Kalamazoo Bicycle Club
Pedal Press

August 2015 President's Letter

Digress with me for a moment. The year is about 1965 and my dad is driving down the road in his Rambler American car - one of that year's "Sensible Spectacular" offerings from the American Motors Corporation. I'm in the passenger seat; neither of us is wearing a seat belt because there aren't any. Nor, I should mention, are there any cupholders.

Despite my dad's vow to always purchase (on a once-every-six-year basis) American made vehicles, AMC would go out of business eventually. But that is a discussion for another time.

"Michigan's roads," my dad said, "are the envy of the nation." Michigan's roads are the envy of the nation! The very thought of that caused a ripple of pride to run through my crew-cut head and adolescent body. In all the United States, our roads were the best - to the point that other states were envious of their condition and comprehensiveness. It was thrilling to contemplate. And my dad wasn't just making that up. He kept up on things. He was a Harvard graduate and a research librarian. He knew what he was talking about, though it took me several decades to acknowledge that, and then only grudgingly.

Michigan's roads are the envy of the nation! Fifty years on, when I'm out on the road riding my bike, I often think about my dad uttering that. And it also surfaced in conversation recently when I was discussing with a KBC ride leader how riders in our groups need to adhere to the letter of the law and ride as far to the right on the roadway as is practicable. The ride leader replied that, in many circumstances lately, "As far to the right as is practicable" is actually not very far to the right at all because of all the potholes, broken pavement, and other hazards that lie there.

Michigan's roads are the envy of the nation! Well, not so much anymore, Dad. In fact, according to a report issued recently by an organization called TRIP - a national transportation research group - Michigan's roads are now actually some of the worst in the nation. Several urban areas, including Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Flint are in the top 25 in terms of the highest vehicle operating costs due to the poor condition of the roads. The report says it costs motorists hundreds of dollars each year in increased fuel consumption and vehicle repairs to live in one of those locations, all due to the deteriorated roads. And that is for automobiles; for bikers, our crummy roads may not result in higher maintenance costs, but they increase the danger of a crash substantially.

Michigan's roads are the envy of the nation! I think about that when I encounter chip and seal surfacing done in both suburban and now even in urban neighborhoods. Going down the Berkeley Street hill on my way to the Wednesday night ride, the fillings in my teeth are nearly jarred loose when I hit the patches on the patches on the patches on the road. And let's not forget the formerly-paved roads in some of our neighboring counties that have been turned back into gravel because there was not enough money available to keep them maintained as pavement.

What happened to Michigan's roads? In fact, what happened to our nation's roads? Michigan is not the only state with deteriorating infrastructure. We're a country that put men on the moon! We have engineers who can design incredible machinery like the iPhone and cheese that squirts from an aerosol can. Yet we can't build roads that last? And we can't afford to keep up what roads we already have built?

I know. I know. It all boils down to money and politics. We all can point out individuals and parties who have led us down this path. But honestly, this is pathetic. We're going backward, not forward, and we should be better than that. We were a nation that did things and conquered challenges. Michigan's roads were once the envy of the nation! Now it is dangerous and unnecessarily expensive to drive on those roads, and particularly hazardous to bike on them.

There is no easy, quick, or inexpensive fix to these problems. It makes me sad that, in 50 years, Michigan's roads - once the envy of the nation! - are in this lousy state. We're flunking this test. And for anyone who drives a car, and especially for those of us who ride bicycles, the evidence is abundantly visible right under our tires.

Zolton Cohen, KBC President

KalTour XXIV (No. 24)

I would like to start by mentioning all the people who played key roles in getting things done at this year's KalTour held on Sunday, June 28.

