, of Hampton, N.J., in 2:37:43, won
the Grandmaster’s title on men’s side, and Cathy
Wilson, 56, of McLean, won the Grandmaster’s title
on the women’s side in 2:45:50. James Courtney, 19,
of Woodbine, Md., was the top teenager, and Matthew
Shanks of Odenton, won the 20-24 age category. Dan
O’Connell of Herndon, won the 30-34 age group.
David Cascio of Reston, and Cal Biesecker of
Barboursville, Va., took first and second, respectively,
in the 45-49 age group. Thomas Stroup of Great Falls,
won the 55-59 category. David Adams of Gaithersburg,
and Larry Atkins of Washington, D.C. grabbed first
and second, respectively, in the 60-64 group. David
McNeely of Glenn Arm, Md., and Joe Amato of Ellicott
City, went one-two, respectively in the 65-69 group.
On the women’s side, Kristen Andrews, 28, of
Bethesda, won the 25-29 age category, Andrea Williams
of Annapolis, won the 35-39 age group, and Cheryl
McMurray of Fairfax, won the 40-44 group. Leslie
Knibb and Lange Carter, both of Washington, D.C,
went first and second, respectively, in the 45-49 group.
Top local finishers
Other local top local finishers included Lindsey
Jerdonek of Washington, D.C., who took eighth
among the professional women. Connie Chow Dowler
of Kensington, Md., finished fourth among amateur
female athletes, in 2:23:32. Kyle Hooker of Annapolis,
Chip Berry of Springfield, and Zachary Britton of
June 2009
17

WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE
BIKE PATH A COMMUTER'S DELIGHT?
by LISA KILDAY
THIS 12-FOOT-WIDE PATH will connect Virginia’s Mt.
Vernon trail and the short trail leading to Maryland’s
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at
the National Harbor, which both navigate along the
Potomac River on their respective sides.
The 1.1-mile path will feature a panoramic view where
bikers and runners can view the Capitol Skyline, Old
Town Alexandria, National Harbor, and the surrounding
parkland from the bridge.
The north side of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge bike
path will include several “bump outs” where people
can step out of the traffic of the bike path and enjoy
the view.
One of the biggest improvements provided by the
Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is the newly created
Washington Street Deck adjacent to the Mt. Vernon
Trail located in Alexandria, Va. The bridge construction
project expanded the popular bicycle path from a
narrow six-foot wide sidewalk to a large 200 x 200 foot
hub that suspends over the Beltway.
John Undeland, the public affairs director of the
Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, told SPOKES that this
deck would help commuters and recreational cyclists
and runners to safely navigate the nearby bike trails.
Undeland also told SPOKES that each of the five trails
form “spokes” of a hub on the large cantilevered deck.
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On June 6, the Washington metro area will have a new bicycling and pedestrian path that will
cross over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The new path will allow bikers to legally and safely
cross the Capitol Beltway for the first time.
As shown, from the Washington Street Deck, one can
travel north to Old Town and DC, south to Mt. Vernon,
east to Jones Point Park or Prince Georges County,
and west to the newly created Route 1 pedestrian path.
Although only partially opened, the wide Washington
Street Deck has already alleviated the bottleneck in the
south end of Old Town created by converging cyclists,
joggers, and walkers that were jammed on its former
narrow path.
Undeland advised SPOKES that the path from the
Washington Street Deck to Jones Point Park is unfinished,
however, the park is accessible from the waterfront.
An additional bike path is also being built at the
east side of Telegraph Road near Eisenhower Avenue
as part of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project. The
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18 June 2009

path from Telegraph Road will lead to the Washington
Street Deck. Access to Huntington Avenue will also be
included in the new trail system. It is clear that when
the Washington Street Deck is completed, it will greatly
enhance commuting options in Virginia.
Traveling into Maryland, cyclists will follow a ramp
from the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Beltway
to a short waterfront trail to reach the Gaylord Resort
at the National Harbor. The National Harbor was built
in 2008 with a conference center, hotels, apartments,
restaurants, stores, and a marina. As shown in the
photo, this ramp will be a large deck over the Beltway
at the bridge’s northern end.
Undeland told SPOKES that the ramp and the short
paved trail to the National Harbor will include interpretative
signage describing the local stone, wildlife,
and foliage. There will also be several benches on the
ramp and along the trail to the National Harbor.
Katrina Washington, an employee of Peterson
Companies that manages the National Harbor, told
SPOKES that there are many bicycle racks on the
premises. She explained that the National Harbor is
encouraging cyclists to visit and consider using the
ferry to cross the Potomac River. The passenger ferry
operates from the National Harbor to Old Town year
round. Bicycles are allowed on the ferry for the quick
20-minute trip. The cost of the ferry is $8 one-way and
$16 round trip. Presently, the ferry runs hourly from 10
a.m. to 10 p.m. The ferry will increase the frequency of
trips in the afternoon from May through October. Only
an abbreviated evening winter schedule is available.
Ideally, Prince Georges County would be afforded with
a similar network of bike paths that are found on the
Virginia side. Unfortunately, a direct and safe bike
path does not yet exist from the National Harbor to
the nearby communities of Oxon Hill, Tantallon, and
Ft. Washington. Originally, Congress had established a
recreational trail called the Potomac Heritage National
Trail in southern Prince Georges County to generally
follow the shoreline of the Potomac River. This section
of the Potomac Heritage National Trail was designed
only for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. The Potomac
Heritage National Trail was intended to protect a 700-
mile area tracing the Potomac River Basin and its historic
sites from Pennsylvania to Virginia.
However, the National Harbor group acquired a portion
of this land in Prince Georges County from the
federal government to build their conference center
and shopping complex. With this acquisition, the
developers also persuaded Prince Georges County to
reroute the Potomac Heritage National Trail to a heavily
congested and less desirable area near Oxon Hill
Road. Instead of an idyllic trail along the Potomac, the
proposed bicycle path will be on a busy corridor that
is not easily accessible to the residential communities
of southern Prince Georges County. Once completed,
bicyclists will be forced to “share” the road with car and
truck traffic.
Not surprisingly, the District of Columbia will not have
any access to the 1.1-mile bike trail except for a 300-
foot portion on the Wilson Bridge that is situated on
the southernmost end of DC’s Rosalie Island.
DC’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) in conjunction
with the Federal Highway Administration
(FHA), Virginia’s Department of Transportation
(VDOT), and Maryland’s State Highway Authority
(SHA) are the main agencies designing and supporting
the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project. It is unclear
whether or not DDOT considered building a bike trail
from the Wilson Bridge to I-295. At a minimum, this
trail would potentially serve Bolling Air Force Base
and Anacostia. It has been speculated that the creation
of a bike trail serving DC from the Wilson Bridge was
squashed due to budget concerns and possible environmental
issues. Upon completion of the new bridge,
DC will transfer future ownership rights to Virginia
and Maryland who will act as joint owners. Virginia and
Maryland will have a permanent easement on the small
portion of the bridge over DC’s Rosalie Island.
Despite the fact that the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge
costs over $2.5 billion, it lacks mass public transportation
options, such as, Metro or rail. When the new
bridge is completed, the number of vehicle lanes will
increase from 6 to 12 lanes. However, only one lane
on each span will be designated for High Occupancy
Vehicles (HOV) and buses. The new bridge remains
a drawbridge, which is an inconvenience for all travelers.
Cyclists and pedestrians on the bike trail of the
Woodrow Wilson Bridge will also have to stop and wait
on the bridge when the drawbridge is being opened.
Presently, trails dedicated for cyclists and runners
on the Maryland and DC side are non-existent, thus,
bicycle commuters will not have any options if one
desires to commute from Prince Georges County or
DC to Virginia and back using the new Wilson Bridge
bike path. On the positive side, the construction of
the Washington Street Deck has eased traffic in what
once was an unsafe intersection and connected several
bike paths seamlessly. Once completed, several new
trails will expand Virginia’s bike trail network and
enable people to travel safely from the Rt. 1 Corridor
and Telegraph Road area. The new bike trails will add
miles of fitness trails for cyclists and runners mostly in
Virginia.
Overall, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge is a great addition
for cyclists and runners who would like to enjoy
a trip to the National Harbor without using a car.
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project should also be
applauded for building a wide bike path on the new
bridge.
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June 2009
19

COLUMNS
FAMILY CYCLING 101 by KEVIN BRUGMAN kbrugman@cox.net
A great Dad but questionable Father! That is the
way I felt the weekend of the Tour d’Chesapeake in
Mathews, Va. I was pulling the boys out of school at
noon so that we could miss the Friday afternoon rush.
