Scott Campbell was at the Santa Cruz Bike to Work parade this last Saturday with his human powered kinetic sculpture vehicle. Engineered by his dad, Ace, and welded by his brother, Bob, this 4-wheeled "bike" was the obvious star of the show. Its huge wheels also serve as paddles enabling it to be pedaled across a body of water. And it is toward this end that they will get their chance to prove its road and lake worthiness in just a couple of weeks at the Human Powered Kinetic Sculpture contest in Arcata, CA.
Called the Santa Cruz River Queen because they have built its shell to look like a river boat steamwheeler, it weighs in at 700 lbs. It's three different riders power three separate drive trains. The rear driver supplies energy to the rear two wheels while the front right cyclist pushes the front right wheel as the does the left front rider for his side. As such, because all 10 or so feet of it steers from the middle, one of the front riders can turn the bike in a circle if the other front rider stops pedaling.
Ad wow all of this will also be on display at the 2nd Annual Santa Cruz NBG Bike Fest
Here is what it looks like on the road
Here is the under carriage
Here are the inventors
Besides the bios that Jody cooked up for our riders here:
THX to Ro Fischer (for the pix) an Andrew Morton (for the site), we now have yesterday's pictures on line here
We'll be adding more as the riders send theirs in, but do get a look at our courageous rain heroes!!
Yahoooo!!
btw: A full report will be out soon but all of the Pocket Mail reports are now in line here .
And as such you can also read about what happened yesterday from the riders perspectives........
Jody Fitch did it again. Even tho his work has him under the gun, he still found time to get all of the bios that we have for our riders on line. Too exciting!! To see his beautiful work, go to:
http://nbg.bikeroute.com/Events/Mayors_Ride/bios
Jeff Reser, our 2003 Chicago to Des Moines lead rider, rebuilt his Mayors' Ride graphic that you see at
Last year's Salt Lake City to Boise rider, Rocky Brown
Calendar. I sent in our ride. Let's see what happens!!
Launch out of St.Paul has been confirmed to follow a meeting with
Mayor Randy Kelly scheduled for 11:00 AM June 3rd.
As previously noted, I was disappointed to hear from Bill Richard
that he wouldn't be able to participate. I guess I didn't hear whether
or not Jim Oberstar was at the ride's start either.
Our rider list has changed a bit and I will advise once we actually
have a fairly firm list. Jim Muellner noted he was going to put
feelers out in the Mpls/St.Paul area and I have been doing the
same with local clubs and a couple of media folks who happen to
be bike nuts themselves who hopefully can get away for a
"working" vacation of sorts.
I'll post back with more info as it becomes available.
Cheers!
Jeff
cyclogical recumbent bicycles
www.cyclogicalrecumbents.com
Attention Friend and Members:
As you have no doubt surmised, it is pouring outside. We're moving
today's Market Square reception for the Riders from Washington, D.C. to
the City-County Building Downtown (corner of Grant and Forbes).
Festivities will run from Noon until about 12:40 in the portico.
The Riders have made a tremendous effort so far, and have been met with
buckets of falling wet stuff from the sky for most of the ride from
D.C.....
Let's give them a warm welcome to Pittsburgh! We'll be there - hope
you can still join us!!!
- Michael Sobkowiak 412-255-0564
Riders are with the http://nbg.bikeroute.com
Excerpted from
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome them to Pittsburgh
Six bicyclists with the National Bicycle Greenway project, including Denise Hill of Oakland, are traveling from Washington to Pittsburgh to help promote an interconnected system of trails and bike-friendly roads across the country. They are scheduled to arrive at 12:30 p.m. Friday in Market Square, where Exit 11 will provide a musical welcome.
The riders have invited local bicyclists to join them at 11:30 a.m. at the Greenfield Trailhead of the Eliza Furnace Trail for the 3-mile ride into town. A police escort will accompany the group from the parking garage on First Ave. to Market Square. For more information, call the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute at 412-255-0564 or go to www.bikeroute.com or NBG@BikeRoute.com.
[...] The restaurant (I have been negotiating with) called to say they will give me lunch vouchers for the relay riders (both the ones coming from D.C. and the ones leaving for Columbus) The restaurant with website is
Pittsburgh, the first stop on our National Mayors' Ride, just got honored as per:
USA WEEKEND's Top 10 Most Beautiful Places are:
10-The squares of Savannah, Ga
9-Clingmans Dome along the Appalachian Trail in great Smoky Mountain National Park
8-From Key Largo to Key West in Florida
7-Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
6-Grafton,Vt.
5-Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
4-Hawaii's Na Pali Coast
3-The upper Mississippi River
2-Nighttime view from Mount Washington in Pittsburgh
1-Red Rock Country (Sedona, Ariz.)