Ride Map Design:	Jim Wyrick.
Road Painting:	Mike Boersma, Aliceanne Inskeep, Marc Irwin, John Olbrot, Dave Riggs, Aidan Wales, Doug Wales, and Rick Whaley.
Setup and Registration:	Dave Bishop, Marc Irwin, David Jones, Terry O'Connor, Paul Selden, and Doug Wales.
Morning SAG Stop:	Joe Dill.
SAG Drivers:	Mike Boersma and Dave Riggs.
Afternoon SAG Stop:	Barb and John Hart.
Lunch Stop, Van Driver, and Photographer:	Zolton Cohen.
Lunch Stop:	Members of the Kalamazoo Valley AMBUCS chapter, led by Donna Whitcomb (to which we donate a portion of our profits), and Jeff Newman.
Ride Leaders:	Aliceanne Inskeep, Marc Irwin, Terry O'Connor, Paul Selden, Doug Wales, and Jim Wyrick.
Afternoon Hosts:	Kathy Kirk and Paul Pancella.
Mechanical Support:	Gabe from Pedal, courtesy of Tim Krone.

General Impressions

The weather was beautiful, not hot, and we caught a break from the frequent rains of late June. I managed to get wettest on Saturday morning, when cycling a few miles to pick up the rental truck.

Mishaps

One unlucky rider asked for SAG service after three flats, and I had to dig out the first aid kit after a rider came back with bruises on her knee and elbow, but she still said she had a good time!

Routes

The battles with Van Buren County over the permit issue seem to have calmed down. We rode into our neighboring county without incident. Some of the most scenic roads in our area are located in the western part of Van Buren County, as well as some of the best hills; it would be a shame not to use them for KalTour. A few minor glitches in the route: chip seal covered the route arrows at the first turn at 8th Street and O Avenue, which sent at least one rider off course, but most cyclists made the turn south onto 8th Street.

Supporters

Bronson Athletic Club provided a convenient place to start and a pleasant place to lounge after the ride, as our host for the last several years. If anyone knows how long we have been having lunch at the Briar Patch, please let me know, but I am sure it goes back to the last century. The same holds true for Gordon Water. (Perhaps next year I will even remember how to change spigots on the water bottles they so generously provide.)

Eating Well

We dined on sandwiches from Water Street catering and cookies from Maria Brennan's Victorian Bakery.

Turnout

There were almost 300 riders on the road. The group starts proved popular. We had large groups go off at 8:00, 9:00, 9:30, and 10:00 A.M.

The Future

Next year will be the 25th outing for Flowerfest/KalTour and, as always, some things will change. I would like to see groups starting every half hour from 7:00 A.M. up to the 10:00 A.M. family ride. Social media can play an important role in helping these groups come together. I think KalTour has the potential to grow if we can reach beyond our own community, to let others know about the kind of cycling experience we can offer here in southwest Michigan.

Mike Krischer, KalTour Director

The Power of a Wave

Have you ever been on vacation, when someone waved at you - for apparently no good reason other than they were just being neighborly? I have, and it made me feel good. When I waved back, it gave me another good feeling. It made me feel like I was in a friendly place, a place that made me happier than I was a moment before.

Bicyclists have the opportunity to help create an even more bike friendly community in many ways. Sure, we can do that just by following the rules of the road. You know, not riding more than two abreast, keeping to the right, and in general, by sharing the road with motorists as we would like motorists to share it with us. There's an even more active way each of us can be ambassadors for bicycling and that's by sharing the power of a friendly wave.

There are times when waving is only a matter of returning a courtesy, like saying "Hi" to someone who says hello to you first. You don't have to even be very "outgoing."

Did a motorist ...

- Wait at a stop sign, gesturing for you to go first?
- Give you an extra wide amount of room, while passing you?
- Delay more than needed, so you could get through an intersection?
- Hang back behind you, not wanting to pass in crowded traffic?

... then show them that you can be courteous too, by sharing a friendly wave!

Hey, speaking of being friendly, you might just shock a fellow bicyclist or two by waving at them, as they pass by, too! Same goes for giving motorcyclists the "left hand low," since they face many of the same challenges we do. You want a bike friendly community? Taking the initiative and paying it forward with a friendly wave to other bicyclists is a great place to start.

Safety warning: It's not always safe to take your hand off the handlebars (and, you may not always be "in the mood"). That still leaves plenty of opportunity to be appropriately outgoing.

