Entries Tagged 'Maps' ↓

The Final Banshee ride for this season will be this Sunday, August 24th @ 10:00am.
Riders will have a choice of returns from Carbondale, Forest City, or the up and back to the Stillwater Dam. Ride to Stillwater Dam with return is 53 mi.

In addition to the Banshee ride, a festival celebrating alternative transportation and green thinking will be set up on Penn Avenue that same day. Bikes, Scooters, COLTS, Rail Trail council members, some local artists and music will fill the block of Penn Avenue between Mulberry and Linden from 2:00-6:00pm.

Banshee Ride
Begins in front of Banshee Bar & Restaurant
322 Penn Avenue Scranton
10:00am
30-53 miles

Here’s the festival music lineup…
2:00-3:00 Charles Havira and Friends
3:00-3:30- Records by D.J. Conor McGuigan
3:30-4:30- The Bog Swing Band
4:30-6:00 Records by DJ Conor McGuigan

Read this article about the festival and Banshee ride in the Scranton Times…

http://www.scrantontimes.com/articles/2008/08/21/lifestyles/sc_times_trib.20080821.c.pg1.tt21bikefest_s1.1891571_fea1.txt

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You have just encountered the wind-down, the rapid deceleration of summer. It’s suddenly a time to adjust to a different routine that awaits as we cross over to fall.
Thoughts for me at this time are usually gearing up for next season;(2009 models already in stock), trying to get in the ride or two that I escaped from me earlier in the season, some mountain biking, catching up on projects, and hopefully taking some time off.

We’re also approaching the end of the ‘Saturday Morning Ride’ season. The last scheduled ride for the season will be Saturday September 6th.
I would certainly encourage you all to continue rides from downtown Wilkes-Barre as a year-round meeting point for a ride. The downtown is a great place to begin and end your ride. Take my word for it that your riding activity has been noticed. Wilkes-Barre thanks you!

That all being said, how about we, SMR rider’s start the buildup for the only 100K (62mi) event in our area!?

The Seasons Change Flaming Foliage Bike Ride will be held Saturday, October 11th in and around Hazleton. Riders will also have a choice of a 20K (12.4mi) and 50K (31mi.) route.

http://www.seasonschange.us/index.php/events/flaming-foliage-ride

Your bike guys will be attending. Try to support this local event!

Stage 20; (08/23/2008) This week’s SMR…

We’ve given you many new routes this year along with the classics from our area. Now it’s up to you to decide which routes you want to choose for the last two rides of this season.

Nanticoke Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 26.37 mi.

Journey To DARK REGIONS Bike Ride Wilkes-Barre, PA 40.70 mi.

Boat Launch Rt 92 And Return Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 29.35 mi.

Official Coopers Ride Bike Ride Pittston, PA 44.92 mi.

Rt 29 To Chase/Dallas 8th Street Bike Ride Wilkes-Barre, PA 35.13 mi.

Oberdorfer,Nail, Bodle, LEWIS, 8th, Bunker Hill Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 31.01 mi.

Oberdorfer,nail,bodle,schoolhouse, Coon, Green Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 30.79 mi.

Wyoming, Chase Nanticoke Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 34.25 mi.

Oberdorfer,Nail, Bodle, Schoolhouse, 8th, Bunker Hill Bike Ride Plains, PA 28.73 mi.

Duryea Coxton Loop Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 37.52 mi.

Maq-a-naw-qua Loop Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 38.18 mi.

Saturday Morning Ride Coxton Loop Bike Ride Plains, PA 34.99 mi.

Coxton With Extra Loop Bike Ride Plains, PA 49.66 mi.

Lance Armstrong Foundation Ride 5-10-08 Bike Ride Wilkes-Barre, PA 29.52 mi.

5-3-08 Atown Bike To Boat Launch Rt 92 Bike Ride Wilkes-barre, PA 29.35 mi.

Hartman - White Oak â?? Mizdall Rd Ride

I would like to thank Scott S. for being our Cartographer for the SMR routes on www.mapmyride.com. He’s done a great job of mapping out our rides this year. It’s time consuming but very appreciated. Great job Scott!

A tradition continues this Sunday, July 27th… Join the group of cyclists who will celebrate the conclusion of the 95th Tour de France with a 40+ mile ride through some of the most scenic local roads. Hope you can make it!

