Bohemian Hall

Cooler morning temperatures are making for some ideal riding weather.  I took advantage of one such morning recently to do an out-and-back to the Bohemian Hall south of Mandan, North Dakota.  Arriving just before dawn, I captured the following photograph of the hall. Well worth the 60 km round trip!

(Soft hues of a lightening sky; bright moon overhead)

Bicyclists and Motorists – Is a Partnership Possible?

I wrote the following article for the Great Plains Examiner in May 2011 with the original title ‘Bicyclists and Motorists – A Partnership Long Overdue’.  Given the recent horrible news from Kalamazoo, Michigan, I wonder if my well-intentioned message has any relevance today, now five years later.  While I’m not privy to details of the tragedy, I doubt any of the ‘bicyclists guidelines’ below would have offered protection to those killed and injured earlier this week.

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“Get a bicycle.  You will not regret it if you live.” ~Mark Twain

There are times when I’m commuting by bike through Bismarck and Mandan that I think of Mark Twain’s quote.  It encapsulates a classic ‘risk vs. reward’ decision I make every time I embark on my bike to go to work or run an errand.

Having lived on both sides of the river the last 12 years, I’ve had more close calls with motorists than I care to count.  The times I’ve been nearly hit (twice) or run off the road (three times) by a motorist left only minor scars and temporarily frazzled nerves.  I consider myself fortunate.  These experiences have made me a better bicyclist (and motorist), so I keep riding.  To me, the rewards outweigh the risks.

I’m not alone.  We have bicyclists in our community who commute year round, sometimes over 3000 miles annually, regardless of weather and road conditions.  Such efforts, which often go unnoticed, are heroic in every sense of the word.

In many respects, bicycling is a nexus of sustainable transportation.  Few transportation choices concurrently save money, improve personal and community health, reduce air pollution, and offer a sense of freedom and fun rarely achieved while driving an automobile.  These rewards are significant, and are likely to encourage others to take up bike commuting in the future.

Unfortunately, the mere thought of sharing the road with motorists in Bismarck and Mandan is enough to keep many people from commuting by bike.  National statistics justify such hesitancy.  Of the approximately 750 bicyclists killed each year in the U.S., 96% are involved in crashes with motor vehicles.

Mitigating risks associated with bicycle commuting can be achieved through improved roadways, better laws, and education.  Designing in-town roadways with bike lanes is an excellent first step to make transportation corridors more bicycle-friendly.  Current laws governing bicycle use on North Dakota roadways can best be described as fossilized, and are in severe need of updating (they were established in 1973!).  Education should emphasize rules and responsibilities of bicyclists and motorists, with the overarching goal of improving understanding between both groups of road users.

Improved roadways and better laws will take time to implement, but education can start immediately.

So, what should motorists and bicyclists be aware of to share the road safely?  First and foremost, everyone should realize bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of motor vehicles.  This fact may come as a surprise, but it’s true not only in North Dakota, but in all 50 states.  Other notable ‘Share the Road’ guidelines include…

• Bicyclists: Follow the ‘Rules of the Road’ to the letter.  Ride with traffic (don’t be a ‘bike salmon’) and obey all traffic control devices, such as stop signs, lights, and lane markings.
• Motorists: Don’t ‘buzz’ bicyclists when passing.  Provide at least 3 feet between the right side of your vehicle and a bicyclist.
• Bicyclists: Be visible by 1) riding where drivers can see you (that means not on the sidewalk), 2) wearing brightly colored and/or reflective clothing, and 3) using a white front light and red rear light at night (which, incidentally, is North Dakota law).
• Motorists: Learn to recognize situations that may be hazardous to bicyclists, such as potholes and debris, and give them adequate space to maneuver.
• Bicyclists: Ride predictably and communicate effectively.  Ride in a straight line and use appropriate hand signals for turning and braking.  Make eye contact with motorists to let them know of your presence.
• Motorists: Don’t honk your horn when approaching bicyclists.
• Bicyclists: Anticipate conflicts in traffic by scanning the roadway, especially at intersections.  Learn braking and turning techniques to avoid crashes.
• Motorists: Reduce speed when passing bicyclists, especially on narrow roads.  Be particularly careful around children on bikes.

Through an increased understanding of each other’s needs, coupled with a heightened awareness while biking and driving, bicyclists and motorists can transcend the misguided perception of having to fight for a limited amount of road space.  With time, both groups can become partners in transportation, with the common goal of keeping traffic flowing smoothly and safely for the benefit of all road users.