I've heard Doug Kirk talk about this idea in club meetings and I've heard Renee Mitchell talking on the Lori Moore show about it, as well. Heck, I've even heard Terry O'Connor offering a friendly neigh to horses by the side of the road. (Now, that's being outgoing!)

There's a reason why repeating this idea of waving to others bears repetition. That's because later this year and probably throughout the next few years, more and more of the citizens and representatives within our riding area will be asked to vote for or against adopting non-motorized plans. We can cover a lot of ground on our bikes and we're highly visible. So, your wave may have more power than you think. The simple gesture of waving may have the power to tip the scales in our favor, for years to come.

Paul Selden

Opportunities to Host Students who like Bicycling

ASSE International Student Exchange is currently in need of volunteer families to host high school exchange students arriving in Southwest Michigan this August. Several students who enjoy bicycling are profiled below. More student profiles are available at www.assehost.com. For more information or to view host family letters, please contact Kate Rizor, Area Representative, at katerizor@att.net or (269) 626-4310.

Abay, 16, of Kazakhstan enjoys bicycling, soccer, swimming, movies, cars and technology. He considers himself friendly, sociable, open-minded, honest and polite. His grandmother is a mechanical engineer and he enjoys discussing technology with her. He's always loved cars and has monitored the automobile industry from the age of 7. When he gets older, he'd like to become an expert of marketing.

Dokfai, 15, of Thailand enjoys biking, basketball, swimming, reading, and music. She adores her small family and is extremely close to her parents. She enjoys helping her mom around the kitchen, especially with the cooking. Her regular chores include sweeping, cooking, and ironing. She describes herself as friendly, funny, cheerful, and lively.

Selim Tarik, 15, of Germany enjoys biking, soccer, swimming, and spending time with family. He has a part-time job as a soccer referee and also does babysitting. Selim also enjoys music and plays the guitar.

Tuugii, 15, of Mongolia loves basketball and chess. He is a big fan of the Cleveland Cavaliers and never misses a game. He also enjoys biking, hiking, and video games. Tuugi comes from a very close knit family and adores his mom and little sister. He wishes someday to help his country on the path to a better economy like the USA.

Diana, 16, of Kyrgyzstan would like to someday to become a doctor or a psychologist. She spends time volunteering at orphanages and working with the elderly and disabled. She enjoys biking, running, dancing, swimming and cooking. She really enjoys debating, where she can listen, learn, and present her opinion on a variety of topics.

Narine, 15, of Armenia, who comes from a family of five, enjoys biking, reading, cooking, running, music, and chess. She describes herself as sociable, friendly, honest, and motivated. She respects her teachers and tries hard at school. Her favorite activity is fitness because she wants to be strong and healthy.

Kate Rizor

The Ride to South Haven Report

To take advantage of the best Ride to South Haven weather in several years, 26 riders showed up at the KVCC parking lot at 8:00 A.M. on August 1, looking for the sort of cycling adventure that doesn't include thunderstorms, heat stroke, or flat tires. With the promise of Gatorade, sourdough pretzels, and peanuts at the end of the ride, they left the KVCC parking lot at 8:12 A.M.

Ryan Heidenfeld and Val Litznerski did much of the pulling during the first leg of the ride to Lawrence, but they rode at a relatively easy pace for them, ensuring that the group stayed together. The Ride Leader ended up injecting some non-meteorological adventure into the ride by missing a turn west of Mattawan, but the group did eventually get back on course, although they didn't ride through Lawton as planned, much to the disappointment of the townspeople who had lined the streets of their village, waiting to have a peek at their cycling heroes.

The group arrived in Lawrence averaging a lively 17.2 mph. Most of the riders decided to forego the Citgo convenience store for their ride break destination in favor of the village park. Three riders left the group to ride back to Kalamazoo, but the remaining 23 riders continued to South Haven, albeit without the presence of the RL or Mike Vanderveer, who were caught by a red light in Lawrence. This enables these two riders to display their chasing skills, not that they particularly wanted to practice them.

