Kalamazoo Bicycle Club
Pedal Press

December 2015 President's Letter

Happy December KBC!

At November's membership meeting, a new KBC Executive Committee (EC) was voted in and we are all excited about our new roles. Before taking on my new role as President, I just want to sincerely thank Zolton and Doug for doing an amazing job leading KBC the past 4 years. I have a high regard for both of these gentlemen and appreciate their passion for cycling, devotion to KBC and its members, and dedication to promoting cycling in southwest Michigan. I've learned a lot from them over the years and look forward to working with them however they continue to be involved with KBC!

I'm excited about KBC's new EC and know it's going to be a great year. The new EC consists of Renee Mitchell as President, John Olbrot as Vice-President, Valerie Litznerski as Secretary, and Mike Boersma as Treasurer. It was a tough campaign but we all endured :). A big THANK YOU to John, Valerie, and Mike for taking on these positions and playing a very important role in the future of KBC! Meet each of KBC's EC team members in a separate article below.

In addition to the Executive Committee, the remainder of KBC's Board of Directors consists of a number of annually appointed positions. These individuals are the nuts and bolts of the club and work hard at their positions to represent KBC with excellence. I'm happy to announce the following members have agreed to fill the following positions:

Newsletter Editor: Rick Whaley transitioning to Doug Kirk
Membership Database Administrator: David Jones
Ride Captain: To Be Announced
Social Director: Kathleen Kroll
Director of Road Safety: Paul Selden
Webmaster: Cullen Stevenson
Race Team Delegate: To Be Announced
Education Chair: To Be Announced
Insurance Coordinator: Terry O'Connor
Awards Committee Chair: Paul Selden

Thank you Board Members for sharing your time and talents with KBC, it is greatly appreciated! Also, thank you to Marc Irwin who has agreed to stay on as KBC's Public Relations coordinator.

2016 will be an exciting year for KBC. The membership survey brought many new and fresh ideas for KBC's Board of Directors to review and use to set goals. The Board of Directors will meet early next year to design a plan to implement some of these ideas. Because KBC is an organization run by volunteers, implementing new ideas can take time and extra effort. We will keep you updated on these goals and how you can help to accomplish them. If you'd like to view the results of the KBC Membership Survey, please click on the link below.

www.kalamazoobicycleclub.org/forms/2015_kbc_member_survey.pdf

Even though the outdoor riding season is drawing to a close for many, KBC members are hard at work on a variety of activities. Activities such as KBC's Friend of Bicycling Award, the Winter Recovery Party, new KBC Jerseys, a new KBC brochure, and planning for the upcoming riding season are all being worked on at December's KBC Monthly Meeting. I'd like to personally invite and encourage KBC members to join us on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. at the Maple Street YMCA and be a part of KBC's future!

Wishing all of you a safe and wonderful Holiday Season filled with many memorable times with family and friends!

Renee Mitchell, KBC President

Meet KBC's New Executive Committee

Renee Mitchell - President

I hit the cycling scene during the late 1990s in search of adventure while being a stay at home mom raising two young children. Cycling provided a fun way to stay fit, spend time with friends, and meet new people. Over the years, the adventure turned into a passion, and I became more involved with KBC. I started my KBC career co-serving as Social Director for a few years, then chaired the Bike Camp and Education Committees for many years, and now club President. I'm super excited about my new role and working with wonderful KBC members to design a road map for KBC's future.

I do have a life outside of cycling and KBC. I've been married to my wonderful and supportive husband Don for 25 years and we have 3 awesome children (ages 21, 23, and 36) and 1 amazing grandson (age 7). We lived and raised our kids in Portage for 25 years and recently moved to the Lawton area to enjoy quiet, country living and we love it! I have a Bachelors of Computer Science degree from WMU and now work for Arienne Associates developing custom SharePoint solutions for clients. I've kept busy through the years not only volunteering for KBC, but also with the schools, Girl Scouts, and our church.

