Muscatine Cycling - Melon City Bike Club

Melon City Criterium... ...posted 5-26-2009

The 2009 Melon City Criterium enjoyed yet another successful day in the park. Many local bike enthusiasts were able to enjoy the racing both as spectators and participants. The efforts also seemed appreciated by the hundreds of guests that came from all over the country to be apart of this event.

Thanks to all of the volunteers from the bike club who helped make this event possible.

Family Bike Ride... ...posted 5-18-2009

The 2009 Family Bike Ride took place Sunday, May 17th at 1pm. The group met at Musser Park and traversed along the Mississippi River Trail to the Aquatic Center. Water and cookies were available to re-fuel before the group returned to Musser Park.

The Muscatine Trails Committee... ...posted 5-12-2009

Call To Action

The Muscatine Trails Committee met today and was brought up to date on a proposed 10' walkway/trail along Cedar St. It would begin at Parham St. and continue to Houser St., most likely along the north side of Cedar. The City Council is divided on the need and the placement of this walkway, which would be funded primarily with Federal funds.

Cedar Street is slated to become a 3-lane major roadway, with curbs - making it an unsafe route to transverse by foot or bike after this modification. The existing shoulders will become part of the street.

The Trails Committee has asked that Melon City Bike Club members weigh in on this issue, specifically asking current City Council members to support "the construction of a safe off-road pathway for pedestrains and bicyclists".

Below are the email addresses of Council members to contact:

Dyan Roby roby@machlink.com
Marie Press pressforward2@hotmail.com
Bob Bynum bynum @machlink.com
Osama Shihadeh osamashihadeh@grainprocessing.com

Please take a minute to send a brief email asking for a safe route along Cedar St.
for bicyclists to be incorporated in the plan.

Thanks for your help,

Peg Heither, Melon City Bike Club Advocate

Join in on the fun... Club Dinner Rides... posted 5-4-2009

Melon City Bike Club Members... Dinner rides are now in full swing the first and third Wednesdays of every month. Participants meet at Harper's Cycling and Fitness (1106 Grandview Ave. - 263-4043) at 6pm. Ride out to a nearby town for a well deserved meal, while enjoying socializing and improving your fitness.

Club's Racing Team Kicks Off 2009 Season... posted 4-27-2009

Members of the Melon City Bike Club's co-sponsored Harper's Cycling Racing Team have posted great results at early season races.

Most recently, Greg Harper, placed on the podium of the Old Capital Criterium in Iowa City, Sunday April 26th...

Chad Bishop also raced well in the Category Three event. Below he is pictured leading the group through downtown Iowa City near the finishing line...

Check out the racing team's web pages for updated information throughout the season.

Family Bike Ride... posted 4-23-2009

Bike To Work Week... posted 4-15-2009

Does anybody stop at stop signs?

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition hit the streets to see how many cars would legally stop at a random stop sign in Coralville, Iowa. In five minutes we found out that 9 out of the 11 cars did not stop at the stop sign before proceeding across the crosswalk. They say bicycles don’t stop at stop signs? Please share this link with your friends or add links to your newsletters and web sites.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn_YRX0x1Pg

What are you doing May 11-15?

Hopefully you’ll be riding your bike to work, to school, to shop, to meetings, for fun, etc., because it’s Bike to Work Week 2009. We’ve developed a web page with some tools and information for BTWW including: Sample Proclamation; Tips for Businesses; Best Practices; Guide to the Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision. More coming soon:
http://www.iowabicyclecoalition.org/biketowork/index.html

Official Spring Meeting Report... posted 4-9-2009

Our first annual Spring Meeting was a success. Below is a rundown of what transpired:

1) Annual membership dues were raised slightly, effective April 9th.

2) Weekly rides were announced and verified.

3) The club's first annual RAMCO event, May 30th, was explained. The Club awarded the organizers a budget of up to $500 to use for lunches, signage and misc. expenses. This event is FREE to all club members.

4) Peg Heither, Club Advocate, agreed to look into status of the County's proposed Stewart Road Bike Trail project, and offer Bike Club support.

5) An annual 'Welcome Letter' mailing will be sent to members at the beginning of each year that acknowledges receipt of their membership dues, and provides general club information. Chad Bishop will produce the document, and the Mann family agreed to handle the mailing. They will obtain the paid membership list from John Fletcher.

6) It was proposed the the Melon City Crit be free to all Muscatine County residents who elect to enter, especially children. The idea is that this will generate increased local participation and awareness of the benefits of cycling. Volunteers will be solicited soon. Post-Race party details to be announced.

7) Upcoming special event rides were detailed.
- Dinner Rides starting in May, 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month
- Family Bike Ride - May 17th, 1pm at Musser Park
- Partriart Bike Ride and Ice Cream Social - 4th of July weekend
- Century Ride - Sunday June 28th, Free to members

8) Joe Mann's Race Across the West cycling expedition was introduced. Joe and his team were awarded a $500 sponsorship from the club.

9) The club shared information about the Bike Safety Rodeo. Details regarding the exact date are TBA.

10) A Bike Safety & Repair Workshop was announced with the time and date to be posted soon.

11) Deb Elliot shared information about the Club's RAGBRAI progress. The group agreed to transfer $5,000 from the RAGBRAI fund to the Club's general fund. The current balance will now be approxiamately $14,500.

12) It was proposed that the Club's annual donation to the Iowa Bike Coalition be raised from $500 to $750.

13) The group expressed concern about proper bike road riding practices and agreed to remind each other about certain 'rules' and guidelines prior to some of the early season rides. It was agreed to add a 'Ride Right' web link to our website.

... We went over quite a few other details, too numerous to list, but you will notice some of the many positive Club enhancements throuhghout the 2009 season Thanks to all who attended. Our next official club meeting will most likely be the annual winter meeting. Have a great cycling season.

Chad Bishop - Melon City Bike Club President

Club Member Back After Cycling Accident... posted 3-22-2009

Just so everyone knows : Julie Evan's is riding again !

If you were not aware of it, Julie was struck by a car last Monday while on her bike on Hershey Road / bypass intersection. The 17 year old girl that hit Julie claimed that she did not see Julie due to the glare from the sun.

Pictured above, Julie is standing exactly where she was struck. Her legs and face are full of cuts and bruises. Her fingers were relocated (in her words, "more painful than child birth") and stitched, she wears a cast on her hand. Her helmet was trashed in the wreck, sunglasses bent, and bike is being repaired at Harper's. Thank goodness she was wearing a helmet !!!

Julie, welcome back. We are all glad that you are doing well. Your accident was an eye opener to all runners and bikers.

Keep Running & Biking ! Keep Smiling !

Teri