Thanks to the hills northwest of Lawrence, the group began to split up. The riders also discovered the stretch of road on 40th and 42nd Street had degenerated from rough to wretched, another factor that was not conducive to group cohesion. Seven riders slipped off the back of the pack and the RL rode with three of these riders into South Haven. Fortunately, the ravenous earlier riders left some food at the Subs N More for the latecomers. At this point, the RL was averaging 16.5 mph after 54 miles.

David Riggs' ride was done, as he had arranged to meet his wife in South Haven, but he was replaced by Larry Kissinger, who was going to do the Ride from South Haven. The group split up into three groups, as John and Barb Hart on their tandem, as well as Doug and Kathy Kirk, Terry Butcher, and two other riders, decided to take an alternative route back to KVCC, while John Olbrot formed a group size one, as he was going to finish his ride in Grand Junction.

During the portion of the ride from South Haven to Lawrence, the 15 riders generally stayed together although Ryan and Val with occasional guest appearances from other riders, would sometimes open up a gap of a couple hundred yards over the rest of the riders and then slow down to let everyone regroup. Most of the riders stopped at the Marathon convenience store in Lawrence, although a few creatures of habit, such as the RL, stopped at the traditional Citgo store. At this point, the RL was still averaging 16.5 mph.

In past years, the final leg of the ride from Lawrence back to KVCC has been the part of the ride where those riders who are feeling frisky unleash their inner friskiness, and this year was no exception. The 15 riders separated into several smaller groups on route 374 between Lawrence and Paw Paw and the RL found himself riding in a no man's land between two groups. While adjusting to the rhythm of his cycling solitude, Tim Stewart (the elder) blew past him, and the while the RL contemplated jumping on his wheel, he decided that he probably couldn't hold it anyway, so he let him go. He rationalized his behavior by declaring to himself that hanging onto to Tim's wheel would have "harshed his mellow."

The riders regrouped on the western edge of Paw Paw and took a detour around Maple Lake in order to avoid the construction on Paw Paw's Main Street. East of Paw Paw, the riders separated into several groups again, led by Ryan and Val, along with Tim. The RL rode in the next group with Randy Putt, a KBC legend who had come to Kalamazoo from his current home in Lafayette, Indiana just to do this ride, Dan Kalwaard, Steve Stapleton, Larry Kissinger, and Paul Stevens. During the final mile, Steve and Dan broke away from the rest of the group, perhaps not understanding that with regard to post-ride refreshments, what mattered was not when they finished but when the RL finished (which, for the record, was at 3:51 P.M.). While entering the KVCC parking lot, he was "caught" by Tim, as Ryan, Val, and Tim had inadvertently added a couple miles to the route. The "official" distance (based on the RL's cyclometer) was 105.63 miles, a couple of those miles thanks to the detour, and with an average of 16.8 mph.

Some of the alternative route riders were waiting at the parking lot when the RL finished, their route being a couple miles shorter. Within a few minutes the remaining riders finished and the group sipped and/or gulped Gatorade and feasted on the aforementioned pretzels and peanuts. All agreed that the weather was great and that it was a ride worth doing. Which it was. And there were no flat tires.

Rick Whaley, Ride to South Haven Ride Leader

Kudos

Kudos to the Department of Engineering at the City of Portage for installing shared lane markings (sharrows) and Share the Road signs in the stretch of Oakland Drive between the I-94 overpass and Kilgore Road. Bicyclists have repeatedly identified this stretch as one of the more dangerous/uncomfortable "hot spots" in the area for good reason. This stretch connects bike lanes between two major cities but it has no bike lane of its own, and it carries relatively high densities of motor vehicles and bicyclists. On the one hand, the price tag for widening the lanes enough to include a dedicated bike lane on both sides of the road was reportedly in the millions of dollars (due to the presence of steep drop offs on either side), so such a road widening may not be in the budget for some time to come. On the other hand, according to the American Associate of State Highway and Transportation Officials, such signs and lane markings "Alert motorists that bicyclists may be encountered and that they should be mindful and respectful of bicyclists," inform "Bicyclists of where they should position themselves within the shared lane," and apparently reduce the incidence of wrong-way bicycle riding. On balance, for all these reasons, we applaud Portage for taking this step in the right direction.