When? This Sunday, July 27th

Luzerne/Lackawanna Jaunt; start time is 10:30am New Course through Milwaukee,Falls, and surrounds…

Where? Cooper’s Seafood Waterfront 300 Kennedy Blvd. Pittston 44.92 miles

Here’s a copy of the course. You can print out a cue sheet of the ride from this Webpage…

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/pa/pittston/1186093394

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Stage 16; Saturday 07/26/2008, 7:30 am Start…

This Week’s Directions for the SMR…

We’re headed for a cruise up along the river on Rt. 92 this week. The main group will go as far as the the boat launch with return. Option to hit hills or ride up to Falls too. 29.35 miles.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/394033178

A Fan You May not Always Recognize…

It’s Tour de France time. Naturally you would expect nearly every riding enthusiast who stops by a bike shop during the race to share who their favorite rider is, or to ask a question about tactics or equipment.

Increasingly though, we meet up people who are not the classic riding enthusiast but have become a fan of the Tour de France. They may casually ride a bike. They may not ride a bike at all, but they love the 3 week long French production which is the Tour de France. It has become a ritual for them and they love it as much as a cyclist who rides 150 miles or more each week. And their conversations are interesting. They’ll share a story like having been stationed in France with the US Army, or marveling over the lush French countryside, or mimicking Brit Phil Liggett’s unique stylings of the days’ events. For many it is their ‘Arm Chair’ vacation!

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So, So Talented; Fionn Regan…

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13833092

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Mocanaqua
In 1778, a young Frances Slocum was kidnapped by Delaware Indians from her home near Forty Fort. Raised with the customs and language of the Delaware, Slocum was renamed “Mocanaqua,” meaning “little bear,” and later married a chief of the Miami tribe. For 59 years her brothers searched for her, only to find her in 1837. By that time she was so accustomed to the Indian way of life she found her brothers’ way of life odd.

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Nothing New Just Tried and True…

Here are the Directions for This Week’s SMR…

The Saturday Morning Ride is headed south this week. Join us as both courses wind their way down the W. Kirmar Parkway to Vandermark St.
The shorter ride will continue through Newport, and into Nanticoke. We’ll cross the river, head north on Rt.11, and return to the city.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/430129424

Shorter Ride; 26.37 miles

The longer option will continue down lower Middle Rd. through Glen Lyon, Glen Lea, Mocanaqua, cross river @ Shickshinny, and return to city on Rt. 11

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/954538117819

Long Ride; 38.18 miles

Let’s see, in the past month man opens bike shop, man falls head over heels in love (again) with an Almost Famous blonde, (again) and according to a reliable source plans to spend this summer in a swank California coastal community.

The new bike shop owner is Lance Armstrong, who opened Mellow Johnny (Lance’s twang term for the Maillot Juane, the Tour Day France’s yellow leader’s jersey) last month in Austin, TX.

Goldie Hawn’s daughter Kate Hudson is the new blonde in Lance’s life. The pair have been spotted lately in public. Will a Trek Madone be in Kate’s future?

The swank California community where Lance is rumored to be spending this summer is Santa Barbara California. -source; James Bond of Cycling

Add to that…

Do you feel that some of the press Lance recieves in his personal life trivializes his accomplishments in cycling and the war on cancer with the Livestrong Foundation? Read more in this recent NY Times article…

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/fashion/22lance.html?ex=1214884800&en=f83785219a75f506&ei=5070&emc=eta1

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Saw Them, Thought You Might Like Them!…

That was the Sim Redmond Duo, composed of Sim Redmond and Jen Middaugh, who opened for friend and spring’s ‘Bike Social’ musician Charles Havira, last week at River Street Jazz Cafe. Great harmonies!…

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=75737795

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Here are the directions for this week’s SMR…(special request from the peanut gallery)…

The Saturday Morning Ride is headed south this week. Join us as both courses wind their way down the W. Kirmar Parkway to Vandermark St.
The shorter ride will continue through Newport, and into Nanticoke. We’ll cross the river, head north on Rt.11, and return to the city.