As President of KBC for the next year, I look forward to working closely with the Executive Committee and Board of Directors to discover ways to improve KBC's visibility, increase membership value, and improve KBC weekday rides. We will closely examine the KBC Membership Survey results from earlier this fall to set some goals for this year and beyond. Thank you for the opportunity to lead this wonderful club that has been such a big part of my life for many years. It's going to be a great year!

John Olbrot, Vice President

Having been born and raised in Detroit, I have a real appreciation for the fantastic cycling opportunities we have here in West Michigan; in fact, the cycling's so good I sometimes think it's easy to become spoiled. Trust me, we cyclists have it pretty good around here. As a road biker, I try to make as many of the KBC rides as possible and can usually be seen on the Monday night rides, and I also try to make the week-end rides, especially any rides to South Haven and the KalTour century. Besides group club rides I enjoy doing tours and have done DALMAC a number of times as well as the NorthWest Tour and some unsupported touring, among others. When the weather doesn't permit cycling, I'm a fairly avid runner and will run throughout the winter to stay in shape.

My wife Teri and I have been in the area since 1987, have two children, and I am currently quite smitten with our three grandbabies under two years of age. Having put in my time at Hewlett-Packard, I am now free to pursue my interests without having to show up anywhere from 8 to 5.

I'm really looking forward to serving as the KBC Vice President in the coming year and getting to meet those of you that I have not had the pleasure of riding with yet.

Mike Boersma - Treasurer

I began bicycling as an adult on the mountain bike trails of Ft. Custer and Yankee Springs in the early 1990s. I moved to road bicycling right around 2000. On a road bike, I have done everything from KBC club rides to ultramarathon bicycling events like the National 24 Hour Challenge here in Michigan, as well as ACP Brevet rides in the hills of Wisconsin and rides on the Hiawatha trail in Idaho and Montana.

I have been a member of the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club since the early 2000s and have volunteered for many events like KalTour, the BTR race, Bike Camp, and other KBC activities. I have also been able to serve in various leadership positions with the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club. I am very happy that Renee is serving as President. I look forward to assisting her with achieving the vision of the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club as expressed by KBC members in the recent survey.

In addition to bicycling, I enjoy cross-country skiing, backpacking at Isle Royale and other locations, paddling, and fly fishing (and combining these activities where possible). I am an attorney with a home and an office in Oshtemo.

Val Litznerski, Secretary

I started riding about 5 years ago and really quickly wanted to ride long distances and to participate in ultracycling events. My first two races were in 2011 - Calvin's Challenge and Jay's race. I joined Team Clark Logic in the beginning of 2012 and enjoy the opportunity that the team gives me to race with other women; working together during road races and criteriums. I hope to take on bigger and more challenging races in the future and am thankful for the opportunities that I have had and for the cyclists that I've met racing. When it's cold out, I enjoy running - road or trail - to cross train.

I enjoy meeting and encouraging new cyclists as they gain fitness and a deeper appreciation for the sport - whether in social group rides or competitive events.

I look forward to the opportunity to give back to the club. I've enjoyed participating in club rides for years and in organized tours.

Vote for KBC's Friend of Bicycling Award on December 8, 2015

Voting for the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club's Friend of Bicycling Award recipient will take place at our next regular meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. at the Kalamazoo YMCA. Members in good standing present at the club meeting may vote for one candidate.

Three candidates will be on the ballot. In randomly sequenced order, they are:

• Marilyn J. Schlack
• Kalamazoo Charter Township
• Portage City Council

Below you'll find a list of the candidates, together with explanations of why each deserves consideration, taken from the words of the person submitting the original nomination.

