Special Events in May Featured in this Issue

May 2014
ohbike.org
Friday, May 16, is Bike to Work Day! Go to
http://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org for information
on pit stops and to register. If you commute into DC
or can take the day off, join OHBTC members at
7:00 am on a ride from the Oxon Hill Park and Ride
Lot on Oxon Hill Road to pit stops on the WWB
Trail, in Alexandria and at Freedom Plaza in DC.
Special Events in May
Celebrate National Bike Month with OHBTC
events on May 3, May 16 and May 31 along with
rides on almost every day of the week. See the ride
schedule at www.ohbike.org.
The May Metric on
May 3, is a multi-class
ride from Cosca
Regional Park in
Clinton, MD. There are
distances of 29, 41, and
62 miles.
Ride leaders will be
leading rides at a C,
CC, B, A and AA pace.
This is a non-supported
ride, so bring snacks.
The Patuxent River Rural
Legacy Ride on Saturday,
May 31, starts at the
Patuxent River Park – Jug
Bay in Croom. The ride
tours scenic back roads with
rest stops on the Patuxent
River at Magruders Ferry,
Eagle Harbor and the
Merkle Wildlife Center.
Start between 7 and 9 AM and ride 22, 35, 44, or 64
miles. Enjoy an after-ride picnic when you finish.
Featured in this Issue
Prez Sez Calvin Conyers……………………. page 3
From the Road Captain Eric Petersen …… page 4
Charles Co. Fun Festival Larry Peed ……. page 6
Responding to Bike Injuries Claire C.…… page 7
Up the Creek Sue Tice Jones……………… page 9
Rider or Bike H. Mark McGibbon………... page 10
2 The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club ohbike.org
May 2014
Club Jerseys
Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
Short sleeve and
sleeveless jerseys are
available. You can order
an OHBTC jersey with
the order form at
www.ohbike.org. $60 per
jersey plus $5 shipping.
Club Officers
President
Vice Pres.
Road Capt.
Secretary
Treasurer
OHBTC members use the
Yahoo group’s e-mail list to share club-related
information. Joining the OHBIKE Yahoo group is
free and easy. Go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ohbike.
The OHBIKE Yahoo group is for OHBTC
members only. When you join, please include your
name in the box for “Comments to List Owner.”
Welcome, New Members
Laurel, MD
Laurel, MD
Laurel, MD
La Plata, MD
Herndon, VA
Indian Head, MD
Upper Marlboro, MD
Alexandria, VA
Huntingtown, MD
Fort Washington, MD
Waldorf, MD
Waldorf, MD
District Heights, MD
Springfield, VA
Accokeek, MD
Springfield, VA
Accokeek, MD
Fort Washington, MD
Alexandria, VA
Prince Frederick, MD
Burke, VA
White Plains, MD
White Plains, MD
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ride Coordinators
Do You YAHOO?
Amanda Berard
Brien Berard
Danielle Berard
Alan Canfield
Tim Copeland
Denise Davis
Eric Douglas
Sylvia Felton
Eugene Jones
Cheryl McHenry
Phillip Mitchell
Tiffany Mitchell
Rodney Palmer
Valerie Payton
Sheryl Romeo
Mary Scala
Mathew Schwaller
William Scott II
Todd Sprang
Ann Vacca
Gerald Warren
Maize Wimbush
Mark Wimbush
Calvin Conyers
Blake Altman
Eric Petersen
Holly Carr
Mimi Newcastle
Class AA
Class A
Class B
Class CC
Class C
Class D
Mountain Bike
Overnighters
Scott Walker
Darin King
Michael Saizan
George Martin
Herman Young
Randy Schoch
Judy Mutty
Barry Howard
Steve Palincsar
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Standing Committees
Program
Public Relations
Newsletter
Advocacy
Safety/Ed
Jerseys
Mike Butler
Jim Hudnall
Jane Hudnall
Walt Roscello
George Martin
Claire Chiamulera
Janell Saunders
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Handy Telephone Numbers
AA,A,MB
A,B,CC
C,CC
C,CC,D
B
C
C
C
C,CC
B
C
B,C,CC
C
B
AA,A
A
C,CC
B
SHA MD Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
Dustin Kuzan
24-hr tape
M-NCPPC Trails and Bikeways Information
Fred Shaffer
Prince George's Co. Bike/Ped Coordinator
Victor Weissberg
City of Bowie Bike/Ped Information
Frank Stevens
Pothole Repair Hot Lines:
Alexandria
Calvert County
Charles County
Prince George’s County
St. Mary’s County
410-545-5656
800-252-8776
301-952-3661
301-883-5650
301-809-3053
703-838-4488
410-535-0905
301-932-3450
301-499-8520
301-863-8400
MD-SHA non-emergency contacts to report road problems:
http://marylandsha.force.com/customercare/request_for_service
May 2014 The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
ohbike.org
3
Prez Sez by Calvin Conyers
Having just returned from vacation in South Carolina, I seated myself in
my favorite chair to catch up on recent Ride Reports on the OHBike website.
