The Tailwind 1/27/2010
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In this Issue:
Club Events and News
Eco Expo
Upcoming Rides
Out of Town Rides – see updates
Other local bike news and events
The Weekly Rides
Other Bike Links of interest
Club Events and News
There will be an Eco Expo at Temple Israel, Sunday, January 31st, from 11 AM to 4 PM. The MHBC will be one of the exhibitors. If you would like to volunteer to sit a table for an hour and answer questions about our club, local rides, etc,. please contact Frank Pitts, omnielectrical@comcast.net. Otherwise, please check out this interesting and educational event and stop by our ‘booth’ to say hi.
Upcoming Rides: The Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club has chosen Saturday April 17th 2010 as the date for its annual Charles Finney Ride which benefits the Church Health Center. We anticipate it will start at 8:00 am from the Lakeland Outlet Mall and follow the same route as last year.
Ride into Spring – Saturday April 3, 2010
sponsored by RB’s Cyclery
This ride has been on the first Saturday of April in past years as it is this year.
(last year it started at 8:00 am)
Sponsored by: Rod Beck – RB’s Cyclery
See: http://rbscyclery.com/articles/rides-and-events-pg37.htm
Charles Finney Ride – Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club – Saturday April 17, 2010
See: http://memphishightailers.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=87&club_id=631861&item_id=107473
Double Decker Arts Festival Ride – Oxford MS – Saturday April 24, 2010
The festival has been traditionally on the either the 4th Saturday of April (or the last Saturday, I am not sure which). This year it is on Saturday April 24th, 2010.
Sponsored by: Oxford Cycling Club
See: http://www.oxfordcycling.com/index.htm
Ride for Safety – In Memory of Cory Horton – Sunday May 2, 2010
This ride has been on the first Sunday of May.
This ride is sponsored by Memphis Thunder Racing
See: http://www.memphisthunderracing.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=33818&module_id=39160
Registration is open for The Black & Blue Double Century Relay, Virginia to Asheville, June 12, 2010, 6 am start
www.blackandbluerelay.comhttp://www.blackandbluerelay.com
336-877-8888
"LAST YEAR'S RIDE WAS ABSOLUTELY GREAT AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL YET CHALLENGING RIDES IMAGINABLE." - team captain
“The course was super, the organization was excellent and the participants were all first class. I’m already looking forward to next year.”
- 2008 team captain
The only cycling event of its kind in the contiguous United States, The Black & Blue, which is a double century (200-mile) relay, will showcase the demanding mountainous roads and notable rivers of Southwestern Virginia and Western North Carolina. Named for the difficulty and to reflect the Black Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains through which the course traverses, The Black & Blue is sure to be a bike challenge like no other.
The Black & Blue consists of 1 to 8 person teams that rotate through 1 to 8 stages as they cover the 200-mile distance and 21,758' of elevation change. Riders will complete anywhere from 25 miles to 200 miles.
The Black & Blue starts at Grayson Highlands State Park, Grayson County, VA, which is near the base of Mount Rogers (5729'), the highest peak in Virginia. The course primarily follows scenic, country roads as it winds its way through North Carolina's High Country to the finish in Asheville. The course features some of the region's most spectacular scenery including the balds of Grayson Highlands State Park, the New River, Toe River, Cane River, and Grandfather Mountain (5964').
Looking for a unique gift idea? Buy someone (or yourself) a MHBC Jersey or Jacket!
We have Hightailer jackets (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL) for $60 each. Get two or three in case you lose weight from all that riding you are resolving to do next year.
There are only a few Hightailer jerseys remaining and we do not have all sizes or styles. These unique jerseys are a bargain at only $40 each but you’d better get one soon- when they are gone they are gone!
To place an order for jackets or jerseys call Frank Pitts at 832-8811. And hey! You can even try one on before you buy it. Is that cool or what?
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Rides Despite the cool temps, we have the regular weekly rides and some special rides coming up. Check the Club Calendar for details.
Weekly Hightailer Rides
The Superlo Morning Rides: Saturday & Sunday Morning 9 am Map Link
The weekly Saturday & Sunday morning rides will leave from the parking lot in front of Super Lo on Southern between Perkins and Colonial. The rides usually travel between 25-30 miles. Avg. speeds range from 12 to 18 or so mph. Saturday's group is usually larger and often has a wide variety of riders from beginner to advanced. Sunday is generally smaller and a bit more relaxed in general. The rides have rest stops at grocery or convenience stores near the midpoint.
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Saturday Morning Vic's Ride – Vic’s ride is on “hiatus” until the weekend after the Finney ride.
More info? Email vbutcher@aol.com
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Sunday Afternoon -- Hustle & Flow with the Saints and Sinners, 2:00 p.m. Super Lo Map Link
Are you a saint who went to church on Sunday morning? Or are you a sinner who partied too much and just woke up on Sunday afternoon? Either way, this is the ride for you. Not for beginners, though.
Intermediate pace (16-19 mph) 25-40 miles. We try to be aware of riders with different abilities and pace preferences-- we will try to not really drop anyone, but sometimes we fail at this endeavor. Varied routes, mostly urban.
Saints & Sinners – John Storm has volunteered to be the contact/leader of the Sunday afternoon ride. Please email him at stormsfamily@bellsouth.net if any questions
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Tuesday Night at Howard-McVay Park -- Suspended until spring or...?
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Tuesday & Thursday Night, Shady Grove Soiree -- Suspended until Spring or...?
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Thursday Night Thrill Ride -- Suspended until Spring
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Saturday Downtown Farmer's Market Ride -- Suspended until Spring
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Other Links of interest
Support your local bike shops-- They have rides of all sorts. Riding with a shop or with the Hightailers is a great way to learn new routes and make new friends, some friends might even come with benefits, eh?
Get to know your shop's mechanics, tip them now and then, and buy stuff from the shops. When you need an emergency repair the day before a major ride Performance mail order will not help you one bit.
Bike Shops and links to their rides are listed here.
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Critical Mass - Overton Square - Cooper and Trimble. Last Friday of the month, 6 pm or so.
No charge, no t-shirt, no plan other than to gather and ride together. http://memphiscriticalmass.blogspot.com/
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Local Bike Culture Blogs
Anthony has a nice bike blog at http://www.anthonysiracusa.blogspot.com/
Fixed Gear Races - Advocacy info, events and more http://fixmemphis.blogspot.com/
Mason writes well about Memphis and biking at http://www.biketofeel.com/
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Out of Town Rides: Check the link for our updated calendar. Riding a bike is a great way to get a feel for an area. We need your assistance to keep this calendar updated!!
Enjoy the rides, ya'll--
Melissa C.
mcoxeditor@yahoo.com
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Deadline: If you have an item you would like to have included in the newsletter, get it to me no later than the Wednesday afternoon before the newsletter is mailed.