Marilyn J. Schlack

For over a year, Marilyn Schlack (President of Kalamazoo Valley Community College) has led a series of meetings aimed at improving multi-modal access to KVCC's new culinary and health oriented campus downtown. These meetings (of KVCC's Parking and Mobility Committee) have been attended by community leaders, engineers, and representatives of a number of bicycling interests. The meetings have helped to raise awareness of the many practical benefits related to using a bicycle to get to and from campus, such as reducing the need to build or lease expensive parking spaces. Dr. Schlack has helped to unite many stakeholders in their awareness of the need to consider non-motorized transportation options, not only in downtown Kalamazoo, but throughout the community.

Kalamazoo Charter Township

Responding to input from a variety of community surveys and citizen input, the leaders and citizens of the Township of Kalamazoo have led the greater community in supporting bicycling, as well as many other non-motorized forms of transportation. The number and quality of actions they have taken have been truly noteworthy.

On December 9, 2014, Kalamazoo Township adopted its first non-motorized plan, in response to a prior community survey that ranked development of non-motorized facilities high on the list of priorities for the Township. The plan outlined a broad vision of sidewalks, bicycling, and other facilities aimed at benefitting both motorists and non-motorists. The plan was developed with the input of an advisory group and citizen comments in a series of public meetings.

On February 24, 2015, Kalamazoo Township residents approved a millage that will ultimately fund a wide range of projects that will help fix its crumbling roads and make the Township even more bike and pedestrian friendly at the same time. Per MLive's interpretation of this local-funding impact, some 300 projects are on their list of improvements. Many of the projects include improvements to non-motorized facilities that were outlined in the Township's non-motorized plan. The planning and funding is aimed at creating a more livable community.

On June 22, 2015, the trustees of Kalamazoo Township adopted a set of Complete Streets policies at their township board meeting. In general, Complete Streets policies help jurisdictions that adopt them become even more bike friendly. It is almost certainly the first township in Kalamazoo County to adopt a Complete Streets policy.

In short, it is hard to think of a community that has come so far, so systematically recognizing the needs of its citizens for non-motorized facilities, and acted on them so quickly. Kalamazoo Township has developed a truly outstanding reputation for taking a proactive stance toward planning and funding so-called non-motorized (e.g., bicycling and pedestrian) improvements. It is also setting a great positive example for many other jurisdictions within our greater community who are trying to duplicate its success.

Portage City Council

On August 11, 2015, the City Council of the City of Portage formally adopted a set of Complete Streets policies.

The City has been well known for its leadership in considering the needs of bicyclists and other non-motorized users of its transportation system for many years (and has received KBC's FOB Award in the past). Adopting Complete Streets policies will provide clear guidance for future staff and leadership within their administrations into the future by institutionalizing the need to consider the needs of all who use the roads and transportation systems, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and others with special needs, and not just the needs of motorized vehicles.

If I am correct in my understanding, this makes the City of Portage the first city in Kalamazoo County to adopt formal Complete Streets policies that go by that name.

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KBC members may submit nominations for KBC's Friend of Bicycling Award throughout the year. Guidelines for the nominating process plus a handy form for submitting nominees during the coming year can be found on the club's website toward the middle of the page at kalamazoobicycleclub.org/club/community.php.

If you have a candidate in mind for nomination this coming year, show your appreciation by submitting a Kudos column item in Pedal Press, as well. Kudos are aimed at individuals or organizations outside of KBC, who, in the eyes of whoever submitted the praise, have done something good for bicycling. KBC's members foster a more bike friendly community whenever we show how much we appreciate those who help bicycling.

Paul Selden, Director of Road Safety

2016 KBC Winter Recovery Party

Date: January 30, 2016
Time: 7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
Location:
Eckert Wordell
161 E. Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

It's time to save the date! The Recovery Party is coming up soon (Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 7:00 P.M.)! The Recovery Party is arguably the best off-the-bike event of the season. Join for food, beverages, and, most importantly, socializing with those people you usually only see in spandex.

Thanks to the continued generosity of KBC member David Jarl and his team at the architectural firm Eckert Wordell, the Recovery Party will once again be in the Haymarket Building in downtown Kalamazoo (161 East Michigan Avenue).