Mark A. Liebig

President, Central Dakota Cyclists

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My view on this relationship is certainly less positive than it was in 2011.  Increasingly, I find myself asking if we have any significant protections against an auto-centric culture.  Overlay the trend of increasingly distracted and/or substance-addled motorists, and the outlook appears bleak.

Memorial Day 2016

(Sunrise at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery)

A Late Start to the 2016 Cycling Season

With physical therapy wrapping up at Sanford Health, I’m tentatively returning to cycling.  No long distance jaunts yet…  …just easy spinning in town.  I got out early this morning for a brief ride on the Koga-Miyata; the first of the year on that bike.

(That’s about right…  Feeling like a thin shadow of my former self.)

Surgery went well and the recovery has been smooth.  My last post-op appointment was on April 8^th, where I received marching orders to ‘protect both shoulders’ going forward.  That means weight training on a more-or-less continuous basis and (no big surprise) avoiding any nasty falls on (or off) the bike.  Now that all off-road bikes have been sold (the Karate Monkey was the last to go), I’m hoping to stay good on that second bit of guidance.

Wrapping up the Year

I feel I’ve come full circle with this post, announcing a shoulder surgery not unlike what was done in October 2012.  This time it’s the left side, but the same situation (torn labrum and rotator cuff, bone spurs, etc.).  Assuming all goes well tomorrow, it’ll be a winter of physical therapy to regain lost flexibility and strength.  Thank goodness shoulders come in pairs.  I have no interest in going through this a third time.

The cycling year ended modestly following Chief Joseph 300k.  I stuck to my commuter, riding to and from work mostly.  Commuting, in fact, accrued the most mileage for the year among my five riding categories.  Total mileage decreased significantly compared to previous years.  Will that trend continue in 2016?

ANNUAL SUMMARY - 2015
			Ride time	Mileage
		Ride	Cumulative	Cumulative
Bike		count	hh:mm:ss	km
Road		0	0:00:00	0
Mountain		1	0:41:03	10
Commuter		45	58:34:33	1257
Gravel		18	23:33:16	456
Randoneering		9	36:08:46	735
TOTAL		73	118:57:38	2460

Ride Report - Chief Joseph 300k

Jason Karp, Montana’s RBA, selected a Spanish derivation of the word ‘Mountain’ (la montaña) as the brevet ‘Word of the Day’.  It proved to be an accurate representation of what I was to experience for most of the next 17 hours.

Beginning in Bridger, MT on August 1^st, we departed promptly at 6:00 a.m.  Myself, along with four Montanan’s (three of whom were riding their final brevet prior to Paris-Brest-Paris) left the Bridger Hotel along Main St. and headed south to Belfry passing fields of wheat, freshly cut hay, and grazed pasture.  It was a great way to ease into the ride.  The valley of Clark’s Fork afforded us a comfortable air temperature, and it would be the only time during the day when we’d enjoy cool conditions at this lower elevation (<4000 feet).

(Rolling out of town)

(Montana wool)

Prior to leaving, the morning couldn’t have been more stressful.  I uncharacteristically overslept, giving myself less than 30 minutes to prepare and eat breakfast, change into cycling clothes, and complete a final check of my gear and bike.  I made it in time, but not before worrying Jason’s wife, Brenda, who knocked on the hotel door at 5:50 a.m. (“Yes, I’m just about ready…   …sorry!”).  I rolled out of my room just in time for the group photo.

[Chief Joseph 300k participants (L to R): Ken, Karel, Ken, Jason, Mark]

It was an ambitious loop, ascending Bear Creek Hill before passing through Red Lodge, over Beartooth Pass, into Cooke City (over Coulter Pass), back over Coulter Pass going east, then southeast over Dead Indian Pass before turning north on Wyoming Hwy 120 for the last 43 miles.  The day would include 14,000+ feet of climbing, with a maximum elevation just shy of 11,000 feet.  Our time limit was 20 hours, meaning we’d have until 2:00 a.m. Sunday to complete the brevet.

We were fortunate to have nearly perfect riding conditions over Beartooth Pass, with clear skies, a light breeze, and temperatures ideal for a hard climbing effort.  For me, this climb (and an all-too-brief descent) was the highlight of the day.

