Des Moines Cycle Club

The Des Moines Cycle Club and the City of Clive are happy to announce a new event for for all levels of cyclists. Ride’n Green to the Farmers Market is a weekly ride starting at the Clive Aquatic Center parking lot at 1801 N.W. 114th St., pedaling down the trail system to the very popular Des Moines Farmer’s Market. A relaxed pace will take us the 12 miles to downtown. We’ll start promptly at 8:00 A.M. so please be ready to ride.

The leader will spend one to two hours at the market and will lead those who want to return, or if you’d like, return on your own. We plan to park our bikes around the Polk County building on Court Avenue, there are lots of posts and trees to lock your bike.

Riding your bike to the market will be great exercise, you’ll get a little sun, and meet other riders in the area. If you’re new to the metro, or new to cycling, Ride’n Green is right for you. You’ll also feel great about doing the ride GREEN. Be sure to wear your DMCC backpack to safely transport all of your purchases on the return trip. In the future we hope to add other cities to the ride, we want to see more bikes than cars at the market!

To join the Des Moines Cycle Club, or to get information about our other activities, visit our website at www.dmcycleclub.com.

Cyclists will ride to the Iowa Capitol on Wednesday, April 15 at 5:30 PM in opposition to the violent crashes and road rage incidents that have occurred this spring. The ride will begin in the parking lot of Rasmussen’s Bike Shop at 301 Grand Ave in West Des Moines.The ride follows a crash near Winterset, where the driver of a truck pulling a trailer passed too closely to a group of cyclists, ran over one cyclist with his trailer and left the scene. Cyclists report the motorist was honking constantly as he passed and returned to the scene 30 minutes later.

Another crash this year involved Ken Sherman. Sherman was riding through an intersection in Des Moines when a car failed to yield to the oncoming cyclist and collided with Sherman causing injuries. The Des Moines Police failed to issue any citations following the incident, but determined the motorist to be at fault.

The Iowa Legislature considered clarifying the Iowa Code to specify passing distances and safe following distances for bicyclists. The bill failed to be considered through the funnel date despite passing in the Senate.

Whether or not new laws were enacted, cyclists still have the same rights and duties of the drivers of motor vehicles as specified in the Iowa Code. Incidents where cyclists are injured due to the inattentiveness of motorists are irresponsible and should be cited by police as appropriate. Incidents where cyclists are harassed or intimidated intentionally are violent and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Highway 6 – Your Road to the Country is the nations only full hour, live radio talk show dealing with living on small farms and acreages. Heard each Sunday morning at 8 on 98.3 WOW-FM.

This Sunday the 25th listen in as the Des Moines Cycle Club’s president Danny Kruzic talks about what’s new and what’s planned for 2009.

All Des Moines Cycle Club Members,

Next weekend is a very important time for all cyclists in Central Iowa. There are several events going on that I want to make sure all of you are aware of. I can’t totally verify all of the following information, so please check before attending. Pick and choose as you will, but please get involved and support cycling in Iowa.

Danny Kruzic

President

Des Moines Cycle Club

January 23 – 24, 2009 Iowa Bicycle Summit Holiday Inn, Downtown Des Moines, Many workshops for just about anything cycling, culminating in the 4th Annual Bike Night Gala at 5 PM January 24th. http://www.iowabicyclecoalition.org/summit.htm

Des Moines Bicycle Collective’s Sale of Collectible Bikes, The Des Moines Bicycle Collective has about 50-60 vintage bikes that are available to purchase the weekend of the Iowa Bike Summit and RAGBRAI January Meeting for Clubs and Teams.  These are mostly older Schwinns (50s, 60s, 70s) that the Bike Collective is selling as is. No Schwinn Phantoms or Stingrays, but some nice Tigers, Travelers, Corvettes, and other models. The bikes will be on display at 1312 Locust Street in downtown Des Moines, a short ride or long walk from the Downtown Holiday Inn.  Check out the vintage bikes that are for sale at:  http://dsmbikecollective.org/   Saturday, January 24  – Noon to 5 pm, Sunday, January 25 – 7:30am – 9:30am & 2:00pm – 5:00pm

January 24 – 25 UNITE Against Caner at Jordan Creek Town Center, West Des Moines. LIVESTRONG ARMY of Des Moines.  http://www.livestrongdesmoines.org/html/events.html

January 24, Indoor Group Trainer Ride for Livestrong Lance Armstrong Foundation, Noon to 3 PM in the center of Jordan Creek Mall, West Des Moines. Very large indoor ride for the Live Strong Lance Armstrong Foundation to raise money for cancer research. We are NOT asking you to raise money. This is a free event. We are doing the large group indoor ride to help draw public attention to the cause. The ride will be noon-3pm on Saturday the 24^th in the center of Jordan Creek Mall (West Des Moines). This event will be promoted on radio, newspaper, and TV news. The event will have a party-like atmosphere. Star 102.5 will do a live broadcast from the ride noon-3pm. You will need your bike, stationary trainer (or rollers), and sweat towels.  We will provide a bike bottle and water fills. Bring your own drinks/mix if you are picky. You do not have to ride the whole time. You can leave anytime. Participants must enter the mall on the lower level, center entrance and take the bikes straight to the center court level where they will ride. The mall is very concerned that no bikes being walked around in the mall. Please be sure all trainers have rubber feet or whatever is necessary to protect the mall floor from scratching. This is the announcement for athletes. Watch for the formal media releases soon. Please RSVP to mike@rocketsciencecoaching.com by Thursday the 22^nd so we have a good estimate of numbers.

        Colorado Springs, Colo. (January 2, 2009)— USA Cycling recently recognized 13 regional athlete development programs with $20,000 worth of cash grants through its Centers of Excellence program, the national governing body has announced.

        Funded by the USA Cycling Development Foundation, the grants were awarded to programs that meet specific structural requirements as non-profit organizations governed by a board of directors with the potential and ability to develop athletes into international-level competitors. The list of recipients again includes several first-time winners along with programs who continue to be recognized for their efforts toward the development of young cyclists.

        USA Cycling recognizes the outstanding work of these Centers of Excellence as they continue to grow the model of athlete development in cycling and contribute to the elevated levels of competition and growth of the sport in the United States.