As of several weeks ago, on July 31, our 2005 Mayors' Ride season ended in San Francisco. And yet, since there is so much to tell, i had wanted to wait until more of the pictures, reports, city report cards and Mayoral proclamations had trickled in before I filed a final report. However, so that it doesn't get too lost in the Back to School excitement and then the Fall holidays, I will offer what we have right now and ask that you keep checking our schedule beloww, which now serves as a scorecard to display all of the information as it comes in.
And wow what a summer it was! It even caught the interest of hard charging, Car Free San Francisco Supervisor, Chris Daly, after his aide, the ever watchful, James Keys found us for him. And THX to the recent meeting that Chris and I had, next summer's ride will end in San Francisco with an exciting bike festival. Sponsored by what is fast becoming one of the world's best biking cities, San Francisco, it will feature speakers, live music, Hi Wheel races, vendor booths and etc. Indeed do fasten your seat belts as the year ahead will be an amazing one And the cycling community will be proud to know that one of its own, Chris Daly, pulled the strings needed to make it happen.
Last summer also got the interest of other city leaders. When we lost our rider last summer, we were forced to build our destination cities, instead of the riders who were going to them. And with our biking report cards, city governments started to take notice. They started to see us as a way for them to show off the good two wheel work they are doing. Our ride even caught the attention of a handful of other cities who have come to us asking to be included in 2006.
In other news, from here on out, we will resume our regular Podcast schedule as I interview the many shakers and movers and other interesting personalities who make bikes, make the news, made our 2005 summer what it was and will make our 2006 season even more powerful.. Besides Mr Greenway , Ray Irvin, and dynamic Columbus, OH councilwoman, Maryellen O'Shaughnessy, among others, come this time next Monday we will have the interview complete that we have scheduled for this Friday the 26th with one of America's very first bike activists, the indomitable Ellen Fletcher!
We also just heard from the amazing Andrew Heckman, the man whose body was crushed, and I mean that literally, by a car on our 2002 Mayors' Ride. He tells us that after innumerable surgeries, his doctors have cleared him to ride long distance again. And he's thinking about taking a relay leg next year. Talk about whoaaaaa. In addition, Max Chen, another TransAm vet, and steel sculpture artist, has agreed to talk to us when his amazing interactive Google map of our our Mayors' Ride route is complete. Indeed, it will blow your mind!
Here recently we have added Skot Paschal and his hope invoking interview about his Cancer setback and last Friday we talked to 2004 coast to coast Mayors' Ride superstar Don Loomis who tells us how his TransAm changed his life for the better. To hear these stories and more click on the link below!
If you can find the time to get over to our schedule/scorecard, you will also see that we now have the stunning pictures from Ed and Marty's ride from Boise to Eugene. There you will also find a slide show for our epic Folsom to Davis run.
Jumping ahead to 2007, my Boston-DC-SF team is coming together. On that trek the mighty Jim Muellner has agreed to join in. Don Loomis will be running his video camera for the documentary that will result. Skot Paschal tells us he will have his cancer beat by then and I believe him. And Faye Saunders has agreed to join us!
Max Chen is still on the fence about crossing the continent again as is Andrew Morton, but I will let you know as soon as I hear them say YES!! All this as I am once again hammering on the the book that will accompany me, "How America Can Bike And Grow Rich, The NBG Manifesto". It is going to a real Barn Burner!!
Too much excitement!!
THX for taking time for this!!
THX 4 all of U!!
Podcast Interviews:
Schedule/scorecard:
Boise to Eugene slide show:
Folsom to Davis slide show: