Here is Nick Hein's report about Morgantown NBG Day which happens tomorrow. If you are getting this, I offer it to provoke thought. Hopefully, from it you will see ways to make your city shine when our ride comes your way. And as a by the way, Nick is a committed volunteer who is, as you will see, using the NBG to grow a two wheel consciousness in his West Virginia town:
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Good afternoon,
This has been a busy day for the Morgantown NBG day ceremony. Here are the details....
- I have at least 4 riders going all the way to Pittsburgh, 2 of us will be staying overnite to attend ceremonies tomorrow.
- Quite a number of people have told me they are coming to the ceremony, I think we can expect a good turnout.
- The weather forecast now predicts rain. Please channel all your energy into wishing for dry weather or light rain :-).
- I've contacted the local newspaper and they will have a reporter there for the ceremony.
- I called a local TV station. They sent a reporter out this afternoon and my report will be on WBOY/12 from Clarksburg tomorrow morning sometime between 5-7 AM.
- I've contacted WAJR and WVPM (NPR affiliate) radio to see if they can send a reporter, no response yet.
- I called the Morgantown police to find out if we could get a bike patrol escort. It turns out they are just getting their bike patrol formed and may even be able to show up. This would be a great opportunity for them to connect with the cycling community.
- I've received a jersey from WV Health Sciences cycling team to wear at the ceremony as a sponsorship item. Thanks Chris! Your enthusiasm for this event has really recharged mine.
- Since the newspaper article in last Sunday's paper, quite a few people recognize me here in town now. As I rode home from DC last night into town numerous cars gave me friendly honks as I passed or stopped to talk. I think this is great!!! Not because I like attention for myself, but because I like to see bikes getting attention. However, since Morgantown traffic is a little intense and honks are distracting I would prefer that you give your attention instead to riding your bike every chance you can.
- I've updated the program and put it in the "files" area of the Yahoo forum where you can look at it. Note that not all of the speakers have confirmed.
Thanks to all of you.
This may be the last message I'm able to send before tomorrow morning. See you then.
Nick Hein
Morgantown, WV
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Morgantown NBG Day
Monday May 20, 2005
Final Tentative Program
Time Speaker Description
7:00 Nick Hein Pick up rental van
7:30 NBG crew Set up stage - chairs, table, podium, food
8:00 Nick Hein Introduction:
8:05 Dave Watson Mon River Trails
8:10 Jo Lofstead Talk about Sheepskin trail - connecting Point Marion to Connelsville
8:15 Nick Hein Bike commuters - presentation
Any questions?
8:20 M-town Bike Police Newly formed bike patrol.
8:25 Ron Justice Mayor's Proclamation, Intro and signing
9:00 All Depart for Pittsburgh
Touched by Fate:
How My Life Changed in an Instant
It was Saturday, June 13, 1998, a glorious day for many reasons. My husband, Mark and I were celebrating our third wedding anniversary, and the weather was beautiful-warm and windless.
We decided to go for a bicycle ride on a trail in Granville, Ohio, and arrived about 5:00 p.m. We were happily riding along for about ten minutes when Mark heard a loud noise that sounded like a gunshot. He slowed down to investigate, then called ahead to me, "Look over there, something's falling!" I glanced to my right and saw a few leaves floating to the ground. Then Mark yelled, "Stop!"
It was too late. An 80' tree was falling on our path. In an instant, I was crushed by a 3 ? ton tree and surrounded by live electric power lines.
Neither of us knew that our lives would be forever changed by this freak occurrence. All I could do was try to cope with unbearable pain. Mark was frantic, but managed to contain his fear so as not to further frighten me. When the paramedics arrived, I was flown by helicopter to the hospital where surgeons rushed me to the operating room.
They discovered that the tree had crushed five vertebra in my back, two in my neck, and injured my spinal cord. Doctors implanted metal rods in my back and grafted bone from my hip to my back to stabilize my spine.
I spent five mind-numbing days in Intensive Care and five more weeks in a rehabilitation center. While working with my physical therapists, I told them, "I want my life back!" I asked them to work with me and teach me how to regain strength and function. My progress was so slow, I realized that any gains I could make would result from my taking charge of my own life. My persistence and dogged determination were exactly what the doctor ordered, and helped me in my recovery.