C/O Western Philadelphia Field Institute:
BIKE TO WORK WEEK KICK-OFF EVENT, FRIDAY MAY 9TH
On May 9th show your spirit by helping to welcome a group of six riders
with the National Bicycle Greenway (www.bikeroute.com). These dedicated
riders will have spent the last week riding from Washington, D.C. to
Pittsburgh to help promote an interconnected system of trails and bike
friendly roads across the country. Pittsburgh is the first stop on this
nationwide relay and we want to show the rest of the country how
important biking is to our community. The purpose of the ride is to
make all major cities aware of the necessity of safe trails and
interconnecting roads for cyclists, runners and skaters.
Pittsburgh has been highlighted across the Nation for this movement
since Mayor Murphy has taken a lead in trail development and also sits
on the National Rails-To-Trails Board. This is the second year that the
National Bicycle Greenway has chosen Pittsburgh as one of the cities on
its route. Last year, there were ten cities. This year there will be
25 cities who will participate.
Two different ways you can help -
1) Bring your bike and helmet, and join us for the last portion of the
ride (rain or shine) - see the ride schedule below. As an extra bonus -
the first 20 local riders to meet at the Greenfield Trailhead will get
a cool Pedal Pittsburgh T-Shirt. The more riders the better!
2) Spend your lunch hour in Market Square, listen to cool music by Exit
11 and help cheer all the riders into town. Bring a friend and really
help pack the Square.
Ride Schedule - May 9th:
10:30 - 11:30 AM Meet at the Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield Trailhead
- Just off Second Avenue. (If you are unfamiliar with the area please
feel free to call The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute for specific
directions: 412-255-0564).
Confirmed Riders/Groups:
The Mayor's daughter, Shannon Murphy, will represent her father on the
ride and a member of the Mayor's Staff will ride into town with the
group. Team OSTRIM, an elite adventure racing team. David Hoffman of
Bike Pittsburgh, and HOPEFULLY, other Bike Pittsburgh Members and
recipients of this message!!!
*** Bike Pittsburgh has TWO Members who are participating in this
cross-country ride! Denise Hill will bike from Washington, D.C. to
Columbus, OH, (with a stop in Pittsburgh), and David Huggins-Daines
will bike from Pittsburgh to Columbus, OH. ***
11:30 - 12:10 PM Ride as a group along Eliza Furnace Trail, to the PNC
trail head (3 miles) very easy pace.
12:10 PM Arrive at trailhead near PNC on Grant Street, wait for the
Bike Police escort through town. Officers will clear traffic and ride
with you right into Market Square.
12:30 PM Ride into Market Square to a cheering crowd. There will be a
band playing (Exit 11) and a short welcoming program (sponsored by the
Western PA Field Institute) and Mayoral Proclamation presentation by
Robert Kennedy, Director of Operations and Public Safety.
Thanks and let's show the rest of the country how we do biking in
Western Pennsylvania!
Sign-up to get reports from the riders on the trail from DC to PGH,
e-mail your contact information to: NBG@BikeRoute.com
__________
Hello Folks,
Hats (helmets) off to you! Looking forward to running into you in Pittsburgh
this Friday. Hoping to make it to join you for a ride into the heart of the
Burgh!
I've promoted support for the NBG, and particularly this ride, in my past
two seasonal newsletters. You deserve it and so does the NBG.
Keep on cranking!
Best,
Jim Joyce, Editor and Founder
Bikexchange.com: The Bicycle Exchange
ibike@bikexchange.com
Here we see a letter that Ro Fischer, senior aide to Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, wrote to our relay cyclists on Thursday, the day before their arrival:
Thinking about you guys and was half-tempted to drive out and find you to bring dry clothes to all of you! It's 8:40 a.m. on Thursday morning. I'm sitting in my office in the City/County Building and decided to be your weatherman! Just put the Weather Channel on and things are looking better. High - 74 today - going down to 58 tonight -early morning showers tomorrow then clear until late afternoon. 76 high tomorrow. Hopefully, your triumphant entrance into Rome.....er....Pittsburgh will be sunny and dry.
Your "Tales from the Trails" are wonderful. I've been printing them and posting them for the Mayor's Staff (and anyone else who drops by) to read. It makes everyone want to shuck the work clothes - put on some shorts and tees - and jump on a bike. Denise - in case no-one saved them for you - I've been printing and saving all your "memoirs." Jim: With fond memories of your pocketmail messages last year, I really look forward to your colorful and funny descriptions.
