Content Highlights - Flagstaff Biking Organization

Transcription

Content Highlights - Flagstaff Biking Organization
Volume #3, Issue #2
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Volume #3, Issue #2
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaffbiking.org
Spring 2008
May 11th - Sunday
Bike Bazaar in Heritage Square
9am to 3pm
May 12th - Monday
7:30am - Kick-off Commuter Ride
from City Hall
May 13th - Tuesday
Martin and Jack’s Excellent FUTS
Adventure Cruiser Ride - Starts at 6pm
May 14th - Wednesday
Bike to Breakfast Day!
6:30am - 9am Town Hall Meeting-City Hall 6pm-8pm
May 15th - Thursday
Bike to School Day!
Awards and Bike Movies at the
Orpheum Theater - 6pm
May 16th - Friday
Bike to Potluck Cyclo-bration at
Thorpe Park - 6pm
See page 6-8 for complete details on Bike to Work Week.
Content Highlights
3
Life According to Jack
by Jack Welch
A Word from the Man
by Dave Needham
5
Spring Trail Program
Highlights
by Anthony Quintile
4
10
Commuting to school and
work on bikes: Priceless
by Lizette Melis
Mountain Biking
by Max Wason
12
11
Even band geeks can
trash now and again
by Laura Barron
IMBA Sending a
Trail Care Crew to
Flagstaff
5
May 2-4
Open up - More to read inside...
Enjoy!
Page 2
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Notes From the Editor
Event Highlights
Commutation Nation
It looks like spring has finally arrived. After what
seemed to be one of the most interminable winters
in years, the sun is out, the wind has started to blow,
and the roads are clearing up. In a few weeks, the
trails should start to open again, bringing another
wonderful season of mountain biking. This also
means another opportunity for Trail Days.
April
Bike to Work Week
Every year, the calendar fills up with things to do,
both the “have to’s” and the “want to’s.” How we
decide which is going to get us out the door is
a very personal decision for some, trails that we
all love to use, sort of an inner connection to that
particular trail (or even section of trail). For others,
it’s a chance to meet up with folks that we may
only see at a Trail Day function. A yearly reunion of
sorts. Or maybe it’s at every scheduled Trail Day.
Or every other one.
Spring also means the return of flowing water in
Flagstaff. It’s always a special time of the year for
us when Upper Lake Mary is filling up, Schultz
Creek is flowing (like a real creek), and there may
even be some water in the Dry Lakes. This usually
leads to a wonderful explosion of wildflowers in all
of our meadows and hillsides. When the trails are
tacky, the wildflowers are in bloom, the weather is
warming up, and all the little critters start coming
out, that’s when you just can’t beat living in Northern
Arizona. It’s a great time of the year for us all.
26
Soar into Spring Bicycle Rodeo
11:30am-4pm - Foxglenn Park
May
2-4
Subaru/IMBA Trail Crew Visit
See page 5 for details.
8
Safe Kids Rodeo
8am - noon – Pine Forest Elementary
11-16
Bike to Work Week
Check for upcoming details at flagstaffbiking.
org.
20
Safe Kids Rodeo
8am - noon – Thomas Elementary
June
7
National Trail Day
Ft. Tuthill to Kachina trail/ To Be Determined
Contact [email protected] for more
info.
15
Pancake Ride - Father’s Day
Schultz Creek Trailhead
July
12
So, when you are done with this issue of Biopic,
get out there and enjoy the outdoors! It’s waiting
for you…
Loop Trail Date
Grant
26
Ft. Tuthill/To Be Determined
Contact [email protected] for more
info.
AZ Trail Day with ATA and NATRA
contact: [email protected]
Humphrey’s trail parking lot
Contact [email protected] for more
info.
Visit www.flagstaffbiking.org for complete
details and for upcoming events throughout the winter
and spring.
Grant Dunstan
is an avid cyclist, dabbling in road
riding, mountain biking, and the
newly discovered world of the
singlespeed. He helped to start the
Trips for Kids program in Flagstaff
with his wife, and enjoys showing
the kids our wonderful trails.
come visit us at
Spring 2008
We could only call it a great success. Nearly two thousand
people registered as bicycle commuters during the 2007
Bike to Work Week. Many were diehards that have
logged in since 2002 when Flagstaff Biking Organization
began the worksite challenges. Many were new faces,
and pedals, including many students. The best complaint
heard from a chagrined B2WW cyclist? “My favorite FUTS
trail was lousy with other cyclists…” Bummer Dude. The
competition for the Breezer commuter bicycles and daily
prizes was intense and it let us know we would have to up
the ante this year and run the challenge longer. Hundreds
of people took part in the Sunday parade and Kick-Off
and Cruiser rides. The bike sale at the Bike Bazaar raised
nearly $1000 for Flagstaff Biking Organization. I met the
neatest bike commuters at the breakfast stops and at
Bike to School day. It was Great.
And yet…
We know we could do better. Our hope is that B2WW
shows people how fun and easy it is to ride to work,
school, or errands. But the number of cyclist spiked on
Wednesday during the Bike to Work Challenge, and then
dropped off Thursday. The number of participants has
leveled off at around 700 over the past three years… it’s
time to Crank up Participation. Hm. How do we elevate
commuter enthusiasm all summer, even all year? Each
spring should invite a new group of employee and student
commuters to try out the cycling options on expanding
trails, paths and designated bike routes. How can we get
them out there?
For the diehards, we know Flagstaff is bikeable yearround. We know our commuting helps us feel great,
keep fit, save gas, save money, save air quality and
reduce city costs for everything from building parking
lots to widening roads, and loads--that is, obesity-related
diseases. We diehards have been out there in the snow
and dark of winter. Okay… some of us are freaks, but
still. Six months a year the cycling in Flagstaff is fantastic,
not just doable. So how can we maintain and increase
Flagstaff’s cycle-commuting enthusiasm?
Queue… Bike to Work Week
Challenge: 2008. Some changes…
We’ve given the worksite challenge a tune-up. We’ve
upgraded the grupo and Cranked it up.
Would you like to advertise in
the next issue of the Biopic?
The challenge will run 4 days, not one--no more ties. We
are shuffling the sizes of the worksites to entice greater
participation and opportunities to win the Breezer
commuter bicycles. There will still be great daily raffle
prizes, but this year we are challenging your worksites
contact Kim Duncan
continued on page 7...
www.flagstaffbiking.org
*
928.863.0293
Volume #3, Issue #2
Page 3
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Life According to Jack
Good exercise, personal independence and lower costs
are the benefits I would list if asked to enumerate
the advantages of using my bicycle as a means of
transportation. I would also add “satisfaction” as there
is a pure kind of pleasure in being able to conquer a
challenging bicycle commute.