As a father I felt bad about pulling the boys out of
school for a cycling event, but as a friend said, the
boys would remember the dad and boys cycling trips
long after they forgot what happened in school.
So to further assuage my guilt we added a trip to the
Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania National Military Park
and did a tour of the battlefield to coincide with my
son’s study of the Civil War.
After we drove through the rain to get to the ride
start on Saturday morning, we were not sure if we
would even be riding. My youngest son was wearing
a cast that had to be kept dry and we were not sure
how well the rain gear would work with that, but as
we got to the start, the weather lightened up and the
rain seemed to look like it was going to hold off for
the day. As we were getting our stuff out of the van,
we looked up to see a full blown caravan ride by. Dad
was in the lead, towing a trail-a-bike pulling a trailer.
Leading the whole pack was mom with a big smile,
because she had gotten dad to pull that train down
the road.
Meeting up with the family at the first rest stop, I
found that everyone was really enjoying themselves.
Leading off the pack was Beth McMartin with husband
John Lewis and their sons Ian and Kyle in tow.
Although this was the first long ride the family had
done with the full rig, the family has put biking as
part of their normal life. John bikes with Ian to school
twice a week and Beth occasionally takes Kyle to preschool
in the bike trailer.
Beth had read about the Tour d’Chesapeake several
years ago when she had researched doing Bike
Virginia, but as Bike Virginia changed to a more hilly
route, she had forgotten about it. Then this year
when John had biked with the boys over to a nearby
playground on the W&OD trail, he found a flyer and
they decided to try the ride with the family.
Kyle often gets bored in the trailer, but on this ride
there were enough stops to keep him interested. Ian
is becoming a serious biker and pulls his own weight
on the trail-a-bike. Like bikers everywhere, he was
also having fun riding with all the different folks and
wanted to do a longer ride.
At the first rest stop, Ian was really interested with the
glass blowing exhibit, while Kyle took great pleasure
chasing the cat. At the subsequent waterfront stops,
both boys had great fun exploring looking for crabs
and other wildlife. Ian found one entire blue crab
shell and collected several other claws. The only problem
Beth and John had was to get the boys back on
the bikes to go onto the next stop.
While this was the first long trip that the family had
done together, John and Beth are not strangers to
bike touring. John has cycled most of his adult life
and when he was in graduate school he did a bike
tour of Scotland. After they got married and lived in
Boston, they took a bike tour of Ireland. To get ready
for the Ireland trip, Beth started commuting the
eight miles to work on her bike. When they moved to
Fairfax County, one of their requirements was to find
a home within a mile of the W&OD bike trail which
John uses to bike commute to work.
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After riding with Beth and John for awhile, we separated
and were soon passed by three gents wearing
blue t-shirts that had four bicycles stenciled on the
back and said “Keeping up with the Joneses”. We met
up with this trio at the next stop and quickly tried to
find out their story. Gus was the leader of the group
riding with Phillip and his son Zach. Gus explained
that they had been riding together as a family for a
little over a year and that his daughter, Sasha, had
designed the shirts for when they rode together.
The family has gotten together to do some of the
charity rides in the area as well as doing the Tour
d’Chesapeake for the first time this year.
Even the threat of bad weather did not keep the families
off their bikes. This seemed to be the trend for the
entire ride, lots of families riding together. One of the
volunteers offered that they had about 550 registered
riders this year and he estimated that about 20% of
the registrants were children under the age of 16.
The ride organizers have worked hard to overcome
the lack of places for families to stay in Mathews.
There are a couple of bed and breakfasts and some
folks open their homes to riders, but nothing very
family friendly. We stayed in Gloucester about 15
miles away. For the more rugged there is a large tent
city behind the school and campers in the parking lot.
To keep the children content, there is a family oriented
movie on Friday night that allows everyone to get a
good night’s sleep for the ride the next day. As I referenced
earlier, there are lots of stops on the shorter
routes allowing the kids to get off the bikes and play.
When the riders finish the ride there is strawberry
short cake waiting and lots of space to get out and
play. It never ceases to amaze me how a child that is
completely exhausted from riding and convinced that
they will fall over dead from exhaustion if they have to
pedal one more stroke can instantly revive and be out
playing with other children in a common play area.
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June 2009
21

DEPARTMENTS
COMMUTER CONNECTION by RON CASSIE ron_cassie@yahoo.com
Matthew Henson Trail’s Grand Opening
On May 9, the Montgomery County, Md., Department
of Parks with agency partners, trail advocates and
walking, jogging and bicyclists celebrated the official
opening of the new 4.5-mile, 8-foot-wide Matthew
Henson Trail. Stretching from Aspen Hill to Layhill
down county just north of Takoma Park, the completion
of the hard-surface trail marks two and a half
years of construction work.
The program of events included park naturalist-led
children’s activities, guided trail hikes led by the
Montgomery County Department of Environmental
Protection, giveaways, refreshments and a special dedication
of the new trail pavilion in honor of Idamae
Garrott—the late Montgomery County, state legislator
whose support helped make the Matthew Henson
State Park possible.
“This trail is an important connector to the Rock
Creek Trail,” said Department of Parks Project
Manager Marian Elsasser.
The Matthew Henson Trail features about a halfmile
of wooden boardwalk, surrounded by parkland,
forested area, thousands of trees and shrubs and the
Turkey Branch Stream—restored by the Montgomery
County Department of Environmental Protection in
cooperation with this trail project. The trail begins at
the intersection with the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail
at Winding Creek Local Park on Dewey Road, runs
northeast through Matthew Henson State Park near
Hewitt Avenue and Bel Pre Elementary School and
continues east across Layhill Road to Alderton Road.
The $4 million construction project was approved
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April 2003.
Construction manager
Bob Kane met with
residents before the
project began to alleviate
concerns that the
trail and increased
foot and bicycle traffic
would lead to crime.
He assured residents
that Maryland-National
Capital Park Police
would patrol the trail
daily.
“The fact is that it is
easier to patrol trails,”
Kane was quoted telling
local homeowner
associations in a Gazette newspaper story. “According
to studies we have seen, the crime on trails is negligible
compared to crime as a whole.”
However, others expressed excitement about the trail.
“The Matthew Henson Trail will provide an attractive
outdoor experience to about 16,000 households
that are within a mile of the trail,” said Bill Michie
of Aspen Hill, a member of the Montgomery Bicycle
Advocates.
“Many community destinations connect to the trail,
including churches, schools, local parks, shopping
centers and recreation. The 4.5-mile trail is a critical
piece of the planned paved trail network. The
Matthew Henson trail will be the missing east-west
link connecting the Northwest Branch--Sligo Creek
Trail corridor to the Rock Creek Trail corridor.”
Matthew Henson was an associate of Commander
Robert E. Peary during various expeditions, the most
famous being a 1909 expedition which claimed to
be the first to reach the Geographic North Pole. An
African-American explorer and Marylander, Henson
was born in Charles County. April 6, 2009 marked the
100th anniversary of Henson and Peary’s arrival at the
North Pole.
One Less Car news: Mini-Cycle Across Maryland
Early this month, One Less Car, the Maryland nonprofit
which advocates for bicycling and pedestrian
causes, and the American Lung Association of
Maryland announced they will co-sponsor a new
“mini” Cycle Across Maryland (CAM) at Salisbury
University.
The June 5 - 7 fund raising event’s official name is
the Chesapeake Bay Air Ride. One Less Car is joining
this year to help offer a replacement for Cycle Across
Maryland, its own 25-year event that is on hiatus.
The Chesapeake Bay Air Ride is a pledge-based bike
tour – and inline skating event. It is open to all cyclists
and skaters - novice to expert. There are a variety of
route lengths. Saturday, for example, 20, 40, 62.5 and
100-mile rides are offered. On Sunday, 20, 40 or 62.5
mile rides are available.
The start and finish of all the rides, as well as the
lodging and activities are held at Salisbury University.
Routes go through Wicomico, Somerset and
Worcester Counties to Assateague Island or along the
shorelines.
The Chesapeake Bay Air Ride raises money for lung
health education, programs and research in the
Atlantic Coast Region (Maryland, Virginia and North
Carolina.)
Approximately 350 cyclists, primarily from the
Atlantic Coast region, are expected to participate.
The registration fee covers a T-shirt, full SAG support
and stocked rest stops along the route, a BBQ
on Friday night, crab feast/dinner and awards party
Saturday night, and lunch on Sunday.
