Festival Report #2

by Roger Pierce

For bicyclists in Gainesville, this is THE big event of the year! We'd like to see a lot of our members participating and enjoying being part of a major cycling event. It's easy to sign up for a ride using the link in the Members Area, News page.

With only four weeks to go to the Festival, we're coming down to crunch time to fill our volunteer slots. As usual, our biggest needs are for rest stop workers on Sunday, and SAG drivers both days. Check out https://gccfla.org/cgi-bin/gcfvolrich.cgi for full info on available volunteer postions and for the benefits we give you as a volunteer.

Our most critical positions are a few management ones that must be filled in order for us to put on the event. We're working on leads for most of these, but will put out a general call soon if they are not filled. The one position that we need help with NOW is the Crew Chief for the Stable Party on Friday evening at the Boys Club. We're looking for someone with catering experience who can prepare the spread and manage the persons helping serve that evening. Email or call me at 378-7063 if you're interested.

Board Elections Just Around the Corner

We elect our GCC Board of Directors each year, with the election starting in January, and voting closing by mid-February. There are currently four GCC Board of Directors positions that will need to be filled, and of course, all eleven positions are open to qualified candidates (must be a Club member for at least a year). Contact any Board member if you are interested in running.

Richard Ritari is stepping down from the Treasurer position after serving for three years. The Treasurer is responsible for the Club's bank accounts, files the yearly return with the IRS, and pays the state sales tax. A CPA, or a person with experience in those areas, is needed.

Roger Pierce is currently doing double duty as Club Chief of Staff and as Director of the Gainesville Cycling Festival. Both of these are positions on the Board. We're looking for someone who can begin transitioning to Festival Director. The primary qualification is to be able to round up volunteers to do the actual work, and be able to do what volunteers are not available to do.

After many years on the Board, Bob Newman has retired to riding his bike when he is not being Food Director for the Festival and Beverage Manager for our picnics. We need a replacement for him as Secretary. This person records the minutes of Board meetings and keeps the history of the Club.

Every year we elect a new Member At Large. This person sits on the Board, preparing to move into another position.

For more information on the duties of the Board, click here.

Pink Pumpkin Pedal-Off

by Barb Wills

Fellow GCC members,

159 riders, 1 unicyclist, 3 scenic routes, a warm post-ride lunch and ,972 raised in support of treatment-resistant breast cancer research at UF! And that was only the first year!

Please join us on Saturday, October 12th at the UF Cancer & Genetics Research Complex as we continue this legacy event to honor loved ones touched by breast cancer and to support local research on these aggressive cancers!

Our mission: To keep one child from losing his or her mother to breast cancer.

Won't you join us and become part of this important work?

Click here to register at Active.com.

Beware the Low Sun

by Roger Pierce

As we are in the time of the autumnal equinox, the sun is currently rising and setting due east and due west. Our grid pattern road network is set up so that a lot of roads run due east/west. This means that as the sun rises and sets during these few weeks, it will be directly in the eyes of roadway users traveling towards the sun.

As bicyclists, this is important since motor vehicle drivers may be sufficiently blinded to be unable to see us. A number of years ago, two GCC members were hit by a car while riding under these conditions. You should avoid riding east in the morning for up to an hour after sunrise, and avoid riding west for up to an hour before sunset, especially on roads that do not have bikelanes or paved shoulders. If you must ride under these conditions, use a mirror to keep track of overtaking vehicles, and be prepared to leave the roadway if necessary.

Nearby Event

Rails to Trails Bike Ride

Registration is open for the 19th Annual Rails to Trails Bike Ride on the Withlacoochee State Trail! The ride will be held on Sunday, October 6, and offers a variety of distances to suit every cyclist.

“This is a family-friendly event,” says Dennis Reiland, President of Rails to Trails of the Withlacoochee, the citizen support organization for the Withlacoochee State Trail. “It’s a fun-filled day of food, fun, prizes and a bike ride on The Friendliest Trail in the Country.”

Registration is for adults, for children 12 and younger (who must be accompanied by an adult). Proceeds from the ride are used solely to maintain and enhance the Withlacoochee State Trail. The ride begins and ends at the Apopka Avenue Trailhead in Inverness (by the red caboose), and riders may choose the distance they ride, from 1 to 100 miles. Five rest stops will be spaced along the trail to provide snacks, water and sports drinks to riders. Breakfast and lunch will be served in Inverness.

“A nice 14 mile ride is to Floral City and back,” notes Reiland, “A ride to the north end of the trail and back is 32 miles, and if you also go south to Istachatta, it’s 60. Going to both ends of the trail (Gulf Junction to Owensboro) is 92, and we have an additional on-road loop through Citrus Springs for those who want to ride 100 miles, a Century.” Those who complete 60 or 100 miles will receive special recognition.

Online registration is at www.railstotrailsonline.com, or you may download and print out the form to mail it in.

Nearby Event

Suwannee Fat Tire Festival

Oct. 25 - 27, 2013

Join the fun and haunting in the woods of the White Springs area, Stephen Foster State Park.

Click here for full information.

Feature Article in the Members Area

Some Thoughts On Night Riding by James Thompson

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