Bike Reno

Hey everyone, I’m putting out a call for volunteers to work on a mapping project for the Reno/Sparks area.  Basically, I want to compliment the RTC bike map by entering bike lane/path data into Google Map Maker.  This data is used by Google Maps to create bicycle directions.  It’s pretty easy to do (I’ve put a tutorial under Reno Bike Map), and the more people who work on it, the less we have to do individually.  If you’re interested, please send me an email (jeremy@bikereno.net) and we’ll coordinate who’s doing what streets to avoid duplication of effort.

Thanks!

I attended last night’s BPAC meeting which was a somewhat special one due to the fact that all the Reno-area bike bloggers were there.  Aside from myself, there was the Reno Rambler, Andy from Riding in Reno, and Jeff from Reno Bike Project.  It felt a little like a Godfather movie when the heads of the five families get together.  The reason we were all there was to assist the RTC in reaching out to the community.  There weren’t any concrete decisions made, but I think a few good points were understood by all:

• The current RTC website makes finding good information very difficult
• Redundancy among the bloggers isn’t a bad thing…
• …but we could do a better job coordinating

Also presented at the meeting was a list of bike-related projects scheduled for 2012 (thanks to Riding in Reno for the scans).  Most interesting to me are the Southeast McCarran path (a little behind schedule?) and the Nichols Blvd cycletrack in Sparks which will go from Victorian to Howard which is right at Sparks Marina.  Nice!

I also saw preliminary drawings of the updated RTC bike map which seems to be coming along well, but I don’t know if there’s a firm estimate on a completion date.

If you have a minute, please take the NDOT Nevada Statewide Bicycle Plan User Survey.  Here is their description:

The Nevada Department of Transportation is developing a Statewide Bicycle Plan for the state highway system in Nevada. The project is focusing on policies, programs, legislation and infrastructure that increase safe bicycling in rural communities in Nevada. The intent of this survey is to learn more about people’s preferences for bicycling in Nevada.

The survey closes on Dec 6, so don’t dilly-dally.

Back in July, I mentioned Reno athlete and trainer Max McManus who set out to ride all 50 states in 50 days, and then ride into New York City to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  Today, on the Freedom 50/50 Facebook page, Max wrote that he entered his 50th state (Maine) and then got a ride to join a group of other cyclists heading to ground zero.  Congratulations, Max!  That’s an amazing accomplishment!

The producers of last year’s Bikestravaganza are coming back to Reno for an event called Dinner & Bikes. It looks like a similar format as last year, but with the addition of dinner prepared by a vegan chef.  Here’s what to expect in their words:

Dinner and Bikes is an evening of gourmet vegan food and bicycle inspiration. Our goal is to create an interactive, engaging event that brings together people with diverse interests and catalyzes new thinking and action around food and transportation

The evening will start around 7pm (on most nights) and last until 9pm, leaving plenty of time for questions, as well as audience discussion about local issues in bicycle transportation.

You’ll fill up your plate, find a seat, and enjoy new and amazing flavor combinations while touring vegan chef Joshua Ploeg describes the meal and ingredients and, if we’re lucky, tell one of his traveling stories.

Then we get to the bicycles. Elly Blue provides an interactive primer on the economics of bicycle transportation, complete with inspiring photos and jaw-dropping statistics. Then Joe Biel will take the stage with a different selection each night of his very-short films that explore different aspects of Portland, Oregon’s bicycle activism and culture.

The details:
Tuesday, Sept 6, 7-9pm
Bibo Coffee Co
945 Record St
$3 to $20 sliding scale
website
facebook

High-def TV needs no cure, but Huntington’s Disease does.  On Sunday, September 4th, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America is presenting the Ride to Cure Huntington’s Disease with 15, 40, and 100 mile options.  They’re actively seeking riders, so give it a good look.  Bonus: the ride begins and ends at a bar (Sierra Gold in south Reno), so you can start and end your day properly.

I was only around long enough to grab some photos of the Women’s Pro/1/2 race and a couple events beforehand. Here are a few (click for larger versions):

Heading into turn 1

I love this one

Coming out of the last turn. Look how close her pedal is to the pavement!

Katerina Nash racing towards the finish

See my full Tour de Nez 2011 Flikr album for the rest.

The Tour de Nez is back this weekend for another year of racing and other bike-related fun.  The poorly formatted full schedule shows most of the racing will take place on Sunday.  Notable items:

• Gone are the Tahoe area road races; everything is downtown this year (except for a handcycle TT in Cold Springs on Saturday).
• The crit course appears to be back to the old course that was so much more awesome than the one they did last year.  The Chicane de la Muerte returns!
• The Friday Movie in the Park is Breaking Away.

I’m hoping to get some great photos this year and maybe have a mint julep or two.  See you there…

I just got an email from Kerry from the Edible Pedal 100, a new northern Nevada century ride (with shorter options) taking place on Sept 18.  She writes:

Just wanted to give you a quick update on the Edible Pedal 100.  Route is almost final.  We’ve got five ride stops-one of two parks in Carson City, Trimmer’s Outpost in Genoa, Eastern Sierra Feed in Gardnerville and two almost TBD on Kingsbury and Spooner. We got our Traffic Control Plan last week and meet with NDOT to finalize our permit request this week.  Local HAM radio operators will be providing communications at the ride stops. Jerseys are online and for sale, T-shirts will be added soon.  Registrations are finally coming in daily.  NV Energy committed $500 to sponsor employees to ride.  They had such a big response, they added another $1000!

Colin Smith of Roundabout Bistro fame is handling the BBQ.  So far we have a local pig and local lamb for the menu.  Potatoes from Winnemucca Farms and onions from Peri & Sons in Yerington.  Kimmie Candy is providing chocolate covered sunflower seeds for the ride stops.  Michelle Palmer is contributing gluten free cookies. Beer and wine vendors are on board.  And we’ve got lots more in the works!

Still need some help with SAG, SWAG and getting the word out to riders…

Oh, we have a new tagline:  Ride Hard. Eat Well. Give Back.

Sounds like things are coming along.  My favorite part of any event is the food at the end, so I’m looking forward to this one.

Is it possible to ride in all 50 states in 50 days?  Max McManus thinks so.  McManus is the local athlete who is simultaneously raising money for the 9-11 HelpAmerica Foundation and trying to set a world’s record on his Freedom 50/50 ride which will visit all 50 states in 50 days, finishing at Ground Zero in New York City.

Aside from his own website, there’s a nice article on kolotv.com that gives a lot more details and a video of his workout on youtube.  You can donate to support his mission and/or ride with him if you’re planning to be near his route.

That’s pretty bad-ass as far as goals go.  Good luck Max!