All participants must raise a minimum of $200
in pledges, supporting both the American Lung
Association and One Less Car.
U.S. Bicycle Friendly State Rankings
The League of American Bicyclists released its second
annual ranking of bicycle friendly states, scoring the
50 states on a 75-item questionnaire that evaluates a
state’s commitment to bicycling and covers six key
areas: legislation, policies and programs, infrastructure,
education and encouragement, evaluation and
planning, and enforcement.
League president Andy Clarke highlighted that “several
states dramatically improved their ranking by
updating their traffic codes, increasing the level of
funding for bicycle improvements, implementing
education programs aimed at cyclists and motorists,
getting organized and hosting their first statewide
bicycling conferences and events.”
For 2009, the top five highest scoring states ranked
one through five are: 1) Washington State; 2)
Wisconsin; 3) Maine; 4) Oregon; and 5) Minnesota.
The lowest scoring states are: 46) New Mexico;
47) Alaska; 48) Oklahoma; 49) Montana; and 50)
Alabama.
In the region, Delaware made the top ten list, placing
No. 9. Maryland jumped a number of spots this year
to No. 16. Virginia came in at No. 23. Pennsylvania
and West Virginia at No. 40 and 42, respectively. The
District of Columbia was not included in the result.
Two states well-known as cycling hotbeds, Colorado and
California, came in at No. 13 and No. 14, respectively.
The bike friendly state program, designed by the
League of American Bicyclists, which promotes bicycling
for fun, fitness and transportation and includes
some 300,000 members, encourages states to evaluate
their quality of life, sustainability and transportation
networks. The rankings are used to create momentum
amongst states and communities to continue to
become more friendly.
BikeWalk Virginia
As a statewide non-profit organization, BikeWalk
Virginia promotes biking and walking for health,
environmental, and economic benefits. Recently, they
posted information on its website (www.bikewalk
22 June 2009

Bike To Work Day commuters
virginia.org) regarding federal stimulus funds that are
expected to help Virginia trail projects.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA) requires states to use a minimum of
three percent of their total transportation funds
on Transportation Enhancements and Virginia is
expected to receive $695 million for transportation
projects. Of that, $20 million will be directed to trail
projects under the “Enhancements” program. The
“Enhancements” money is currently targeted, according
to the Virginia Department of Transportation as
follows:
• Virginia Capital Trail $8.184 million
• Dismal Swamp Canal Trail $1.3 million
• High Bridge Trail $2.0 million
• Roanoke River Greenway $2.0 million
• Tobacco Heritage Trail $6.0 million
• Valley Pike Trail $0.85 million
• USMC Heritage Trail $0.5 million
According to an 18-page document put together
by Virginia Department of Transportation on the
BikeWalk Virginia website, nationwide 6.1 percent,
or $47.9 billion of the ARRA stimulus money will go
towards transportation. Of that, the bulk, $27.5 billion,
will go towards improving highway infrastructure,
$9.3 billion will be directed to rail, $8.4 billion
to public transportation, $1.5 billion to discretionary
grant programs and $1.3 billion to aviation.
Of the rail funding, $8 billion will be used to create
a high-speed rail corridor, and $1.3 billion will be
directed to Amtrak capital grants.
The federal public transportation money will largely
be awarded through urbanized area formula grants
directly to operators.
Virginia, expected to receive an estimated $695 million
as mentioned above, must obligate at least 50
percent of those discretionary funds within 120 days
- meaning, of course, work should be begin relatively
soon on projects.
BikeWalk Virginia programs are supported through
donations, memberships, sponsorships, grant funding,
and event fundraising - which in June includes Bike
Virginia.
The 22nd annual Bike Virginia, June 19-24, takes
participates on a journey through the area nestled
between the flat lands of the East Coast and the
peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains - Charlottesville,
Culpeper, and Orange, Va. The good/bad news to
report is that the event reached its limit of 2,000
cyclists and closed registration May 4. However, a waiting
list is available.
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23

COLUMNS
SPOKESWOMEN by BRENDA RUBY bruby@verizon.net
...a look at women’s cycling issues in the
mid-Atlantic
Georgina Terry – Pioneer for Women’s Cycling
One of my favorite ways to spend a day is out biking
with my friends. Not my women friends, just friends.
Yet, with the exception of one or two men whose
company we unanimously enjoy, it is all women. This
wasn’t a planned thing; over the years it’s just shaped
up to be this way. Yet, we don’t see ourselves as a
women’s riding group rather a group of bikers who
happen to be mostly women.
Do we all ride the same or even have the same
approach to biking? No. We each have strengths and
weaknesses which seem to even themselves out over
the course of a ride; some of us think of it as training,
while others see it more as a way to enjoy the
day. Is it because we need an outlet for our legendary
thousands of extra words uttered each day more than
men? No, generally we’re focused on the next looming
hill (though I’d be lying to say there wasn’t a fair
bit of talking going on at the rest stops). Whatever the
reason, the fact that women often end up cycling sans
men is nothing new.
Just ask Georgena Terry, founder of Terry Precision
Cycles and host of the “Wild Goose Chase” ride held
this past May 3 at Maryland’s Blackwater National
Wildlife Refuge. Billed as a ride for women, this year
was only its second and the event has more than doubled
in size, to over 700 riders, with hundreds more
turned away. Speaking with her a few days before the
ride, her anticipation was clear. “I’m anxious to see all
these people together. It’s terrific – the camaraderie
and everything is just fantastic. It’s going to be great.”
RECUMBENT =
Comfort
PEOPLE ASK US
WHO RIDES RECUMBENTS?
We tell them avid cyclists
overcoming discomfort from a physical
condition, people coming back to cycling
for exercise who want more comfort,
and people that like to be different.
We welcome them all and try to help
them find the recumbent that
will get them out riding.
We’re fighting “oil addiction” with
human powered transportation.
Join the fight – park your car and
ride your bike.
bikes@vienna, LLC
128A Church St, NW Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-8900
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OUR PRE-OWNED BIKES.
And when Georgena gets psyched about something,
history shows success can’t be far behind.
In what she bills as a “basement-bred business,” Terry
Precision Cycles was the first and continues to be the
leader in the women’s bike industry designing not
just bikes specific to women’s needs, but saddles, and
clothing as well. “Most people think I started because
I liked riding, but that’s not really the case.”
While Georgena likes riding, logging over 6,000 miles
a year all the while testing Terry products, it was her
interest in mechanical engineering which led her into
building bikes.
“Basically, how do you put the darn thing together
and miter the tubes and do all that kind of stuff.”
Rebuilding a replica of her favorite childhood bike, a
Schwinn, provided interesting bike building lessons.
“There was some wacko stuff going on there, but
good stuff to learn from” referring to how Schwinn
made a small frame by giving it a super high bottom
bracket.
Riding around on a self-made bike attracted a bit of
attention from fellow riders who started coming to
her with specific concerns, asking her to make bikes
for them.
“I found that a lot of people who were approaching
me were women who all had the same complaints—
sore shoulders, stiff neck, sore crotch,” she told
SPOKES. “After I heard enough women saying that, I
realized that there’s got to be something fundamentally
different here.”
That launched Terry into studying body measurements
and determining the fundamental differences
between men’s and women’s structure. With body segments
tending to be proportionately different, shoulders
narrower, and hands smaller, she realized that
“the bicycle industry was building to the bell curve of
men’s heights and proportions and chopping off all
these other women down at the other end. Women
aren’t just short men.”
Terry knew that by designing a bike fit for a woman’s
structure not only would she alleviate a lot of these
common problems among women cyclists but also
create a bike on which women could ride strong
and longer.
“At that point I thought, ‘Why not just design a line of
bikes for women?’ Forget about the men, they’re well
taken care of.” The engineer in her had been lured by
the beauty of building bikes, but the entrepreneurial
spirit was stoked by a few sell-out visits to bike rallies.
“As soon as I set up the bikes, explained the concept,
and people test road them, they wanted to buy one.”
Add to that her ever-present feeling that she just
didn’t belong in a big corporate setting, Georgena
left her job as an engineer for Xerox and has never
looked back.
Fast forward 25 years and Terry’s goal remains the
same: getting women to have more fun cycling. In
Paula Dyba, Georgena Terry, and Liz Robert
1984, creating a company that only catered to women
cyclists probably seemed crazy to others in the industry,
but it turned out to be revolutionary.