But, sometimes the prospective pain of getting someplace
has a higher price than I am willing to assume and rather
than riding on through that monsoon lightening storm I’ll
shelter myself in a covered bus stop, attach my bicycle to
the front carrier and pay the reasonable fare to be safely
transported to my destination.
I have NAU friends who use their bicycle to keep their
campus schedule intact by riding between classes. They
are never bothered by the snarl of vehicular traffic, the
frustration of finding a place to park or the expense of that
activity. Many transport their bicycle via the Mountain
Line in the cold morning hours to have it available for
campus riding and the trip home during the warmer
afternoon.
When it’s snowing or icy, I ride the bus. As a retired
Jack Welch
person on a fixed income I can’t afford to jeopardize my
only vehicle in those kinds of conditions. I also know
many working people who don’t own a car are bicycle
commuters and view the bus as their other equally
important mode of transportation. As bicycle riders I
think we can all support the Mountain Line because it
serves us well as a viable option and just as important
- it accommodates the varied transportation need of our
whole community.
So, you might be asking where is the old guy going with
this bundle of information. On May 20, 2008 there will be
a city election - one mayor and three city council members
will be selected - plus five ballot questions related to the
continuation and improvement of our bus system. The
citizens of Flagstaff are going to be asked to vote “yes
or no” on all five of these important propositions: 401
- Continuation of the Mountain Line Service at current
levels, 402 - Purchase of Hybrid buses that are larger
and more fuel efficient with fewer emissions plus they
can carry three bicycles, 403 - Mountain Line links route
between downtown, NAU and Woodlands Village, 404 Bus Service to new areas and 405 - More frequent bus
service.
has become the champion of
grassroots advocacy. Ten years in
Flagstaff and he still enjoys the many
wonderful bicycle routes and trails.
Jack admits moving here was the
best decision of his life.
I am hoping you will vote yes on all five of the propositions
which will only increase our city sales tax by 0.29 cents on
every 100 dollar purchase which I think is a very nominal
price to pay for important improvements in what is already
a decent system.
But, the above is only a brief outline of the proposed
improvements and I will be glad to mail you a brochure
containing more complete information about the
propositions.
Just call me at 714 0504 or e-mail:
[email protected] or check out the Mountain Line
web site: www.mountainline2008vote.info
Flagstaff Loop Trail – Gearing up for a big year!
2008 is going to be a big year for the Flagstaff Loop Trail. The Coconino
Forest Service is in the process of completing the required NEPA
(National Environmental Protection Agency) work. This will allow us
to build huge sections of the loop this year getting us near the 80%
completion marker!
We had a very successful Flagstaff Loop Trail open house at the Hotel
Weatherford last November with a great deal of interest shown in
finding out how to get involved. The answer to that is COME OUT
AND HELP BUILD TRAILS! We will have 4 Flagstaff Loop Trail days
this year: July 12th, October 11th, November 8th, and 1 day to be
announced.
If you’re asking yourself “what’s the Flagstaff Loop Trail”? then here
are the basics. When completed, the 42 mile trail will circumnavigate
Flagstaff, providing access from all areas of the city. The concept is
that of an outer wheel surrounding Flagstaff, with the spokes being
trails within the city (the Flagstaff Urban Trail System). The wheel will
then link to the communities outside the city limits and to the network
of Forest Service trails. The Loop will utilize a variety of Forest Service
trails, abandoned roads, the Flagstaff Urban Trail System, State Land
trail easements and the Arizona Trail.
The goal of the Flagstaff Loop Trail is to provide an exceptional multiuse, non-motorized recreational experience close to the urban fringe.
The trail will offer improved connectivity within our community while
providing a safe and inviting transportation alternative.
Go to Flagstaffbiking.org and click on the Flagstaff Loop Trail link for
updates and to see the online map.
contact: [email protected]
Loop Trail
Picnic Area
Single-Track Trail
Trailhead
Secondary Trail
View Point
FUTS Trail
Campground
Planned FUTS Trail
Tank | Spring
Lake | Ephemeral Lake
Highway
Intermittant Stream
Major Street
Street
Wilderness Boundary
National Monument
Major Forest Road
Minor Forest Road
Peak
Gravel Pit
Railroad
Power Line
Building | Landmark
Pipeline
Forested Land | Open Land
North
One Mile
13 May 2007
Page 4
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
A Word from The Man
It is not often that people associate law enforcement
agencies with education, but this is one of our most
important contributions to our community. Representatives
from the Flagstaff Police Department can frequently be
found distributing information and/or answering questions
at any number of public events. Teaching a person how to
take steps to avoid becoming a victim, or explaining a law
or ordinance so it is not violated is preferred to having to
take enforcement action.
I enjoy riding my bike around Flagstaff and own both a
mountain bike and a commuter. I recently started racing
competitively in the “Rock Crusher” category in the MBAA
series. I ride my bike to work most days and I particularly
enjoy my commute after a snowstorm.
During the day I am always observing how cyclists and
motorists interact. As a cyclist I’d like to use this article to
help educate our community so that as a police officer I
won’t need to respond to an accident involving a cyclist.
The most common complaints motorists and pedestrians
make about cyclists are:
1. riding on sidewalks where prohibited (downtown)
2. riding the wrong way on one way streets (Beaver
and San Francisco)
3. failing to stop at Stop signs
In 2006 there were 50 accidents involving bicycles
reported to the Flagstaff Police Department; of these, 8
involved children. In 2007 this number jumped to 76 with 14
involving children. These numbers may actually be higher
since there is no way to track un-reported accidents.
In an effort to educate more cyclists and in the hope of
decreasing the number of accidents involving members
of our community the Flagstaff Biking Organization is
permitting me the opportunity to cite a few of the City
Codes that apply to cycling.
Section 9-05-001-0002Traffic Laws Apply
Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be
granted all the rights and shall be subject to all of the
duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this Chapter,
except as to special regulations in this Chapter and
except as to those provisions of this Chapter which by
their nature can have no application.
Section 9-05-001-0005Riding
on
Roadways,
Bicycle Lanes and Bicycle Paths
A. Defines Roadway, Bicycle Lane, and Bicycle Path.
B. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall
ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable,
exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or
one proceeding in the direction.
C. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride
more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of the
roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
D. Wherever one or more lanes of a roadway have been
designated and marked as bicycle lanes, bicycle riders
shall use those lanes and shall not use the roadway.
E. Wherever a path has been provided and designated
as a bicycle path adjacent to or near a roadway, bicycle
riders shall use that path and shall not use the roadway.
