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THE FERGUSON CYCLIST
by Gerry Noll
SEPTEMBER 2011
A few of us were in the bike shop one afternoon last June when a young man with an Irish accent burst in, said that he was with a RAAM team, and needed to know how to get onto Lindbergh Ave. We immediately knew what was going on. The Race Across America (RAAM) takes place every June. Bicycle riders start in California and race to the finish in Annapolis, MD, a distance of 2,989 miles. And, yes, this is a race…the winner this year completed the race across the entire U.S. on his bicycle in 8 days, 8 hours!
We had been following the race online and knew that riders would be coming through the area soon. The route that RAMM riders take comes through the St. Louis area every year and crosses the Mississippi on the Alton Bridge. Somehow the support team for one rider had gotten all fouled up with their directions and ended up in downtown Ferguson. He needed to get up to Lindbergh and then over to 367 in order to get to the bridge. While the rider waited around the corner next to the Ferguson Brewing Company we straightened out his support person and got him on the road in the right direction. Later we saw online that this team had lost their entire lead over the next team due to getting lost.
So that means that in the last year Ferguson has been graced with two visits from RAAM bicycle riders. The first visit was by Susan Notorangelo, who grew up in Ferguson, went to McCluer High School, and graduated from UMSL. She later set many women’s cross-country cycling records and won RAAM twice in the 1980s. Susan visited Ferguson last fall to be honored with a plaque on Ferguson’s Wall of Fame. She wanted to be here. The second visit was by the young Irish rider. He didn’t want to be here.
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In the very first Ferguson Cyclist column I wrote: “Like most of us, I learned to ride a bike when young.” If you learn to ride when young it is a skill that comes back quickly years later. And if you don’t learn to ride when young it is difficult to learn to ride as an adult.
My father taught me to ride and I taught my kids the same way my father taught me. I would run alongside them and help them keep their balance by holding their handle bars with one hand and the back of their seat with the other hand. Whenever I sensed that they were beginning to keep their balance I would let go for short periods of time, with each period of time growing longer. Finally I would let go completely and run ahead so they could see that they were on their own. Teaching a child to ride a bicycle is a nice metaphor for the overall process of raising children.
But one skill is seldom taught by parents to their children: the best way to get going on a bicycle. Very few of us learn that when we first start bicycling. As a bike shop owner I’ve seen many people take test rides of bicycles and have observed that many people don’t know the right way to get going. They know how to ride and balance once they are moving. But getting going is the problem. A wobbly start is a good indication of an incorrect start. One person taking a test ride behind the bike shop fell over immediately because of a wobbly start. A good start generates enough speed that there is no wobbling and balancing is easy.
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Several interesting bicycling opportunities are coming up:
- Sunday Parkways: the last one of the year will be held October 9, 1-4pm, in the Jeske Park neighborhood. More info and activity maps can be found at http://www.livewellferguson.com/sundayparkways.shtml
- Cycling Savvy: classes that teach how to bicycle with skill and confidence will be held October 14-16 in Ferguson. Learn the best way to get going on a bicycle! Discount coupons to the Ferguson Bicycle Shop are included with every registration. More info and how to register at http://cyclingsavvy.org/2011/09/cyclingsavvy-mid-october-classes-in-ferguson/
- Better Block Project: the two blocks on S. Florissant between Carson and Adams will be transformed on Saturday, October 15, from 10am-10pm. New businesses, landscaping, street parking, and innovative bike lanes will appear for just that one day. Come down and ride in the bike lanes and tell us what you think about them. These bike lanes won’t be like any others you’ve seen!
- Ghost of the Past: free bicycle tour of Bellefontaine cemetery. Sunday, October 30. Registration 9:30-10am, ride starts at 10am. Visit some of the most important “ghosts” of St. Louis’ past and learn about their role in the city and country’s history. What a great way to cap off Halloween weekend!
- Twilight Ramble: Sunday, November 6. Rides for all ages at 3pm, 4pm, and 5pm! The first 100 to register for this free event get a free t-shirt. Registration forms and more info are available at http://www.livewellferguson.com/twilightramble.shtml
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If you want to talk about cycling,
comment on this column, or learn more about the Ferguson
Cycling Club, you can reach me at: emd0072-cycling@yahoo.com
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