Did Georgena realize the enormity of her company
and this mission at the time? “Yes, because I could
look out there and see that no one else was doing it;
they weren’t even close. It just seemed like consumers
were so turned on to the idea of it, so receptive to it,
so ready for it. It was exactly the right time because so
many more people were getting into cycling, especially
women. We’d go to these rallies [in the mid 1980s]
and half the people there were women. This wasn’t a
male-dominated activity at all so it only made sense to
pursue it.”
Terry notes that feeding into the perfect timing were
the successes of women racers like Sue Novara Reber
and Connie Carpenter who were paving the way for
women who wanted to get into racing.
24 June 2009

“A growing awareness of ‘fit’ [on the bike] and
women not being willing to hear ‘you’ll get used to it’
anymore played into it. The seeds were being sown.”
Looking back, Terry takes great pride in her accomplishments
and clearly understands that Terry
Precision Cycles inspired an industry.
“I like our company to take credit for creating the
women’s cycling market,” she told SPOKES. “Frankly,
before we introduced these products, nobody was
doing anything like that. Recently a lot of companies
have wanted to move into that area and establish
themselves as the answer to women’s problems on
bicycles, but they didn’t think it was an issue until we
came along and told them about it. I think that had
this company not started, women might not be as far
along in bicycling as they are at this point. It sounds
like an egotistical thing to say, but I think it’s true. It
makes me feel good because it’s nice to be someone
who’s launched an industry.”
And Terry didn’t just rock the bicycle world with her
bikes. Terry Precision Cycles like to say they “blew a
hole through the bicycle seat industry” with the introduction
of their nifty Liberator saddle in 1997 which
featured a prominent cut out, relieving pressure and
pain and adding comfort. Just peruse the saddle selection
at your local bike shop and you’ll see how popular
saddles with cut outs are now.
You’ll probably also notice some Terry clothing. This,
Georgena says, is in direct response to hearing what
women were asking for. Noting that she herself is “not
an apparel kind of person” she said “what we were hearing
at that point was that all women’s clothing looked
like it was designed by a man who would like to see
a woman wearing that. Women come in all different
shapes and sizes and we want to accommodate that.”
Terry’s success showed others what she already knew:
that this was an untapped market full of potential.
With the success of her saddles and skorts, it’s not a
shock for her to realize that many people don’t realize
TANDEMS =
Sharing
WHY RIDE A TANDEM?
It’s sharing the fun and experience with
a partner, a child, a parent, or a friend.
Sharing exercise, sharing adventure,
sharing the joy of accomplishment, and
creating a shared memory.
We sell and rent tandems because we’ve
shared these things and found that bicycling
can be even more fun when it is shared.
We’re fighting “oil addiction” with
human powered transportation.
Join the fight – park your car and
ride your bike.
bikes@vienna, LLC
128A Church St, NW Vienna, VA 22180
703-938-8900
www.bikesatvienna.com
COME TO OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION
ABOUT OUR UNUSUAL PRODUCTS AND
CLICK USED BIKES FOR PHOTOS,
DESCRIPTIONS, AND PRICES OF
OUR PRE-OWNED BIKES.
that Terry not only makes, but started with, bikes. “So
many people are coming into the market who assume
that Cannondale or Trek started the women’s market
because we don’t have the strong distribution they
have. It’s hard to come up against huge marketing
budgets and that’s what we find ourselves faced with.”
While women cycling is nothing new, what is relatively
new is the focus and hype surrounding it. Marketers
have found their new golden egg, and we’re it.
Noting the great deal of misinformation out there,
Terry believes one of her company’s continuing mission
is to be a resource for women cyclists.
“We still need to do a lot of educating of women
and of bicycle retailers about proper fit and about
distinguishing between marketing that’s real and
about problems and marketing that’s nothing more
than hype. There’s a lot of hype in this industry and
I think that the only way to override that is to keep
presenting the facts. Sometimes I think that women
get a little bit overwhelmed when they go into a bike
shop because they find themselves in a technical
environment that may not necessarily be comfortable
for them and all too often they might be influenced
by information that may not be right, but they don’t
have enough knowledge to know if this person is on
the right or wrong track.”
She notes that it’s frustrating not only for the consumer,
but for herself as well and the best way to combat
this is through constantly trying to educate the consumer.
She wants the website to be both a retail space
and a resource.
“If you come here and buy something, that’s fine. If
you don’t, but you’re learning stuff, that’s good for us,
too.” In the past year, Georgena has added videos and
podcasts on topics anywhere from bike geometry and
fit to nutrition.
Having accomplished so much, it’s easy to just look
back, but Terry has her sights set keenly on the future,
and that includes getting back to what she enjoys
most. As of the beginning of May, Georgena Terry is
no longer the CEO of her company. As founder, she’ll
continue to be president, but the new CEO of Terry
Precision Cycles will be Elisabeth Robert, former CEO
of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. Terry sees this
as “just another phase in the development of the
company and a very necessary one.” She adds that
her partner Paula Dyba, who has been the vice president
of marketing, and herself were “getting totally
strangled by administrative details, spending hours
doing stuff neither one of us wanted to do. I’d rather
be working on bicycles, on web stuff, on culture, on
social marketing. The whole reason behind this is to
let Liz bring in other people to do these tasks and
literally free us up to do what we do well.” Terry continues,
“It’s going to be phenomenal. It’s a huge relief
to me.”
Of her successor, Terry notes that Robert turned
around Vermont Teddy Bear from a money-losing
small company to a large, profitable enterprise during
her tenure. Terry says, “she [Robert] just launches
into an idea and it fuels her. I’d like to get back into
that situation myself because certainly I was like that
in the early days of this company.”
For Georgena that means getting back to the basics
that inspired the launch of an industry. She sees that
the market isn’t getting any smaller.
“It really is thriving and I think as women are becoming
more comfortable with the technical aspect of it;
they feel better about wanting to get more things and
understand what they need.”
She notes that “women’s cycling isn’t ‘feminine, feminine,
frilly.’ It doesn’t mean as much to women now
to have things that are continually pushed as women’s
specific. What does mean something to women, is
to have a source for information and, once again,
Georgena Terry is excited to be in a position to fulfill
that need.
301.663.0007
June 2009
25
June 2009
25

KIDS ADVENTURE CAMP
by PAT CHILDERS
Spring break in Fairfax County can cause a dilemma for local youths. They are gratefully out
of school, often with nothing to do. This is especially true for children from the local poor
or minority communities, who’s parents can’t afford camps. But this spring, for 18 youths
representing six different elementary and middle schools things were a little different. They
participated in the Lake Accotink Kids Adventure Race Camp. No watching TV and consuming
calories on their couch during their week off, these friends and strangers united for a week
long camp to compete against nature, each other and exhaustion.
FOR THE FIRST FOUR DAYS, they learned to trail run,
mountain bike, and boat and learned about conservation,
nutrition and teamwork. They performed
community service blazing new trails in the park for
themselves and generations to follow. Everything they
learned about nature and themselves, assisted them
for the last day of their camp experience, an adventure
race.
The students arrived in the woods of Lake Accotink
Virginia on Monday, April 6, to overcast skies. While
many of them lived within only miles of the park they
had never been there before. The camp offered by
the Fairfax County park and recreation department
and Trips for Kids Metro DC was designed to provide
a challenge in nature to children who otherwise
wouldn’t have the opportunity, Many of the children
are on scholarships for the week, others pay for the
experience, none of them really know what to expect.
As the camp’s councilor and chauffeur for most of
the children, I made quick introductions and chose
two loose teams to get the ball rolling. Existing friendships
created a comfort zone, but as the challenges
start, new alliances made sort of a suburban survivor
program. Today they learned about the park that
would be their home for the next week. Four hundred
acres of rolling hills, trails, and water. By the
end of the week they traveled every inch of the property
learning about the animals and plants that they
shared space with during their adventure.
After a quick warm up challenge, the teams tackled
the hillsides of Lake Accotink in a trail race on foot.
This is their first day in nature and for some their first
time hiking, abilities are determined, the fast must
learn patience, the slow perseverance. All learn the
importance of proper nutrition and that nature can
be fickle as a warm rain begins to fall. Heading home
they were told the first day is the hardest. Exhausted,
most of them hope this is true.
Tuesday, tired muscles and weary legs bring the youth
back to the park. They were told today would be
easier, learning to bike and row. But even an easy day
of instruction can be made difficult as 20-30 mile per
hour winds blow across the lake, dropping the temperatures
20 degrees from the previous days warmth.
The skills sessions on the bikes and boats teach the
children to look to their future are difficult but not as
difficult as standing and waiting their turn in the sudden
spring chill of the day.
