A NEWSLETTER OF THE IOWA VALLEY BICYCLE CLUB

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1 M A Y ON YOUR LEFT... A NEWSLETTER OF THE IOWA VALLEY BICYCLE CLUB Don t forget to sign up for the MARSHMALLO ride on Saturday, May 17. Check out our web site for an applicadon and details, or fill out the afached applicadon. Remember that the profits go to the Iowa River Trail. Bikes2Share IVBC has been awarded a grant for the second year from the Community Foundation of Marshall County for our Bikes2Share program. The grant is in the amount of $1,000, and the Club received the grant at MCC on March 25th. Ken Lyons and Sheri Kubalsky have done an outstanding job as directors of the Bikes2Share program which gives used bikes to adults who need them as transportation. We have reason be proud of the work accomplished. IVBC would like to give a big SHOUT OUT to Ken and Sheri. Ride of Silence On May 21, 2014 at 7:00 PM, the 12th Annual Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves. Sixteen percent of all fatal accidents include a cyclist or pedestrian. A pedestrian or cyclist will R always lose when in an accident with a 3000 pound motor vehicle. The local ride will start at the YMCA Cultural Center parking lot. The ride will be a slow paced ride (12 mph maximum) over a course entirely on the streets of Marshalltown. The local ride will honor Daniel Young, killed just outside of Marshalltown on July 2, 2006, and all other cyclists killed or injured when involved in an incident with a motor vehicle. The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road, and remain silent during the ride. The ride is open to everyone of all abilities. Helmets are required. See you there! Bike To Work Week Bike To Work Week will start May 12 and conclude on Friday, May 16. We will have a table on the trail at the Community Y, from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM Monday through Friday. Stop by for a rest, snacks, and great conversation. We would love to see you. IVBC president, Tony Etcher, Sherry Kubalsky and Ken Lyons receive check for B2S project. *Note--Fourteen percent of the population of Iowa live in a Bicycle Friendly Community. Within the next two years, the number may jump to 17%.

2 Mileage (continued from last month) " Several IVBC riders rode over 2,000 miles in Riding 2,000 miles or more over a riding season is an outstanding accomplishment, and IVBC has cause to be proud of our bike club for such an amazing feat. Now would be a good time to consider achieving the goal of riding more than 2,000 miles for First, determine the number of weeks you have during the season and the days of each week you will be able to ride. Events such as family commitments, vacations, and work schedule will all need to be considered. Next, mark the days on the calendar you will be able to ride and determine how many miles you must ride each day. Start early in the season and remember, several short rides are better than a few long rides, especially, early in the season. Early in the season, you must schedule days for rest (something we tend to forget). More days of rest will be required early in the season as getting in shape is more difficult than staying in shape. Longer, slower rides will get you in shape much faster than fast short rides. You must build your base. Finally, plan as many fun rides as possible, rides with friends and family, use your bike to run errands, do club rides (even club rides sponsored by other clubs-- that s always fun). " Attend a bike race; you will be surprised by the speed and athletic conditioning of the riders. Follow the career of a professional rider--that will help motivate you and keep up your interest in cycling. The more you know about the sport of cycling, the greater your motivation and enthusiasm. Doug Ritter 8141 Tom Eaton 6000 Mike Bergman 5063 Robert Wales 4977 Pat Coughlin 4800 Gabrielle Coughlin 4800 Merle Stubbs 4467 Bradley Bridges 4400 Don Groff 4035 Kent Geffe 3900 John Eich 3780 Charlie Smith 3643 Dana Bresler 3573 Harry Gardner 3500 Brad Bosworth 3499 Dave Eaton 3324 Terry Briggs 3151 Lanny Nuese 3145 Neil Glessner Tom Lewis 3000 Hunter William Pat Beurskens 2865 Jennifer Hunter Mary Stuffs 2750 Jerry Logan 2610 Mel Schroyer 2536 Bill Wilson 2400 Mark Stiehl 2370 Rick Glessner 2100 Michale McCormick 2034 Mike Miltenberger 2029 Tom Kurth 2000 Ken Lyons 2000 Robert Schuler 2000 Early Trail Clean-Up On Sunday, March 23, sixteen IVBC ers cleaned the winter road gravel and sand from the trail along Highland Acres Road. A special thanks goes out to Tom Kurth, Terry Briggs, Ron Keller, Dave Eaton, Rick Glessner, Roger Lutes, Charles Smith, Dave Huff, Richard Huff, John Eich, Dieter Butzlaff, Ed Burgess, Lanny Nuese, Pat Beurskens, and Carl Balmer. The Trail will need more work before the MARSHMALLO ride, and as you can see, the trail will be in good hands. Thanks so much to those who volunteered to make our trail system safe.

