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Monday, September 24, 2007

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!
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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!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

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.

Logo Stadt Münster


Münster, 23.09.2007

Wednesday, September 19, 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!

Monday, September 17, 2007

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

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..........



Friday, September 14, 2007

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


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Sunday, September 09, 2007

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!

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Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

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!
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

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


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Great Job, everyone!

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