The group escapes the wind as they head into the
woods for some trail riding. The lesson of the day is
brains over brawn, shift gears before you climb the
hills or you may end up walking. Several hills are
walked before the lesson is fully learned.
Wednesday –Three days of exercise and their bodies
are adjusting. The youth eagerly await the days challenges,
today is about community service, they will
give back to the park building a new trail for all to
enjoy. But first it’s a long ride uphill before they get
to the work site.
Waiting for the kids are tools and adult volunteers
from the Mid-Atlantic Off-road Enthusiasts (MORE),
experts in making sustainable trails. For the next two
hours the children build and learn ... not only do
they ride single track for the first time, they are the
first ones to ride a trail that will last for thousands of
people to enjoy in the future, a trail they built.
Thursday – The week has grown long but smiles are
prominent as the sun shines on the group. Today they
learn who their teammates will be for the race tomorrow.
As they reorganize each team names itself, the
Flamin Scorpions (no "g” required the counselors are
told),The Gangsters and the Jokers (pronounced with
a “Y” sound at the beginning). Then team skill races
begin so the new teams can assess themselves and
their opponents.
After the skills, the three teams must do the most
difficult tasks of the week – pick a captain and pick
their route through the following days race course.
The course has five check points, some that can be
reached by biking, hiking and others only by rowing.
There are over 200 options on how to do the race,
and each team has to pick one and hope it’s the best
one for their team members. All three teams choose
different routes. Two teams decide they will boat first,
the Jokers decide to tackle the bikes and long hikes
first, saving the rowing for the end of the race.
Friday – race day – everyone is ready, nature is threatening
with a storm, so the volunteers hurry to get the
race started. A small group has gathered to cheer on
the racers. As the race begins, all of the week’s lessons
on patience, pacing and perseverance are temporarily
lost as the teams rush to their first flag. But then their
lessons return to them, No one child is expected to
remember everything they are taught, but as a team,
the children can tackle every obstacle placed in front
of them.
As the day progresses, their legs tire and the captains
are required to muster up enthusiasm as the teams
go from check point to check point. The threatening
rain never appears and jackets are shed as the
teams move forward. An hour into the race, radio
communications let the captains know where they
stand. Captains Karissa of the Jokers, and the Flamin
Scorpions led by Uyen both have captured three flags
with two remaining. The Gangsters led by Captain
Nick already have four flags captured, but have left
the longest hilliest stretch of trail before they reach
the final check point and head for home.
It’s a whole new race again and energy is found where
some thought none existed. Water bottles are refilled,
maps checked for quicker routes from one check
point to the next and bikes pedaled harder. Each team
hoping that they will be the first to capture the final
flag and pass the finish line. As they approach their
final destination, they anxiously look ahead to see if
they are the first to cross to victory or if another team
has beaten them to the top place on the podium.
The Lake Accotink Kids Adventure Race has always
been unpredictable and it is once again. The
Gangsters raced down the dam hill expecting a win,
only to find that the Jokers had successfully beat
them to the finish and were waiting cheering them
on as they crossed the line. To further complicate the
issue The Gangsters second place finish was now in
danger due to missed questions on the written test.
The Flamin Scorpions successfully kept it competitive
as Uyen brings her team home on the bikes. If
the Scorpions have a perfect score on the written test
they could move into second place, but one incorrect
answer ensured that the standings remained the same
and The Gangsters take second.
Tired smiles are the order of the day, as the youth
return their equipment and celebrate their experience.
New friendships are made that hadn’t existed only four
days earlier, phone numbers exchanged and weekly
bike rides together planned. No one is disappointed,
only glad that they did their best. The race is over but
for these 18 youths the adventure has just begun.
26 June 2009

THE CYCLIST'S KITCHEN by NANCY CLARK, MS, RD
COLUMNS
SPORTS NUTRITION NEWS
FROM ACSM
FOR CUTTING EDGE SPORTS NUTRITION information,
the annual meeting of the American College of Sports
Medicine is the place to be! Over 5,000 exercise
scientists, sports dietitians, physicians and coaches
gathered in Indianapolis in May to share their latest
research. Below are some of the sports nutrition highlights.
(For other highlights, see www.acsm.org; click
on news releases.)
! Eating an energy bar just 15 minutes before you
exercise is as effective as eating it an hour before.
Grabbing fuel as you rush to your workout is a good
idea that gets put to use.
! Natural sports snacks, like a granola bar or banana,
offer a variety of sugars. But engineered foods might
offer just one type of sugar. Because different sugars
use different transporters to get into muscle cells, eating
a variety of sugars enhances energy availability. In
a 62 mile (100 km) time trial, cyclists who consumed
two sugars (glucose + fructose) completed the course
in 204 minutes; those who had just glucose took an
16 additional minutes. The bottom line: eat a variety
of foods with a variety of sugars during endurance
exercise, such as sports drinks, tea with honey, gummi
bears…
• Salty pre-exercise foods such as chicken noodle soup
can make you thirsty and encourage you to drink
more. This can reduce the risk of becoming dehydrated
during hot weather.
• A survey of 263 endurance athletes indicates
they understand the importance of recovery after
a hard workout. But they don’t know what to eat.
They believe protein is the key to recovery. Wrong.
Carbohydrate should really be the fundamental
source of recovery fuel. Or better yet, enjoy a foundation
of carbs with a little protein ...Chocolate milk.
• When exhausted cyclists were given a choice of
recovery drinks, they all enjoyed—and tolerated
well—the chocolate and vanilla milks, more so
than water, sports drink or watery chocolate drink.
Chocolate milk is familiar, readily available and
tastes good!
• How long do elite soccer players need to recover
from a game? In one study, they needed five days for
sprinting ability to return to pre-game level. That’s
four days longer than most athletes allow...
• How many calories does a triathlete burn during
the Hawaii Ironman? Using labeled water, researchers
determined a 173 lb (78.6 kg) man burned 9,290
calories. Body water turnover was about 4 gallons
(16.5 L), and weight dropped 7.5%. Muscle glycogen
dropped by 68%.
• Fatigue is related to not only glycogen depletion
and dehydration but also to body temperature higher
than 104o F (40˚ C). Try to keep cool when exercising
in hot weather!
• Have you ever wondered how long it takes for the
water you drink to end up as sweat? Only 10 minutes
(in trained cyclists). Ingested fluid moves rapidly, so
don’t hesitate to keep drinking even towards the end
of an event.
• Should an endurance athlete choose a sports drink
with protein during exercise? The research is confusing,
due to different protocols (time trials vs. endurance
tests). Plus, in most research studies the subjects
have nothing to eat before the exercise tests—an
unlikely situation for most endurance athletes. Hence,
we need more “real life” research. Until then, plan to
eat carbs with a little protein pre-exercise—cereal with
milk, a cup of yogurt—so the protein will be available,
if needed. During exercise, choose a sports drink that
tastes good, so you’ll want to consume enough.
• Some endurance athletes do perform better with
protein during exercise. For example, when given
carbs or carbs + protein during an endurance exercise
test, those who were “high responders” to the protein
performed about 10% better in the time trial at the
end of the endurance test, as compared to the “low
responders”. This is just one example of how each
athlete has his or her individual response to different
fuels during exercise. The best bet: Experiment during
training to learn what sports drinks/foods settles
best, tastes good and works well for you personally!
• A Norwegian study of elite endurance athletes indicates
73% took vitamin supplements. Little did they
realize their diet provided the recommended nutrient
intake without the pills. The vitamin intake of the pill
takers was even higher—135% to 391% of recommended
levels. Two exceptions were Vitamin D (low
in 22% of the athletes; perhaps due to the fact they
live in Norway and have less sunshine) and iron (low
in 10% of the women). The researchers remind us
that high intakes can have toxic effects and may be
detrimental to health over time. The best bet is to eat
your vitamins via healthy foods.
• Coaches encourage football players to be big—but
what is the long term cost? A survey of former college
players indicates a high rate of obesity and associated
health problems.
• The “freshman fifteen” pounds gained in the first
year of college may be an exaggeration. Among a
group of 40 female college freshman, half gained and
half lost weight (~4 to 5 lbs) Excess calories from specialty
coffees and soda contributed to the weight gain.
Watch out for liquid calories!
• If kids are going to play video games, they might as
well play active ones such as Wii Boxing, Wii Tennis
or Dance Dance Revolution. These burn two to three
times the calories as traditional hand held games
1417, 2443
• If you read ultra-fit magazines when you are exercising,
you’ll likely feel more anxious and depressed
then if you read Oprah or no magazine. Take note:
the models’ “perfect bodies” are altered to look leaner
and more glamorous.
