Meeting login information in the April PedalPress.
New LMB Video on bicycling laws in Michigan
The League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) has developed a wonderful new video outlining bicycling laws in Michigan. Topics covered include bicyclists’ right to the road, dooring, safe passing, riding side by side, the right hook and left cross, weaving, sidewalks, hand signals, lights, wrong-way riding, crash investigations, and distracted driving. We can all benefit from this brief, 10-minutes video. Enjoy!
The Legal Rights and Responsibilities of Michigan Bicyclists
Group Riding Guidelines During COVID
Helpful Guidelines for Group Rides During the COVID Hiatus
As the hiatus in KBC’s official club rides continues during this Summer of The COVID, having on hand a few guidelines for riding, alone or in small groups, can help us all feel more comfortable about riding safely, wisely, and respectfully. A June 24th article, by Selene Yeager, in Bicycling, provides two sets of very helpful guidelines. Here’s a link to the article. Ride on…be well!
The Lucky 13 KBC Solo Rides
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club announces The Lucky 13 KBC Solo Rides for your cycling pleasure. These rides all have long histories as favorite, regular KBC Monday night, Wednesday night, and weekend rides. Some are easier, some harder and hillier. Some are paved, some have gravel mixed in.
Many of these rides would have been group rides occurring during Kalamazoo Bike Week, May 9-16, so we were inspired to create an alternate way to encourage everyone to get outside and ride, stay active stay healthy, and stay sane! Please go to kalamazoobikeweek.org to see all the other great activities available.
If you find a route that you like, send us your story and pictures of your ride. Tell about the route, wind and rain, flora and fauna, and dogs. We might even pick some of the stories to put in the Pedal Press, and give out some surprise prizes for the best ones! Email your story and pictures of your ride to Paul at educationchair@kalamazoobicycleclub.org.
May is National Bike Month, so we will have these routes available to anyone for the month. The Ride With GPS app is needed to navigate on a mobile device, using the free version of the app is fine.
Click on the desired ride link below to access the Lucky 13 ride route. Now get out there and ride solo, ride with your honey, or whoever you are cooped up with.
KBC’s Lucky Thirteen KBC Solo Rides
- Take It Easy – 19.6 miles/95 ft. elevation gain, start from Texas Drive Park
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32505522
- KBC Anniversary Ride – 22.1 miles/461 ft. elevation gain, start from the Kal-Haven Trailhead
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32505370
- Bike Camp Hilly 20 – 20.1 miles/293 ft. elevation gain, start from Texas Drive Park
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32504095
- Oshtemo Grange Hall Gravel 22 – 22.2 miles/455 ft. elevation gain, start from Grange Hall at 3rd St and West H Ave.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32504224
- Gordy’s Monday Night Ride – 28.4 miles/277 ft. elevation gain, start from Texas Drive Park
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32505538
- Oak Tree Roller– 28.7 miles/742 elevation gain, start from the Kal-Haven Trailhead
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32504048
- Bankson Lake Tour– 30.6 miles/319 ft. elevation gain, start from Texas Drive Park
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32505442
- LawTons Of Fun– 28.4 miles/576 ft. elevation gain, start from Texas Drive Park
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32505504
- Half-fast 32 ride, 32 miles/869 ft. elevation gain, start from the Kal-Haven Trailhead
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32500170
- KalTour Gravel 32 – 31.5 miles/549 ft. elevation gain, start from Schoolcraft High School
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32504275
- Jefferson Hill Challenge – 35.5 miles/864 ft. elevation gain, start from the Kal-Haven Trailhead
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32505394
- Kalamazoo County Hills 40– 40.6 miles/705 ft. elevation gain, start from Texas Drive Park
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32505454
- Gordy’s Covered Bridge Tour – 44.7 miles/365 ft. elevation gain, start from Schoolcraft High School
KBC Group Rides Cancelled Until Further Notice! Tuesday Night Time Trials are a go!
ATTENTION: Based on the decision of the League Of Michigan Bicyclists to cancel all cycling events and group rides, and of USA Cycling to cancel all upcoming races and discourage informal group training rides, the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club has officially decided to cancel its entire group riding program, that is, all Monday and Wednesday Night rides, the Tuesday Night PWR, and the Friday Morning Women’s Rides, effective immediately. We will monitor the Corona Virus situation both locally and statewide, and restart our group rides, based in part on when the State Of Michigan allows restaurants to re-open, and when the League Of Michigan Bicyclists and USA Cycling decide to re-start their cycling events, group rides, and races. In the meantime, enjoy yourselves, and stay fit, by riding solo. Ride safe, and stay healthy!
Gordy Vader, KBC Ride Captain
KBC Time Trials (TTs) start June 2nd, 2020
We plan to run the TTs every Tuesday starting on June 2 until further notice. Sign-up starts at 6:00 PM, first rider departs at 6:30 PM. Helmets are required. Any bike—TT, road, gravel, even e-bike is okay.
Time Trials will leave from the Pavilion Township Hall at the corner of Q Ave. and 29th Street (7510 E Q Ave, Scotts, MI 49088). Riders will traverse a good, flat 10 mile loop, click here for the route in RideWithGPS. Time Trials are a great way to learn about riding and your own personal abilities. The best part of the time trial series is that everyone can participate – young and old, fast and slow – and you don’t compete with anyone but yourself. No pressure, except what you put on yourself.
Whether you wear a mask while preparing to ride is up to you, BUT, and this is a big BUT, we expect everyone to maintain serious social distancing—at least 15 feet at all times. Not just for everyone’s safety, but also because we truly want to be genuinely conscious of the image we present to the community as a whole.
Doug Kirk, President
Helpful Guidelines for Group Rides During the COVID Hiatus
As the hiatus in KBC’s official club rides continues during this Summer of The COVID, having on hand a few guidelines for riding, alone or in small groups, can help us all feel more comfortable about riding safely, wisely, and respectfully. A June 24th article, by Selene Yeager, in Bicycling, provides two sets of very helpful guidelines. Here’s a link to the article. Ride on…be well!
KBC’s Recovery Party Rescheduled
Due to the forecasted ice storm on Saturday, January 11th, we have rescheduled the Recovery Party to the following Saturday, January 18th. It’s still at Wind & James, 555 E. Eliza St. (W. Avenue) in Schoolcraft from 7:00 to 10:00. Hope you can come join the fun. Details: The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club cordially invites all members to its annual Recovery Party Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 7pm-10:00 PM. It is being held at the Wind + James event facility at 555 Eliza Street in Schoolcraft, 5 blocks east of US 131. (W Avenue becomes Eliza Street east of US 131). There is ample on sight parking.KBC will provide beer, wine, soft drinks and bottled water, along with a limited supply of small sandwiches. We depend on you to help us by bringing a dish to pass, please! We’ll have awards to hand out, raffle giveaways from area bicycle shops, and the opportunity to mingle. See you there! Please note: The January Recovery Party takes the place of the January KBC Club meeting |