Temporarily caged!

I'm stuck driving for a few days at least! I had a wee crash on my mountain bike and have buggered my shoulder. It seems that 47 year olds don't bounce as easily as we did when we were 20!


This stinks! It was a low speed crash, around 10 MPH in a set of tight technical turns on the outlaw trail in Murdock Woods in Lafayette, Indiana. My bike just went out from under me on some roots and crunch!

Münster – A Cycling City

The citizens of Münster climb onto their bicycles 374,528 times per day / Cycle traffic has the highest priority when it comes to urban planning.

Münster (SMS) Elsewhere people struggle their way through traffic congestion in their car. Most of the Münster citizens get their day off to a more comfortable start: 50 percent start their day by jumping onto their bicycles before making their way to school, university or their vocational training establishment. As many as 34.2 percent travel to work on the “Leeze”. In Münster, the higher education and service city with just under 280,000 inhabitants, the cycle density is so high that visitors to the city are sometimes unable to believe their eyes. In the past year, the proportion of cyclists of the amount of traffic as a whole has increased once more, reaching a 35 percent share. In comparison, the proportion of cars has not increased in more than 25 years. Münster is one of the cities with the lowest proportion of motor vehicles – it is a cycling city after all.

Getting there fast and easily

In the city, destinations are normally reached faster with the bicycle than with the car and that is not the only reason why both males and females, small and tall make regular use of their bicycles with a regular matter of course. Those who ride in the fresh air also do not have any problems finding a parking space, spare their nerves and cut costs. The city offers 12,500 parking spaces for cyclists. The authorities make it easy for the citizens to change to the environmentally friendly alternative. After all, the infrastructure for cycling traffic participants has not only been continuously refined since the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Transport asked Münster to participate in the “Cycling friendly Cities and Municipalities” program in 1988.

Comfortable routes for the cyclists

275 kilometres of developed cycle-paths are just the beginning. They can not only be used when the sun is shining but the main routes are even cleared of snow and ice every day in winter. This is supplemented by a close network of agricultural roads and kilometre-long minor roads which are suitable for cycling. Münster was the first municipality in Germany to issue an official cycling city map, showing cyclists how to reach their destination fast and most comfortably without having to subject themselves to motor traffic. It was revised and reprinted in August 2007. Anyone can however get to where they are going with the assistance of more than 1750 destination signposts for cyclists which can be found throughout the city area and - devised from the planning brains of Münster – they have also found their way throughout Germany: This summer, the citizens of Münster celebrated the completion of the NRW-wide cycle-path signposting and the German-wide route network for cycling tourism.

Cyclists profit from numerous advantages in Münster: the Promenade, a 4.5 kilometre long green ring on which one can quickly cycle round the old part of the city without having to make many stops – this being what around 1350 Leezen riders do during the rush hour between 4 and 5 p.m. One-way streets which can be used by cyclists in the opposite direction to the stipulated one and cul-de-sacs which are only valid for cars, open up attractive secret paths. Münster also has cycling roads which explicitly prioritise cycling traffic when compared to motor traffic and combined bus/cycle lanes. Pedestrian precincts are also not necessarily prohibited for cyclists.

Safety has priority

The safety of the numerous cyclists has always been of great importance when planning traffic in Münster. For example, at numerous traffic lights, the traffic lights for cyclists turn to green a few seconds before the car drivers are allowed to go, so that they are not accidentally taken for a ride on the bonnet of a car turning right. Large crossings are provided with an extra waiting space at the front. This means that they always start first when the lights change to green and are always in view of the drivers of the cars behind. Traffic education in Münster already starts in kindergarten and primary school. In addition, the municipal authority has founded a "partnership for accident prevention" in cooperation with the police and numerous renowned institutions in Münster. True to the motto “Safe Through Münster”, they co-operate in order to reduce the number of accidents by ten percent each year.

