LIVESTRONG BIKE RIDE and PATIO PARTY - May 4th

It’s official…on May 4th the Team Rubicon-Orbea professional racers will once again descend on LR to host the AR LIVESTRONG BIKE RIDE and PATIO PARTY benefiting the Lance Armstrong Foundation.  This year will be even bigger and better: we’ll have another raffle for lots of good schwag, a silent auction with lots of great items...but new this year is FREE Firehouse Subs provided by State Farm Agent Lee Tuxhorn and drink specials thanks to Dave Fike at River Trail Rentals! There will be plenty of music on the patio (weather permitting) and fellowship for all!

Just a few of the raffle and auction items include-

Autographed LANCE ARMSTRONG "Hope Rides Again" Poster

Autographed Team Rubicon-Orbea items

Autographed Tour of Missouri items by DAVE ZABRISKIE and FLOYD LANDIS

LIVESTRONG Oakley JAWBONE Glasses

Nike LIVESTRONG Technical Gear, Hats, and Bag

Team Rubicon-Orbea Cycling Kit (includes shorts, jersey, gloves, and cycling cap - Men's Medium)

Hammer Gel Gift Basket, Nike and SRAM Cycling Posters, Bike Tune-ups, Complimentary River Trail Bike Rental (half-day), Complimentary Tour de Hoot Registration (ride is June 5th), Arkansas Cycling and Fitness Famous "Still Plays With Bikes" T-shirts, AND...whatever else we can find to give away between now and then!

Wanna fight cancer and win cool stuff? Then place a bid on an auction item and/or buy a raffle ticket or two, or three, or 50...all contributions are tax-deductible. You’ll get to place your tickets into the buckets of the items you want! So, go ahead, indulge yourself, you know you want this schwag!

Raffle Ticket Cost is 5 for $5 or 12 for $10.

The starting point for the BIKE RIDE, sponsored by Hematology Oncology Services of Arkansas, will be River Trail Rentals (near Arkansas Queen/sub area) off Riverfront Drive. The ride route will follow the NLR River Trail and Burns Park Golf Course Loop; appox 20-25 miles. Families and riders wanting a shorter distance may turn around at the Fraternal Order of Police.  Festivities will begin at 5:30pm, ride will depart around 6:00pm. Silent auction and raffle will occur rain or shine!

MAY 1ST - UPDATES

Welcome new cyclists training for the 50 & 62 mile distances! 
Your first ride will be a 20-mile ride through the NLR River Trail system to include a Group & Traffic Safety course led by League Certified Instructor Tom Ezell!  We'll start at the River Trail Rentals at 8:00 a.m.

NEW START TIME FOR CENTURY TRAINERS!
With the longer distances and the sun shining earlier, we're moving the start time earlier so you have more daylight left on your Saturday.  New Start Time - 7:00 a.m.!  So, pre-ride meeting will be at 6:50 a.m.

And, since the rain spoiled our fun for the April 24th ride, we are changing the routes and planned distances.  Note the new route for the May 1st ride - for those training for the 100 miles.

Travelling Side-by-Side: Legal or Not?

For many cyclists, socializing with others while riding, is one of the fundamental pleasures of the sport. But the question arises: Is side-by-side riding legal?  Is it safe? 


Bob Mionske asks this very question in an article for Bicycling.com. In the article, Mr. Mionske indicates that Arkansas has not explicitly stated that riding two abreast is legal or illegal.  Therefore, according to the author and lawyer, it should be allowed and legal whereever it is safe to do so.   

Finally, eight states [Arkansas included] neither explicitly prohibit nor permit riding side by side. Because the activity is not prohibited by law, and because the vehicle codes of these states contemplate that cyclists will be sharing lanes when it is safe to do so, riding two (or more) abreast is implicitly allowed by these states. Sometimes, law enforcement officers in these states will cite two-abreast riders because one of the cyclists is not riding as close to the right as is practicable.

He goes on to say, 

"And, legal considerations aside, when contemplating riding two abreast it is important to remember common courtesy. Helping motorists safely pass your group by singling up when you can will go a long way to improving cyclist-motorist relations. It’s a small courtesy worth extending."  

Bob, we agree completely.  
[Full article]


We love riding in groups.  It is one of the best parts of the weekend. (I mean really - mow and clean or ride my bike?) One of the goals for our pace setters/leaders is to help everyone be safe not constricted.  No bossiness intended but we may get a little anxious when cars are backing up or cyclists are needing to cross over into oncoming traffic to pass. 


So, with our bigger groups, let's all be cognizant of traffic in front and behind us and let's not impede traffic in any way. Who knows? Maybe next year, North Little Rock will be a "Gold" Bicycle Friendly Community and Little Rock will be in the top half of the Best Cities for Bicycling.


For more on the Arkansas statutes and code, I found this document.

(If you are interested, more on this topic will be discussed in the upcoming Group Training course on May 1st!)

Ya'll, I'm not a lawyer and don't even want to play one on weekends (no offense to my legal buddies).  I do want to convey why some of the volunteers may "fuss" a tad to help keep the whole group safe and citation-free.  

See you Saturday!

Group Traffic Safety Class & Ride- Saturday, May 1st

Attention 30-, 50- and 62 milers:
We are excited to announce that League Certified Instructor, Tom Ezell, will be hosting a Group Traffic Safety Class on Saturday, May 1st.  Best part - this course is normally $20, however, Tom is donating his time to CARTI & Tour de Rock so it is FREE to everyone who attends!   

If you are planning on joining our 50/62 training group, or riding any distance at the Tour de Rock, we highly recommend this brief course. 

This training will include tips on how to ride in groups, on roads with automobiles, traffic laws, and tips for your bike.  It will also include a ride (approx. 20 miles in total) and bike maneuvers to help improve your safety and comfort while riding in groups.  


The route will be within the NLR River Trail system.  Starting location TBD.  Start time will be 8:00 a.m.


Register as soon as possible by sending an email to carti.tourderock@gmail.com.  Include your first and last name, telephone number and email address.

Stay tuned...more details to come!  

NEW START TIME THIS WEEK!

Starting April 3rd, training rides begin at 8:00.
Pre-ride talk starts at 7:50.

Come early!