Famed Unicyclist, Famed HPV Cyclist Join Mayors' Ride

Lars Clausen, the author and Guinness World Record holding unicyclist who has unicycled across
America and been in all 50 US states on one wheel just got back to me today. A couple days before Christmas, I had introduced him at our Recumbent News blog and when he replied with a thank you, it dawned on me that I should ask him to do a part of our Mayors' Ride as a way to get his story out there and as a way for him to help us.

When he agreed to help us kick Seattle off today, I found these words in his signature:

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Security is mostly a superstition.
It does not exist in nature
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

Helen Keller
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While the last time he and exchanged I found these:

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
MARK TWAIN
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Does this man not fit perfectly into what we are all about? Lars will be leading cyclists to our Friday May 14 City Hall celebration and say a few words about the need to improve the conditions for cyclists as well as sign a few of his books and whatever else he and his agent come up with!!

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As for the world of Human Powered Vehicles, Nick Hein tells us he will make the Washington DC to Pittsburgh run for us starting July 2. A well know member of the HPV community Nick has an impressive collection of such bikes that can be seen at the link below. He has an all-weather streamliner. a bike that fits what looks like a family, and a machine that he uses on his daily 100 mile bus and bike commute, etc.

It remains to be seen which HPV Nick will be using for our challenging but beautiful route. Heck, he might even build one just for that ride!! I can tell you one thing tho, the Pittsburgh people are excited that they will once again be getting a recumbent bike to lead the rest of the riders into town!! Last year Jim Muellner did the run on his trike and yet the rain storm that hit chased the crowd of expectant onlookers away from his arrival there.

Lars' web site
Blog entry for Lars
Nick's bikes
Jim Muellner

2004 Mayors' Ride

Adventurers Wanted to Bike From D.C. to Pittsburgh

Emily Hench or Mike Sobkowiak
The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute
304 Forbes Avenue, 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
412.255.0564
ehench@wpfi.org or msobkowiak@wpfi.org

National Bike Tour Comes to Pittsburgh: Riders Wanted
Adventurers Wanted to Bike From D.C. to Pittsburgh to Spread NBG's Mission

(Pittsburgh, PA) Thursday, March 4, 2004 - From coast to coast, bicyclists are taking the annual National Bicycle Greenway (NBG) challenge! The NBG is an organization attempting to create a nationwide network of interconnected bike roads and pathways and increase awareness of the bicycle as a valid and desirable mode of transportation. The NBG's 2004 "Mayors' Ride" is a relay bicycle trip offering many choices for the participating adventurers. Riders can follow the whole relay route or pedal in any one of the different legs of the relay.

Here in Pittsburgh, The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (WPFI), a nonprofit organization that encourages outdoor activities, is partnering with Mayor Tom Murphy and his Office to coordinate the Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh leg of the 2004 Mayors' Ride. WPFI is looking for adventurous people to join the ride and help promote and expand NBG's belief that with a unifying vision of our own, we can show Americans that our lives can be built around a transportation infrastructure that INCLUDES bicycles. Riders will leave D.C. on July 2nd and arrive in Pittsburgh on the 9th. The ride is unsupported, meaning you must provide all your own gear and your own bike. Riders are also responsible for food and lodging costs, but joining the trip is completely free.

When the Mayors' Tour pedaled into Pittsburgh last summer, many supporters, together with representatives from the Mayor's Office, came out to welcome them to the city. Michael Sobkowiak, Director of Communications at WPFI, hosted the group on their visit to the Pittsburgh. He says of the experience, "It was so nice to see the riders arriving in Pittsburgh after finishing such a great feat and spreading NBG's message. All in all, the looks of pure triumph and exhilaration on each of their faces revealed it was a great experience for all of them."

To join in on the biking action, there are a few basics each rider should know. First, everyone participating should be in excellent health and ready for a ride that will be challenging and strenuous at some times, undemanding and tranquil at others, but always insistent of commitment, hard work and dedication. Riders also should have some bicycle touring experience. While you must provide your own gear and bike, NBG will be happy to help you choose what gear to bring. The riding route will take bikers along the C & O Trail, which later connects to the beautiful Great Allegheny Passage Trail. Both these paths will allow riders to view beautiful scenery and will reinforce NBG's mission to enable bikers to journey from one major city to another while enjoying nature and traveling safely.

Tom Murphy and his office, along with WPFI hope that many bikers will partner with us and NBG to spread their message and expand awareness of their cause. The basic information about the race is as follows:
- The Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh leg of the relay will begin in D.C. on July 2nd and end in Pittsburgh on July 9th.
- Bikers will be responsible for food and lodging costs.
- The ride is an un-supported event, meaning you must provide your own gear and bike.
- Participation in the Mayors' Ride is completely free.

Riders interested in the D.C. to Pittsburgh leg of the tour, or any other leg, can call Michael Sobkowiak at 412.255.0564. More information about NBG and the Mayors' Ride can also be found on the NBG website, www.bikeroute.com.

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