Volume 48, Issue #10, October 1, 2016 |
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President's Message
By Will Benedict
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Thank You
By the time this newsletter reaches you, the 2016 versions of our Wildflower and Lighthouse Century bike rides will have been completed. Once again our members and friends have provided the smiles and hard work needed to put on these events and make them such great experiences for our riders. I would like to thank each and every one of you who contributed to another year of successful fund raising events.
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News, Notes & Events
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2017 Wildflower Jersey
The voting is complete for the 2017 Wildflower Jersey and the design shown above by Will Benedict has been selected. It will be interesting to see how it sells. The SLOBC has a tradition of unique and striking jerseys for our century rides. You are invited to submit a design by April 1, 2017 for the 2017 Lighthouse Century. Go to our Volunteering webpage for Jersey Design information.
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Vote to Improve our County's Transportation System
The SLOBC has endorsed Measure J, a 9-year, half-percent sales tax initiative to fund local and regional transportation priorities. Measure J will appear on the ballot in the upcoming November 8 election. We support Measure J because new transportation investments are needed throughout San Luis Obispo County to make up for state and federal funding that has dropped severely in recent years. Funds collected will benefit the entire county, including support for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, public transportation for seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. Whether you drive a car, ride a bicycle, take public transit or walk, (or do all four) Measure J is a smart investment in the future of SLO County.
For more information, please go to http://selfhelpslo.org/ and http://yesonj-slo.org/
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Sunday, October 9, 2016
11:30 - 12:00 Apple, honey and cider tasting
12:00 - 2:00 Picnic lunch provided by SLOBC
Please join us for a delicious picnic lunch in a beautiful outdoor setting. This is a members-only event and you must RSVP to Debbie Abrecht at dlabrecht@icloud.com by September 30, 2106.
Organized Rides
Get there on a bike by joining one of these rides or creating your own. Bike racks and parking for cars will be available.
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 Eva and Heulan Brown
The October Volunteer of the Month is really TWO people who have been together for more than 60 years!! They are Eva and Heulan Brown. They were nominated by me for their enthusiastic "Yes" when I asked if they could assist with the Parkhill rest stop during this year's Wildflower.
Heulan manned the port-a-potties and made sure they were well stocked with whatever was needed. Eva tirelessly cut bagels, oranges, muffins and put them out on platters. As we all know these are the jobs that are needed at every rest stop. Eva and Heulan always put a delightful spin on their labors, encouraging others and chatting with the riders.
The Browns have volunteered for many years on many a Wildflower and Lighthouse. They remember the "Food fight" where captains went to get food to stock their rest stops. You had to load the food yourselves into your own vehicle. They also had to get water for the 250 gallon water tank for the Shell Creek stop at the fire station in Creston. Very heavy!! After the truck with tank was in place, two water spigots were added from a long pipe connected to the tank. Someone placed a sign above one spigot that said, "Hot" and at the other spigot was "Cold". The line of riders filling water bottles for the Cold spigot was much longer than the Hot even though they both came from the same water line! Heulan said there was a lot of "crazy stuff and joy in being a SLOBC member.
The Browns have enjoyed working with many people over the years in SLOBC. Heulan says they like to create a "goodwill feeling which adds to the adventure".
Volunteers are chosen at random by your nominations. If you would like to recognize a volunteer, send an email to Kathleen McHugh at elcolejr@gmail.com and tell us the reason for your choice. |
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Rumble Strips and Bicycling: Both on the Increase
The Situation: Rumble strips, those lines of corrugated pavement we have driven across in our cars, are now having a larger impact on bicyclists. There has been increased rumbling (pun intended) about both the positive and negative aspects of these traffic control devices.
Centerline rumble strips on roads and highways have been with us for a long time. They are intended to alert drivers who have drifted over the center line. Their installation has been increasing. Edge line, or fog line, rumble strips are now being increasingly used to alert drivers not to drift onto the shoulder. All of this is a result of drivers leaving their lanes and causing accidents. You have, no doubt, learned of these occurrences over the past several years when drivers have collided with bicyclists that are using the shoulders/bike lanes - with bad consequences for the cyclists. Because of this reality, bicyclists have begun supporting the use of edge line rumble strips.
Working with Caltrans and County Public Works, an agreement has been reached, in some cases, to make edge line rumble strips more compatible, and safer, for cyclists. These installations (the most recent being on Hwy. 1 from San Luis Obispo to north of San Simeon & Hearst Castle) are shallower in depth, just four inches wide, and are placed under the painted edge line stripe. A similar project will take place in the coming year on Hwy. 46 between Hwy. 1 and Hwy. 101. Centerline rumble strips are deeper and wider and will remain so. These are also used on high speed highway shoulders where they are placed one foot within the shoulder area from the edge. We will continue to explore better solutions for bicyclists in these situations, e.g., Hwy. 101 over the Cuesta Grade
It is important to understand that the application and design of edge line rumble strips is still being studied. This is why the bicycling community should continue its involvement in this undertaking. Our concern, as always, is the safety of bicyclists.
Recommendations: - For bicyclists, and ride leaders, be alert to the existence of rumble strips wherever you ride.
- Try, when safe, riding across the newer, shallower, four inch wide edge line strips to understand what the feeling is like. You should discover that they are acceptably crossable.
- Avoid crossing over the deeper and wider centerline rumble strips and where they occur on shoulders whenever possible. These deeper strips can throw you off line, and even off your bike, if you do not have your bike under good control.