Section 9-05-001-0007 Lamps
and
Other
Equipment
A. Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped
with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light
visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500’)
to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type
approved by the Arizona Department of Transportation,
which shall be visible from all distances from fifty feet
(50’) to three hundred feet (300’) to the rear, when
directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on
motor vehicles. A lamp emitting a red light visible from
a distance of five hundred feet (500’) to the rear may be
used in addition to the read reflector.
B. No person shall operate a bicycle equipped with a
siren or whistle.
C. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will
enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on
dry, level, clean pavement.
Spring 2008
Dave Needham
has been a police officer 17 years and
is currently assigned to Community
Relations. Between racing his
mountain bikes for Absolute Bikes and
raising 3 daughters, and work, Dave
is a busy guy. Currently divorced, he’s
looking for a lady friend. Please send
picture of bike.
Section 9-05-001-0013Riding on Sidewalks
A. Where signs are erected giving notice thereof, no
person shall ride a bicycle, skateboard, or play vehicle
upon a sidewalk. This prohibition shall also apply to any
bicycle, skateboard or play vehicle which is equipped
with or assisted by a motor. Signs prohibiting such activity
shall be installed at locations as directed by the Office of
the Traffic Engineer.
B. Unless otherwise posted pursuant to subsection A, a
person may ride a bicycle, skateboard, or play vehicle
upon any public sidewalk. This section does not permit
a motor-equipped or assisted bicycle, skateboard or
play vehicle upon any public sidewalk where otherwise
unlawful. When doing so, such person shall be subject to
the following additional provisions:
1. Such person shall yield the right-of-way to all
pedestrians and exempt vehicles.
2. Such person shall yield the right-of-way to all
traffic on the roadway when entering a roadway or
intersection from the sidewalk.
3. Such person shall yield the right-of-way to all
traffic crossing the sidewalk at a driveway or alley.
A complete list of Flagstaff City Codes may be found at
www.flagstaff.az.gov under the Government tab on the
top of the website.
When reading the City Code you should note that it
provides everyone with a level of expectation of behavior
from cyclists. If cyclists obey the rules of the road this will
allow motorists to consistently predict how cyclists will
ride in a given situation and hopefully provide for a safer
and friendlier experience for everyone.
Contact: [email protected]
Northern Arizona Mountain Bike Patrol
Flagstaff Biking Organization, Absolute Bikes, The
Mountain Bike Association of Arizona and members of
the Absolute Mountain Bike Race Team have partnered
with the United States Forest Service, in an effort to
create a volunteer Mountain Bike Patrol Program in the
greater Flagstaff area. This program, sponsored nationally
by the International Mountain Bike Association (I.M.B.A.),
is meant to enhance relations between all trail users.
The bike patrol, made up of volunteer riders, will provide
assistance to any and all local trail users by providing
directions, assisting in basic bicycle maintenance, and
administering first-aid to injured riders. They will also
provide regular reports to land managers regarding
changing trail conditions and user trends. U.S. Forest
come visit us at
Service land managers will be able to make use of this
information to identify areas that may need special
attention or additional supervision, or trail maintenance.
This project comes from a cooperative effort between
the agencies listed above, to enhance bike access to the
forests around Flagstaff and their official trails. Recent
events around the country have resulted in diminished
access if not denial of access to many trails for bike
riders. This team approach to trail care and use is meant
to prevent this from happening in Flagstaff. This effort
has also resulted in approval of permits from the Forest
Service, and may allow for more mountain bike races to
be held in the Flagstaff area in the coming months.
www.flagstaffbiking.org
Anyone interested in joining this effort should contact
F.B.O. or Absolute Bikes for details. Volunteers will be
required to complete basic first aid training and a program
orientation, which will include goals and philosophy of the
program and reporting procedures. Join us in this worthy
program. Your efforts will go a long way toward ensuring
that mountain bikers will have full access to all trails of
Flagstaff for many years to come.
Contact: [email protected] or
[email protected]
Volume #3, Issue #2
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Spring Trail Program Highlights
Subaru/IMBA Trail Care
Crew Training
The Subaru/IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling
Association) Trail Care Crew will be coming to Flagstaff
once again to teach trailbuilding skills, help mountain
bikers communicate better with land managers and
spend quality time digging in the dirt.
The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew teach “sustainable”
trailbuilding, which means building trails that last a long
time and require minimal maintenance. This helps reduce
trail damage, protects the environment, and enhances
visitor enjoyment.
National Trails Day
Coconino County and the Coconino National Forest are
hosting National Trails Day this year on a new section
of trail that connects the Fort Tuthill trail system to
Kachina Village. This event is an annual celebration of
our trails developed and supported by the American
Hiking Society. Everyone is encouraged to join the City
of Flagstaff, Flagstaff Biking Organization, Coconino
Rural Environmental Corps, Coconino Trail Riders and
REI in a little trail construction and a lot of fun. Meet
along Old Munds Highway, just off of Highway 89 across
from Jackson’s Grill at 9:00 am on Saturday, June 7th.
We will work until around 1:00 pm and then enjoy lunch
and festivities. Please wear sturdy shoes, long pants.
Bring your bicycle helmet and gloves if you have them,
otherwise head and hand protection will be provided.
Also, please bring water and a way to carry it.
Page 5
Giro de la Luna
Family Ride
JuLY 18
th
10pm - 12am
A fun ride on
Flagstaff’s Urban Trails.
Visit www.flagstaffbiking.org
for details
The visit will consist of three days of activities.
Friday, May 2nd, will be an “agencies only” meeting and
presentation at the Coconino National Forest Peaks
Ranger District. Anyone employed by any agency, local,
state or federal, and those employed by groups working
on trails with government agencies are encouraged to
attend. The event starts at 9:00 am and runs until 1:00 pm.
Please contact Brian Tritle with the Peaks District at
[email protected] or (928) 527-8201 to RSVP for this
event.
Saturday, May 3rd will be an open presentation followed
with some field work in the afternoon. Anyone interested
in gaining better skills on proper trailbuilding techniques
is encouraged to attend. This event has a morning
classroom session that runs from 9:00 am until 12:00 at
the Peaks District offices across from the Flagstaff Mall.
After lunch, we will shuttle over to Campbell Mesa by
1:00 pm for some on-the-ground training. Please contact
[email protected] for more information and to
register for this day’s event.
Sunday, we’re riding! Join Flagstaff Biking Organization
and the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew for a leisurely
mountain bike ride. We will survey trail features and look
at what is and isn’t working along the trails.