Kudos to the planners at Comstock Township for making sure they consider the needs of bicyclists as they update their Township Master Plan. David Burgess, Township Board Liaison, recently took the time to attend the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club's July Board Meeting to seek KBC's input, and also provided a link to a survey in which residents and non-residents may participate (comstockvision.com/). Mr. Burgess made it clear that Comstock wants input from residents and non-residents alike on a variety of topics that will help shape its future. At the meeting, Mr. Burgess asked for a number of ideas that directly impact bicyclists, including, for example, how to improve safety on the KRVT, where widened shoulders, bike lanes, or routes could be added to specific roads, and where bike racks and bike repair stations could be added. Comstock Township provides an important link in the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail. For its efforts to get our first-hand impressions on how Comstock Township can become even more bicycle friendly, we thank the Township, its leaders, and its residents!

Like something that an individual or organization has done for bicycling? Any KBC member may submit Kudos items directly to the editor of Pedal Press (or to me). Since KBC has its own awards for members, kudos submitted here are intended for organizations and individuals who do not belong to KBC. Ideas for nominees for KBC's Friend of Bicycling Award are typically drawn from Kudos recipients.

Paul Selden

July Monthly Meeting Minutes

Present: Jon Ballema, Michael Krischer, David Burgess (Comstock Township), Bruce Caple, Scott Baron, Renee Mitchell, Paul Selden. Mark Lemons, Ryan Heidenfeld, Scott Powers, Tom Keizer, Kathy Kirk, Doug Kirk, Zolton Cohen, Mike Boersma, Rick Whaley, Valerie Litzerski, Jerry Dahl, and Chris Dahl.

Welcome and Announcements: The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M.

Treasurers Report: Zolton reported in the absence of John Olbrot that there was $7940.12 in savings and $11,148.59 in the KBC Certificate of Deposit.

Guest Speaker: David Burgess from Comstock Township discussed the Township's 2025 master plan for non-motorized transportation including improved access in the Township to the Kalamazoo Valley River Trail and to local businesses. Input can be provided at www.comstockvision.com.

KalTour Report: Mike Krischer discussed the 2015 KalTour. He reported that there were 300 riders this year. He also reported that the KalTour's net income after expenses increased to $2600. Mike discussed issues surrounding the 2015 KalTour - unexpected chip seal, positive reports on the sandwiches, some road painting issues - and his suggestions for the 2016 KalTour.

New KBC Jerseys: Kathy Kirk discussed new KBC Jerseys and gave some preliminary figures for the cost involved. Kathy and Jon Ballema will give a detailed report at the next KBC meeting.

KBC Hats: Scott Powers discussed new KBC hats and quoted a price of $5.00 per hat.

BTR and Race Weekend Wrap- up: Jon Ballema thanked the 40 volunteers for the 10th Anniversary BTR race. The race served as the State Championship criterium race. Frankie Andreu served as the commentator for the race. Jon reported that there were 276 pre-registered racers and between 40 and 50 day of race registrations. Jon reported that the Friday night race clinic hosted by Cheryl Sherwood had 18 participants. Details were still coming in from the WAM road race managed by David Buick.

Ride Leader Sanctioning: Chris Dahl, Jerry Dahl, Bruce Caple, Mark Lemons, and Scott Powers were sanctioned as KBC ride leaders.

Ride Safety Discussion: Scott Baron indicated that he had noticed several unsafe practices during KBC rides including riding 5 abreast and stopping at the bottom of a hill. Scott and Mark Lemons will lead a Monday and Wednesday night KBC Group riding skills ride. There was also discussion about reviving the KBC preseason ride meeting.

Old Business: There was no old business.

New Business: Paul Selden requested that new language be added to the Ride Leader Pledge regarding mentorship. A motion was introduced by Paul Selden to add "and to serve as mentor" to the ride leader pledge. This was seconded by Scott Baron. Jon Ballema suggested seeking additional member input. A motion to table was introduced by Scott Baron and was seconded by Bruce Caple. This tabling motion passed.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 P.M.