!Women who exercise experience an increase in the
hormones that stimulate appetite; men have less of
a response. This means women tend to get hungry
after exercise and have a harder time with weight
reduction than do men. Science finally validates what
women have known all along!
• Lightweight rowers commonly get rib stress fractures.
In their efforts to maintain a light weight, many
rowers under eat, lose their menstrual period, and
end up with low bone mineral density. Even after
rowers with menstrual dysfunction retired from their
sport, their bone density remained low, suggesting
the effects might be irreversible. Light weight athletes
should consult with a sports dietitian for professional
guidance on how to healthfully lose weight and maintain
the low weight. (For a local referral, see www.
SCANdpg.org.)
• Athletes with eating disorders are known to overexercise.
If they get admitted into an eating disorders
recovery program, they often are not allowed to exercise
(for health reasons). This can be very upsetting.
Yet, a study with patients with eating disorders who
did 10 weeks of supervised strength training as a part
of their recovery achieved higher bone mineral density
and muscular strength. The exercise generated
positive physical and psychological benefits.
• If you have “healthy genes”, you still need to exercise
to be able to gain access to the potential good
health you inherited. There’s no slouching when it
comes to prolonging life!
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June 2009
27

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Griffin Cycle
4949 Bethesda Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 656-6188
www.griffincycle.com
Road, Hybrids, Mountain, Kids
Parts & Accessories for All Makes
Trailers & Trikes
Family Owned – In Bethesda for 38 Years
FEATURING BIKES FROM:
To be listed, send information to Spokes, 5911 Jefferson Boulevard, Frederick, MD 21703 or e-mail: neil@spokesmagazine.com
For a more comprehensive list check out www.spokesmagazine.com.
JUNE 5-7 – CHESAPEAKE BAY AIR RIDE
CBAR is a weekend long, pledge-based bike tour and
inline skating event. Open to all cyclists/skaters, novice
to expert. Routes go through Wicomico, Somerset
and Worcester Counties to Assateague Island or
along the shorelines. Choose from 20, 40, 62.5 or
100 miles on Saturday and 20, 40 or 62.5 miles on
Sunday. CBAR raises money for the American Lung
Association to prevent lung disease and promote lung
health through education, programs and research.
Start/finish, lodging, and activities, including our
famous crab feast, are held at Salisbury University in
Salisbury, Md. For more info or to register visit www.
marylandlung.org or call 800-642-1184.
JUNE 6-7 – BIKE MS: BEYOND THE BELTWAY
Join 1000 participants from across the mid-Atlantic
region for the National MS Society, National Capital
Chapter’s annual Bike MS event in Middleburg, Va.
Choose from several mileage options along our challenging
new route, and enjoy great food, beverages,
and live music at the finish line. Ride for one day or
two. For details, visit www.MSandYOU.org, call (202)
296-5363, or email BikeMS@MSandYOU.org.
JUNE 6-13 – BICYCLE RIDE ACROSS GEORGIA
Come discover Georgia by bicycle on the 30th annual
Bicycle Ride Across Georgia. The 2009 edition will
ride from Hiawassee to Clarks Hill Lake, and will feature
beautiful scenery, historic sites, street festivals, ice
cream socials, an End-of-the-Road party, and more!
Great fun for the family, groups or individuals. Daily
rides average 60 miles, approximately 400 miles total.
Longer Hammerhead options for serious cyclists. Fully
supported with rest stops every 10-15 miles. For more
information, please visit our website at www.brag.org,
or email info@brag.org or call (770) 498-5153.
Dorchester County, Maryland
Miles away, a world apart. Less than an hour from the Bay Bridge.
JUNE 13-14 – 24 HOURS OF BIG BEAR
Coming up on its 18th year, the 24 Hours of Big
Bear, Hazelton, W. Va. (formerly the 24 Hours of
Snowshoe and 24 Hours of Canaan) is rolling out
the bike trail for as many as 200 teams, 50 solo riders
and more than 1,000 spectators. The race will take
place at Big Bear Lake Campland. While the racing
is a blast, you can also have fun as a spectator, volunteer,
or as support crew for one of the teams. In the
shadow of the legendary 24 Hours of Canaan, THE
original 24 hour mountain bike race, and then the 24
Hours of Snowshoe, this Laird Knight, Granny Gear
Productions event returns to the roots of the original
event, with great all around riding, fun camping venues
and a festival atmosphere. The location is about
three hours from Washington/Baltimore. For details
or to register visit www.grannygear.com
JUNE 13-14 – CHESAPEAKE CHALLENGE
Join the Maryland Chapter of the National MS
Society for a one or two day ride on Maryland’s
Eastern Shore. Routes range from 30 -100 miles on
Saturday and 30 & 50 mile on Sunday. Overnight at
Chestertown, Md. Route is fully supported with rest
stops, bike techs and support vehicles. To Register or
find out more, visit www.marylandmsbikeride.org or
call (443) 641-1200.
JUNE 14 – RESTON TOUR DE CURE
The American Diabetes Association again hosts this
very popular (last year over 1,200 cyclists participated)
series of bike rides, ranging from a 12 mile family
fun ride, to more challenging 32 and 64 mile fitness
challenges, and a full century. Starting and finishing
at the Reston Town Center Pavilion the longer rides
head through scenic Northern Virginia countryside
including the W&OD Trail and western Loudoun
County. Register online at www.diabetes.org/tour or
call 1 (888) DIABETES.
Ride over to the Heart of the Chesapeake this summer.
Email info@TourDorchester.org for your free cycling
guide and visitors guide.
TourDorchester.org 410.228.1000 • 800.522.TOUR
JUNE 14 – TOUR DEM PARKS HON!
The sixth annual Tour dem Parks, Hon! Bike Ride
begins at 8 a.m. at the Carriage House in Carroll
Park in southwest Baltimore. Choose from 12, 20, 30
mile rides and – new this year-- a metric century (60
miles). Routes wind through cool Baltimore neighborhoods
and parks. A barbecue with live music follows
the ride. Proceeds benefit bike and park groups in
the city. Register online at www.tourdemparks.org.
For more information, call Gary at (410) 396-4369 or
Anne at (410) 926-4195.
JUNE 19-24 – BIKE VIRGINIA
Twenty one years ago, 117 men, women and children
embarked on an adventure crossing Virginia on bicycles.
They rode from Charlottesville to our nation’s
colonial capital in Williamsburg, establishing what
28 June 2009

has become the largest, multi-day, recreational bicycle
event in the Commonwealth. In 2008, Bike Virginia
is moving north. This year, more than 2,000 cyclists
on a rolling party will visit Charlottesville, Culpeper
and Orange, plus the wonderful countryside connecting
them. For inquiries, call (757) 229.0507 or email
info@bikevirginia.org.
JUNE 20-27 – GREAT OHIO ADVENTURE
GOBA is a week-long bicycle-camping tour which visits
a different part of Ohio each year. Bicycling the daily
50-mile route at a relaxing pace leaves plenty of time
for sightseeing and other tourist activities. See Ohio
while on two wheels with 2,999 of your closest friends!
Advance registration is required. For registration
materials and fees visit www.goba.com or call (614)
273-0811 ext. 1.
JUNE 21-27 – TOURING RIDE IN RURAL INDIANA
TRIRI will travel over hard-surfaced roads to take in
the sights of southwestern Indiana, using back roads
to travel to Newton-Stewart State Recreation Area,
Lincoln State Park, and Harmonie State Park. Average
65 miles/day on the days we travel to a new state park.
Three layover days offer short, medium or long loop
rides. Or, take a day off the bike to explore the park
instead. We anticipate 300-400 participants. (Routes
and mileage are subject to change; more details coming
soon.). Terrain ranges from rolling to hilly. Enjoy
camping or lodging in hotels or state park inns and
catered, sit-down meals under the state park awnings.
For more information, see www.triri.org , email
triri@triri.org, or call (812) 333-8176.
JUNE 27-28 – CATOCTIN CHALLENGE
Beautiful terrain, screaming downhills, fabulous rest
stops, plus riders cycle thru some of the mid-Atlantic’s
best historical sites, including the Gettysburg area.
Three ride options include: Saturday century with
a 45 mile return Sunday. 65 mile Saturday ride with
a 45 mile return Sunday and a 50 mile Saturday/25
mile Sunday. Overnight at the Blue Ridge Summit.
Three live bands playing poolside after Saturday’s ride.
Gourmet meals. All you do is bring your camping gear
to the starting points and go. Ride begins and ends in
Frederick County, Md. A minimum of $250 in pledges
for Habitat for Humanity. Limited to 175. Contact Phil
at (301) 662-5518 or pheffler@aol.com
JUNE 28 – BAY TO BAY RIDE
Annual ride from Betterton, Md., beachfront. Start 7
- 9 a.m., tandems at 8 a.m. Ride 50, 78, 86 or 104 flat
miles or a 27 mile loop to Chestertown. $25. Six food
stops, fully supported, swimming in the Chesapeake
Bay at ride’s end. Proceeds benefit Lions Club Leader
Dog Program for the Blind. Blind riders ride free. For
details email: bay2bay04@hotmail.com or log onto
www.chestertownlionsclub.org
JULY 25 – RIVER TO RIVER RIDE
Pedal Pennsylvania is hosting The River to River
Heritage Corridor Bicycle Tour, which starts and ends
in Souderton PA. The rides take cyclists between the
Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. This year’s route will
feature Montgomery County to start the day followed
by Bucks County. Most of the route is along lightly
traveled roads adjacent to Route 113, taking cyclists
through small towns with farms, churches and businesses
that date back to the 1700s. Most of the ride
offers rolling terrain, but there are a few climbs along
the way. Cyclists can ride routes of 25, 50, 75 or 100
miles; all routes are loops. Proceeds benefit Heritage
Conservancy, a regional leader in natural and historic
preservation. For details contact (215) 513-7550; www.
rivertoriverride.org
JULY 26 - AUG. 1 – BONTON ROULET
This legendary event is a festival on wheels through
New York State’s Finger Lake region. Limited to 500
riders, visit dozens of wineries, quaint shops, beautiful
lakes, and plenty of historic sites. For details call (315)
253-5304 or log onto www.bontonroulet.com
JULY 13-18 – RAINSTORM
Challenge yourself with five century rides over five
days. On day six, join the Ride Across Indiana to ride
160 miles back to your point of departure. Stay in
Indiana State Park inns along the way, with catered
meals designed for athletes. If you’re a recreational
rider hoping to reach new fitness goals, a triathlete
in search of intensive time on the bike, or an ultra
marathon cyclist, this tour is for you. For more information,
see www.triri.org , email triri@triri.org, or call
(812) 333-8176.
JULY 19-25 – FANY RIDE
The Great Big FANY Ride will spin five hundred miles
Across New York – for it’s 9th annual ride. Explore
Niagara Falls, visit farm stands near the Erie Canal,
sample wines at Finger Lake region vineyards, ride
over 100 miles without a traffic light in the Adirondack
Mountains, and arrive in Saratoga Springs. SAG support,
marked roads, cue sheets, luggage transfer to
overnight campsites, optional bus to parking at start/
finish. In honor of each biker the FANY Ride makes
a donation to the Double H Ranch – a camp for children
with chronic illnesses. No pledges are required.
www.FANYride.com (518) 461-7646
WEDNESDAYS AT WAKEFIELD MTB SERIES
Mid-summer evening, June 24 to July 15 - 4-race
mountain bike race series at Wakefield Park,
Annandale, Va. With 21 categories, including 10
junior categories for males and females in 2 year
increments ages 18 and below. Three races each
night: Younger Juniors (5:30), Beginner, Jr, Masters
(6:00), Sport, Expert, Clydesdale (6:55). Fun, Fast
Singletrack. Benefits Trips for Kids Charity. Pre-register
for series at www.BikeReg.com, Info at www.
potomacvelo.com, Jim Carlson jcarlsonida@yahoo.
com; (703) 569-9875.
LUTHERVILLE WEEKLY ROAD RIDES
Lutherville Bike Shop will lead a weekly road bike
ride, leaving from the shop Mondays at 6p.m.
Proper riding attire required. Averaging 16 mph.
Approximately 30 miles A scenic road ride through
Loch Raven Reservoir and surrounding areas. We
keep the hills to a minimum and invite all riders to
the sport. Racers recovering from the weekend are
welcome as well. We’ll ride as a group and no one will
be left behind. Call the shop for details (410) 583-
8734. www.luthervillebikeshop.com
THURSDAY EVENING FREDERICK RIDES
A 15-19 mph road ride out of Frederick Bike Doctor,
5732 Buckeystown Pike, just off Route 355. Meet every
Thursday at 5:30 p.m. for a 25 mile +/- ride. No one
will be dropped. Beginning May 1 the ride time will
change to 6 p.m. Rides cancelled if roads are wet, it
is raining, temps are below 40 degrees or winds are
20 mph or above. Contact (301) 620-8868 or log onto
www.battlefieldvelo.com for details.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT MT. BIKE RIDES AT LOCH RAVEN
Lutherville Bike Shop will lead a weekly mountain
bike ride every Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. from
the shop. The ride will leave from the shop and go
through Loch Raven Reservoir. Distance and speed
will vary based on rider skill level. Call the shop for
details (410) 583-8734. www.luthervillebikeshop.com
SPIRITED SUNDAY ROAD RIDES
Join the folks of the Bicycle Place, just off Rock Creek
Park, every Sunday morning (beginning at 8:30
a.m.) for a “spirited” 36-40 mile jaunt up to Potomac
and back. This is a true classic road ride that runs
year round. While the pace is kept up, no one is
left behind. No rainy day rides. The Bicycle Place
is located in the Rock Creek Shopping Center, 8313
Grubb Road (just off East-West Highway). Call (301)
588-6160 for details.
BALTIMORE SATURDAY RIDE
A fun but spirited group ride through Baltimore
County every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. Depending
on turnout there are usually 2-3 different groups of
varying abilities. When the weather doesn’t cooperate,
we will have the option to ride indoors. Call Hunt
Valley Bicycles at (410) 252-3103 for more information.
HUDSON TRAIL OUTFITTERS RIDES
Join “HTO’s Cycling Club” for local touring and
mountain biking rides. Rides will be lead by experienced
HTO staff and will range from 10-20 mile trail
rides to 20-30 mile road rides. Arrive at 8:30 am for
pre-ride group stretching, rides will start promptly at
9:00 am. Go to www.hudsontrail.com for more information.
BIKES FOR THE WORLD
Bikes for the World collects repairable bicycles in the
United States, for donation to charities overseas, for
productive use by those in need of affordable transport.
Note: $10/bike donation suggested to defray
shipping to overseas charity partners. Receipt provided
for all material and cash donations. Bikes for
the World is a sponsored project of the Washington
Area Bicyclist Association, a 501 c 3 non-profit charity.
Collections will take place rain or shine. For a complete
list of locations and time of collections visit www.
bikesfortheworld.org or call (703) 525-0931.

DEPARTMENTS
MY BIKE SHOP by RON CASSIE
OASIS BIKE WORKS
10376 Main St.
Fairfax, Va. 22030
Shop - 703-273-4051
Mobile -703-371-1095
www.oasisbikeworks.com
DAVID HARTFORD ON A RECENT SUNDAY afternoon
helped a fit “elderly” woman – in her words but not
really – put a new bike rack on her car. Molly Dias,
like Hartford, is a local bicycle and environmental
activist in Fairfax City, and she also joked that she
knew Hartford from “a previous life.”
What Dias, who works for the Fairfax County public
schools, meant, was that she knew Hartford before
he owned the Oasis Bike Works in downtown Fairfax
– when he was a biology teacher.
The brief encounter was revealing about the path
Hartford choose in changing careers three years ago.
Hartford’s long interest in the environment motivated
him to study biology in college and become a teacher,
where he said, for 10 years he’d been “getting up on
my soapbox to lecture my students about global warming
and the fact we can’t keep burning fossil fuels like
this.”
And like Dias, he’s involved with civic issues, and promoting
bicycle trails and paths for Fairfax City. He’s
a member of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
(www.fabb-bikes.org) and the Sierra Club.
So when Hartford decided to follow his desire to start
his own business, he wanted it to be a green business,
something that promoted sustainability, community
and a healthy lifestyle, and, of course, generated
income. The Buddhists call it a “right livelihood.”
An active cyclist ever since his college days 25 years
ago, a former triathlete and a bicycle commuter to
school, opening a bike shop seemed like the perfect
business to bring all of Hartford’s passions together.
He also believed bicycling was more the future of
travel than the past.
But he readily admits it’s also been a struggle, like any
new venture.
“They say it takes five years to start making money as a
small business,” said Hartford. “This is our third year
and my hope is that we are going to turn the corner
this year.”
This year, Hartford and partner Jan Feuchtner, the
shop’s mechanic, get their first full season at their
new 1,600 sq. foot location on Main St. in Fairfax City.