Mobile Trail Crew
Flagstaff Biking Organization will be forming a Mobile
Trail Crew. Those interested in spending a few days over
the summer riding and doing minor trail repairs should
contact Blair Foust at [email protected] or (928)
814-6191. Folks interested in helping with this should
have some trail maintenance and repair experience and
should attend the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew training
or have attended trail training before. This is a good
opportunity to help out the condition of the trails while
getting in a ride.
Contact: [email protected] or
(928) 779-5969
Anthony Quintile
is an avid mountain biker and
motorcyclist, and promotes multipleuse where ever he rides. Through many
events and volunteer efforts, he is an
advocate for trail building and riding.
He is the manager of Absolute Bikes,
and can be found there most days.
BOB,Freedom,
Burley, Croozer,
Xtracycle,Ortlieb,
Extrawheel,
Carry
Tubus,
Wandertec, and more.
BikeTrailerShop.com
Located in East Flag. Give us a call: 226.0294
Page 6
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Spring 2008
photo by Geoff Cross
May 13th - Tuesday
Martin and Jack’s Excellent FUTS
Adventure Cruiser Ride - Starts at
6pm
The fun continues on Tuesday with an evening cruiser ride
at 6 PM led by Martin Ince, City of Flagstaff’s Multi-Modal
Planner, and the one and only Jack Welch, Flagstaff’s
own community super hero! (Now you know where he
goes at night!) We’ll tour the city’s Flagstaff Urban Trail
System (FUTS) and show you great ways to connect to
the workplace and school systems. Meet at the Pay-nTake market and bring all your friends, and your helmet!
* Bike Recycling- we will be selling, cheaply,
bikes that were donated and fixed up
Exhibits on commuting safely, local bike
events and programs, and bike art
*
* and...Our 4th Annual Human-Powered Parade.
photo by Neil Ross
May 14th - Wednesday
May 11th - Sunday
9am to 3pm
Heritage Square Downtown Flagstaff
Kick off the week with hundreds of
your bicycling brethren.
May 12th - Monday
Events will include:
Bike and Gear Swap
$5.00 Helmet sales & 50 Free
Helmets for Children
Bike Powered Live Entertainment
Clif Bar and “Fender Blender” Smoothies
Make your own Bike Safety Iron On
T-Shirt for Kids
Come join the mayor, local leaders, and hundreds of your
friends for a short “commuter” ride through the downtown
to finish in Heritage Square for a free breakfast. Feel
the rush of hundreds of cyclists sharing the roads. The
gathering at Heritage Square will celebrate the efforts of
specific worksites and individuals to improve biking and
walking in our community.
*
*
*
*
*
7:30am - Kick-off Commuter Ride
from City Hall
Bike to Breakfast Day! Time to dust off your ride, register your workplace
and prepare to flood the streets, paths, and bike
lanes, with fun loving cyclists.
Free Breakfast for cyclists! That’s right! We said FREE!
If you’re on a bike, come on by one of the following
locations to enjoy a free breakfast on your way to work!
Local sponsors have stepped up to the plate this year to
serve up hot coffee, yummy food and loads of Clif Bars!
What are the most-bike friendly business in Flagstaff?
Everyone who rides and registers their participation on
the website is eligible for the daily draws. We give away
thousands of dollars of prizes donated by local partners.
The winners in 2 size categories get new cruiser bikes to
use for local errands.
All photos not otherwise noted © melissa dunstan photography
come visit us at
www.flagstaffbiking.org
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Volume #3, Issue #2
As further incentives, we will be providing free breakfast
for bike commuters along popular bike routes, provided
by local businesses.
riders and racers will be going into schools
*andLocal
talking about the joys of bicycling and try and
teach some safe riding while they are at it.
Golden Sprocket Award competition will be awarded
in two categories, high schools and middle schools.
A short film contest is being launched to see what
school can create the most innovative bicycle safety
movie! We’ll watch it at the Orpheum on Thursday
night.
*
*
Awards and Bike Movies at the
Orpheum Theater - 6pm
breakfast station locations:
6:30am-9am
Place
City Hall
Ft. Valley Late for the Train
Beaver St-South Side Park Lot
Route 66/San Francisco Street
Humphreys St/Sullivan Ave
Cedar/Fourth/Locket
Route 66/Arrowhead St
Beaver St at the FMC Bridge
We will finish the week with a collection of bike-related
films and presentations of the Worksite Challenge winners
and Cruiser bikes at the Orpheum Theatre. What student
will win the Short Film Award? Come and find out! Doors
and bar open at 6pm.
Sponsored by:
City of Flagstaff
Late for the Train
(Jack Welch) Biff’s Bagels
Absolute Bikes
The Coffee Pedaler
Friends of Flagstaff’s Future
NAIPTA
FMC
Seasons Premiere
presented by Absolute Bikes
to put up some prizes. We’re challenging the worksites
to subdivide into groups that are smaller, easier to
motivate and track. We’d like to foster intra- and interworksite challenges to bring out some of those un-tapped
potential or closet bike enthusiasts… you know, the pale
accountant, secretary or IT geek that doesn’t know yet how
liberating and addictive the morning pedal can be. We’ll
referee the challenges between admin and IT, between
Bookman’s and Barnes and Noble, UPS and FedEx.
We want to see the obesity epidemic in kids reversed,
starting with pedaling to school, not endless couch-time
and tv. We will be launching a “Cycle Train” demonstration
project at Thomas Elementary, where adults will “conduct”
a train of kids on bikes to school.
We will host a Bike to Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday,
a forum for cyclists and city officials and planners to get
together to listen and learn to each other.
And to top it off, we’re having a Bike to Potluck on Friday
to celebrate our successes.
So join FBO’s seventh annual Bike to Work Week… join
the Commutation Nation and bike to work, school or
errands. And don’t join alone. Admit it… it feels good
and the more you do it, the better it feels.
2007 Bike to Work Week results:
Cyclists can discuss issues of concern with city leaders
and planners. Bike trail options will be demonstrated,
discussed and you can ask questions about Flagstaff and
bicycle commuting. Speakers to be announced soon.
The worksite challenge winners of the Breezer Bicycles:
Small Worksites:
2007-NAU Honors Program
2006-Biff’s Bagels
2005- ProRiver Outfitters & Absolute
Others: AZ Engineering, Wildcat WW TP.
Large Worksites:
2007 & 2006 Flagstaff Medical Center Emergency Dept.
May 15th - Thursday
Bike to School Day!
*
Commutation Nation, continued from page 3...
To find out more about this year’s B2WW, what’s new,
what’s familiar; and how you can help, check our website:
flagstaffbiking.org/bike-to-work-week/.