Shorter Ride; 26.37 miles

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/430129424

The longer option will continue down lower Middle Rd. through Glen Lyon, Glen Lea, Mocanaqua, cross river @ Shickshinny, and return to city on Rt. 11
Long Ride; 38.18 miles

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/954538117819

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Team High Road to be ‘One Tough Mother’s’ in This Year’s Tour…

Team High Road announced this week that it has signed a 3 year sponsorship deal with Columbia Sportwear of Portland, Oregon. Team Columbia as they will be known, will make their inaugural appearance July 3rd at the Tour De France. The deal includes sponsorship of both men’s and woman’s teams.

Imagine the fun that a marketer could have, (as they have using Columbia’s Chairman ‘One Tough Mother’ Gert Boyle in past ad campaigns) with the cycling team? Tough as nails sprinter Mark Cavendish would get my vote as a poster boy for a joint ad campaign!-tj

Add to that…

Team Slipstream just signed on GARMIN and Saab as corporate sponsors. Riis Racing will also be hoisting new corporate sponsorship with the introduction of Saxo Bank.

Are the dark days of Pro Cycling starting to pass? Interestingly, Team High Road, Slipstream, and Riis Racing have been at the forefront of the new athlete doping controls and testing. Seems like a change may be coming-tj

Did you happen to catch the photographs of Barack Obama riding with wife Michelle and their children this past week?
Last night (June 12th), an impromptu fundraiser was held at the home of a bicycle industry executive attended by suppliers, advocates, cycling personalities, and some retailers.
According to Stan Day of SRAM (Grip Shift, Rock Shox, Avid, Truvativ, Zipp, and their own SRAM-branded components) who organized the evening, a fundraiser had been proposed by Day to the Obama campaign committee several months ago. The Obama camp contacted Day last week to see if he could organize the meeting on less than one week’s notice. The Obama’s were taking in some down-time at home in Illinois. SRAM’s corporate headquarters are based in Chicago.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee pledged support for increased funding of cycling and pedestrian projects, and that he would also endorse the Safe Routes to School programs.***

I found a supposed earlier biking pose of Obama. Going by his age, (46) his wheels appear to be period correct!

SMR Stage 10: (06/14/2008);Blue Bikes for US Soon?

This week the Saturday Morning Ride will incorporate two loops. First, we’ll do the usual by riding up along the river to West Pittston, over the Ft. Jenkins Bridge, turn onto Parsonage, left at Stevenson, another left onto Rt.11. The longer ride will be making a right off Rt.11 and continue to ride toward Coxton, then wind our way back to the city.

Here are the directions for this week’s SMR…

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/764755545481

Length of ride approx. 37.52 miles. Shorter and longer options too.

Two Cool for You to Consider…
Let me tell you about two separate artists who are well, just cool. I’ve been listening to some form of music from Brit Paul Weller and Canadian Daniel Lanois for years. I’m kind of like a patron to their musical experimentation and always look forward to the next destination to which the sound will take me to.

I first started listening to Weller when he was the frontman for The Jam, a power pop trio that symbolised the English Mod movement. Mod music was sort of a bridge from late 70’s Punk spilling into 80’s New Wave. Paul abruptly ended the Jam to develop an entirely different smooth sound with The Style Council. He continues today as a solo performer. 22 Dreams, his latest album dropped this week.

I’ve included a link to a reissue of one of hist best works, 1993’s Wild Wood…
http://216.69.135.140/MP3Players/Weller/WildWood/Wimpy.html

Daniel Lanois, (Lan-wa) is best known for his successful association with U2 as one of the producers of The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, and others.
Lanois’ own music is ambient, sparse, complex, full. His latest, here is what is, is presented as a collection of sound and dialog. I’ve included Daniel’s Cool Water live recording of The Maker from 1993 here, http://redfloorrecords.com/CoolWater.htm

Two things about the totally hip Weller and Lanois. Both are revered in their own countries yet relatively unknown in the ‘States and rarely perform.

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“Smart, intrepid, unreadable-”
CNN senior political analyst Candy Crowley on Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton

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SMR Stage 9: (06/07/2008); We’ll Take You to Higher Ground…
7:30 AM Start time!

OK, for those who have been wondering, the wait is over. This week we hit the hills. We’ll cover the West-side, then give Oberdorfer a shot, the legendary NAIL and then have some options from there before returning to the city.