Their new home, a cute, light blue, renovated old
house, complete with steps and a retro front porch is
certainly inviting.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Hartford remains determined
to make the shop a neighborhood hub. His
wife Patricia is a Virginia native and they’ve lived in
the area for quite a while and the bike shop is a part
of his vision in helping transform his adopted hometown
into a more bicycle-friendly community.
He grew up a New York Mets fan and playing baseball.
He was a pretty good ballplayer and swimmer in high
school. However, he’s not sure where he drew his
early interest in taking care of environment.
His buddies as a teenager, he readily admits, mocked
him when he gave them a hard time about throwing
trash out of a car window or breaking a bottle on the
street.
“They’d make fun of me, this is when I’m like 15-
years-old, and they’d say, ‘Look around, this is
Brooklyn, there is trash everywhere’,” said Hartford.
“Even at early age I connected the dots. I knew the air
we breathe was affected by pollution. I knew the water
we drank and food we ate was all connected to how
we treat the environment. I knew that when I bought
a steak at the grocery store that was from a cow that
was being raised on a ranch and fed by corn from a
farm and then shrink-wrapped. I realized and thought
about those things.”
It’s not like his parents were leading edge of 1970s
environmental activists. he said.
“My dad was an ironworker and my mom was a waitress.”
At Stony Brook University, Hartford took up cycling
and after graduation he took time off to ride across
several states, visiting friends who had spread out post
high school.
Not long after, he tried his hand at his first triathlon,
swimming off Coney Island. He kept at his multi-sport
pursuits for about a dozen years, competing several
times in the New York Triathlon.
“Swimming in the Hudson, I just tried to stay in the
middle and not hit anything that was floating,” he
said, laughing. He raced the Columbia Triathlon,
among other area races. His last triathlon was in 2002,
he said, about the same time his daughter was old
enough to do some recreational riding with him and
that was about the same time he started riding to his
teaching job.
“Ironically, when I stopped doing triathlons, that’s
when I really got interested in promoting bicycle
commuting, bike lanes, and alternative transportation
issues,” Hartford said. In Fairfax, he said, the
key work that needs to be accomplished is linking the
growing George Mason University campus, the Vienna
Metro stop, and downtown Fairfax City. It’s a big goal,
but then his bike shop also started slowly, evolving
over the past few years into a full-service downtown
shop today.
Initially, he and Feuchtner, who had worked as a
mechanic and manager at a couple of area bike
shops, started simply as a mobile bike repair service.
They picked up the bikes themselves and worked
out of a self-storage unit. Feuchtner has kept his day
job at a local nonprofit and he taught Hartford bike
repair.
Hartford was prepared to take the financial risk of
starting the business, but he needed an experienced
bike tech. He learned that Feuchtner had left his last
job at Hudson Trail Outfitters by chance where he was
catching up with former colleagues. Hartford offered
him 20 percent of the business for his expertise and
experience if he got on board.
Eventually, they got a small 500 sq. ft. store with an
address in August 2006, allowing them to order parts
wholesale, and began working from there. They have
always offered their unique mobile bike pick-up and
delivery service, continuing after moving into the new
shop last summer.
“It helped us gain some traction and develop a customer
base,” Hartford said.
Meanwhile, they’ve expanded other services and
community outreach efforts, as well as their inventory
of new bikes and gear.
With a high-traffic location downtown, they’ve also
added a bike rental business. They’ve added local
gyms as clients, repairing spin class bikes. And Oasis
buys and sells used bikes as well, which is popular with
nearby George Mason students.
Feuchtner, who grew up in Germany, leads a Tuesday
night mountain biking group, and Hartford leads a 2
p.m. Sunday road riding group.
Hartford believes ultimately the biggest growth side
of the business lies in bicycle commuting, as does
Feuchtner, who has seen it at work in Germany, and
more recently in Copenhagen.
“I spent a Sunday night in Copenhagen after visiting
my father who lives in Germany recently,” Feuchtner
said. “And I was there for 9 a.m. rush hour on
Monday morning. From what I saw, it looked like
bicycle commuters outnumbered cars 60-40.
“They’ve got the infrastructure figured out already,
they are way ahead of us in that regard,” he continued.
“Each traffic light has separate signals for bikes
and cars. That’s the future, I think.”
With the movement toward a more European-model
of transportation, Hartford said he plans to help promote
new federal legislation offering tax breaks for
businesses that reward bicycle commuting by employees.
He’d like eventually to contract with local businesses
and develop service contracts – all part of his
vision for building a healthy, sustainable community
and thriving local bike shop.
“I think I’ve followed my heart, I had a burning desire
to run my own business,” Hartford said. “I won’t ever
regret it (changing careers). You don’t know until
you try. The things I’ve regretted are things I haven’t
done, not the things I have done.”
EDITOR’S NOTE:
A good independent bicycle shop still remains one of the
treasured resources of bicycling–among the best places
to learn about places to ride, meet locals to ride with, and
learn about new products. Oh, and they also do a super
job fixing the bike stuff you break. “My Bike Shop” is a
regular feature of SPOKES in which we give you a look into
a local shop and the folks behind it.
30 June 2009

AVAILABLE AT THESE DEALERS:
DELAWARE
BETHANY BEACH
BETHANY CYCLE & FITNESS
778 Garfield Parkway
(302) 537-9982
VIRGINIA
ALEXANDRIA
SPOKES, ETC.
1545 N. Quaker Lane
(703) 820-2200
ARLINGTON
REVOLUTION CYCLES
2731 Wilson Boulevard
(703) 312-0007
ASHBURN
SPOKES, ETC.
20070 Ashbrook Commons Plaza
(703) 858-5501
BELLE VIEW
SPOKES, ETC.
Belle View Blvd.
(703) 765-8005
BURKE
THE BIKE LANE
9544 Old Keene Mill Road
(703) 440-8701
FREDERICKSBURG
OLDE TOWNE BICYCLES
1907 Plank Road
(540) 371-6383
LEESBURG
BICYCLE OUTFITTERS
19 Catoctin Circle, NE
(703) 777-6126
RESTON
THE BIKE LANE
Reston Town Center
(703) 689-2671
STAFFORD
REVOLUTION CYCLES
100 Susa Drive, #103-15
(540) 657-6900
VIENNA
SPOKES, ETC.
224 Maple Avenue East
(703) 281-2004
WOODBRIDGE
OLDE TOWNE BICYCLES
14477 Potomac Mills Road
(703) 491-5700
MARYLAND
ARNOLD
BIKE DOCTOR
953 Ritchie Highway
(410) 544-3532
BALTIMORE
MT. WASHINGTON
BIKE SHOP
5813 Falls Road
(410) 323-2788
BETHESDA
GRIFFIN CYCLE
4949 Bethesda Avenue
(301) 656-6188
COCKEYSVILLE
THE BICYCLE CONNECTION
York & Warren Roads
(410) 667-1040
COLLEGE PARK
COLLEGE PARK BICYCLES
4360 Knox Road
(301) 864-2211
COLUMBIA
RACE PACE
6925 Oakland Mills Road
(410) 290-6880
DAMASCUS
ALL AMERICAN BICYCLES
Weis Market Center
(301) 253-5800
ELLICOTT CITY
RACE PACE
8450 Baltimore National Pike
(410) 461-7878
FOREST HILL
BICYCLE CONNECTION EXPRESS
2203 Commerce Drive
(410) 420-2500
FREDERICK
BIKE DOCTOR
5732 Buckeystown Pike
(301) 620-8868
WHEELBASE
229 N. Market Street
(301) 663-9288
HAGERSTOWN
HUB CITY SPORTS
35 N. Prospect Street
(301) 797-9877
MT. AIRY
MT. AIRY BICYCLES
4540 Old National Pike
(301) 831-5151
OWINGS MILLS
RACE PACE
9930 Reisterstown Road
(410) 581-9700
ROCKVILLE
REVOLUTION CYCLES
1066 Rockville Pike
(301) 984-7655
SALISBURY
SALISBURY CYCLE & FITNESS
1404 S. Salisbury Blvd.
(866) 758-4477
SILVER SPRING
THE BICYCLE PLACE
8313 Grubb Road
(301) 588-6160
WALDORF
BIKE DOCTOR
3200 Leonardtown Road
(301) 932-9980
WESTMINSTER
RACE PACE
459 Baltimore Blvd.
(410) 876-3001
WASHINGTON, D.C.
GEORGETOWN
REVOLUTION CYCLES
3411 M Street, N.W.
(202) 965-3601

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