Ellen Visits Nevada for Bike Ride

My bicycling pal Ellen of the Police Unity Tour hit the road in Nevada for a terrific ride and brought back memories of wind and Cheetah's men club employees helping cyclists. You'll see what I mean.

"Well, this ride kicked my butt. The altitude and long steep hills made it very challenging. It was real cool to start on the Las Vegas Speedway. You could ride up on the slanted part of the track. It was weird. Played on your senses.

"You have to ride on the emergency lane of Highway 15 because there are not that many roads in this part of the country. It was interesting, eight feet of pavement, rumble strips towards the car lanes, drop into gulley on the safe side.
You rode about 30 miles to Valley of Fire State Park, Real pretty secenery and some screaming donwhills.

"Area businesses volunteered at the SAGS. Stop number 8 was sponsored by Cheetah's mens club. If you zoom in on one of the photos you can see their outfits -- or lack there of. Some of the male cyclists were there for several hours.

"After about 85 miles of hills and flat lands, sceaming downhill into Mesquite, NV. Only negative was the climb back up the screamer on Sunday.

"The only disappointment was they cancelled the ride after about 20 miles on Sunday due to bad weather. I barely noticed the 35 mph cross winds. I am a Sub Trop Storm Andrea Alumni.

"The other PUT jersey is on Christal Burgess. Nurse. Sister of USSS officer. Christal may make a suprise appearance on the Long PUT. Nice lady, Great cyclist."

Ellen on the roads of Nevada.


The SAG garb didn't seem to be sagging.


Good view of the cycling scenery.

Making The Gandy Safer For Bicyclists

With more bicyclists having to ride the Gandy Bridge because of the shutdown of the Friendship Trail, I hope the county that oversees the bridge will put "Watch for Bicyclists" and other warning signs on the Gandy Bridge.

Bill Addler, owner of Revolution Bicycles and a member of the St. Pete mayor's bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee, contacted Cheryl Stacks in the city of St. Pete. Cheryl is the city of St. Pete's bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. Here is the response from Cheryl to BIll:

"About the Friendship Trail Bridge , since it's a County facility, they've taken the lead on getting the detailed report about its condition and how it will take to repair it. According to my counterpart at the County, she said that they should know more in early/mid-December. Until then, the shoulders of the Gandy Bridge have been put on a bi-weekly sweeping schedule. It'll be swept once every two weeks starting this Sunday. I'll pass on your request about additional signage. Maybe they'd be able to put out variable message boards (so long as they don't block the shoulder) indicating Friendship Trail Bridge Closed, Watch for Cyclists and Pedestrians."

Please add your comments about what you think should be done while the Friendship Trail is closed to make the Gandy Bridge safer for bicyclists. More shoulder sweeping and signs advising motorists to be on the look out for bicyclists would be an important first step.

Another Florida Bicyclist Fatality

Bad news about a bicyclist fatally hit by a car on Gandy Blvd.

November 13, 2008
20-year-old bicyclist dies in crash with car
ST. PETERSBURG -- A 20-year-old bicyclist died Wednesday night after he was struck on Gandy Boulevard, according to Florida Highway Patrol records.

Troopers said Michael Franklin Bentley of St. Petersburg was riding his bike east in the right-turn lane on Gandy Boulevard just west of Brighton Bay Boulevard around 9:40 p.m. Lily Elizabeth Lusty, 40, of South Pasadena was driving a 2004 Jeep Liberty in the same lane and didn't notice him, troopers said. Her jeep struck the bike from behind, throwing Bentley onto the hood and then onto the pavement.

Bentley was taken with critical injuries to Bayfront Medical Center, where he later died. Troopers said he was not wearing a helmet. No charges have been filed.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer

Tina Russo's Women on Wheels

Tina Russo's Women on Wheels' Next Session:

Saturday Nov. 22 -- 9:00 am

TOPIC : BIKE GEAR
We will be starting to do one bike handling skill per session. If you have any questions call or email Tina A Russo, Russot@Hillsboroughcounty.org; 813-801-6732

Upper Tampa Bay Trail 9201 W Waters Ave,
Just west of Sheldon/Across from the YMCA

Join Tina Russo and other women for a women only bike clinic and bike ride on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail. They will try to meet one Saturday of every month. Meet at the Channel Park Trail head. The first 30 minutes will be teaching time. After the teaching time we will go for a ride on the trail. Some of the clinics will include the following items:

Buying the right bike, bike fit for woman, basic mechanics, changing a flat tire, loading and transporting your bike, gears, riding in groups, avoiding hazards, clothing, road position, riding on the road, basic bicycle handling skills. This is only just the beginning.

Or anything you want to learn about bicycling!

Bicyclist Critically Injured in St. Pete

From the St. Petersburg Times

November 12, 2008

Bicyclist critically injured in front of Derby Lane
ST. PETERSBURG -- A 30-year-old man was critically injured when he was hit by a vehicle as he rode in front of Derby Lane.

When St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue arrived at 10490 Gandy Boulevard, the man was not breathing, said spokesman Lt. Joel Granata.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating. The eastbound lanes are partially blocked.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer

Re-visiting the Patapsco River outside Baltimore

For you northern-rooted folks longing for some late-fall scenes, here are a few images along the Patapsco River from this morning

Bicyclist Fatality Tuesday Night

This from the St. Petersburg Times:

Bicyclist dies in Tuesday night crash
HUDSON -- A 32-year-old Hudson man died Tuesday night when a car hit his bicycle, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.

Around 6:20 p.m., Rocky L. Payton was riding his bike east on Bolton Avenue just east of Omaha Street. Troopers said Paul F. Beaupre Jr. was driving behind Payton in a 1992 Plymouth van but failed to notice him.

Beaupre struck Payton's bike from behind, and Payton was thrown onto the van's hood and then to the ground, troopers said. He died at the scene.

Troopers said Payton was not wearing a helmet. No charges have been filed.

Kim Wilmath, Times staff writer