Town Hall Meeting-City Hall 6pm-8pm
We are once again encouraging parents to ride with their
kids to school or in the case of high school students:
leave the car at home for a day.
Cycle Train will only be at Thomas Elementary –
“Presented in a collaborative effort with FBO and the
Safe Kids Coalition”
Page 7
May 16th - Friday
Bike to Potluck Cyclo-bration at
Thorpe Park - 6pm
To wind the week down, we are hosting a potluck at Thorpe
Park’s Ramada, starting around 6:00 PM. Bring your own
table service and beverage, and a dish to share. Let’s see
who is most creative in delivering a tasty comestible via
bicycle! There will be a large BBQ for those wishing to
grill. If weather allows, we may show a biking movie.
FBO would like to thank our generous sponsors who
make this event possible: City of Flagstaff, Sam’s
Club, Flagstaff Medical Center, Emmitt Barks
Cartography & Absolute Bikes.
Visit www.flagstaffbiking.org for details on Bike
to Work Week.
2005-Lowell Observatory
The Arboretum
2007 Fun Facts:
* 1874 people logged in all week * 763 Individual Participants
* 123 Worksites Registered
* 14,388 Miles were Logged
* Average Commute: 7.7 miles
* Longest Commute: 35 miles
We conserved about 850 gallons of gasoline; or 4,500
pounds of carbon were spared.
Thanks to FBO board member Susan for the Bike to
Work stats.
Contact: [email protected]
the Bike to work week
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Spring 2008
Breakfast stops Map
Cedar / Fourth / Locket
180
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www.flagstaffbiking.org
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come visit us at
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Beaver St. at the FMC Bridge
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Map design by rebecca Murans
Volume #3, Issue #2
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
FBO Members
Creating
Believer ($500 and above)
David Bednar
Jim Gibson
David Kumasaka
John & Deb Ledington
Douglas “Leigh” Campbell
Extraordinary
Memories
Associate ($250 - $499):
John Bogen
Christie, Sam &
Dennis Buchika
Agnes Drogi
Leonard (Len) Garrambone
Kenton Harman
Paul Kuefler
Elson Miles
Kip Moyer
Joanne Steigerwald
Stephen Ward
Jack Welch
Karen Whitten
Sustaining ($100 - $249)
Joel Agena
Lou Arminio
Carl Bigler
David Blanchard
Tim Bonatus
Alexandra Carpino
Melissa & Grant Dunstan
Bob Gaylord
Denise Hudson
Marc Johnson
Roabie Johnson
David Laing
Stephanie McCarthy & Anthony Quintile
Chuck McDougal
David McKee
Wayne McLellan
Annabelle Nelson
Kevin & Paula Rand
Midge Steuber
Anita Switzer
Duffie Westheimer
Program Sponsors
Bike to Work Week:
New Belgium Brewing Company
City of Flagstaff
Sam’s Club
Flagstaff Medical Center
Emmitt Barks Cartography
Absolute Bikes
Safe Kids Program:
Coconino County Safe Kids Coalition
Trail Day Program:
REI, Inc.
Northern AZ Trail Runners Association
Biff’s Bagels
Youth Moutain Biking Program:
Absolute Bikes
FBO would like to thank our members for their financial
support which makes our work possible. All memberships
are annual and can be renewed by mail or via credit card
on our website. If you have any questions regarding
Melissa at 606-1533 or
email her at [email protected].
Thank you!
membership, please call
Page 9
kdeventdesigns.com
Page 10
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Spring 2008
How your membership and donations
further cycling in our community
Are you tired of hearing about how long it takes to get things done? Help us speed up the
* process.
Coordinating a regular volunteer trail program requires resources to be successful.
Advertisements, lunches, incentives all add up but help make the events fun. Big turnouts = new
trails. Putting on a fun and productive large-scale event costs roughly $1,000.
Facilitating the outreach, design and implementation stages of our 42-mile Loop Trail is an
* ambitious
endeavor. Driving this project in a timely manner will require an investment from our
organization.
*
Financial resources enable us to make Bike to Work Week have lasting impacts. Regular
programming funds are required to support efforts like bike recycling, Safe Kids, and Trips for
Kids - initiatives that are designed to provide fun healthy opportunities for kids.
* An organization with a huge number of paid members has a loud public voice that guarantees
significant influence with agencies, grant bodies, and elected offficials.
* To fulfill our mission requires both grassroots support and full-time, professional focus. Effectively
advocating cycling interests requires constant vigilance.
Supporting ($50 - $69)
Susan Amon
David Anning
John Benson
Brad Bippus
Chuck Budden
Pamela Cady
Ken Collier
William Culpepper
Mark Daniels
Bret Dooley
Paul Drumheller
Edwin Goff
Ellen & Tom Grabarek
William Grauel
Richard Hall
David Hayes
Bradley Heck
Susan Hueftle
Darrell Kaufman
Eric Keefer
Paul Kiehne
Gisela Kluwin
Christopher Kuehl
Karen Lynn
Tami Masuoka
Lizette Melis
Kurt & Sara Meyers
Bill Miller
Bonnie O’Donnell
Tobin & Christi Purslow
Family ($70 - $99)
Robert Radford
Matt Roberts
Tim Rynn
Aaron Seifert
Tim & Erika Steffen
James & Heidi Sullivan
John Tingerthal
Casey Woodford
Alan York
John Zimmerman
Basic ($20 - $34)
Angela Abel
John Bertko
Jan Blackman
Charlie Bongo
Jaemi Bowers
Warren Cronmiller
Letty David
Judy Draper
Kim Duncan
Cory Fagerholm
Art Farmer
Ellen Furr
Mark Giesecke
John Gordon
Lila Hope Greer
Mark Gullo
Joan Hadden
Tom Holden
Jay Holt
come visit us at
www.flagstaffbiking.org
John, Lisa & Bekah
Coe
Ann Eagan
Mark, Joanne & Ryan
Geiger
Haydee Miranda
Hampton & George
Koch
Alexender Koss
Mike Lebec
Sharine Sonny
Tony Spinelli
Mike Thompson
Regular ($35 - $49)
Sam Hull
Joel Kefuss
Kurt Knittle
Karen Knorowski
Christine Krosnicki
William Kunkle
Greg, Pam & Blake
Landers
David Lash
Chris Latham
Lisa Levine
Dara & Troy Marino
Jay McCallum
Kaj Miller
Dave Needham
Jeanne Neff
Robert Pearce
Cindy Perger
Paula Pluta
Cosmic Ray
James Riley
Jerry Robertson
Michael Sanders
Leo Schlinger
Susan Slasor
Bruce Steinhaus
Ray Topham
Jeni Turgeon
Bruce Walker
Scott Waxman
Edward White
Todd Barnell
Jason Dosch
Sharon Ferrier
William Gallen
Charlie Hawk
Joan Kandel
Art Keith & Megan
Gavin
Deb Linda
Anne McKinnon
Rick Mineweaser
Joe Murphy
John Neff
Tyler Sedone
Ben Sheridan
Julie Taylor
Douglas Thomas
Penny Trovillion
Page 11
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Volume #3, Issue #2
Commuting to school and work on
bikes: Priceless
As soon as the snow melts and the roads stop being ice
in the morning, my husband, twin children and I will start
each day climbing on our bikes. I look forward to leaving
the car behind and using my own power to get us around
town, school and work.