When I came home, my life was transformed. I was not able to work due to my injury and I spent the next two years in physical and occupational therapy, three days a week. I also worked every day at home on stretching and strengthening exercises. After about a year, I began a cardio and weight- training program at the health club.
In December 1999, I began writing the inspirational articles that appear in this book. Every month, I would share on my website and in print media, the life lessons I was learning, as well as insights on coping with change and recovering from adversity. These articles allow me to share my personal story with you, and to provide you with a fresh perspective about life. They also demonstrate how you, too, can live your life with conviction.
From "Take Back Your Life!" available HERE!!
Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D.
After a morning of uncertainty, Friday's Washington DC NBG Day ended up being a noteworthy success. After Larry Black's arthritis attack kept him from riding his HiWheel, the glue that had held the Baltimore to DC relay together lost its sticking power in pretty short order. In a comedy of misfires, when Keith Ramsey called in his inability to ride to DC the day before, Tom Bruni, without the directional help he would need to reach the Capitol safely, had all he could to save face for the NBG by the time he got to Baltimore City Hall. Met there by David Brown, the Public Relations Director for the Transportation Department and Fred Shoken, a planner with the same division who had come on his bike ready to show our riders how to leave town, Tom, who rode this link for us last year, was also left without a ride he had long looked forward to.
The day's story did have a happy ending tho, as Washington DC did have a worthy turnout of riders as well as supporters. All those present must have felt Concetta's passion. Iron Girl, that she is fast becoming, Concetta rolled a 128 mile day to get to Washington DC on time!!.
When she did get there, she was greeted by Nick Hein, his son Pete who just graduated from High School, and Troy Bogdan, all of whom would be riding with her up the historic C&O Canal to Pittsburgh. Troy was even wearing the NBG Mayors' Ride T-shirts that he had had printed up and even awarded one to Concetta as a reward for her much celebrated ride from Miami.
Also there to greet the riders were Jim Sebastian, the DC bike coordinator, Eric Gililand, the Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA) director, Phil Koopman, the City Bikes (our DC Sponsor) co-owner and a handful of cyclists that had responded to Phil's mailings. The fact that Jim, Eric and Phil were there also require special mention. They were each buried by the mountain of duties required of them as organizers of one of the nation's largest Bike to Work Days, slated for this upcoming Friday the 20th. And yet they made time for us.
So now the 4th National Mayors' Ride comes west, as Nick, Pete, Concetta and Troy head up the historic C&O Canal Path on their way to Pittsburgh NBG Day and the exciting Venture Outdoors festival that will honor their arrival next Saturday. They won't be near phones so our contact with them will likely be spotty but already this morning I did get this from Troy. Do note the big miles Concetta rolled on her 85 pound bike to catch up with them:
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Greetings from the trail ( Harpers Ferry W.V.). . .
Nick, Pete and myself (Troy) left D.C. on Friday at 4:00, did the Capitol Crescent Trail, and onto Swains Lock Camp. Continued Saturday to Harpers Ferry on the towpath, where we finally found Concetta, who stayed in D.C. after the Ceremony and biked 90 miles to catch up with us in the rain, thunder and lightning. We changed the plan due to weather conditions, and left the trail and stayed in a historic hotel in Harpers Ferry town.
Today (Sunday) we head to Hancock Md. for the night and will pedal on towards Cumberland and eventually Pittsburgh. More Later as I find internet access along the way.
Organically Yours, Troy
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2005 Washington NBG Day can be found at: http://www.bikeroute.com/NationalMayorsRide2005/2005NE.html
There is indeed a ton happening with our 2005 Mayors' Ride. Far more than this space could ever allow, but here is a Podcast that we did with Knoxville Bike Coordinator, Kelley Segar. Besides talking about our NBG Day there and Concetta, who she was much inspired by, Kelley also talks about how biking in Knoxville is changing for the better:
http://www.radio4all.net/pub/files/NBG@bikeroute.com/1680-1-20050512-KelleyKnoxEdited5-12-05.mp3
btw: In case you missed it, here is the epic slide show that Troy Bogdan compiled of last year's DC to Pittsburgh run. When you go there, you will see why he couldn't wait to ride it again: http://nbg.bikeroute.com/gallery/slideshow.php?set_albumName=Pittsburgh2004