Momentum Header

January 15, 2013
January Momentum Newsletter
Greetings!

Happy New Year Fort Collins cyclists!  All I can hope is that you are all staying warm this new year because it has been a bitter cold one thus far.  Here are a few tips for biking in the winter:
  • Tires with a significant amount of tread are preferable, studded tires are even better!
  • Fenders can protect from snow, slush, water and most importantly, keep you dry.
  • Front and rear lights should always be used in the winter because of low light conditions and shorter days.
  • Dress appropriately: wear enough to stay warm and dry.  If you sweat, you will get cold faster.  It is better to start a little cold and get warm and comfortable as you ride. 
Lastly, check out www.fcgov.com/weknowsnow for priority snow plow routes for cyclists.
 
With that, check out the upcoming events and bike news for Fort Collins:
Local Bike Events   

RioSwap

Thursday, January 24, 6:30-10:30pm @ Rio Grande Agave Room

Round up your old outdoor gear (not just bikes) and head to the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant's  Agave Room on Thursday January 24th from 630pm -10:30pm.  Entry into the swap is free,  tables for selling gear cost a mere $10.00.  Please register and pay for your table below. As usual,  Rio bar and their world famous margaritas will be in full force.  Those of you that have attended before know it's as much as social event as it is a swap.  For more information, visit: http://www.yourgroupride.com/news-and-events-for-module-publishing/132-news-and-events-/1439-rioswap-2012.  

 

Traffic Skills 101 Course

RESCHEDULED FOR: Saturday, February 9, 8am-4pm

This FREE course, based on the League of American Bicyclists curriculum, covers sharing the road, rules of the road, bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques, PLUS lunch and materials. It's recommended for students above the age of 14 years. For more information and to RSVP, contact Nancy Nichols at [email protected] or 970.224.6112.

 

Be An Early Biking Bird

Early registration for the 25th Annual Community Classic Bike Tour (CCBT) begins on January 14. Save $15 off of the regular fee of $55 if you sign up before February 4 on www.Active.com. One hundred percent of all registration fees and sponsorship contributions will benefit Loveland's McKee Medical Center programs. The CCBT, scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 19, is a non-competitive, multi-distance bicycle tour through Loveland and Fort Collins.

Get Involved

Become a Bike Friendly Community Local Reviewer

 

Fort Collins is applying to the League of American Bicyclists as a Bike Friendly Community and needs your help.  Each application to the Bicycle Friendly America program is reviewed by a panel of national bicycle experts and several local reviewers are consulted to share their on the ground perspective of the applicant. If you are knowledgeable about bike issues and would like to become a Bicycle Friendly America program local reviewer, please  sign-up here before February 26th.

 

Track your rides on your phone & shape the future of bicycling in Fort Collins!

Colorado State University, the City of Fort Collins, and CanDo (Coalition for Activity & Nutrition to Defeat Obesity) are partnering to record the routes bicyclists in Fort Collins take for transportation and recreation.

Whether you're an avid cyclist or an occasional fair-weather rider, the routes you choose provide valuable information to help determine the type and location of bicycle infrastructure for future projects. Just follow these easy steps:Cycle Tracks Logo

  1. Download the free CycleTracks app for your smartphone
  2. Carry your phone on your ride
  3. Improve cycling in your community
  4. Start tracking today!

The CycleTracks app, developed by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, will anonymously log the general routes you ride. As a bonus, you'll be able to review your trips right on your phone. Data collected is anonymous and participation is voluntary. No personal information is shared with the study team, only your route data.

Learn more at www.pvhs.org/cando or email [email protected].

 
Street Closures

MAX Station Construction

Northbound Mountain Station; Maple Intersection - Construction Begins Jan. 14.  For more information, please visit:  http://www.fcgov.com/news/?id=4654.

 

Ongoing: Shields Street Bridge Replacement

* NOTE TO BICYLISTS: You can and should take the lane when riding through this construction zone.

 shield street bridge

Over the next several months, the City of Fort Collins will be replacing a structurally deficient bridge on Shields Street just south of Rolland Moore Park. This bridge has the second lowest sufficiency rating of all the bridges inspected within the city.

Schedule: September 2012 to June 2013

Construction will occur in phases:

Phase 1: September 2012 to January 2013

  • Northbound lanes of Shields will be closed first, and traffic will be diverted to the west side of Shields; one lane of travel will be open in each direction.

Phase 2: February 2013 to June 2013

  • Southbound lanes of Shields will be closed and traffic will be diverted to the east side of Shields; one lane in of travel will be open in each direction.

Work zone notes:

  • Lane closures will be static throughout each project phase
  • Bicycles will be required to merge with automobiles in the work zone or follow signed detour routes to avoid traffic
  • Pedestrian access will be available, but it will be restricted to designated areas
  • Business access will remain open during construction.

For more information and to sign up for the e-newsletter updates, please visit: http://www.fcgov.com/engineering/shields-bridge.php.

Bike Garage in Amsterdam
Bike Garage in Amsterdam
Fun Facts
Did you know . . .
Americans use their bicycles for less than one percent of all urban trips. Europeans bike in cities a lot more often-in Italy 5 percent of all trips are on bicycle, 30 percent in the Netherlands, and seven out of eight Dutch people over age 15 have a bike.


Sincerely,

Becky Moriarty

FC Bikes Intern

O: 970.416.2471

[email protected]

I Bike FC 

 

In This Issue
Quick Links
FC Bikes Logo 
Stay Connected

Facebook    Twitter    LinkedIn    Pinterest
FC Bikes | [email protected] | http://www.fcgov.com/bicycling
281 N. College Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80524

Text


Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved.