Prairie Cycle Club – Bicycle Club for Champaign County, Illinois

Lion's Club ride is this Sunday http://www.monticellolions.org/lions-bike-ride.php -- no pre-registration, ride starts 8:30 (registration 7:30). Some of us will be riding out there, departing at 6:30 and just taking Kirby out forever so if you want to join us ... anywhere from Anderson Rd. to Monticello you can jump on board. I'll be riding the Big Red Thing to prep for GITAP so we won't be going all-fired fast. If you're looking for that May Century, here's how to make it happen :)

The ride of silence happens May 19 2010 at 7:00 p.m. We start at the parking lot near the assembly hall at First and St. Mary's. The route will be N on first to Stadium Drive, then across 45 (Neil Street) to Randolph and through downtown Champaign, then South on First and then down Green Street, then a bit North on Busey to Main and through downtown Urbana, then South on Vine to ILlinois, then (change from last year) all the way to go Left on Goodwin, R on Gregory, L on Fourth (this is now a light wiht a very long pedestrian only section), the R on St. Mary's back to the starting point. It's about 9 miles and we'll be going less than 12 MPH and regrouping whenever we get spread out.
In the past we've had about 35 riders; clothing & appearance can help differentiate this from a recreational or Critical Mass or whatever ride. Black armbands (a garbage bag cut into strips works) or a sign on bikes indicating who you're riding for can be effective;
We're going to try to have cards to hand people who may be wondering what the ride is about (so we can stay silent). Map is attached...

FYI, Sherry won't be riding with us at least for a bit more because she needs more surgery from last summer's hit and run by the SUV.

The purpose of this ride is
• To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
• To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
• To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD; that drivers recognize that there’s room for all of us out here, and that a bicyclist may be around the next corner and has every right to be.
We are looking for respect, not retaliation; for visibility, not vengeance. Let us show how to share the road by a positive example. Please follow the rules of the road. Ride as you would in a funeral procession; ride predictably.
Point out potholes and road hazards; signal turns and if you slow down. Momentary inattention is the number one cause of accidents -Be aware of what is in front of and BEHIND you, watch your line, and keep your hands near your brakes.
We are riding as a group, silently but use your judgement regarding both. Allow for breaks in the group when it makes sense.