In Germany’s second largest city territory, the bicycle not only makes a name for itself on short routes. The Leeze is also an important means of transport on longer distances in an environmental association with busses and rail transport. 2000-3000 commuters who commute both to and from Münster every day use the cycling station in front of the railway station, this being Germany’s largest bicycle garage with 3300 covered parking spaces and a comfortable bicycle service. The railway stations in the suburbs also have transfer stations, some being equipped with locking bicycle boxes. Furthermore, numerous bus stops are equipped with covered bicycle parking spaces and enable a trouble-free and fast transfer from cycle to bus and vice versa.

Specialists and interested laypersons can find large amounts of material from the municipal cycle traffic planners in the internet (www.muenster.de/stadt/stadtplanung). Among others, one can have the special aspects of cycling in Münster explained during a virtual cycling tour.




Münster, 23.09.2007

The Spinner Report for the week

We've done pretty well this year.

Miles

Rider	9/8/2007	9/15/2007	9/22/2007	9/29/2007	Total
51	100.25	105.5			205.75
5th Circle					0
AaronW					0
Admiral					0
Adrien	96.86	123.41			220.27
A_Fire_Inside					0
Archienutt					0
Arctic Jill	194.2	110.5			304.7
BeckyW	9	35			44
Bdinger	42				42
Big Mike	93.5	202.36			295.86
ChunkyD					0
Colt45					0
Crymfyter					0
DanonBike	73.1	20.2			93.3
DavisClyde					0
DiabloRojo					0
DonHaller					0
Dpb13					0
Early					0
Edonis13					0
Epcolt	27.05				27.05
Fc	140	60			200
Funrover	21	51.5			72.5
Greyg8r					0
Genejockey					0
Huh					0
Huzzah					0
Halthane					0
Jeeper Tim	118	32			150
Joe Metal					0
Johannes					0
Jaxgtr	119.02	101.98			221
Jmarkley					0
Jumborider					0
Juvenile Tim	13				13
K4LK					0
Keithm0					0
Kensuf					0
Lil.Round1					0
Magool					0
Mkadam68	240.16	216.69			456.85
Neilfein	25.1	34.5			59.6
Obelix67					0
piper_chuck	60.9	73.1			134
Pupsocket					0
Raynman	18	15			33
RDRomano					0
Relayer					0
Ronjon10	126	62.56			188.56
Sandwarrior	86.69				86.69
Scotmorrsn	150	44			194
ShawnK					0
Solveg	56				56
Stearman					0
Stuejoe					0
The Historian					0
The Mrs	25				25
Tom Stormcrowe	25				25
Trolleyguy	149.5	140.2			289.7
Tskuller					0
Tt1106	333				333
Uncle Dan!	180	46			226
UTRacerDad	100	100			200
Wingman115					0
Wogsterca	48.5	59.7			108.2
Total	2670.83	1634.2	0	0	4305.03

Hours

Hours	9/8/2007	9/15/2007	9/22/2007	9/29/2007
51	9	9
5th Circle
AaronW
Admiral
Adrien	6.3	8.7
A_Fire_Inside
Archienutt
Arctic Jill
BeckyW
Bdinger
Big Mike
ChunkyD
Colt45
Crymfyter
DanonBike
DavisClyde
DiabloRojo
DonHaller
Dpb13
Early
Edonis13
Epcolt	2
Fc
Funrover	1.4	3.75
Greyg8r
Genejockey
Huh
Huzzah
Halthane
Jeeper Tim	8.9	2.4
Joe Metal
Johannes
Jaxgtr	7.75	6.9
Jmarkley
Jumborider
Juvenile Tim
K4LK
Keithm0
Kensuf
Lil.Round1
Magool
Mkadam68	15.25	13.35
Neilfein
Obelix67
piper_chuck
Pupsocket
raynman
RDRomano
Relayer
Ronjon10	9.8	4.5
Sandwarrior	5.8
Scotmorrsn	8.5	2.2
ShawnK
Solveg
Stearman
Stuejoe
The Historian
The Mrs
Tom Stormcrowe
Trolleyguy	11.23	11.35
Tskuller
Tt1106
Uncle Dan!
UTRacerDad	7	8
Wingman115
Wogsterca	4.2	5.4
Total	97.13	75.55	0	0