(PBP riders Karel, Ken, and Jason leading the charge up Beartooth Pass)

(Almost to the east summit)

(Brief stop at the west summit)

[Karel adjusts his GoPro for the descent (click here to view)]

(One of many high elevation lakes on the other side of the pass)

(Motivation to keep pedaling, fast!)

(Onward to Cooke City)

The climb over Coulter Pass proved to be the most difficult part of the day.  With temperatures in the high 80s, no breeze, and an absence of shade along the road, my pace slowed considerably.  Karel, who had been riding strong all day, pulled ahead to arrive in Cooke City first.  I wasn’t too far behind, joining him at the Exxon C-Store for lunch (deep-fried hotdogs!) and a well-earned break.

(Main thoroughfare in Cooke City, MT)

I loaded up on water before leaving, realizing there would be at least 4+ hours of riding in high temperatures before the next checkpoint.  I’m glad I did!  It turned out to be a hot afternoon.  I backed off my effort accordingly, stopping periodically to rest and enjoy the wonderful scenery.

(Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone River)

(Meadows!  Trees!  Mountains!  Sky!)

(One last crossing over Clark’s Fork before climbing Dead Indian pass)

(After the final climb, an amazing descent on Chief Joseph Scenic Byway)

The final leg was along Hwy 120, which sloped slightly downhill nearly all the way back to Bridger.  We lucked out with a moderate tailwind, which allowed for a decent pace into the evening (18-20 mph).  The only challenge was avoiding the rattlesnakes that came out on the road after dusk.  I dislike snakes, but they played an important role in the last 2.5 hours.  I had no problem staying alert.  Thanks snakes!

(Moving quickly north, dodging rattlesnakes along the way)

(One last push of calories and caffeine in front of the Silvertip Lounge, Belfry, MT)

(Arrived!  17 hours 7 minutes and 194 miles later)

The Chief Joseph 300k was a capstone cycling experience.  For the distance travelled, I have a hard time imagining a more scenic, exhilarating, and challenging ride.  Jason Karp pushed us hard with this route, and his wife Brenda provided timely support with food and drink in the last 40 miles.  While I’m in a definite lull this year with my randonneuring, I am happy having completed this brevet.  For me, the cycling year is complete.

Kudos to Jason and Brenda for setting the stage for unforgettable day.  They are a great team.  (Jason’s review of the ride can be found here).  I’m also indebted to my wife, Susan, who had good eats and cold water waiting upon my return. 

(Relaxing the next day in Medora, ND)

Biking Brasilia!

The annual GRA Croplands Research Group meeting in Brasilia, Brazil afforded me the opportunity to observe bicycling in South America (a first for me).  My previous travels ‘south of the border’ have extended no further than Mazatlán, Mexico, so this was a momentous travel experience, and one I enjoyed immensely despite being limited to a three day visit.

Brasilia is the hub of government for Brazil.  It has the unique distinction of being a city built over a 41 month period with the specific purpose of supporting the national government.  Inaugurated in April 1960, the city is characterized by modernist architecture at a grand scale.

(Looking down from the 21^st floor onto part of the Monumental Axis)

While I had no time for recreation during my visit, my walking excursions to and from meeting locations allowed me to observe bicycling in this city of 2.5 million people.

One thing I noticed immediately upon arriving was the pace of the traffic.  All vehicles, including public transport, moved well above the speed limit and often at an unsafe travelling distance.  As a pedestrian, I learned immediately to look twice before crossing roadways, even when I had the right-of-way (as I was nearly hit at an intersection by a taxi on the first day!).  Some thoroughfares were also surprisingly wide (six lanes), which made for some interesting crossing experiences given the paucity of stoplights.

(Major thoroughfare in Brasilia)

I was pleased to see a bike-share system and dedicated bike lanes close to the Monumental Axis.  Both, however, seemed infrequently used until Sunday morning, corresponding to a time when vehicular traffic was scant.  The bike share stations seemed to be operated using cellular phones, as I could not discern an obvious undocking/docking mechanism, though admittedly, my limited understanding of the Portuguese language didn’t help.

(Dedicated bike lanes)

(Brasilia bike-share station)

(Bike-share bike)

(And you unlock it how?)

I witnessed some interesting riding habits during my visit.  ‘Taking the lane’ on the equivalent of an interstate was a bit surprising, as was riding against traffic on the same highway.  Salmoning seems ubiquitous, despite the obvious risks.

(‘Taking the Lane’ in the passing lane)

(Brasilia Salmon)