Here are the directions for this week’s SMR…
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/plains/474700220172

The Revolution has Begun…
Locally, people are beginning to look to bicycles and public buses as an alternative form of transportation. To make this a reality, better consideration has to be given to our local transportation infrastructure. Safe streets and paths designed with commuting in mind, along with racks for bikes on our buses are just a few things that would decrease short-distance trips in a car. So, next time you consider making a short trip into work, or the market, or to visit a friend, ask yourself, ” Couldn’t I be doing this on my bike?”

Congratulations to our 2008 Cycling Graduates!
Ryan Duddy, Andrew Judge, Eric Thatcher, Oliver Williams, and Jason Young.

Digi-folk Paradists; The Flight of the Conchords…
HBO’ s outrageously funny The Flight of the Conchords has been a nearly 10 year odd-yssey that has taken the pair of Kiwi songsters from Wellington, NZ to Australia, to London and the BBC, and finally to America.
The storyline is simple, just a couple of blokes trying to make it in New York. The episodes are funny, the music is solid, and the lyrics are quite clever. Along the way the Conchords manage to spoof many genres and musicians like Prince, Marvin Gaye, Pet Shop Boys, Marc Bolen, with one episode and song about a pretty freaky David Bowie.

Here Singing Foux de Fa Fa, The 4th most popular folk parody duo in New Zealand, Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, The Flight of the Conchords…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUVagbFcSUU

SMR Stage 7: 05/24/2008; Two Ride Options This Week…

This the last week for an 8:00am Start. Beginning Saturday May 31st, SMR rides will begin at 7:30am.

Here are the directions for this week’s SMR…

The Saturday Morning Ride is headed south this week. Join us as both courses wind their way down the W. Kirmar Parkway to Vandermark St.

The shorter ride will continue through Newport, and into Nanticoke. We’ll cross the river, head north on Rt.11, and return to the city.
Shorter Ride; 26.37 miles
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/430129424

The longer option will continue down lower Middle Rd. through Glen Lyon, Glen Lea, Mocanaqua, cross river @ Shickshinny, and return to city on Rt. 11
Long Ride; 38.18 miles
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/954538117819

Mark your calendar for a special night of Bluegrass music at the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe next Saturday May 24th. The Punch Brothers will perform featuring Chris Thile, formally of Nickel Creek, along with a group of extraordinary accompanying musicians. Show starts at 8:30pm.

Will the reader please to cast his eye over the following lines, and see if he can discover anything harmful in them?
Conductor, when you receive a fare,
Punch in the presence of the passenjare!
A blue trip slip for an eight-cent fare,
A buff trip slip for a six-cent fare,
A pink trip slip for a three-cent fare,
Punch in the presence of the passenjare!

-Excerpt from a Mark Twain short story “Punch, Brothers, Punch”

Interesting Giro d’Italia Tidbits…

My favorite Grand Tour is the Giro d’ Italia which runs this year from May 10th until June 1st. So far we’ve see an American leader in Christian Vande Velde, a spill which has sidelined Christian’s team mate, David Zabriskie, and the last minute inclusion of a stacked Astana squadra.

The beautiful Italian countryside, the mountain passes which can challenge rider’s with wintry conditions, and the Tifosi make the Giro an awesome event . (Tifosi is a word somewhat exclusive to the Italians loosely translated as a fanatical sports supportor, or super-fan).

Here are some things to know if you intend to join the Giro’s Tifosi…

• The Maglia Rosa, or pink leader’s jersey is pink because Italy’s main sporting newspaper, La Gazzetta dello Sport, the originator of the Giro, prints its newspaper on pink paper stock.

• In 1924, Giro organizer’s allowed a woman, Alfonsia Morini Strada, to compete which caused a sensation in Italy. Alfonsia completed that year’s Giro defeating two men. Ironically, Strada, Alfonsia’s last name, means Road in Italian.

• American Andy Hampsten won the Giro in blizzard conditions in 1988. (Andy’s 1988 signed 7-11 jersey will be on display @ A-Town after the ride).

• The greatest Giro winner’s are Alfredo Binda, Fausto Coppi, & of course Eddy Merckx. In his day, (1926-1929) Alfredo Binda was so daunting that the Giro organizers asked that he not compete in the 1930 edition of the great race. Binda was paid the same amount as the eventual winner’s first place winnings to sit the race out.