The Recovery Party is potluck, so please bring something to share - a salad, dessert, or side dish. We'll supply the plates, utensils, napkins, soft drinks, beer, wine, and some small sandwiches. So come hungry and thirsty!

Location Details: Eckert Wordell's offices are on the second floor of the Haymarket Building. You can enter through either the front or the back doors on the ground level. The stairway to the second floor is through a door at the rear of the lobby. There will be a sign on the door directing you where to go.

Parking: There is a public lot directly north of the Haymarket Building, which is accessed off of Water Street, and on street parking along East Michigan Avenue and some of the less busy streets to the north.

We'll have some awards to hand out, giveaways from local bike shops, and general fun. The Recovery Party has always offered up a good chance to catch up with people you know, and to meet people you haven't yet. Block off January 30, 2016 and start counting down the days. E-mail me at socialdirector@kalamazoobicycleclub.org if you have any questions!

Kathleen Kroll, KBC Social Director

Joining the KBC YahooGroup and Facebook Page

There are three ways that the members of the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club can communicate bicycling related information with each other: The Pedal Press, YahooGroups, and Facebook page. The first is the Pedal Press, sent to all Club members each month. You can find information about submitting an article to the Pedal Press in the Masthead section of the Pedal Press.

The second is the YahooGroup. This is a mailing list reserved for Club members. The YahooGroup is the best way to send out information that is time sensitive and information that you want all group members to see. The Club will use the YahooGroup to e-mail its members. Members are also able to e-mail other Club members using the YahooGroup.

The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club also has a Facebook page. The Facebook page is a social area, where members can share information about rides or interesting bicycling information. This is a community open to anyone interested in bicycling in Southwest Michigan.

To join the KBC-General YahooGroup you first need to navigate to the YahooGroups page by following this link: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo.

Search "Kalamazoo Bicycle Club" in the search box. The first result should be "KBC-General" with the description: "This group is to provide rapid communication within the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club, of Kalamazoo Michigan. This group is for all ..." Click on the name KBC-General and the new page should have a purple box that says "Join Group." Follow the directions and I will get an e-mail asking to add you to the group. Since this is a KBC member's only group please include your name so that I can verify your membership.

The Facebook page is easier, either search Kalamazoo Bicycle Club in the Facebook search box or follow this link, www.facebook.com/groups/125535317736/ . You will then want to click the green "Sign Up" box.

If you have any questions or need help please e-mail me at databasemgr@kalamazoobicycleclub.org.

David Jones, KBC Database Manager

New KBC Cycling Jerseys

KBC is getting a new jersey! Thanks go out to KBC member and graphic designer extraordinaire Dave Hauschild for our new design. Giordana will be making our new jerseys and all ordering will be done online.

Don't know what size to order? Come to one of our Fit Kit Open Houses. Except where noted, they will be at my home:

2615 Mockingbird Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008

Tuesday, December 8, after the KBC meeting at the Maple Street YMCA.
Thursday, December 10, 4:30-6:00 P.M.
Saturday, December 12, 3:00-5:00 P.M.

The cost of the jersey is $64.48, which includes all taxes and shipping. This is the rock-bottom cost of the jersey to members. The club will not make any money on jersey sales. The online store will open December 1, 2015 and close December 31, 2015. Once available, the online store website address and directions on how to order a jersey will be posted on Facebook, mailed out to KBC YahooGroups, and posted on our website.

Once the store is online, you will create a free account, logon to the KBC store, and select the number of jerseys and sizes you want. After the online store closes, the order will be verified, then Giordana will send an e-mail to everyone who placed an order asking us to log back into the online store to pay for our orders. (There is a slim chance that the cost of the men's jersey will be slightly lower as there is a price break if we order more than 99 jerseys. We won't know that until all the orders are in.)

All jerseys will be shipped to one address sometime in early to mid-March. If they're here in time for the March KBC meeting, that would be a great venue for distribution. If not, it will be a great excuse for another party!