- Ride leaders should scope routes in advance and report to their ride group any obstacles, including the existence of rumble strips and how to properly ride where these exist.
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SLO Pokes (9:00 AM, A2)
Wednesdays
Coordinator: June KramerEmail: junekramer1@gmail.comPhone: 425-239-8692
Date: October 5
Start: Islay Park, San Luis Obispo
Destination: The Bat Cave; Old Mission and SLO cemeteries
Note: Coffee at Coastal Peaks; Several return options
Leader: Kate Murray
Phone: 858-395-3001
Date: October 12
Start: Cloisters Community Park, Morro Bay
Destination: Cayucos cemetery; Top Dog coffee
Note: Two Creeks and a Cemetery ride
Leaders: Chris Fylling & Dee McKelvie
Phone: 805-406-3083 (Chris)
805-610-1234 (Dee)
Date: October 19
Start: Hardie Park, Cayucos
Destination: Cambria cemetery; Linn's for coffee
Note: Shorter ride option to begin in Harmony
Leader: Val Barboza
Phone: 805-264-5901
Date: October 26
Start: J. Lohr Vineyards, Paso Robles
Destination: Pleasant Valley cemetery; San Miguel for coffee
Note: Halloween ride
Leaders: June Kramer & Dee McKelvie
Phone: 425-239-8692 (June)
805-610-1234 (Dee)
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Tortoises (9:00 AM, A1)
Fridays
Coordinators: Stu & Janie Goldenberg
Phone: 805-544-4720
Date: October 7
Start: Meadow Park, San Luis Obispo
Destination: McMansions
Leader: Bob Tuman
Phone: 805-545-5976
Date: October 14
Start: Nazarene El Moro, Los Osos
Destination: Around the Center of the Universe (Los Osos)
Leaders: Hans & Patricia Boerst
Phone: 805-534-9660
Date: October 21
Start: Dinosaur Caves Park, Pismo Beach
Destination: The Tree House Ride
Notes: A brief tour of the Five Cities
Leader: Cil Boughton
Phone: 805-544-4844
Date: October 28
Start: Shamel Park, Cambria
Destination: Tour of the Scarecrows
Note: Shorter ride with lots of stops;
Possibly lunch afterwards in Cambria
Leader: Charles Wright
Phone: 805-549-0502
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Upcoming Program
By Barry Rands, Programs Coordinator
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Apple Harvest Ride and Picnic
In place of our regular monthly meeting we are hosting a ride and picnic. See details above.
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Date: October 9, 2016
Time: 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Location: See Canyon Fruit Ranch
2345 See Canyon Road
San Luis Obispo, CA
The Date, Time and Location of
SLOBC meetings can be found
on our Events Calendar webpage.
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SLOBC Board Meeting Minutes
By Gary Havas, Secretary
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Air Pollution Control District Auditorium
3433 Roberto Court, San Luis Obispo CA
December 1, 2015, 5:00 PM
Meeting was called to order at 5:02:35 pm.
Board Members Present: Will Benedict, Gary Havas, Susan McTaggart, Ken Price, Barry Rands, and Harvey Cohon. Absent: Dave Abrecht, Larry Rutter, Dale Sutliff, and Bill Martin. Minutes from the July Board Meeting were approved (MSC Cohon/Rands). Treasurer's Report. Bill Martin was absent, and relayed he would send financial reports subsequently. Lighthouse Report: Will Benedict gave an overview of the ride's progress and shared that financial projections were close to predictions so far. He noted that being more conservative and cautious was wise, and that future budget planning would be affected in these ways. Bike SLO County (BSC): Will Benedict gave an overview. The SLOBC has been supporting BSC for many years. Recently the SLOBC has requested and received acknowledgements in BSC's outreach and at events. With the 2016 Wildflower shortfall, past goals for giving will not be met. Question: Might we aid the BSC in covering this shortfall by integrating their efforts? Discussion followed where suggestions for visibility of BSC by the Bike Club's membership were offered, how BSC labor might be tapped, how email visibility might be employed, concerns that SLOBC members might feel sidelined if BSC members' labor were added to the Club's. The discussion concluded with rescheduling spokespersons from BSC for October 2016. Transportation Investment Plan: Dave Abrecht. While Dave was not present for this discussion, Will Benedict lead the brief discussion about contributing $1000 for the Yes on Measure J plan. All agreed to support the contribution. (MSC Price/Cohon) Standing Jobs: Will Benedict revisited his request that Board members review the Standing Jobs list and descriptions and offer feedback. Discussion was brief, noting that one name, "Sunshine Committee" might need updating. Board Schedule: Will Benedict noted that reservations for monthly Board Meetings would need to be set in October. The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:09:31 pm.
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SLO Coaster
The SLO Coaster is the monthly newsletter of the San Luis Obispo Bicycle Club that is automatically sent to all members. Everyone is welcome to view and subscribe to the digital edition of the SLO Coaster. To subscribe, use the Newsletter Signup Form.
All articles, letters, stories of bicycling experiences, appropriate classified ads, artwork etc, are welcome. Each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily represent the opinion or endorsement of the SLOBC or editor.
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Submittal Guidelines
All materials are due no later than
8:00 a.m. on the 15th of each month. Nothing will be accepted verbally.
The editor reserves the right to edit or reject material.
All materials should be emailed to newsletter-editor@slobc.org.
Complete submittal guidelines are found at: Newsletter Guidelines.
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Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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