3 Iowa River Trail (IRT) Progress:! Management of the Iowa River Trail will be by two organizations, TRAILS,Inc (Marshalltown) and the Hardin County Trail Association. At this time TRIALS, Inc. is a 501(c)3 corporation, and the Hardin County Trail Commission is also tax exempt by virtue of being a county government commission. Both organizations have executive committees. Representatives from each executive committee have developed a super committee to insure that cooperation exists in developing and managing the trail. All decisions by the super committee must have a sixty percent consensus.! The third major organization is the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation which will play a very large role in building and securing grants for the completion of the trail. The role of the Iowa Valley Bicycle Club will be to support the trail development in two ways: 1. financially support TRAILS, Inc. We have already begun that process through club donations and by having the MARSHMALLO Ride as a fund raiser for the trail. The second method of support is by volunteering hours to clean, repair, and monitor the trail as it is developed.! The trail will be owned by the city of Marshalltown and Hardin County. The city of Marshalltown will own the twelve miles in Marshall County, and Hardin County will own about twenty-two miles in Hardin County. All monies for construction will be held in one account while monies to maintain the trail will at least originally be managed separately.! A major step in beginning the process is to hire a trail engineering firm with trail-building experience. We have companies in Iowa who have a proven record in building a quality trail. Building the trail with the help of a quality trail engineering firm will provide a safe and enjoyable trail with reduced maintenance costs in the future. All water crossings must be inspected and made structurally safe and meet trail standards to allow the general public to use the crossings.! All railroad beds must be stabilized before a surface can be placed on the bed. That process will allow the general public to use the trail corridor before the hard surface is placed on the stabilized railroad bed. The first time you walk the corridor, you will realize the the trail is incredibility beautiful. Just walking from Second Street to Summit Street is a delight. The trail does not feel like an urban trail, but more of a forested area. The entire trail will be the most beautiful trail in the midwest.! Another challenge will be connecting the Iowa River Trail to the Linn Creek Trail and to make that connection as safe as possible. A decision will be made as to where to end the trail on the east; Second Street or Fourth Street? Are trailheads necessary?...and where to place trailheads if they are necessary.! There will be several decisions and challenges ahead for all the committees and the community, but it is a great feeling to work on the task of growing our community, to look forward with enthusiasm and all the great things the future holds for Marshalltown and Marshall County. When we think about where we were 7 years ago and where we are today, we can feel great joy in our accomplishments. Saylorville Campout The Iowa Valley Bicycle Club is having a club campout again this year. It will take place on Friday, May 31 st to Sunday, June 2nd. The campout is at Saylorville Lake, Prairie Flower Campground. The campsite is OX- Eye circle. It holds 10 campers and 10 tents, so don t be afraid to come if you tent camp. There are electrical hookups, a center gazebo and the bathrooms are close. For Ragbrai riders, this can be the first opportunity to see if you have the items needed. While there, a number of oprons are available to do. The dam- to- dam race starts at Saylorville Lake on Saturday morning on the dam, which is about 7 miles from the campsite, and many riders go to watch the runners leave. Bikers can also get on the bike path and ride into Des Moines to go to the Farmer s Market or just to shop. Going north on the bike trail will take you to the high trestle bridge. Some people make a night ride to the bridge. The club has a potluck on Saturday night where campers share a meal. We have a campfire, roast marshmallows and tell what we did that day. Several riders usually ride down to the campout on Friday. It is a ride of about 70 miles, a good test for RRAGBRAI. So, if you would like to campout with the bike club, contact Tom Kurth at or

4 ** Looking for something different? Check out the following website... Iowa Valley Bicycle Club Ride Schedule, 2014 Start at the Y Cultural Center May!!!! Ride Host!!! Start Time " Saturday, May 3 " " Class I Ride:" " " " " TBA AM " " Class II Ride:" " " " " 9:00 AM " " (NABR---Nevada) Dana Bresler " Tuesday, May 6" " Black Tire Bike Shop Ride" 6:00 PM " Saturday, May 10 " " Class I Ride:" " " " " " 9:00 AM " " Class II Ride:" " " " " 9:00 AM" " Tuesday, May 13" " Black Tire Bike Shop Ride" 6:00 PM " " " Saturday, May 17 " " Class I Ride:" " MARSHMALLO" " 9:00 AM " " Class II Ride:" MARSHMALLO" " 9:00 AM " Tuesday, May 20" " Black Tire Bike Shop Ride"6:00 PM " Wednesday, May 21" Ride of Silence" " 7:00 PM " " " " " Y Cultural Center " Saturday, May 24 " " Class I Ride:" " " " " " 9:00 AM " " Class II Ride:" " " " " 9:00 AM " Tuesday, May 27" " Black Tire Bike Shop Ride" 6:00 PM " Friday, May 30--June 1 " " Saylorville Campout" Tom Kurth" " " TBA " Saturday, May 31 " " Class I Ride:" " " " " 8:00 AM " " Class II Ride:" " " " " 8:00 AM...finally...

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6 Iowa Valley Bicycle Club P.O. Box 927 Marshalltown, Iowa MEETING DATE: The next meeting is May 14th at 7:00 at the Fisher Comm. Center. Everyone interested in bicycling is welcome to attend. ************************************************** Check our web site or Check out our Facebook page: