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Welcome to the Southern Bicycle League

Whether you're new to cycling or a veteran rider, membership in Atlanta's Southern Bicycle League will add to your enjoyment of cycling. Learning from other riders, experiencing the thrill of new rides, and enjoying the camaraderie are benefits that last a lifetime. You'll also have the opportunity to help other cyclists and educate the community on cycling issues by getting involved in the club's many activities, such as the Advocacy Committee or by leading a ride.

A Message from the SBL President

by Wallace McRoy

(February 2010)

A Revised Focus

Places to ride. People to ride with. That was the tag line for the SBL until it got lost from the cover of FreeWheelin’. Actually, I think we lost most of it long before it quit appearing on the cover of FreeWheelin’. I think it happened when we fully automated the ride calendar. Prior to that, I took my most current issue of FreeWheelin’ with me to all the rides. It was rare that my friends and I rode the same ride two weeks in a row. When the ride was over, we would pull out the ride calendar and choose where to meet for our next ride. This was often done while being served ethnic dishes that are accompanied by rice and refried beans. Inevitably, our group would pick up a new member about once a month. We fed off of each other’s energy.

Since the advent of our online ride calendar, the SBL has done a good job with the places to ride half, but we quit talking to each other about where to ride next. Unfortunately, with the mass market penetration and integration of personal digital assistants with wireless communications, we don’t seem to call each other up to find out where we will meet for the next ride. I’m not trying to slam the modern communications evolution. The SBL webmaster even implemented a feature that allows us to receive ride announcements by email on a daily basis. I do think I can do a better job of keeping the people to ride with on even footing with places to ride. Last year, my focus was most definitely on promoting rides and electronic communications. For 2010, I am going to try to put a lot more emphasis on the people interface. After all, I always considered riding my bicycle as the antidote for overdosing on my electronics. I don’t think I am the only one who has noticed this. Concern for the balance between high tech and high touch is showing up in conversations I am having with the new members on the Board. I hope you will notice a difference in 2010, and I hope that it is infectious. The next time you finish a ride, talk to the other riders in the parking lot and find out where they are going for their next ride.

The President’s Challenge

I don’t know about you, but I got off to a pretty slow start at meeting my own challenge when January 1 came around (see my column in the December 2009, issue of FreeWheelin’). Between the cold weather and the cold in my head, I didn’t get on a bicycle until January 13. For the past two years, I have averaged 100 or more miles per week. I am starting this year with a 200-mile deficit, but I am confident I can break 5200 miles for a third year in a row. Blank SBL mileage logs are still available in the downloads section of Knowledge on bikeSBL.org. There is a PDF version and an Excel worksheet version. You choose which one you prefer to use. At the beginning of 2011 there will be recognition for those riders who accumulated 3000 or more miles. Participants who go further will be recognized at appropriate benchmarks. To qualify, you must use either of the logs I referenced. I challenge each club member to keep a log of his or her mileage in 2010.

Buckhead Community Improvement District (CID)

The Buckhead CID has a new Executive Director who is a bicycle commuter. His name is Jim Durrett, and he is looking for feedback from bicycle riders in the Buckhead area on a master transportation plan. The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition (ABC) is helping him set up a network for doing this. Please express your interest by going to http://www.atlantabike.org/contact/information and providing ABC with the appropriate information. Be sure to tell them you want an opportunity for input to transportation policies being established in Buckhead. Alternatively, you may send an email directly to Jim Durrett at contact@buckheadcid.com.

- Wallace, (Click here to contact me)

Upcoming Rides from the SBL and SBL Supporters

SBL Jewel

Date

Event

Web Site

Ride App

Feb. 27, 2010 Biking Bleckley

Mar. 20, 2010 Tour de Pike

Apr. 10, 2010 Tony Serrano Century Ride

Apr. 16-18, 2010 BRAG Spring Tune-up

Apr. 16-18, 2010 Noble Street Festival / Cheaha Challenge

May 1-2, 2010 Pine Mountain Tour

July 16-18, 2010 Track Rock Weekend

August 29, 2010 Wilson 100

Sept. 3-6, 2010 Back to Blueridge

Nov. 12-14, 2009 North Florida Tour

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