And Ora Sue, as I'm sure you are aware - we have a band awaiting your arrival in Market Square - I don't know if they can play polkas - but, if they do, you are welcome to display your new talent. Just teasin' - wouldn't do that to you. Ken, welcome aboard. You are in good company. Looking forward to meeting all of you tomorrow. ro
Solar Evolution a Santa Cruz based company that sells its solar technology all over the world, reserved booth space today. Ron Swenson, their Car Free CEO tells me that they'll be bringing the solar truck that they produce. Using solar panels for a roof it can be used to move heavy objects a distance of 10 round trip miles on one afternoon's worth of sunlight. If we've got share the road with vehicles, this is how they should be built - sustainable, quiet, short range and with horsepower that is rational not insane.
Need a bike that you can fit inside of a 3 foot pipe and tow 200 pounds of gear? A bike that you can disassemble and then turn around to ride back with? The Pipe Bike by S&B recumbents will be on display at the 2nd annual Santa Cruz NBG Bike Fest August 17!!
A revolutionary trike! The Just Two Bikes Raven fits in a suitcase that can be carried with the bike. It's lean steer and even rolls thru a hotel door. Builder, Jim Muellner, 67, may continue from Pittsburgh to cross US on it in Mayors' Ride!
BIKE TO WORK WEEK KICK-OFF EVENT, FRIDAY MAY 9TH
On May 9th show your spirit by helping to welcome a group of six riders
with the National Bicycle Greenway (www.bikeroute.com). These dedicated
riders will have spent the last week riding from Washington, D.C. to
Pittsburgh to help promote an interconnected system of trails and bike
friendly roads across the country. Pittsburgh is the first stop on this
nationwide relay and we want to show the rest of the country how
important biking is to our community. The purpose of the ride is to
make all major cities aware of the necessity of safe trails and
interconnecting roads for cyclists, runners and skaters.
Pittsburgh has been highlighted across the Nation for this movement
since Mayor Murphy has taken a lead in trail development and also sits
on the National Rails-To-Trails Board. This is the second year that the
National Bicycle Greenway has chosen Pittsburgh as one of the cities on
its route. Last year, there were ten cities. This year there will be
25 cities who will participate.
Two different ways you can help -
1) Bring your bike and helmet, and join us for the last portion of the
ride (rain or shine) - see the ride schedule below. As an extra bonus -
the first 20 local riders to meet at the Greenfield Trailhead will get
a cool Pedal Pittsburgh T-Shirt. The more riders the better!
2) Spend your lunch hour in Market Square, listen to cool music by Exit
11 and help cheer all the riders into town. Bring a friend and really
help pack the Square.
Ride Schedule - May 9th:
10:30 - 11:30 AM Meet at the Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield Trailhead
- Just off Second Avenue. (If you are unfamiliar with the area please
feel free to call The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute for specific
directions: 412-255-0564).
Confirmed Riders/Groups:
The Mayor's daughter, Shannon Murphy, will represent her father on the
ride and a member of the Mayor's Staff will ride into town with the
group. Team OSTRIM, an elite adventure racing team. David Hoffman of
Bike Pittsburgh, and HOPEFULLY, other Bike Pittsburgh Members and
recipients of this message!!!
*** Bike Pittsburgh has TWO Members who are participating in this
cross-country ride! Denise Hill will bike from Washington, D.C. to
Columbus, OH, (with a stop in Pittsburgh), and David Huggins-Daines
will bike from Pittsburgh to Columbus, OH. ***
11:30 - 12:10 PM Ride as a group along Eliza Furnace Trail, to the PNC
trail head (3 miles) very easy pace.
12:10 PM Arrive at trailhead near PNC on Grant Street, wait for the
Bike Police escort through town. Officers will clear traffic and ride
with you right into Market Square.
12:30 PM Ride into Market Square to a cheering crowd. There will be a
band playing (Exit 11) and a short welcoming program (sponsored by the
Western PA Field Institute) and Mayoral Proclamation presentation by
Robert Kennedy, Director of Operations and Public Safety.
Thanks and let's show the rest of the country how we do biking in
Western Pennsylvania!
Sign-up to get reports from the riders on the trail from DC to PGH,
e-mail your contact information to: NBG@BikeRoute.com
Star NBG relay cyclist, and past NBG Advance Scout, Andrew Morton , took a few hours out of his late Tuesday evening of study up at the University of Portland, to talk me thru the blog that we have up at NationalBicycleGreenway.com. As a result of this patient lesson. I now know how to put our riders reports and this newsletter on line on an as it comes over the transom basis!! Too very excellent. Too very Exciting!! Yahoooo!!!!!
Hello everyone, from Cuenca, Ecuador.
Last Friday we biked 8500 vertical ft down the highest „®active„® volcano in the world, Cotopaxi. It„s about 100 km se of Quito. Day before yesterday took an 8 hr spectacular bus ride thru the Andes mtns. from BaŅos to Cuenca, the third largest city in Ecuador. (Great city, but the car traffic is HORRENDOUS!)