Lizette is an Injury Prevention
Program Coordinator at the Health
Department, a member of the
Bicycle Advisory Committee and
serves on the Executive Board for
the Coconino Safe Kids Coalition.
and a half from home. It does help that we live in a very
central part of town, a block from Thorpe Park. It is easy
to get to our destinations and we usually zoom past traffic
by taking side streets as much as we can.
I have not always been a bike commuter. In fact, I grew up
in one of the biggest cities in the world, Mexico City, and
biking was only done on weekends in enclosed parks.
As an adult I rode sporadically and was always afraid of
cars. I worked at NAU for many years and lived two miles
from work. Never did I consider biking all that time. I just
had too many great excuses and reasons why I needed to
drive two miles one way. How could I wear a
skirt to work or how could I keep my coffee
warm while riding? What would my hair look
like after being squashed in a helmet? What
would I do about my sweaty self?
© melissa dunstan photography
Commuting on bike is a simple joy although it takes some
preparation, flexibility and organization. Ted, my husband
rides with the children in the morning while I go directly
to work, about four and a half miles from home. At the
end of the day, I ride to school and pick the children up
and ride back to our neighborhood. School is about a mile
Lizette Melis
Two years ago, I decided to give ‘Bike
To Work Week’ a try. I did not have any
expectations only an open mind about
adventure. I thought through every excuse
(I simply don’t wear skirts, found a good
thermos for my coffee, and change to a
clean shirt when I get to work). The week
worked out so well, we decided, as a family,
to continue riding our bikes to school and
work. We ride about seven months out of the year. Most
weekends, Ted and I ride to the grocery store and stuff
panniers and backpacks with staples. Then we waddle
back home. It is always an adventure, not just a run to
the store.
Commuting on a bicycle keeps me connected to my
surroundings, the environment, the weather, the wind and
body. I have time to think and sing. I have to pay attention
and pace myself. I feel actively engaged in my life. I get to
my work place in a good mood, literally glowing.
Something worthwhile mentioning is the fact that I get my
daily workout while commuting. I do two things at once,
which for me means I am beating the system and saving
on health club fees. The reward is all encompassing. As
a family, we feel empowered and self sufficient. One day
at a time, we are doing our part, and the benefits are
many—and the price can’t be beat!
Contact: [email protected]
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Page 12
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Mountain Biking
There I was, racing down, boulders flying past me in a
blur. I hit the jump and was in the air, and then wham,
I was down. My suspension helped absorb most of the
downward force, but I still got knocked around a bit. I
was back on course, racing down. My body was jarred
with the pebbles underneath me. I was racing. I looked
ahead to see someone crash ahead of me. My feelings
were mixed, happy because I could beat him but possibly
sad because he or his bike could have been hurt. I saw
that he was okay and I raced on.
I was now in eighth place. I came to a flat area that had
sharp turns, most of them with berms. I turned on them,
my body moving as one with my bike. I went over another
one… and my face was in the ground. I had gained too
much speed and attempted the turn at too high a speed. I
was all right so I got back up and started pedaling again.
Luckily, I was a long way ahead of the main group of people
and none had even tried to pass me yet. I looked ahead
and realized I had a grueling task ahead of me. There was
a small hill, about 200 feet long that turned upward so
it was significantly steeper for another 200 feet. It went
upward again for an even steeper part, but luckily this was
only about 100 feet long. I was dismayed but I knew I had
to go on. I started up the hill, the least steep part, and took
it slow but steady. I was about three quarters up the small
part of the hill and was starting to feel the effects. I kept
come visit us at
Spring 2008
Max Wason
on going and soon reached the steeper section. I stopped
for about thirty seconds to admire the view, look where the
other racers were, and refresh myself. I started off again,
feeling invigorated that I was doing so well on my first
mountain bike race ever.
I looked up and ahead to see my friend slowly making his
way up the hill also. I did not try to race ahead to beat
him, for I was smart and I knew that I would use up all my
energy and would have none to make it up the steepest
section. I would beat him on the downhill. I looked up and
saw that my friend was trying to make it up the steepest
section, but in slow motion, his bike tipped over backwards
onto him. I could not help but laugh, because I knew he
would be fine. I soon reached him, and as the trail started
curving downward, I pedaled vigorously and blasted past
him. On the downhill I also passed three other people.
I could tell that the race was almost over, and I lost my
focus. On a large jump, I landed on my back tire and
bounced forward, essentially doing a front flip. I was fine
but I saw the four people pass me that I had passed earlier.
I was in sixth. I knew I should just try and hold my position
as my main priority, but if there was a good opportunity,
pass the leaders. I knew that the most of the people were
still going up the hill. It would be easy to beat them, as
long as my bike or I did not get damaged or hurt.
www.flagstaffbiking.org
an avid mountain biker for several
years, is a student at Northland
Preparatory Academy in Flagstaff.
Besides biking, Max enjoys rock
climbing, skiing, snow boarding,
soccer and basketball.
I rode ahead in a strangely calm state of mind. I felt my
bike’s tires touching the red, sun baked crust that was the
soil and my suspension’s travel taking the force of the rocks.
I saw the hill drop away and saw the end. I snapped out
of my philosophical moment and went blazing down the
slope. I was going like I had never gone before. I felt like I
was one with my bike, like I knew exactly which tire “hair”
would touch which part of ground. I raced past someone,
but soon realized that they were doing the marathon race.
I saw the end ahead of me, but there were two paths.
They were both on gravel. I saw my friend’s dad point
one way so I started that direction, but the judges pointed
the other way and I knew they were right so I started the
other way… but my poor tires could not take it and they
slipped under the white gravel. I looked as soon as I got
up, and there was no one behind me, so I mounted my
bike and got sixth place in my first ever mountain bike
race. Mountain biking is what I do.