Mike Boersma, KBC Secretary

Statistics

Active Subscriptions:
263

New members:

Byron Adams · Rick Halpert · Larry Haynor

Expiring memberships:

Jake Biernacki · Joseph and Julie Dill · Angela Erdman Family · Ferdi Hintze · Michael Mihelich · Lisa and Michael Phillips · David and Diane Riggs · Tanya Thornber · Gordon Voder · John Wunderlin

Renewed memberships:

Bruce Caple · Scott Powers · Leslie Scheffers Family · Karen Ridley

David Jones, KBC Database Manager

Editor's Letter - A Tour de France Recap

A new season brings a new look. A chance to try something different. This summer, I'may anningplay otay itewray ymay Editor'say Etterslay inay igpay atinlay.

Yes, I watched a lot of the Tour de France. And because I was able to watch live broadcasts of a few stages during the last week of the Tour while on vacation, I also watched a lot of commercials, including the aforementioned Cadillac commercial, over and over and over again.

A particular favorite of mine was the Land Rover commercial. On what is to be their wedding day, a couple stares forlornly at the pouring rain while sheltered under a roofed enclosure. Then, the groom-to-be inexplicably grabs his bride-to-be's hand and drags her into the deluge and to his Land Rover. Four other members of the wedding party join in the fun, one of which can only be spotted by examining the commercial as closely as the Zapruder tape. She should hire a better agent. They all jump in the car and encounter all sorts of obstacles, such as downed trees, rocks in the road, erupting volcanoes, earthquakes, and an impending apocalypse, and we also learn that one of the bridesmaids is under the impression that one of the groomsmen has cooties. Where are they going? Who knows? Eventually, they arrive at some sort of mountaintop canopy, the apparent wedding site, where the couple kisses to the delight of the thoroughly soaked traveling companions. This then raises a question. Where is the minister? Maybe he'll parachute in. Maybe he'll ride a bicycle there, which would be appropriate. I marvel at the mystery.

Of course, I also marvel at the mystery of how the Tour de France riders endure 21 days of what has to be a fair amount of misery. Although I must admit that interspersed with my sense of almost childlike awe and wonder are baser emotions. "Suffer for my amusement!" I roar at the TV screen from my perch on my reclining chair. "Am I not entertained?"

And, indeed, this tour was entertaining. For example, the first week of the Tour de France was like a great piece of cinema, if your idea of a great piece of cinema is a Twilight Zone episode and whose idea isn't?

The evening after Stage 1, Fabian Cancellara receives a mysterious yellow box. He is told by an equally mysterious stranger who bears a vague resemblance to an Ironman World Champion, that if he pushes the button in the box, he will get the yellow jersey after the next stage, but that someone will crash and have to leave the tour. After a sleepless night staring at the box, Cancellara is finally unable to resist temptation, and he presses the button. Cancellara gets the yellow jersey at the end of Stage 2, but (spoiler alert), he crashes during Stage 3, and is out of the tour.

That evening, Tony Martin receives a mysterious yellow box. He is told by the now not-as-mysterious stranger that if he pushes the button in the box, he will get the yellow jersey after the next stage, but that someone will crash and will have to leave the tour. Martin proves to be no better a man than Cancellara. Martin gets the yellow jersey at the end of Stage 4, but then he (spoiler alert) crashes during Stage 6, and is out of the tour.

That evening, Chris Froome receives a mysterious yellow box. He is told by the now somewhat familiar stranger that it is filled with bottles of chocolate milk. He gets the yellow jersey and continues to wear it for rest of the tour, thanks to the incredible amount of protein that he uses to rebuild something or other.

The race came down to the last 4 pivotal stages in the Alps, including a climb on Stage 18 without spectators, due to the narrow road. Some of the riders remarked upon the strangeness of the experience of that climb, to which I can only say, "Well, welcome to my world! It's not as if I get a boatload of spectators cheering my every move while climbing the 6th Street hill! How about watching me ride a bicycle some time, you Tour de France prima donnas!"