SMR Stage 6: 05/17/2008 Coxton River Loop w/return…

We’ll first head North along the river to West Pittston, cross the Susquehanna to Pittston. The group then turn left off Rt.11, and complete the Coxton-Ransom loop. The ride will return via Susquehanna Ave. and back to the city via the Wyoming Valley Levee-Trail System.
We need to keep it moving on this route, a flat 34.99 miles. There will be longer options for those interested.
Here are the directions for this week’s SMR…
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/plains/707810876631
Start time; 8:00am sharp!

SMR Stage 5: 05/10/2007 Lance Armstrong Foundation Ride; We Challenge the Bull…
The legs are getting stronger. Our intensity builds.

Join us this Saturday May 10th as we join the LIVESTRONG Army with a ride to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer.
Donations to the Lance Armstrong Foundation are appreciated but not required. All participants are encouraged to wear something yellow.
LIVESTRONG wristbands will be given out as long as supplies last.

The SMR this week will cruise some of our favorite roads to Nanticoke, then cross the Susquehanna to challenge the Bull!

We’ll ride up Plymouth’s Bull Run and traverse along the top of the Valley to Luzerne where we will return to the city through Kingston. Longer, harder options for those looking for more…

Here are the directions for this week’s SMR…
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/182428949325

8:00am Sharp Start Time!

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Speaking of Bull Run-

The Agritubel Professional Cycling Team’s primary sponsor, Agritubel, is a manufacturer of stockades or runs for livestock. Agritubel’s Website is one of the freakiest sites you’ll find.Alongside products for the farming community are pictures and an icon of the cycling squad.
http://www.agritubel.com/en/maj-e/c2a1i818b1/agritubel.htm

I guess the handlebars on the Agritubel team’s time trail bikes are real cowhorns!

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Wilkes-Barre Great 100 Newspaper Clipping, Circa 1970’s…

37 years ago , June 20th 1971 to be exact, Wyoming Valley hosted its first 100 mile ride. The event was called the Gibbons Great 100 and it began from Kirby Park. The course was epic as it traversed several of the routes that we commonly use today, (Moconauqua, Coxton) and was considered one of the best biking challenges in the East for its time.
The start location of the event changed a couple of times and finally fizzled in the mid-nineties. In the future, I’ll have more on this and maybe interview a couple of people still around from the early days of this Great event!

Thank you, Tom W. for a copy of the clipping!-tj

Unity is Strength. Knowledge is Power. Attitude is Everything.
Join us on Saturday May 10th as we join the LIVESTRONG Army with a ride that day to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer.
Donations to the Lance Armstrong Foundation are appreciated but not required. All participants are encouraged to wear something yellow.
LIVESTRONG wristbands will be given out as long as supplies last.

Piano Jazz; Marian McPartland with Elvis Costello…
I received a brown envelope from a friend last week. Neatly tucked inside of it were three CD’s. One was of an artist that I’ve been listening alot to. The second was a duplicate which means that we have similar tastes. The third was unexpected and most appreciated.

NPR’s Piano Jazz, hosted by Marian McPartland is something I enjoy. Marian’s interview style is easy, and her ability to accompany a singer or to still play a duet at 90 years old, in incredible.
This recording with her guest Elvis Costello is special. You may not necessarily think of Costello as the stately troubadour which he has become. As you listen to him explain his influences, (his father was part of a Big-Band) you begin to understand his character. As Elvis (real name Declan McManus) has aged, he is better able to interpret many of his own songs which he wrote 20-30 years ago.
Some of his standards done with McPartland are My Funny Valentine and Almost Blue. He performs Gloomy Sunday alone on acoustic guitar- A+

Title; Piano Jazz: McPartland/Costello (Jazz Alliance label)
Recorded for: NPR series, Piano Jazz -2003
US Release: 12 July 2005

Hear Piano Jazz Sunday’s on WVIA @ 7:00pm
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=24&agg=1

SMR Stage 4: 05/03/2008; W-B to Rt.92 Boat launch w/return…

We’re headed for a cruise up along the river on Rt. 92 this week. The main group will go as far as the the boat launch with return. Option to hit hills or ride up to Falls too. 29.35 miles.

Here are the directions for this week’s SMR…     Start time; 8:00am sharp!

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/pa/wilkes-barre/394033178

The ride has been listed on Map My Ride.com. Use this link, then go to notes for a ride cue sheet. There are several other interesting options like ride elevation. Tell us what you think-tj