Website Relocation

We are no longer updating these pages, having outgrown the blog format.  Please check out our new website at
http://www.velomuse.org.

All of this content has been transferred, and will continue to be updated, there. Thanks!

Velomuse Junior Development Club

Good news, all!

The Velomuse Junior Development Club is in the formative stages to create a platform for High School students to learn to ride bicycles in a skillful and responsible manner in public parks and low-traffic rural roads, develop a community leadership strategy, and work with local advocacy groups to create and maintain public trails. Beginning February 16th 2010, students in the Greater Pittsburgh Region between the ages of 14-18 years of age will have their first opportunity to train for 6 months in numerous disciplines of cycling (road, track, indoor, and mountain biking), learning a variety of applications of cycling utility, culminating in the junior mountain bike races held by Pennsylvania Scholastic Cycling League in Carslisle, Pennsylvania.

**We need your help to make this possible.** The expenses of such a program are vast, which can be a deal-breaker for many students (or their parents) considering joining a new program. By contributing to this cause, you are demonstrating your support for cycling to a multitude of generations, businesses, and non-profits.

If you or your organization are interested in sponsoring the team, please fill out the following form by February 14th, and we will get back to you within 2 business days.

Cycling Education Lecture Series

Tonight and next week, a Pittsburgh local bike shop is hosting informational lectures with field experts. Click the image for more information.

Study about women’s blogs

Why not continue the pattern of sharing information? Education seems like the best way to get information out, and discover a community’s needs. Report linked as PDF.

Snowed In – Black and Goldsprints (Pittsburgh)

Daily Photograph Project

Bookmark this if you like looking at pictures, some undoubtedly having to do with bikes: http://velomuse.wordpress.com/daily-photograph-project/ or click the menu above.

Annual Bike Mileage Contest

Results:
Annual Mileage for 2009: Travis Saeler wins with 7139 miles (see picture).  Lorri Lee Lown comes in second with 3,666 miles on all her bikes, compiled on a GPS.    Lee-Ann Beatty runs close with a notable 1146.23 miles on one bike.
Fastest Rider: John Hinderliter with “63.3 mph going down Coxcomb Hill from the Ramparts into New Ken right after they paved it.”
Most Miles in 1 Day: Ted King-Smith with 220 miles.

Travis Saeler Wins!

Qualifications:
1) be or make my acquaintance
2) no disclaimers
3) total mileage for 2009 must be confirmed by 1 bicycle computer*

Contest ends on December 31, 2009 at 11:59pm.

Personal Fulfillment in Cycling

It seems natural that this ponderance would follow the last. Although I usually try to avoid talking about myself, I think bringing the story close to home with give it some context for the average cyclist.

Although my first steed was when I was quite young, still in New York, I started riding bikes on a daily basis in junior high, and in California. Thus far, I’ve continued riding bicycles as my main form of transportation and not pursued a driver’s license. Of course, society touts the convenience of driving, and all kinds of “savings” that that lifestyle engenders one with. I called that bluff, happy with my bike. I rode everywhere, trying not to travel the same path twice. Of course, this need for variety made me curious about new routes, new people to ride with, and finding – or even creating – destinations worth traveling to.

Somehow, my path led me to bike racing. I never felt the draw to win, but I tried every facet of bike racing: cyclocross, road, criteriums, cross country mountain bike, downhill, triathlon, adventure racing, etc. I traveled every weekend and was seemingly competitive, winning a race every now and then. I never thought about my results during the race, I focused on the terrain and the unique attributes to that location. No race location was the same, but I still felt a sense of repetition with the California coastline, and so started traveling throughout the country to enjoy the bicycle trails and culture in other regions. I found the bicycle advocacy culture promoted the quality of the ride itself, and wanted to develop this effect in my own neighborhood. There was something beyond racing bikes that could provide fulfillment, and so I began coaching.

I’ve been fortunate to work with other coaches, and share ideas. This influence has helped me to inspire other cyclists, lending momentum to better quality riding for all of us. In turn, those cyclists have also provided me much fulfillment, changing familiar routes, and making everything seem new again. This also reminded me that there are unmet needs throughout the cycling community that I’d forgotten in my numerous adaptations. Those fundamental challenges are often the biggest ones, and I don’t think any one person can create a paradigm shift, but several might.