But I digress. In contrast, the Alpe d'Huez, the final climb of the 20th and final mountain stage, is famous for its hordes of spectators, most noticeably at the famous "Dutch Corner," presumably named for the hundreds of Bulgarians who gather there; subsisting on a diet of milk and cookies, while waiting for the riders to pass. This year, I noticed a new way by which the temporary inhabitants of that part of the mountain attempted to spur the riders to greater glory - by lighting smokebombs! What a marvelous idea! Next year, somebody bring the firecrackers!

And it was in the final two mountain stages when the tour was most exciting. Nairo Quintana entered Stage 19 trailing Chris Froome by 3:09. During the next two stages, he closed the gap by 1:57, but still finished 1:12 behind Froome. Who knows what would have happened if there had been another mountain stage? It could be said that Quintana lost the race on Stage 2, when, thanks to some vicious crosswinds, he got separated from the lead pack of riders, including Froome, and he finished that stage 1:26 behind Froome. To his credit, Quintana did not use that as an excuse after the tour was over. To my discredit, I think I've come up with yet another excuse after I get dropped on Wednesday night rides. It was the crosswinds. But why stop there? I show up late to work. It was the crosswinds. I didn't get around to mowing my lawn. It was the crosswinds.

But Froome did win the yellow jersey and not only that, he won the King of the Mountain red polka dot jersey, as well, because nothing symbolizes the jaw dropping majesty of a mountain peak as well as a red polka dot. Quintana won the white jersey, the Best Young Rider competition, while finishing second in the KOM competition. By custom, a rider can only wear one jersey, so on the final stage of the tour, the third place rider in the KOM competition wore the red polka dot jersey to the cries of "You mountain crawling imposter!" from the jeering crowd.

Actually, that didn't happen, but I do think it would be more sporting if the leader in two competitions had to wear both jerseys, especially on 95 degree days. At the very least, Froome should have worn a polka dot yellow jersey.

But, be that as it may, the tour is over and I'm back to my routine of not watching taped recordings of the Tour after my working day is done. And for those of you who were hoping for a more authoritative Tour de France recap, what can I say? You were expecting an insightful Editor's Letter and you got a goat. Blame that on the crosswinds, too.

Rick Whaley, KBC Newsletter Editor

Classified Ads

For the first time in my memory, there are no Classified Ads to post.

Shop Notes

Alfred E. Bike

320 East Michigan, Kalamazoo, (269) 349-9423
www.aebike.com

Billy's Bike Shop

63 East Battle Creek Street, Galesburg, (269) 665–5202
www.billysbikeshop.com

Breakaway Bicycles

185 Romence at Westnedge, Portage, (269) 324–5555,
www.breakawaybicycles.com

Custer Cyclery

104 North Augusta, Augusta, (269) 731–3492
www.custercyclery.com

Gazelle Sports

214 South Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, (269) 342–5996,
www.Gazellesports.com
Visit Gazelle Sports to check out our fun new fall footwear and apparel. PLUS, take advantage of low prices on our newly reduced summer footwear and apparel. Great deals on the brands you love!

Kzoo Swift

445 Forest St, Kalamazoo, (269) 929-8053.
www.kzooswift.com

Pedal

611 W Michigan Avenue, Kalamazo, (269) 56–PEDAL
info@pedalbicycle.com and www.pedalbicycle.com

Team Active

22 W Michigan, Battle Creek, 1–800–841–9494
www.teamactive.com

Village Cyclery

US 131 in Schoolcraft, 679–4242
www.villagecyclery.com

Zoo City Cycle & Sports

4328 South Westnedge, Kalamazoo (269) 552–3000
www.zoocitycycle.com

Bicycling Safety Disclaimer

Important: Riding a bicycle is an inherently dangerous activity. There are risks of injury or death. You could ride over something and fall, or get hit by an automobile or strike or be struck by another bicyclist. There are many other dangers to bicycling as well.

While nothing can eliminate all risks associating with bicycle riding, to minimize the danger, make sure you and your bicycle are in good riding condition. Know the rules of the road and also of the group you're riding with, and ride in a manner consistent with the protocols of that group. Always wear a bike helmet, use bike lights if riding in the dawn, dusk or dark, and consider purchasing and riding with additional safety equipment such as reflectors and rear view mirrors.