Annuals
Jan 4903.23
Feb 5582.93
Mar 8397.55
Apr 6339.49
May 8459.58
June 12301.61
July 11582.48
Aug 10273.52
Sep 4305.03
Oct
Nov
Dec
Total 72145.42

The charts are on display at the online page
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=p8Y_TSW7LCrCm46dLj41DPw&hl=en&pli=1

Good job, all! Keep up yhr great work and keep riding!

80 Million Reasons and More!

80 million reasons

The government over here have decided to spend £80 million every year to make sure that pregnant women
will eat healthy to get babies who will eat healthy.
I’ve heard a lot of bull in my days from politicians but this is just stupid.

More here, it's a great article!

This article makes a lot of sense, by the way. Christa has touched on some words of wisdom in her article. A healthy diet and a sensible active lifestyle will go a long way toward better health. It really isn't "Rocket Science" after all. Another thing, be sure to check out Christa's recipes over there at "My Swedish Kitchen! She has some great food up!

Cycling News

As a leadup teaser, the Spinner Saturday Group has topped 72000 miles for the year so far. Not all the reports are in though, so get me your mileage!

Sanchez

Menchov still leads overall

The Associated Press

Published: September 16, 2007

Cycling Sanchez takes 15th stage of Spanish Vuelta, Menchov still leads Eds: UPDATES with quotes

GRANADA, Spain (AP) - Spanish rider Samuel Sanchez won the 15th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday, with Denis Menchov maintaining his overall lead with a ninth-place finish.

The Euskatel-Euskadi cyclist went ahead after the first climb nearly halfway in before holding off his rivals to win the 201.4-kilometer (125.1-mile) leg in 4 hours, 45 minutes, 59 seconds.

More..........

The Spinner Report for Sept 9

Rider	9/8/2007	9/15/2007	9/22/2007	9/29/2007	Total
51	100.25	105.5			205.75
5th Circle					0
AaronW					0
Admiral					0
Adrien	96.86				96.86
A_Fire_Inside					0
Archienutt					0
Arctic Jill	194.2	110.5			304.7
BeckyW					0
Bdinger	42				42
Big Mike	93.5				93.5
ChunkyD					0
Colt45					0
Crymfyter					0
DanonBike	73.1				73.1
DavisClyde					0
DiabloRojo					0
DonHaller					0
Dpb13					0
Early					0
Edonis13					0
Epcolt	27.05				27.05
Fc	140				140
Funrover	21				21
Greyg8r					0
Genejockey					0
Huh					0
Huzzah					0
Halthane					0
Jeeper Tim	118				118
Joe Metal					0
Johannes					0
Jaxgtr	119.02				119.02
Jmarkley					0
Jumborider					0
Juvenile Tim	13				13
K4LK					0
Keithm0					0
Kensuf					0
Lil.Round1					0
Magool					0
Mkadam68	240.16				240.16
Neilfein	25.1				25.1
Obelix67					0
piper_chuck	60.9				60.9
Pupsocket					0
Raynman	18				18
RDRomano					0
Relayer					0
Ronjon10	126				126
Sandwarrior	86.69				86.69
Scotmorrsn	150				150
ShawnK					0
Solveg	56				56
Stearman					0
Stuejoe					0
The Historian					0
The Mrs	25				25
Tom Stormcrowe	25				25
Trolleyguy	149.5				149.5
Tskuller					0
Tt1106	333				333
Uncle Dan!					0
UTRacerDad	100				100
Wingman115					0
Wogsterca	48.5				48.5
Total	2481.83	216	0	0	2697.83