Volume #3, Issue #2
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Your euro- racer eyewear is only
for cycling
Veteran racer, George Hincapie grinds out a
stage victory at the tour of California wearing
his signature Oakley Racing Jacket sun glasses.
People can’t stop staring at his cool shades.
Hincapie’s epic labors in all of Lance Armstrong’s
Tour De France victories helped to cement the
Racing Jacket‘s iconic status in this decade’s Road
racing imagery.
Don’t go overboard, though. Do not,
for instance, wear a huge pair of
Jackie Onassis windshield sized,
tinted face- protector shades unless
you are a giggly, extremely stylish
14 year old girl.
The mistake we all make is thinking that these guys take
these same elements of UV protection-style downtown
when they are off the bike. They do not and you, my
friend, should not either.
There are only two people in Flagstaff who look good in
cycling eyewear in any situation. Here’s a hint: it’s not
you. Stop making the rest of the world think we are all too
good to stick our faces into a pair of aviators or wayfarers.
© melissa dunstan photography
Also unforgettable are the miles of video of Jan
Ullrich Captaining T-Mobile from behind a pair of
Rudy Project glasses.
To illustrate these points, we enlisted
the help of our own
Perry Davidson, who
actually won a small
cash prize and a trip
to the Day Spa in the
“Homeliest
Biopic
Writer” contest. We
took pictures of him
in one of his favorite
pairs
of
racing
sunnies which, out of
the cycling context,
make him look like
the drugs just wore
Even band geeks can thrash
now and again
Along side J-Lo’s perky buttocks and Jessica Simpson’s
“assets”, the precious fingers of concert pianists have
garnered Aflac, and the likes, millions in annual premiums
to protect these essential body parts. However, as a
flutist-cum-paraglider, I have always opted to risk my
uninsured digits in search of extra-musical endorphins.
So, ordinarily, descending the harrowing, 13,000 feet
of Bolivia’s Death Road, on a mountain bike, might not
have been so notable for me. But, after my first foray into
full suspension riding left me with a broken left radius, I
was out of performing commission for several months.
So, I approached my return to the bike with more than
trepidation (not to mention the fact that mountain biking
has always lacked some of the forgiving comforts that my
other adventure sports possess).
Many think that rock climbing is a thrill seeker’s sport, but
the security of the rope and the harness, defying gravity,
is what has always attracted me. Tandem paragliding is
much the same. When strapped in, with an experienced
pilot at the reins, jumping off a cliff and floating effortlessly,
above the clouds, produces as little adrenaline as a well
earned yoga savasana. And if tele-skiing a black diamond
gets the heart racing, at least a wipe-out on freshies allays
one’s fears.
But renting questionable equipment from a tourist trap,
guiding outfit, in a third world country, so that I could
ride on baby heads and gravel, for five hours, down the
longest sustained road descent in the world (15,600-2,500
feet elevation), with 2,000 ft drop-offs, for most of the way,
felt like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.
At our 7 am summit start, despite the full body gore-tex suit
that our guide provided, the below freezing temperatures
left me wondering if I was terrified or merely shivering.
Then, Geoff, a pair of Brits, a fool hearty, German female
novice, a testosterone-pumped Argentinean teenager
and I hit the trail, with an unusually timid Israeli up the
rear (the urban legend, that 5 of the 11 cyclist casualties
on Death Road had been his compatriots, made him
understandably nervous). Barely 20 minutes into our epic,
the first brake failure struck the youngest in our group,
and I was thanking Pacha Mama (Incan Earth Mother)
that we’d kicked in the extra $20 each, for hydraulic
brakes.
Just when I’d nearly developed “the claw” from clenching
my levers so hard, the terrain provided a brief respite,
and we found ourselves climbing for a kilometer, at just
above 13,000 feet. Contrary to some down hillers, who
prefer shuttle runs, my favorite part of this sport is the
quad-licking ascents that favor my wind player lungs. So,
now, moving ahead of all but my invincible husband, I
Page 13
Pete Alfast
has lived in Flagstaff since before
you were born. Despite his advanced
age and skinny legs, he remains
optimistic and passionate about
road riding. He currently owns over
40 pounds of lycra and once made
a pie out of Hammer Gel.
off after his electroshock therapy.
Once fitted with some fashionable downtown shades
(We believe these are the “How You Doin’?” model)
Perry is transformed into someone who represents the
recreational cycling community as normal, well adjusted
and ready for action on the Patio at the Pay ‘N’ Take.
So take it from us here at the Biopic. We’ve traveled the
world to bring you these fashion tips, so don’t waste
them. Make us all proud and leave your pointy, flashy
technical eyewear at home when you head out after your
bike ride.
Until next time, this is Pete Alfast reminding you to always
be true to yourself, unless it somehow inconveniences
me. (Sunglasses provided by Smart Specs Optical).
Contact: [email protected]
Laura Barron
professional flutist, yogi, and bicycle
advocate, is thrilled to contribute to
this month’s Biopic, especially since
she helped her husband and FBO
founder, Geoff Cross, start Flagstaff’s
first Bike to Work Week.
gained a little confidence at the wheel and started to have
fun. Sure, the hairpin turns, largely responsible for the 24
annual fatalities (until they closed the road to cars in ’06),
were daunting. And, the outrageous Andean views were
as distracting as they were stimulating. But, in actuality,
the hazards on this well-hyped, adventure were over rated.
To my great relief, the smooth, well-packed dirt road, wide
enough for an 18-wheeler made this a technically tame
ride.
While I exercised reasonable caution, by staying to the far
right of the road to avoid the vertigo-inspiring cliff side,
I gradually amassed surprising speed, until I was truly
in the Zone. I spent the majority of the morning reveling
in the sheer exhilaration of pedaling through these
incredible panoramas unharmed. And, by lunchtime, our
entire crew had “survived” Death Road, smiling ear to ear,
without a scratch. Turns out the only thing that died that
day was my fear.
Contact: [email protected]
Page 14
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
Coe’s Law: What We Eat
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
that shadows a dry, thirsty land.
-- Fanny Crosby, 1890
I watch the rocks.
From my desk at work, all day long, for a decade and
then some, I’ve watched the rocks of Mount Elden out my
window.
Coe’s Trail, or The John Coe Trail, or even The John Coe
Memorial Trail... which is, I suppose a rather fitting,
foresighted name for it... because it’s there, precisely,
where my ashes will go when I die.