Kathy Kirk

November Monthly Meeting Minutes

Present: Doug Kirk, Zolton Cohen, Dale Krueger, Terry O'Connor, Doug Wales, David Riggs, Pam Sotherland, Paul Sotherland, Marc Irwin, Renee Mitchell, Scott Baron, David Jones, Kathy Kirk, Paul Selden, Valerie Litznerski, Luanne St. Peter, John Idema, Mike Vandeveer, Scott F. Powers, Rick Whaley, John Olbrot, and Mike Boersma

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

Officer reports: John Olbrot reported that the KBC had income of $75.49 in the last month, expenses of $5.01, $5731.31 in the club checking account, and $11,152.29 in the club certificate of deposit.

Committee reports: Paul Selden announced that the KBC's Friend of Bicycling Awards committee has several nominations that are being vetted. Nominations will be voted on in at the December meeting. (Editor's Note: See the article about the Friend of Bicycling Award elsewhere in the issue of the Pedal Press.) Paul also announced that the City of Kalamazoo is seeking input into its Transportation Plan. There will be opportunities for public input.

Club Jersey Update: Kathy Kirk announced that Giordana has been selected as the vendor for the jerseys. Dave Hauschild is in the process of creating a design for the jerseys. The jerseys will have a full zipper and a relaxed club fit. Pricing is expected to be $64.48 per jersey. Kathy explained that pricing is dependent on the number of jerseys purchased and that pricing could go up or down depending on purchases. Kathy will be receiving a size kit and will make announcements for sizing parties. There will be an online store for purchasing the jerseys. (Editor's Note: See the article about the new KBC jerseys elsewhere in the issue of the Pedal Press.)

Electronic Communications: David Jones announced that the YahooGroup is still a viable means for disseminating KBC information. David also announced that the website would be updated, as would the Facebook page.

Executive Committee Elections: A slate consisting of Renee Mitchell for President, John Olbrot for Vice President, Valerie Litznerski for Secretary, and Mike Boersma for Treasurer was elected unanimously.

Old business: There was no old business.

New Business: Marc Irwin discussed the KBC brochures, which will contain registration information and club information.

Paul Selden discussed the new Michigan Secretary of State Bike Safety brochures.

Doug Kirk thanked Zolton Cohen for his work as President.

Zolton Cohen thanked Scott Powers for providing the new KBC hats.

Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted

Mike Boersma, KBC Secretary

Statistics

Active Subscriptions:
259

New members:

None

Expiring memberships:

Roger Behnke • Steven R. Cox • Jonathan Evans and Monica Tory • Katie Johnson • Angela Marek • Rob Schell

Renewed memberships:

John Shubnell Family • Barbara and John Hart

David Jones, KBC Database Manager

Editor's Letter - Christmas Songs for Cyclists

Once again, it's that time when fall figuratively slides into winter and we literally slide all over the road. And it's also that time of year when we enjoy listening to Christmas music over and over and over again. And don't bother puncturing your eardrums with a wheel spoke; you'll be hearing "pa rum pum pum pum" inside your head for the rest of your life, anyway.

"But where are the Christmas song for cyclists?" you might ask. Inexplicably, there are none. Until now! Because Mr. Pedal Press Editor, as a public service to his fellow KBC members, has attempted change this situation for the better. And so, I give you the following three Christmas songs, just for cyclists. You can also think of them as a short musical.

In our first song, two cyclists venture out into the winter wonderland.

Bike Ride

Just feel those fingers stinging and
Ring ting tingle-ling too.
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a bike ride together with you.

Outside the weather's freezing
And our friends' skins have turned blue.
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a bike ride together with you.

Oh, I'm cold, oh, I'm cold, oh, I'm cold,
So cold.
Let's look at the snow.
We're sliding through a hellish land of snow.

