Muscle Powered Fact: In 2007 Muscle Powered initiated the long process of constructing a multi-use trail designed for mountain bikes connecting Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon. Construction will begin this summer with an estimated completion date of 2014 (if awarded the Rec Trails Grant).

Here is a rider submitted photo from the WNC Cycling Crew. Word has it they’ll continue riding to work through the year. That’s what we like to hear!

And from our bad photoshop department….

Which of these current and former Postal team members have never been accused of using performance enhancing drugs?

Those with the correct answer can pick up their prize (a pint thimble of beer poured by Jeff Moser) at the Firkin & Fox Bike to Work Day party.

I don’t have all of Thursday’s numbers so the results might not be completely accurate. It will take me a bit of time to get the final tally, so please enjoy Notch 8 and I’ll get to the F&F as soon as I can to announce the winners.

Solo
Tom Tittle        120.28
Troy Orosco    104.57
Danny Miller    84.46
Tammy Steele 68.25

Private Business
%
Redrock Dental Molar Cycles 79%
Capitol Automotive                 50%
CV Sports                               28.50%
Alison – MacKenzie                22.20%
Hair Studio & Spear Me         22.20%
Lumos & Assoc.                    21.60%
RCI Flyers                             11.25%
Tahoe Fracture                      5.40%

Miles
Lumos & Assoc.                     249.8
Tahoe Fracture                        155
RCI Flyers                               125
CV Sports                               103
Redrock Dental Molar Cycles 66.5
Alison – MacKenzie                 66.5
Capitol Automotive                  55.8
Hair Studio & Spear Me          22

Trips
Alison – MacKenzie                 56
Redrock Dental Molar Cycles 49
RCI Flyers                               44
Tahoe Fracture                        37
Lumos & Assoc.                      27
CV Sports                               12
Capitol Automotive                  12
Hair Studio & Spear Me            8

Public Agency
%
DMV – OBL                   81%
NDOT -Team IT            17.30%
NDOT – ROW               13.90%
NDOT – M&T Lab Rats 11.90%
USPS                            7.80%
CCSD SBD                   6.25%
EITS                              6%
NDEP We’re No Fuels 3.50%

Miles
NDOT -Team IT               521.41
NV Guard Rough Riders 506
NDOT – ROW                  329.7
DHHS Central Office       277.02
NDOT – M&T Lab Rats    272.5
NDEP We’re No Fuels    253.4
USGS                              219.7
EITS                               165.1
NLCB                              149.4
DETR Cyclepaths          138.51
WNC – 1                          107.9
NDOT-Planning Division 78.16
CCSD School Bus Drivers 64
USPS                                57.4
DMV – OBL                       56
WNC – 3                            53
WNC – 2                           50.26
Trips
NDEP We’re No Fuels   110
NDOT – ROW                 95
NV Guard Rough Riders 91
NDOT – M&T Lab Rats    89
NDOT -Team IT               82
DETR Cyclepaths            80
EITS                                 65
DHHS Central Office        46
DMV – OBL                       44
WNC – 1                           42
USPS                               35
USGS                               32
NDOT-Planning Division   30
WNC – 2                             27
WNC – 3                             26
CCSD School Bus Drivers 20
NLCB                                   9

Muscle Powered Fact: Muscle Powered, a grassroots citizens organization advocating for better bicycling and walking conditions in Nevada’s capital city, decided last year to make the passage of a Vulnerable Users Law a priority for the Nevada 2011 legislative session. – Anne Macquarie.

Read the entire article HERE.

Commuter Tip:  When commuting to work with a friend it’s necessary to point out road hazards such as potholes and road debris by announcing,  pointing to,  and safely navigating around, the hazard. Failure to do so could result in an injury to your riding partner and damage their bicycle.

A couple of mountain bike friends of ours (Cagney & Lacy*) decided a number of years ago they would like to try road riding and purchased two road bikes. But because of their work schedules and office location (Cagney worked in Reno and Lacy in Carson City) they didn’t ride together right away.  Lacy liked road riding.  We rode with her often, teaching her the skills and etiquette required of a “roadie”.
We taught her how to draft, ride in a paceline, and to point out road hazards.