Pennsylvania High School MTB!!

Inspired from the NorCal League, and the upcoming National Interscholastic Cycling Association a perfect partnership between NorCal, USA Cycling and IMBA – The Pennsylvania Scholastic Cycling League is opening its doors to High School students for 2010, starting with the Central Conference series. Word.

Cycling as Meditation: the 8 fold path

It’s been no less than 10 years that I’ve considered cycling a conduit for my spiritual well-being. Finding words to describe this experience is difficult, and so I’ve taken to just bringing people with me. I’ve been slow to accept that there are obstacles in this pursuit, and have finally come to terms that a handful of categories that simply needs to be declared in order to convey this experience. It should be noted that no “enlightenment” can be achieved without all of the facets of cycling being pursued, in alternating sequence, simultaneously, or completely focused on one abstract. In all measures, these attempts should be pursued with one’s whole being or not at all. Not only will one achieve results aligned with their own personal goals, but more copious results within the pursuit itself. This is my pursuit:

The First Abstract will be found as Off-Road; a pure cycling tradition. It offers deconstructed oneness with the bicycle, within a natural environment, a test between the human and the earth. It begs one to observe evolution through time of all beings, by studying trail conditions, foliage transitions, weather patterns, and distances achieved in short time spans, otherwise inaccessible. These variances also provide distinct challenges on a daily basis, utilizing strength, creativity, and logic to pick a line. This type of riding provides a strong connection with bicycle, transmitting a great deal of the terrain experience into one’s body as gravity can be both utilized and defied.

The Second Abstract is a powerful compliment to the First: Urban Cycling pushes the observations inward, studying biology, rhythm, and development of plans to conquer a geographic destination. In the example of a particular mountain peak that one may see in the distance day to day – pushing onward with sheer determination towards the summit is a labor of love. Reaching the top fills one with such great pride and hope, that all pursuits are conceivable.

The Third Abstract is the required perpetual art-form needed to develop thorough respect the sport of cycling: Kinetic Mechanics. In addition to basic maintenance that one needs to complete any given ride, there are ways to “tune” the instrument to hum in any key one desires. Learning each part of a bike’s construction develops the bond one can have with their bike, as well as respecting that of other riders. Making mistakes brings the greatest learning opportunity, so one must take their time.

The Fourth Abstract is professing one’s love, otherwise known as Advocacy. Working with skeptics isn’t easy, especially when they seem to be in every facet of the community: clubs, retail, politics, family – but these traditional hangups have to find a home elsewhere. Humility is the foundation of the shared goal. Compiled facts about health, economic, and environmental benefits combined with a personal story can be quite disarming. This quality takes true leadership, benevolence, and tolerance.

The Fifth Abstract requires great personal sacrifice to develop Performance by strength, pain-tolerance, and constant self-review. Through in-depth planning, balance can be moderated towards athletic prowess. Much like Kinetic Mechanics, the construction of one’s body and its fuel becomes a study. Further into this abstract is Coaching, providing organization and leadership for others in the community, using psychology, academics and experience to invigorate the whole community, cyclists and non-cyclists alike.

The Sixth Abstract is Expression, that which identifies our spirit to ourselves and to others. Through art and music, practices that have no tangible function, we find ourselves communicating and resolving issues that would otherwise be incommunicable. This practice has the greatest potential to develop the cyclist persona in the event of a catastrophe that restricts one from riding.

The Seventh Abstract is Utility. Necessity is the mother of invention, right? A bicycle can do anything, take one anywhere, if one is aware of the previous 6 abstracts. Improvise and re-engineer the bike, one’s path and life. Become empowered by failed attempts as much as the success.

The Eighth Abstract is Get Outside, including, but not limited to one’s home, neighborhood, city, state and country. Whenever possible. Reviewing progress against that of others can offer profound insight into issue resolution and development ideas. Share ideas, and listen deeply.

Finally, it is essential that all of these are pursued simultaneously, or at least with elements of the others at one point in time, in order to achieve as close to complete understanding of the pursuit itself.

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