Festival Planning Meeting

by Roger Pierce

This year's Gainesville Cycling Festival, incorporating the Santa Fe Century and Horse Farm Hundred, is scheduled for October 19 and 20, 2013.

We have a good core of returning volunteers who will do the front end work, but can always use more to provide backup and spread out the load. As the event grows closer, we'll be looking for volunteers to do things during the event; there'll be plenty of opportunities to get in on the fun!

The kick off meeting for those who will do the up front work will be on Sunday, July 28, at 7 pm. If you can help with the planning, please come to see if we can find a place for you to assist. We'll have ice cream and cookies!

RSVP on the News Page, column three.

Classic Jersey Order set to open early August

We expect the Classic jersey order page to be available by August, with a closing date of August 19. We plan to have a fit kit in place during the first two full weeks of August. Jersey delivery will be some time in October.

Because we're getting delivery in the first month of the 2014 model year, we get a 10% discount! This will be reflected in the price on the web site. In addition, there will be a good subsidy for jerseys and jackets provided by our jersey sponsors, so the price of the jerseys will be fantastic. New this year, we can get long sleeve items in the same price grouping with the short sleeve items, so you can count on finally getting that windbreaker, long sleeve jersey, or thermal jacket.

We only offer the Classic Jersey once every three to five years! Plan to get yours during this rare opportunity.

Florida Vulnerable Road User Law Petition

from Bill Davis

My name is Bill and I am a cyclist that lives in Clay County Florida. Though Gainesville has a good reputation for being cycling friendly and carries a League of American Cyclist "Silver" certification, I am sure you have seen motorists endangering cyclists (either accidently or on purpose). Of 31 Florida cities with a population above 75,000, Gainesville had the second-highest per-capita rate of bicycle crashes with a fatality or injury from 2007-11 and the seventh-highest rate of pedestrian crashes, according to the most recent Florida Department of Transportation Highway Safety Matrix. It is these actions that we are attempting to address by taking the League of America Cyclist Vulnerable Road User Model Legislation and created a petition on-line asking the Florida Legislature to pass a Vulnerable Road User Law.

I am personally contacting every bike & running club in Florida for help to support my petition. The link to the petition is http://www.change.org/petitions/florida-legislature-and-florida-governor-pass-a-meaningful-vulnerable-road-user-law. Currently we have 1154 signatures and rising every day.

Thank you again for your support.

Best regards, Bill Davis and Chris Burns

Save the Date - Labor Day Picnic

Our annual Labor Day Picnic will be held on Monday, September 2, at Boulware Springs Park.

Chandler will be out of town this year, so we're looking for folks who can fill in and cook the burgers, dogs, brats, and veggie burgers. Drop Chandler a line at chanbike.com if you can help.

Palatka Trail Festival

August 17, 2013 - Celebrate the opening of the four mile rail trail through the City of Palatka.

Fred Green Park - Main Street between 4th and 5th Streets.

8:30 am - Pre-festival 22 mile (with a 28 mile option) supported bicycle ride with a rest stop in Hastings.
10:00 am - Helmet give away and fitting.
11:00 am - Trail opening and ribbon cutting ceremony followed by a Reward Ride and Walk along the Trail.

* Food, information, and entertainment
* Ribbon cutting ceremony
* Scavenger hunt and reward ride, with prizes for kids
* Free give-aways

National Bike Challenge

We're still #1! Join us, click the bike to get started.

Feature Articles in the Members Area

The Devil's Dictionary of Road Cycling - James Thompson takes an intimate and shameless look at the sport of performance road cycling.

Record Setting RAAM - A couple of venerable records were broken in this year's Race Across AMerica.

Stand or Sit While Climbing? - Is it better to be in the saddle or out when climbing?

Members Area signin.