I was immediately thrilled to see so many rides, all with record high
participation. Our season is really underway after old man winter finally
stepped aside. It is pleasing to see so many members and guests riding.
Apparently, our Road Captain’s “Start the Season Out Right Ride and Road
Safety” presentation whetted our appetites. Thanks Eric, all Coordinators and
all our Ride Leaders for getting things going with tremendous group rides.
It is great that many more people will be cycling this year. Already we
are seeing increased participation in our weekly scheduled rides like Tour De
Accokeek and Casey Jones (Wednesdays), Southern Exposure (Tuesday),
and Best of Brandywine (Thursday), the Indian Head Rail Trail (Friday), and
all weekend rides. A variety of bike safety and bike repair workshops for
members and ride leaders are being scheduled. More than 90 riders attended our “Spring Kick Off Pre-Ride
Bike Safety Workshop,” led by Nick Rodricks of Bike Maryland, another 14 members completed the
Emergency Care Classroom training provided by Barry Howard, Claire Chiamulera and George Martin.
We will soon add more bike specific training workshops to help us ride safer. Please reserve your place in a
training class when they are offered as quickly as possible. The classes fill up fast.
Again, we expect to have more people on bikes this year. Let’s All Ride Safely!
Special note: Our Patuxent River Rural Legacy Ride is approaching fast. Please
remember to register as a volunteer on the OHBike website. www.ohbike.org.
Volunteers are needed to help with OHBTC’s 15th annual Patuxent Rural Legacy Bike Ride on
Saturday, May 31, from the Jug Bay Patuxent River Park. Support your bike club and
encourage other cyclists to enjoy this great cycling area by volunteering to help. Sign up as a
volunteer at http://ohbike.membershiplodge.org/volunteer or contact Michael Butler at
[email protected] .
4 The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club ohbike.org
May 2014
From the Desk of the Road Captain by Eric Petersen
First off, I would like to thank everybody for supporting the “Start the
Season Out Right Ride” which you all made a big success. We have had
some great riding weather and thankfully seem to be out of the reaches of
any more really cold weather. Spring appears to be upon us. With that said,
we have two great rides approaching in the next few weeks. On April 26th,
the “Ride to End Hunger” in Calvert County occurs. It is a great ride, well
attended, well supported that meanders through the back roads of Calvert
and Anne Arundel Counties, providing glimpses of the bay, woods and
fields that make Southern Maryland so pretty. The following weekend is
OHBTC’s May Metric which will give all of us another opportunity to ride
one of the best rides of the year. It is a great ride that has become a
landmark event for both our club and local riders alike looking to welcome
in the first warm days of spring with a pleasant multi-class ride. Please
make sure to put May 3rd on your calendar for OHBTC’s May Metric.
All of that said, I want to emphasize what is heavy on my heart. Saturday morning I headed for Southern
High School to participate in the Harwood 41 mile ride. I was excited because I love the roads associated with
the rides originating from Southern High School. As I approached the High School, there was considerable
traffic not typical for a Saturday morning, not even for a beautiful one like this. The traffic soon ground to a
complete stop that cleared only after what seemed like an eternity of stop and go creeping. As I neared the south
parking lot, now late, my eyes were amazed to see two fire trucks, lights on, in the parking lot, with a medevac
helicopter, blades turning, behind them in the ball field. I pulled in to the lot, got out of my car, and was
apprised of the fact that a cyclist had been hit and was being helicoptered away for treatment and care. I was
told of a decimated bicycle and a broken car windshield. My thoughts immediately went to praying that it was
not a member of our club warming up prior to the ride and then to praying for the cyclist (who has subsequently
been released from the hospital).