Oh, I'm cold, oh, I'm cold, oh, I'm cold, numb and
Can't feel my hand.
We've fallen off of our bikes
In a wintry nightmare land.

Our cheeks are black and waxy
Should call a taxi you see.
We're snuggled up together like two
Frozen corpses would be.

Let's take the road before us
And get some help for us, too.
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a bike ride together with you.

And we're lucky they don't have to amputate our toes.
But it's looking like it's too late now to save my nose.
We'll be cursing our lives, our wretched lives, which could
Abruptly stop.
At the hospital while our blistered limbs thaw out.
Pop! Pop! Pop!

There's a horrid feeling nothing in the world can buy.
When they're debriding the damaged skin; the pain, aye yai!
It will nearly be like a picture print by good old Edvard Munch.
These terrible things are the things
That will traumatize us a bunch.

Just feel those fingers stinging and
Ring ting tingle-ling too.
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a bike ride together with you.

Outside the weather's freezing
And our friends' skins have turned blue.
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a bike ride together with you.

So sad. And in our despair, we retreat to the type of winter riding that we know so well.

I'm Beginning to Ride My Indoor Trainer

I'm beginning to ride my indoor trainer
Every day or so.
When the sun sets at five P.M.
Very dark once again
With icy rains and slushy lanes, oh, no.

I'm beginning to ride my indoor trainer.
Leaves off every tree.
But the ugliest sight to see
Is the thing that's going to be
In front of my TV.

A pair of very stiff drinks for the weather that stinks
Is the wish of Bonny and Ben.
Ears that won't freeze from the evening breeze
Is the hope of Janice and Jenn.
And all of us can hardly wait
To ride outside again.

I'm beginning to ride my indoor trainer
Every day or so.
There's a hole in the road ahead.
One that will tire shred.
The deepest kind all covered up by snow.

I'm beginning to ride my indoor trainer.
Soon the tears will start.
And the thing that will make them stream
Are the curses that you scream
From deep within your heart.

So, so sad. But, because this is Christmas, there is hope .......

O Come, All Ye Cyclists

O come all ye cyclists
Joyless and defeated.
O come ye, O come ye to bicycle shops.
Come and behold them
Born to conquer winter.

O come let us adore them.
O come let us adore them.
O come let us adore them.
Fat tire bikes.

Sing, alleluia
All ye suffering cyclists.
O sing, all ye blues filled ones of cycling outside.
Glory to wide widths
In the lowest pressure.

O come let us adore them.
O come let us adore them.
O come let us adore them.
Fat tire bikes.

Yea, bike, we ride thee
On this snowy morning.
Fat tire, to thee be the traction given.
Word is to buy one
Now in the shops appearing.

O come let us adore them.
O come let us adore them.
O come let us adore them.
Fat tire bikes.

And, feel free to sing these songs at every opportunity. Sing them to your friends! Sing them to your coworkers! Sing them at home! Sing them in your car! Sing them at the mall! Sing them to strangers on the street! Sing them in the police cruiser! Sing them in the jail cell! Sing them at the psychiatric hospital! Because something's got to drive that incessant "pa rum pum pum pum" out of your head.

Rick Whaley, KBC Newsletter Editor

Classified Ads

Apparently, it is still the case that no one wants to sell anything.

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

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
Gazelle Sports celebrates 30 years of business this month. Thank you for your support!
Join us for our Holiday Shopping Night - Thursday, December 17, 2015. Enjoy holiday drinks, gift wrapping, prizes and, of course, holiday cheer!

Kzoo Swift

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

Pedal Downtown

- 611 W Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, (269)567-3325

Pedal South

- 185 Romence Road, Portage, (269)324-5555
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

Kalamazoo Bike Club Sale at Zoo City Cycle & Sports, Nov. 29 - Dec. 12, 2015. All KBC members receive 10% off all accessories store-wide and 20% off all bikes, 2015 and older. When purchasing a closeout bike, all accessories store-wide are 20% off. Please see store for details.

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.