Hours	9/8/2007	9/15/2007	9/22/2007	9/29/2007
51	9	9
5th Circle
AaronW
Admiral
Adrien	6.3
A_Fire_Inside
Archienutt
Arctic Jill
BeckyW
Bdinger
Big Mike
ChunkyD
Colt45
Crymfyter
DanonBike
DavisClyde
DiabloRojo
DonHaller
Dpb13
Early
Edonis13
Epcolt	2
Fc
Funrover	1.4
Greyg8r
Genejockey
Huh
Huzzah
Halthane
Jeeper Tim	8.9
Joe Metal
Johannes
Jaxgtr	7.75
Jmarkley
Jumborider
Juvenile Tim
K4LK
Keithm0
Kensuf
Lil.Round1
Magool
Mkadam68	15.25
Neilfein
Obelix67
piper_chuck
Pupsocket
raynman
RDRomano
Relayer
Ronjon10	9.8
Sandwarrior	5.8
Scotmorrsn	8.5
ShawnK
Solveg
Stearman
Stuejoe
The Historian
The Mrs
Tom Stormcrowe
Trolleyguy	11.23
Tskuller
Tt1106
Uncle Dan!
UTRacerDad	7
Wingman115
Wogsterca	4.2
Total	97.13	9	0	0

Labor Day Weekend Update

Also late but it was certainly fun!

I came back from Labor Day Weekend in serious pain! I basically over did it! My 47 year old body isn't as quick to recover from pounding the poo out of it as it was at 17!

All told, my activities were:
Cycling: We did a family ride and I pulled my niece in the trailer. She loved it. She's 16 months old and just starting to talk.....it was pretty cool!

Her other Grandmother had borrowed crazylady's recumbent trike for the ride and I was riding sweep at the back of the pack. I was calling overtaking traffic with "Car back". My niece started saying "car baa" right after. Now, here's the really cool part! She started beating me to the call. I was just getting ready to call an overtaker and from the kid trailer, I heard "car Baaaa". It was just too cute!





Other than the cycling, I also got to play with a Wave Runner personal watercraft for the first time. Let me tell you, those are so much fun, it oughta be a sin! I had an absolute blast with it! No pics, because my camera is most assuredly not waterproof.

A Wave Runner, by the way, is a whole body workout, especially in rough water! It gives you all the beating of doing an extreme freeride down a mountain! I highly recommend it!

It's also a good thing we drive a minivan: Here's what it looks like packing for a trip!

Much delayed post! Spinner Saturday from last week, etc!

I've been absolutely swamped this week, what with school projects and such. I have a heavy class load with a lot of critical thought and reading for classes. It's been a bit of a challenge to find the time. It's also been a challenge between class requirements and the weather to get any ride time in. My miles for the week are only 25, and that was primarily commuting back and forth from school.

This week, I did get a small gift from the United States Marines. It was a hydration pack. I responded to a recruiting ad and even though I told them my real age, they still sent the pack. It's pretty nice too! The USMC response was that I am too old at 47 (Kinda what I figured), but they still sent the hydration pack.....which was pretty cool of them! Semper Fi to all you Marines out there and keep up the good work!