When Lacy was able to finally go out for a ride with Cagney they rode from their home in south Reno to Washoe Valley and back.  Everything was great during the first half of the ride. Cagney being the stronger of the two rode in front. Lacey, happy to sit in the draft on the fun descent through Pleasant Valley, rode in the back. It was on the return trip that things went awry. Cagney, not having been taught proper road etiquette, employed his mountain bike skills and expertly dodged the fast approaching 2×4 laying across the road.  Lacey wasn’t so lucky. She plowed into the 2×4 and flew over the handlebars. Fortunately for Lacey she wasn’t hurt too bad, just a little banged up, bruised and jittery. But the trust was gone.  Unfortunately for Cagney, Lacey never let him forget this incident. Point out road hazards!

*Not their real names.

Lee Harter successfully negotiates Jeff Potter’s release from the hands of justice. photo by Ashley Dale

Bike to Work Week Corporate Challenge results so far…
Solo
Tom Tittle      85.98
Danny Miller  84.46
Troy Orosco   80.91
Tammy Steele 28.84

Private Business
Trips
Alison – MacKenzie                42
RCI Flyers                              34
Redrock Dental Molar Cycles 34
Tahoe Fracture & Orthopedic 23
CV Sports                                8
Hair Studio & Spear Me           8
Capitol Automotive                   4

Miles
Tahoe Fracture & Orthopedic 110
Redrock Dental Molar Cycles 90
CV Sports                               87
Alison – MacKenzie                49.8
RCI Flyers                               49
Hair Studio & Spear Me          22
Capitol Automotive                 18.4

% of Participation
Redrock Dental Molar Cycles 83.30%
CV Sports                               28.50%
Alison – MacKenzie                 22.20%
Hair Studio & Spear Me         22.20%
RCI Flyers                              11.60%
Tahoe Fracture                        5%

Public agency
% of Participation
DMV – OBL                      87.50%
NDOT – M&T Lab Rats    25%
NDOT-Planning Division 17.30%
USGS                              14.10%
NDOT – Team IT              11.60%
DETR Cyclepaths            10.90%
NV Guard Rough Riders  9.30%
DHHS Central Office        7.30%
USPS                                7.20%
CCSD School Bus Drivers 7.10%
EITS                                   5.60%
NDEP We’re No Fuels       3.20%

Trips
DETR Cyclepaths        80
NDEP We’re No Fuels 75
NDOT – M&T Lab Rats 71
NDOT – ROW               68
NV Guard Rough Riders 65
NDOT – Team IT           60
EITS 44
WNC – 1                        42
NDOT-Planning Division 30
DHHS Central Office      29
USPS                              27
WNC – 2                           27
WNC – 3                           26
USGS                               25
DMV – OBL                       22
CCSD School Bus Drivers 18
NLCB                                  9

Miles
NDOT – Team IT           394.61
NV Guard Rough Riders 350
NDOT – ROW                242.7
NDOT – M&T Lab Rats 184.5
NDEP We’re No Fuels  172.1
DHHS Central Office    166.1
USGS                           159.4
NLCB                            149.4
DETR Cyclepaths           138.51
WNC – 1                          107.99
EITS 105.3
NDOT-Planning Division 78.16
CCSD School Bus Drivers 59
WNC – 3                           53
WNC – 2                           50.26
USPS                               38
DMV – OBL                       32

Nice job everyone!

Muscle Powered Fact: Muscle Powered wrote successful grants which purchased two bridges that are on the Mexican Ditch Trail. Read about the bridges HERE

Commuter Tip: Keep your tire pressure 5 to 10 psi below the recommended maximum pressure listed on the tire’s sidewall. Too much psi will send road shock directly to the handle bars and saddle resulting in a very jarring ride, while a slightly lower psi will provide dampening, allowing for a  pleasurable bicycle commute.

Please share your cycling tips with us by leaving a comment below.

Please visit Bike Carson for information on this evening’s cruiser ride.