It reminded me once again of how important safety and sensibility are in this sport. I am not talking about
riding scared or riding in fear of being hit. I surfed long enough to know that surfers who thought about getting
hurt, and paddled for waves scared, got hurt, and those who surfed confidently didn’t. So what I am
encouraging is confident, sensible riding. Knowing before we proceed through an intersection, or before we
take a lane, that there is not a vehicle approaching, and keeping in mind that the vehicle might not be huge, but
might be something as small, quiet and fast as another bicycle or motorcycle. It is anticipating that there may be
a car approaching over the next hill and then acting as if one is there in the absence of real knowledge. When
we ride confidently, predictably, professionally, it increases the chances that vehicles around us will do the
same. There are some things that we just will not be able to anticipate as we ride, so to reduce the chances of
anything happening to us we need to take care and make sure to account for those elements that we can
anticipate.
I care for you guys and want to see everyone returning from rides safe, sound and full of the joy and
excitement that another fine season of cycling can bring. Make sure to come on out May 3rd for the May Metric,
and until we ride together again - ride strong and stay safe.
May 2014 The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
ohbike.org
5
Starting the Season Out Right Ride
On Saturday, April 5, over 90 riders arrived at the Village Green in Indian Head for OHBTC’s first MultiClass Ride in 2014. Before the ride started, cyclists met in the Village Green Pavillion where Nick Rodricks,
Bike Maryland’s Bike-Minded Safety Program Coordinator, spoke on “Cycling Safety and What it means to be
a Cyclist.” After the power-point presentation, cyclists found the ride they wanted to do and headed out. Scott
Walker led the AA group followed by Darian King with the A’s on a 47-mile route. The B Class led by
Michael Saizan followed on a 34-mile route. The CC group led by George Martin and Reggie Stokes
(substituting for Herman Young) did 30 miles. Eric Peterson led the C class 17 miler with Judy Mutty doing
12 miles with the D group. Read more about each ride at http://ohbike.memberlodge.org/reports?bmi=1532566.
Many thanks to Road Captain Eric Peterson for organizing the event, inviting Nick Rodricks to speak and for
securing the Village Green Pavilion for the start.
6 The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club ohbike.org
May 2014
St. Charles Fun Festival by Larry Peed
On Saturday April 12, OHBTC members, Dan and
Diana Donahue, John Riconda, Toney Rogers and
Larry Peed, rode their bikes to help with the 2014
Saint Charles Running Festival at the Blue Crabs
Stadium. Diana and Dan led the 5k run in front of 210
competitors. John Riconda and Toney Rogers led 173
competitors on the 10 mile run. Larry Peed toured the
route, took some pictures and surveyed the 10-mile
route. The activities were sponsored by Charles
County, Lennar and Ryan Homes, our friends at Chicfil-A, College of Southern Maryland and the Blue
Crabs. Festivities continued throughout the day with a
children's run in the stadium and the Blue Crabs Fan Fest.
Diana, Larry, Dan, John and Toney
Cherry Blossoms Ride
On Saturday, April 12, fifty-five cyclists joined Walt Roscello, Des and Hans Holkom and Elizabeth
Willis on a spectacular ride to see the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. Des, Hans and
Elizabeth’s group rode a 20-mile route to the Tidal Basin while Walt led the Class B riders farther up the
Capital Crescent Trail to Kenwood and down through Rock Creek Park on a 48 miler. The cherry blossoms
were at their peak and the weather couldn’t have been better. For online ride reports and links to videos, go to
http://ohbike.memberlodge.org/reports?bmi=1536923.
May 2014 The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
ohbike.org
In the Classroom: Responding to Bike Injuries by Claire Chiamulera
Chances are you’ve been on a bike ride where a rider got injured. Maybe you jumped in to help, not sure if
you were really “helping.” Maybe you wanted to help, but held back. Unless you’re in the health care field or
have specialized training, responding to a cyclist’s injury may not come naturally, especially when it goes
beyond minor road rash.
As cyclists, we’re always growing and learning. Adding bike injury response techniques to our skillset
empowers us to act quickly and confidently when the need arises.
A desire to learn bike injury response skills brought 14 club members to a bike injury response class on
April 13 at the Charles County Mobile Intensive Care Unit in White Plains. Participants included: Randy
Schoch, Reggie Stokes, Jane Hudnall, Jule Thorne, Rudy Elly, Mike Rogers, Debby Bowman, Mike and
Regina Saizan, Brad Francisco, Dan Donahue, Henry Hoyle, Jay Lewis, and me.
Photos by Mike Saizan
Barry Howard, a club member and Red Cross certified CPR/First Aid instructor, taught this free training.