Now, here are last weeks Spinner Saturday Results

Rider	08/04/07	08/11/07	08/18/07	08/25/07	09/01/07	Total
51	105	46	125	114.5	102	492.5
5th Circle	10	67	20	8	26	131
AaronW		24				24
Admiral						0
Adrien		98.13				98.13
A_Fire_Inside						0
Archienutt	94.5		32	58		184.5
Arctic Jill	103.3					103.3
BeckyW	23	33	45.4	30.5	21.6	153.5
Bdinger	32.5		75	63		170.5
Big Mike	141.3	81.4				222.7
ChunkyD						0
Colt45						0
Crymfyter	45					45
DanonBike	51.8					51.8
DavisClyde						0
DiabloRojo						0
DonHaller				100		100
Dpb13						0
Early						0
Edonis				126		126
Epcolt	75.35	51.6	40.26	77.2	40.64	285.05
Fc	85	100.5		105.7		291.2
Funrover	36			55		91
Greyg8r						0
Genejockey				91	143	234
Huh						0
Huzzah	76.93	50				126.93
Halthane	101.2	114.1	98			313.3
Jeeper Tim	70.5	61	69.5	77	110	388
Joe Metal	93.4					93.4
Johannes						0
Jaxgtr	13.5	101.9	30	100.23	0	245.63
Jmarkley			30.1	101.23		131.33
Jumborider						0
Juvenile Tim						0
K4LK			44	53		97
Keithm0	22					22
Kensuf	106	229	284	158	193	970
Lil.Round1						0
Magool						0
Mkadam68	232.05	249.02	148	249.06	168	1046.13
Neilfein	53.4		60	52.7		166.1
Obelix67						0
PellTA						0
Pupsocket	28	20.9		32.6		81.5
RDRomano						0
Relayer						0
Ronjon10	102.73	123	121	78.77	44.36	469.86
Sandwarrior	92.4	4.13	121	126.4	92.7	436.63
Scotmorrsn	88		68	38	79.7	273.7
ShawnK		13				13
Solveg	46	74	105	67	63	355
Stearman						0
Stuejoe			40.7	68.7		109.4
The Historian	122.59	101	32			255.59
The Mrs	155	160	100	25	155	595
Tom Stormcrowe	155	179	100	87	155	676
Trolleyguy	85.1	88.6	92.3	100.4	122.8	489.2
Tskuller						0
Tt1106						0
Uncle Dan!	101.5	97.5	45		180	424
UTRacerDad	74	151	119	92	107	543
Wingman115						0
Wogsterca	38.4	65	66	75	101	345.4
Total	2660.45	2384.65	1380.08	2410.99	1904.8	10740.97

Hours	08/04/07	08/11/07	08/18/07	08/25/07	09/01/07	Total
51	9	4				13
5th Circle	0.7	4.25	1.5	0.7	2	9.15
AaronW		4				4
Admiral						0
Adrien		6.6				6.6
A_Fire_Inside						0
Archienutt	5.5		2	3.5		11
Arctic Jill						0
BeckyW	2.5			4.2	2.1	8.8
Bdinger						0
Big Mike						0
ChunkyD						0
Colt45						0
Crymfyter	4					4
DanonBike						0
DavisClyde						0
DiabloRojo						0
DonHaller						0
Dpb13						0
Early						0
Edonis				7
Epcolt	6.25	4.06	3.75		3.4	17.46
Fc						0
Funrover	2.2			4.5		6.7
Greyg8r						0
Genejockey				6	9	15
Huh						0
Huzzah	5.9	3.7				9.6
Halthane	6.9	7.7				14.6
Jeeper Tim				5.5	8.5	14
Joe Metal	7.5					7.5
Johannes						0
Jaxgtr	1	6.3		6.5		13.8
Jmarkley						0
Jumborider						0
Juvenile Tim						0
K4LK						0
Keithm0	1.6					1.6
Kensuf	5.25	12	13.5	8.5	10.75	50
Lil.Round1						0
Magool						0
Mkadam68	13.7	11.05	8.5	15	10.9	59.15
Neilfein						0
Obelix67						0
PellTA						0
Pupsocket	2.15	1.5		1.25		4.9
RDRomano						0
Relayer						0
Ronjon10	6.2	7.75	7.5	6.9	3	31.35
Sandwarrior	6.5	0.3		8.9	6.4	22.1
Scotmorrsn				2.25	4.4	6.65
ShawnK						0
Solveg						0
Stearman						0
Stuejoe			3.5	6.2		9.7
The Historian						0
The Mrs						0
Tom Stormcrowe						0
Trolleyguy	8	8.1	8.4	8.7	10	43.2
Tskuller						0
Tt1106						0
Uncle Dan!		12				12
UTRacerDad	6.5					6.5
Wingman115		0				0
Wogsterca	3.3	5.7	5.9	6.5		21.4
Total	104.65	99.01	54.55	102.1	70.45	430.76

Great Job, everyone!