Here as an amusing story from DMV bicycle commuter Dennis White:
“My bike story of frustration – On my morning ride in this morning I had to ride over the 395 (down by Best Buy) and it appears that NDOT has taken out the bike lane in their current construction phase. So I had to take the lane and to my pleasant surprise everyone respected me and gave me the lane except for 1 vehicle. The unfortunate part is that the one vehicle that chose not to yield to me in the lane was an NDOT vehicle (one of those while trucks). Is this how NDOT will attempt to secure a victory?? Taking out the competition?? Haha “

Bike to Work Week Corporate Challenge Results So Far..
Solo 
Danny Miller      54.67
Troy Orosco      53.9
Tom Tittle          51.68
Tammy Steele  17.44

Private Business
Trips 
Alison – MacKenzie                          28
Tahoe Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic 15
RCI Flyers                                        10
Capitol Automotive                            4
CV Sports                                          4

Miles
Tahoe Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic  106
CV Sports                                            63
RCI Flyers                                           35
Alison – MacKenzie                            33.1
Capitol Automotive                            18.4
Hair Studio & Spear Me                         6

Team    % 
Alison – MacKenzie                         20.30%
Tahoe Fracture & Orthopedic Clinic  5.80%

Public Agency

Trips 
DETR Cyclepaths                51
NDEP We’re No Fuels         46
NDOT – Team IT                  43
NDOT ROW                        42
NDOT – Planning Division   30
EITS                                    29
NV Guard Rough Riders     27
NDOT – M&T Lab Rats       23
DMV – OBL                         22
USPS                                 17
WNC – 1                             14
CCSD-School Bus Drivers 12
DHHS Central Office          11
USGS                                 11
WNC-2                                 6
WNC-3                                 6
NLCB                                   1

Miles 
NDOT – Team IT                   279.09
NDOT ROW                         156.3
NV Guard Rough Riders      143.9
NDEP We’re No Fuels 2012 111.1
DETR Cyclepaths                 87.66
NDOT – Planning Division    78.16
WNC – 1                                73.42
EITS                                      70
NDOT – M&T Lab Rats          66.5
DHHS Central Office             62.85
USGS                                    60.4
CCSD – School Bus Drivers  36
DMV – OBL                            32
USPS                                     24
WNC-3                                   23
NLCB                                    17.3
WNC-2                                  13

Team    % 
DMV – OBL                           87.5
NDOT – Planning Division    25%
NDOT – Team IT                  18.20%
DETR Cyclepaths                10.90%
CCSD – School Bus Drivers  7.10%
USPS                                    6.60%
EITS                                      5.50%
NDEP We’re No Fuels 2012  3%

See you at the Cruiser Ride this evening.

Muscle Powered Fact: In 2000, NDOT had no intention of including a bike path along the Carson City freeway bypass as specified in the City’s bicycle plan. When Muscle Powered got wind of this we took action, but it wasn’t easy. Even the Carson City Chamber of Commerce publicly opposed the bike path, but because of the perseverance and dedication of our founding members, Carson City has a three mile bike path which connects N. Carson Street to Northridge Drive. And today Lumos & Associates is working with Carson City to extend the bike path all the way to Hwy 50W.

Skip ahead 10 years…
With a much different political climate, and some very dedicated NDOT employees, NDOT has dominated the Bike to Work Week Corporate Challenge for two years in a row, shredding the competition with 1117.25 miles and 252 trips on foot or by bike. What a difference a decade makes. Way to go NDOT!

NDOT’s Bill Story with his two sons during last year’s competition

Commuter Tip: It’s a good idea to carry a rag with you in case of a roadside repair.  I wrap my tools (multi-tool, tire lever, zip-ties, patch kit, 2″x2″ tuffy strip-for sidewall repair)  in a clean rag so I have something to wipe my hands on after a repair.

Click HERE to see what Jeff Moser carries in his bag.

Corporate Challenge results so far..

Solo
Danny Miller  27.05
Tom Tittle      17.38

Agency Percentage of Participation

DMV – OBL                               100%

NDOT Team IT                          17.30%
DETR Cyclepaths                     10.30%
CCSD – School Bus Drivers      7.10%
USPS                                        6.60%
EITS                                          4%
NLCB                                         4%
NDEP We’re No Fuels 2012      2%

Agency Trips

DETR Cyclepaths                    21
NDOT ROW                            19
NDOT – IT                                17
NDEP We’re No Fuels 2012    14
DMV – OBL                              12
EITS                                         11
USPS                                         8
CCSD – School Bus Drivers       6
NLCB                                         1

Agency Mileage

NDOT – IT                               123.94
NDOT ROW                              66.3
DETR Cyclepaths                     38.34
NDEP We’re No Fuels 2012     31.1
EITS                                          25.6
NLCB                                        17.3
CCSD – School Bus Drivers      17
DMV – OBL                                12
USPS                                         12

Private Busness

Alison-MacKenzie        18.5%  – 12 Trips – 16.7 Miles

Focus on pre-season conditioning, safety measures in the wilderness, emergency communications, gear recommendations, map reading and route finding for crossing Nevada on the ADT Bike Route.