He and three co-instructors adapted a Red Cross CPR/First Aid curriculum and
supplemented it with cycling-specific information. Some highlights of what we
learned included:
First responders improve outcomes. The first people on the scene are
vital to the response. Barry stressed that when the public assists when someone
gets hurt the outcome is better. First responders can ensure the accident scene
is safe, check the injured person’s status, call for help when necessary, and
provide basic care to stabilize and treat the injury until help arrives.
CPR saves lives. A portion of the class focused on CPR. Barry stressed
that the skill is critical because when someone stops breathing, there is an 8-12
minute window to act. This is often not enough time for professional help to
arrive, making the role of people trained in CPR at the scene key. We learned
and practiced CPR technique and protocols for adults and children.
7
8 The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club ohbike.org
May 2014
Know common injuries and basic first aid. We reviewed common cycling injuries, their symptoms, and
basic first aid. Injuries addressed included: head, neck, and spine injuries; concussions; traumatic shock; broken
bone, muscle, and joint injuries, heat related injuries (heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke); coldrelated injuries (hypothermia, frostbite); external bleeding; cuts and abrasions; nose bleeds; and choking. In
addition to in-class discussion and demonstrations of how to care for these injuries, we received a reference
packet with guidance.
Call 911 for injury response help. 911 dispatchers are trained to walk lay people through injury
identification and response protocols (including CPR instructions) until professional help arrives. Making that
call taps into professional guidance to address any injury. When in doubt about an injury or how to respond, call
and ask for help.
Treat life-threatening injuries first. When several injuries are present, knowing what to treat first can be a
challenge. The instructors stressed that the injury that could threaten a person’s life (e.g., bleeding) is always
addressed first followed by injuries in order of severity.
Use caution when moving an injured cyclist. Care must be taken when moving a cyclist who may have
injured the spine or head. If safety is an issue (oncoming traffic, blind curve), or movement is needed to provide
life-sustaining care (CPR, applying a tourniquet to stop bleeding), the cyclist must be moved. Steps can be taken
to minimize further harm during movement, such as bracing the cyclist’s neck with a towel or jersey if a spine
injury is suspected, or splinting a broken bone.
Improvise sometimes. Useful to cyclists who usually don’t carry special medical supplies to treat injuries
were tips for improvising. For example, a cycling jersey can be used to fashion a sling for a broken arm or
collar bone. And a pen and strips of a shirt or cycling jersey can be used to create a tourniquet to stop external
bleeding.
When calling 911, stay calm and give details.
911 dispatcher Don Hubbard briefed us on what information
dispatchers need when a person calls 911. He stressed staying
calm and being prepared to give:
• Location/address – the most critical piece so the
dispatcher can get professional help to the scene
quickly.
• Landmarks – can be helpful when you don’t know
your address/location.
• Details of the person’s injuries/accident scene –
ensures the right professionals are sent, and helps the
dispatcher advise on how to manage the injury and
accident scene until help arrives.
A simulated bike accident at the end of class let us practice what we’d learned. Barry, our victim, laid facedown. His leg was bent awkwardly and he complained of neck pain. We deliberated over the response as the
instructors questioned us. Since Barry was in a high-traffic area, we opted to move him, first stabilizing his neck
and leg before rolling him over and lifting him to a safe spot. We called 911 and continued to monitor him until
paramedics arrived. Barry lived to ride again, and we left the class with more knowledge and hands-on practice
than when we entered.
May 2014 The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
ohbike.org
9
Up the Creek – Bike or Kayak by Sue Tice Jones
Up The Creek? Hmm ? ? ? You can gain a whole new meaning of this phrase in Indian Head, Maryland.
Just at the bottom of the hill on Mattingly Avenue stands Up the Creek Rentals. This kayak and bicycle
rental shop can easily change your outlook about the infamous saying; “Up the creek without a paddle.”
As you look around, Mattawoman Creek spreads out to captivate you with ever changing scenery. In the
spring, lily pads crowd together along the shores with an assortment of wild flowers. Osprey, eagle, and blue
heron search the water for fish to feed their hatchlings. American lotus sweetens the summer air. Bass, crappie,
snakehead, perch and now and then a crab bring smiles to fishermen, young and old. Maple, oak, and gum trees
explode with colors in late fall. Flocks of ducks gather near the abandoned dredging equipment. Osprey and
migratory geese begin their journey south. You relax as you take in the fresh air.
