Each year at the December club meeting, Kalamazoo Bicycle Club (KBC) members vote for the annual Friend of Bicycling Award recipient from a list of nominees. The 2019 Friend of Bicycling Award (FoB) went to John Dunlop and the Portage Central Middle School’s Ride for Focus Program, which won by an overwhelming margin.
Submitting a nomination for the 2020 FoB – for an individual, organization, or entity that has significantly advanced the interests of bicycling – is relatively easy.
Go to kalamazoobicycleclub.org and under “ABOUT KBC” click on “Grants and Awards” and then complete and submit the nomination form by November 11, 2019.
Here is an example of a justification for the FoB award: Through the Ride for Focus Program, Mr. Dunlop, along with the support of other school staff members, has exposed more than 700 students to the sport of cycling. John has also offered bike-handling clinics for parents and staff of the school, many of whom now share a love for bicycling.
Thank you very much for your help.
Pam Sotherland, FoB Coordinator
Keep warm this Fall with a KBC Wool Jersey!
We have a new opportunity to buy high quality wool jerseys. Marc has had several wool cycling jerseys from Oregon Cyclewear for about 3 years. A few club members asked about them so Marc worked with their embroiderer to keep the KBC logo on file enabling any member to order whatever jersey they choose with the KBC logo in either a single color or two colors of their choice.
These jersey’s are very high quality 100% merino wool which are supremely comfortable for cool weather. Marc found them comfortable in temps ranging from 40-70 degrees. The sizing chart on their website is very accurate. Marc has a 45 inch chest, a very long torso and the jersey in the photo is an x-Large.
They’re easy to care for with an occasional cold/delicate wash and left over the shower rod to dry in a few hours. You can expect a little shrinkage but not much if you don’t use hot water or machine dry them.
You can order from their website with Credit, Debit cards or PayPal. It’s a two step process, you can find directions on the website: first select the jerseys and payment and stipulate drop off to Spectrum Embroidery. When you receive an order confirmation, e-mail Spectrum with the order number and your shipping address requesting the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club logo for the front. They will confirm and bill $16 +shipping cost when it is completed. It’s easier than it sounds on paper, but the shop is a small one and gets overwhelmed. Expect 3-5 weeks before you receive the jersey. They’re worth it, this is the fourth Marc has ordered.
Oregon Cyclewear is here,
Spectrum Embroidery is here.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Marc Irwin at irwin7638@gmail.com.
Thank you Marc for sharing this exciting opportunity!
Join us for KalTour 2019!
Mark your calendars and save the date now – KalTour 2019 will be held on Saturday, June 29. Yes – that’s right – we are holding KalTour on a Saturday this year in hopes that more people can participate.
New this year is the addition of a Gravel Fondo including two gravel routes of approximately 60 and 30 miles. These gravel routes are in addition to our lineup of paved road routes of 100, 62, 31and 15 miles, as well as a guided 10 mile family route.
Now in its 28th year, the Kalamazoo Scenic Bicycle Tour (KalTour) is the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club’s annual cycling event designed for bicyclists of many ages and abilities. Distances range from 10 to 100 miles. Our start location at Schoolcraft High School offers easy access to low-traffic, flat, country roads.
KBC Awards Portage West Middle School with Cycling Grant
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club was pleased to grant Portage West Middle School a $500 grant for their Riding with Focus program. Through this program cycling is incorporated into Portage West Middle School’s Physical Education classes, which all students are required to take. Riding with Focus teaches basic cycling skills and safety.
Portage West Middle School received a previous grant of 24 bikes from the Specialized Bike Foundation. The grant from Kalamazoo Bicycle Club will allow them to expanded the program to include more bikes, allowing them to reach more students.
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club periodically awards small grants to help fund bicycling-related projects that meet the Club’s mission to promote the sport of cycling and provide cycling education and advocacy. Terry O’Connor, Kalamazoo Bike Club Grants Committee Chair, said, “We are excited that Portage West Middle School is incorporating cycling in their Phys Ed program. We are happy to support a program that will help create the next generation of safe and responsible cyclists in our community.”
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club is a non-profit, formed in 1971 to promote bicycling in the region. The club’s activities include cycling safety advocacy, club rides, racing, touring, and development of a bicycle-friendly infrastructure.
KBC hosts “All-Bike Open House – Tuesday, May 14th”
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club is hosting an All-Bike Open House on May 14, during Bike Week. The event is open to the public and designed to appeal to cyclists of all abilities and styles. More than a dozen area cycling organizations and businesses will be there to talk about the services they provide. Local bike shops, community service organizations, and bicycle advocacy groups will be represented. The All-Bike Open House will take place on Tuesday, May 14 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Boatyard brewing, located at 432 E. Paterson Avenue in Kalamazoo.
“The Kalamazoo community is incredibly fortunate to have so many great organizations supporting cycling and making this a great place for cyclists of all kinds,” said Doug Kirk, President of the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club. “Whether you like back roads, trails, gravel, or commuting around town – there’s cycling here for everyone, and that’s all made possible by the dedicated organizations who work to make cycling safe and available to everyone,” said Kirk.
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club is a non-profit, formed in 1971 to promote bicycling in the region. The club’s activities include cycling safety advocacy, club rides, racing, touring, and development of a bicycle-friendly infrastructure.
Click here to view event flyer containing the list of participants: https://www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/AllBikeOpnHs_flyer.pdf
Portage Central Middle School – KBC’s 2019 Friend of Bicycling Award Recipient
Each year in December, Kalamazoo Bicycle Club (KBC) members are invited to vote for the annual Friend of Bicycling Award recipient from a list of nominees. The 2019 Friend of Bicycling Award went to John Dunlop and the Portage Central Middle School’s Ride for Focus Program, which won by an overwhelming margin.
Through the Ride for Focus Program, Mr. Dunlop, along with the support of other school staff members, has exposed more than 700 students to the sport of cycling. John has also offered bike-handling clinics for parents and staff of the school, many of whom now share a love for bicycling.
KBC’s Friend of Bicycling Award goes to an individual, organization, or other entity who has significantly advanced the interests of bicycling. This year’s award was presented to Mr. Dunlop at an all-school assembly in late January by KBC President Doug Kirk, Vice President Paul Sotherland, along with KBC members Kathy Kirk, Pam Sotherland and Zolton Cohen.
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club is a non-profit, formed in 1971 to promote bicycling in the region. The club’s activities include cycling safety advocacy, club rides, racing, touring, and development of a bicycle-friendly infrastructure.
Kalamazoo Bicycle Club
PO Box 50527
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49005
www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org
Contact: Pam Sotherland, Grants & Awards Committee
awardscommittee@kalamazoobicycleclub.org