Meet in Carson at Goni Road where the pavement ends. Beginner, intermediate and advanced riders welcome. Climb toward McClellan Peak at an easy pace as far as comfortable.

One-day ride routes on the ADT (to and from State Parks across Nevada) will be explained and promoted.

Multi-day tours will also be recommended: Mt. Bike Nevada Ride (west-to-east), and Jason Suslin’s Livestrong Ride (east-to-west), both scheduled for September.

Details: Ted at 530.305.9835

Here is the current status of the 4th/Prater project.  

1. In accordance with the Bike/Ped Master Plan, RTC is currently exploring options to revamp 4th street from Keystone Ave. to the east end of Prater at Vista Street. This would make the only safe, on street east/west passage between Reno and Sparks.  

Muscle Powered is offering three scholarships to qualifying members to attend the Tahoe Rim Trail Association’s Track 2 Crew Leader Training on May 19th & 20th. (Friday’s Design & Layout Course is not included in the scholarship).  Though not necessary to apply, scholarships will be awarded to those with the most trail building experience first.

Training is at Galena Creek Park and includes:
Trail Standards, basic construction techniques, tool use and briefing, leadership, safety and crew administration.

For more information on the training, please visit the TRTA website: www.tahoerimtrail.org

To qualify for the Muscle Powered Scholarships:
You must be over 18 years of age and a current member of Muscle Powered.
If you are not yet a member or need to renew, please click HERE

To fill out the application form please click on the link below.
Muscle Powered Scholarship

If you have trouble viewing the online form, please send the following information to:jeffpotter@musclepowered.org

Name, address, email and phone#.
How many years have you been a member of Muscle Powered?
Trail building experience.
List other qualities,skills or experience you may have which you think would benefit a trail crew.
Briefly describe why you would like to attend the crew leader training course.

Application deadline is April 4th.

Thank you, and good luck!

Muscle Powered has started the year with a BANG!

On January 12, 2012 we had our first Board Meeting of the year at Sassafras and we elected the following officers:

President: Donna Inversin Treasurer: Marcus Marchegger
Secretary: Anne Macquarie
Board members:
John Aragon – Insurance Cortney Bloomer – Summer Bike Rides
Kelly Clark Denis Coyne
Chas Macquarie – Technical Advisor Jeff Moser IT and Bike to Work Week
Jeff Potter – Trails Mark Johnson
Todd Erickson Candace Chartraw

We followed the election of officers with the annual planning meeting, and do we have some plans for 2012:

Anne Macquarie has offered to lead a 6-week “Reentry Ride” series of easy bike rides in May-June for beginning or “reentry” riders looking to get back on their bikes, including a flat tire seminar. This is something that I’m definitely planning of taking advantage of.

Cortney Bloomer will lead more strenuous summer bike rides, so you intrepid adventurers watch the calendar.

I will continue to lead the Tuesday evening walks. I have even found a couple of new ones, getting really close to that 52 different walks goal. Families are welcome on most walks, call me if you’re not sure about children participating.

Of course, don’t forget Bike to Work Week which will be May 14-18 this year. Watch for lots of fun events during the month of May.

Muscle Powered will again ‘man’ the bike valet at the 3rd Street Farmer’s Market this summer. If you’ve never done this give it a try, it’s a blast.

Tim Rowe has offered to lead a League of American Bicyclists Traffic skills course. I bet we could all use this.

And, let’s not forget the Ash Canyon to Kings Canyon Trail. Jeff Potter along with Chas Macquarie and others have done a lot work to get us to where we are today. On Monday February 13, 2012 there was an information meeting for public comment on the trail. We are near the last hurdle and should start cutting trail this spring.

Anne Macquarie hopes to have the new and improved bike map ready in time for Bike to Work Week. So if yours is getting old and tattered, there is hope.

So keep an eye on the calendar so that you won’t miss a thing.