A paddle board leans on a tree. Power boats and canoes wait on the grass for the day’s rentals. Canoes and
Hobie* kayaks wait in racks for their turn on the water. A friendly voice welcomes you to “Come on in and
take a look around”. Drift-wood, shells, floats, crabs (this is Southern MD), and a few local snake-skins fill a
fishing net suspended from the rafters. The walls are lined with bright orange, yellow, and red kayaks. Bicycles
are geared up for a cruise on the Indian Head Rail Trail. Up the Creek’s four-legged diplomat, Gus, a basset/
lab mix, often greets customers and is as friendly as the owner; Mike Jones.
Mike, born in Potomac Heights, is a lifelong resident of Charles County. The folklore
and history of Charles County are as much a
part of Mike as his out-going disposition. His
goal is to make his fellow man smile. He is
widely known for his readiness with a joke and
a helping hand. This attitude extends to the
customer service at Up the Creek. All boats are
launched by the employees to ensure the
customer is properly equipped and safe during
their rental. Upon return, customers are met at
the pier, to assist if needed. The name
Mattawoman (Mataughquamend) is an
Algonquian compound translated as “where one
goes pleasantly”. Up The Creek Rentals’ plan is
to make that true.
Mike Jones, owner of Up the Creek Rentals
With or without a paddle*
You’ll love being Up The Creek
* Hobie kayaks give logic to Up the Creek catch phrase. This type of kayak can be paddled or pedaled. It
comes equipped with a Mirage drive system working on the same principle and looking like penguin flippers.
The drive is a very efficient means of getting through the water. An entire body workout can be had if you
switch between the drive and the paddle.
10 The Spoke’n’Word - the monthly newsletter of the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club ohbike.org
May 2014
Is it the Rider or is it the Bike? by H. Mark McGibbon
On March 22nd, 2014, Chris Richardson, the owner of the
Bike Doctor of Waldorf, invited his customers to test ride any
Pinarello bike. Although I did not need another road bike, I opted
to participate in the test ride because I wanted to discover if the
Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think 2 frame was as good as claimed. I
did not expect to experience much of a difference between my
top-of-the-line bike frames and the Dogma. Nor was I in the
market to purchase a new road bike. So, it was only curiosity that
I woke up early and drove over to my local bike shop.
Many of the dedicated “roadies” met early that Saturday morning to test ride the various Pinarello road
bike models and partake in a 16-mile group ride. As the riders were fitted on their bikes, many of these avid
cyclists circled the Bike Doctor of Waldorf’s parking lot to test their bike’s handling. After I was fitted, I circled
the parking lot with my fellow cyclists while testing the new EPS electronic shifters.
As a purist, I enjoy manually shifting my sports cars and road bikes. Manually shifting makes me
experience a “oneness” while shifting. Shifting a bike is simply an “extension” of the mechanical machine I am
operating. I tried the “paddle shifting” about 5 years ago in a BMW M3, and absolutely hated the experience.
However, once a stick shift replaced BMW paddle shifters, I enjoyed shifting through the gears on straight and
open highways, as well as the low torque shifting on tight corner mountain roads. I could feel the engine growl
through the stick shift and the resultant g-forces in my bucket leather seats. Thus, you could say that my bias
against electronic shifting on road bikes was extremely strong because of my past experience with a sport car’s
paddle shifters.
However, I couldn’t believe how the electronic shifting felt on the Pinarello. Smooth. Fast. Seamless.
Exact. It was the purest and penultimate in precision shifting. The Dogma frame was equally impressive. As I
pushed down on the pedals, I could feel the surge in power without the normal road chatter I experience in my
other stiff framed road bikes. Again, I was not in the market for another bike; however, after climbing hills with
little effort, I changed my mind. After the test ride, I placed my order for a new Dogma with electronic Shimano
di2 Dura Ace EPS shifters. Now I understand why Tour de France (TDF) riders won so many stages and had
multiple podium finishes while riding the Pinarello Dogma. The Dogma simply transfers the rider’s raw power
to the rear wheel without wasting wattage. Thus, if I overtake you in a local race, it’s the pure “race horse” bike
that it responsible for my speed, and not the rider. That leaves us to question TDF pro-riders- is it the bike, or is
it the rider who wins the race?
About the Author: Dr. H. Mark McGibbon is Lockheed Martin’s Visiting Professor at the
National Defense University Information College (iCollege). In 1992, he survived a cycling
accident that caused paralyses from the waist down. After multiple back surgeries, he seriously
returned to the sport of cycling in 2005. He lives with his wife, Bambi, in Southern Maryland.
Mark now rides cautiously