I’m staring intermittently up at Mount Elden and then
back down at my laptop as I write this at my desk after
work. I’m trying to recall the story, the one great tale that I
should tell you about riding bikes on this mountain... and
And still, right now, as it always has since I’ve known it, this
mountain compels me: come. If time permits, I will ride its
trails home today. And when I die my wife or daughter will
spread my ashes there.
Climbing among its cracks and crags I’ve found mysterious
ancient glyphs and dark caches strewn with potsherd.
I’ve skied into its trackless winter backcountry.
I’ve struggled to learn to ride my bikes across its rocky
flanks, traverse its wind-scoured ridgelines, and descend
its dark, verdant faces.
I’ve acquired a layman’s grasp of the nomenclature of its
geology. I’ve squeezed through dark, narrow passages in
its innards.
It was there where we first took our daughter out, when
she was just a few days old. And it’s there still where she
asks to go now when we’re headed to the woods to walk.
This working-class mountain owns parts of me, and I
think I own parts of it, too. I’ve bled there so many times:
abraded an acre of my skin on its rocks, sucked in lungfuls
of its dust, eaten it’s gravel and scree. I’ve broken helmets,
dérailleurs, chains, rims, seats, sunglasses, shifters, and
even bikes upon it. It’s shredded my shorts, tights, gloves,
socks, and jerseys.
It’s penalized me with a thousand flat tires.
Long ago, on its southern face just where the rocks meet
the talus, I found a faint trail and rode it, but gave it no
name. It is My Trail, a pleasing but only marginally rideable
confusion of rocks and logs and trees... there was a time,
it seems long ago, when it was perceived as difficult, and
in spots as practically unrideable... No more! I’ve seen the
Happy Ending to Private Reserve, and I’ve ridden Wasabi,
Ginger, and The Pickle. My Trail cannot compare to any of
these! But unlike these, My Trail was not built. It was found.
I found it because the mountain compelled me: come.
Among my friends, My Trail has often been called John
come visit us at
John Coe
a school teacher and summertime bike shop employee has lived
in Flagstaff since 1991. He likes
to hang out with his wife and
daughter, ride bikes in the woods,
ski, and watch television.
of nature and mankind had played a role in shaping the
environment, or something like that. I had assumed I would
fulfill the minimum requirements and turn in the requisite
short paper. But I became so captivated by the mountain,
its evident history of fire and human settlement, its porous
soil, and its diverse plant and animal communities, that
I was compelled to spend most of the morning walking
around, climbing, taking notes, and sitting on big boulders
watching the ravens and hawks.
During the intervening years I’ve spent a lot of time doing
much the same thing.
I once saw a lion there, with her kit.
I’ve sat near small flowing springs and seeps and watched
birds, butterflies, and bees drink and fight and fly away
home. I’ve watched huge, complicated waterfalls form
and dissipate, both in the short span of minutes. I’ve taken
refuge there, huddled under narrow overhangs while
riotous storms roiled and lightning flashed close by.
Spring 2008
it’s like a filmed montage in my mind. All the memories!
Too much to share: the night-rides, the day-long rides, the
lost rides, the fast rides, the group rides, the solo rides,
the far away rides, the agonizingly slow rides, the rides
of discovery, the rides close-to-home, and of course, the
rides going nowhere... the poaches, trail-blazes, crashes,
descents, and dabs... the tandems, single-speeds, fixedgears, new bikes, old bikes, wrong bikes, fast bikes, fattire bikes, cyclocross bikes, and daily commuter bikes...
all of that is only part of an increasingly complex, joyful
tapestry of inarticulable experience which has been, is, my
Mount Elden story.
And then, without warning, these words from Robert Frost
are at the front of my mind:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
I’d never even heard of Mount Elden before I moved to
Flagstaff.
We met by chance.
The instructor for the Elementary Science Instructional
Methods course in which I was enrolled at NAU in the
Fall of 1991 gave this assignment: Go on a hike on the
Mount Elden Environmental Study Area trails; Write about
what you observe. I was so new to town at the time that
I had to ask a classmate to point out Mount Elden to me,
and I used the city map in the phonebook to find my way
to the assigned trailhead on North Lugano Way. I drove
there in my car, and failed to see the easement between
two houses the first time I circled the cul-de-sac. We
were expected to spend 30 minutes walking around the
area, taking notes on our observations: how the forces
www.flagstaffbiking.org
Nevertheless, I have not seen the view from every aspect of
Mount Elden, nor have I ridden or hiked each and every one
of its trails. I have not peered into all of its countless crags,
or sat contemplatively atop every one of its innumerable
rocks. Much of the mountain remains a mystery to me,
undiscovered country right out my classroom’s back door.
But I can say this: I am glad to know Mount Elden, and to
watch it every day. It is all the better to know it well, or
perhaps as well as one can anyway. I will never regret my
time on this mountain, watching it. Nor will I ever wish that
I’d spent my time elsewhere doing other things.
The mountain compels me: come. And that has made all
the difference.
Contact: [email protected]
Volume #3, Issue #2
Bi•opic : A semi-regular publication of Flagstaff Biking Organization
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Bi•opic
: A semi-regular
publication
of Flagstaff
Biking
Organization
Bi•opic
: A semi-regular
publication
of Flagstaff
Biking
Organization
Volume #3, Issue #2
Flagstaffbiking.org Board
Kim Duncan
David McKee
Mark Gullo
Anthony Quintile
Susan Hueftle
Neil Ross
Jack Welch
Melissa Dunstan, Executive Director
Win a Free Breezer
Freedom Bicycle!!!
Bi•opic Production
Register your worksite for the Bike to Work Week Worksite
Challenge and you and your co-workers could win one
of two Breezer Bikes Freedoms, donated generously by
Breezer Bikes, or one of many other fabulous prizes. See
flagstaffbiking.org for details in the upcoming weeks.
Grant Dunstan, Editor
IT’S FREE!
Stephanie McCarthy, Graphic Design
Melissa Dunstan , Contributing Photographer
Comments, suggestions:
[email protected]
Would you like to
Advertise in the Biopic?
contact Kim Duncan
come visit us at
928.863.0293
www.flagstaffbiking.org
Spring2008
2008
Spring
Show your support!
Volunteer to help with the
Bike to Work Week festivities.
Your bike conscience will thank you!
Contact: Melissa Dunstan at (928) 606-1533
or [email protected].
Flagstaff Biking Organization
is looking for 2008 Bike
to Work Week Worksite
Coordinators.
Duties to include the following: Encouraging your
coworkers to ride; track participation of coworkers
and record mileage; record the total number of
employees that worked at your work site each day,
bus-drivers and walkers as well as cyclists. Watch
our website for further updates and contact susan@
flagstaffbiking.org or 774-5583 for details.