Feel like your missing out on all the fun? Well we’d love to have you. If you’re interested in working on any of these projects please contact any of us, you’ll find the Board Member’s email address’ under CONTACT.

If you haven’t yet paid you 2012 membership dues, now is the time. Just click on BECOME A MEMBER.

And if you didn’t make the board meeting last month, how about the next one. Board meetings are open to all members. The next one with be April 5 at 6 p.m. at Sassafras.

Looking forward to an exciting and productive 2012

Donna N. Inversin
President

There was a large turnout at the Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Trail scoping meeting on Monday, February 13th, with over seventy people attending.  The meeting was set up open house style: project information was presented on tables where attendees could fill out a comment form, and two large project maps were available for viewing. Dan Morris from the U.S. Forest Service and Ann Bolinger from Carson City Parks & Rec did a great job organizing this meeting.

Scoping is the public portion of the NEPA process where citizens can voice their concerns or show support for the project under review. For our project the USFS is going for a Categorical Exclusion (CE), meaning, “a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment . . . and for which, therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required”.  With our ground surveys completed and the strong public support, getting a CE is a good possibility. Considering we didn’t hear any negative comments at the meeting, the decision will depend on written comments the USFS receives regarding the project.

The attendance reflected the tremendous support base this project is garnering from the community and local trail groups.   Jeremy Vlcan from the CVTA attended, and the entire board from the Poedunks ( I’m not sure if it was the entire board, but pretty darn close) showed up to give support. Thanks,guys!

There were also a few local legends in the crowd.  Ranger Bill (Champion) from State Parks was there.  It was great talking with Ranger Bill about the “Big Picture” that the Kings/Ash Canyon trail will one day be a part of. With all the outstanding contributions to trail access (from TAMBA in the State Park, the Poedunks in Reno, the CVTA in Carson Valley, and Muscle Powered in Carson City) it isn’t hard to imagine that with a few connections to link the systems, we could eventually have an amazing trail network that would offer a myriad of epic loop opportunities.

If we receive a CE, the next step will be to scope the project and negotiate cooperative agreements with Carson City and the USFS.  If all goes well we could break ground this summer.

If you would like to show support for this project here are a few ways you can comment:

Send a letter to:
Dan Morris Recreation Officer
Carson Ranger District
1536 S Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701

Or call: 884-8140

Or email:
comments-intermtn-humboldt-toiyabe-carson@fs.fed.us

Comment deadline is March 2nd, with a decision expected on March 15th.

If you would like to get involved with the Kings Canyon to Ash Canyon Trail please contact me at: jeffpotter@musclepowered.org

Thanks!

The photo you see above is of one of two bridges along the Mexican Ditch Trail in east Carson City which were purchased with funds from a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant written by Muscle Powered for Carson City. Other projects in our area which have benefited from the RTP are the Carson Valley Discovery Trail, Sierra Canyon Trail, the Halo Trail and the annual Tahoe Rim Trail Association Crew Leader Training in Reno. All of these projects were possible, or greatly benefited, because of this program!

Sierra Canyon Trail

Here is how you can help.

From IMBA’s website:

“The Recreational Trails Program is the ONLY federal funding source for multi-use singletrack trails. RTP is in grave danger in both chambers of the U.S. Congress.

This week, both the House and Senate are expected to vote on their respective transportation bills. In the Senate, RTP is eliminated, but U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is offering an amendment to restore dedicated funding.

In the House, RTP was included in legislation forwarded by the committee, but Rep. Steve King (R-IA) has an amendment to eliminate the program. The entire House of Representatives hears the bill later this week.

Take Action in the Senate!

Call your U.S. Senator today at 202-224-3121 and ask them to “VOTE YES on the Klobuchar amendment to MAP-21,” or use this easy e-mail form from the American Motorcyclists Association.

Take Action in the House!

Call your U.S. Representative at 202-225-3121 and ask them to “VOTE NO on amendment #230 by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) that will eliminate the Recreational Trails Program.”

RTP funding provides $85 million annually for trail construction and maintenance. Since 1993, RTP has funded more than 15,000 projects nationwide and leverages local and state funding. Only a small portion of federal funds collected are returned to the program for motorized and non-motorized trail projects.”

Carson Valley Discovery Trail

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Thanks!