Prairie Cycle Club – Bicycle Club for Champaign County, Illinois

The League of Illinois Bicyclists will be hosting a 4-hour presentation called "Safe Roads for Bicycling." It will be presented by Dean Schott, the Outreach
Director for the League of Illinois Bicyclists.

This will be on Thursday, May 3rd, 0800 - it will be "geared" toward police, but the material would be very relevant for anyone interested in a safer biking community, in terms of traffic flow and addressing the typical hazards associated with the bike-vehicular conflicts.

Monday Moderate Ride - Level 2 Averaging 20 miles at 12 to 15 m.p.h. 6:00 P.M. from Countryside Day School, corner of Kirby and Staley, Champaign. Emphasis on socializing, not speed. One of the most popular rides.

Monday Moderately Manic Ride–Level 3-4 Same as above but faster. No leader —but lots of fun folks to ride with. This ride starts in late March with an earlier departure (5:30) and then "goes to 6:00 when it gets warmer."

Tuesday Pedal for Pleasure – Level 1 Averaging 12 to 16 miles, 12 to 13 m.p.h. 6:30 P.M. from Champaign Cycle, 506 S. Country Fair Drive, Champaign. Suitable for beginners and any rider who wants to meet people and enjoy a leisurely ride. Mountain bikes welcome.

Wild Card Racing ride - Wednesday Long Ride (see http://wildcardcycling.org for details ) Depart: Burwash Park, corner of Burwash & Prospect, Savoy Time: 5:45 pm
This is a ride for folks who want to ride hard and don't mind getting dropped. Usually average around 20mph, distances of 30-50 miles.

Thursday New Member Ride (1st Thursday of the month) ***tentative***– Level 1 6:15 P.M. from First Street & St. Mary's Road (Assembly Hall Lot), Champaign. For new members and anyone who feels like they’re starting over.

Thursday Three Ride - NOTE CHANGE - Level 3 averaging 20-25 miles at 15-17 m.p.h. 6:00 P.M. from Countryside Day School, corner of Kirby and Staley Roads. Ideal for those riding at Level 2 last season who want to move up and faster riders needing a slower recovery ride. Ride Leaders: Richard Brannon and Lorrie Pearson. Looking for another ride leader to help cover some rides.

Saturday Club Rides – Meadowbrook Park, (Windsor & Vine) Urbana 8:00 June-Aug. for all the rides; Saunter ride starts at 9:00 in April and May, then move to 8 in June when it's hot.

8:00 - Wild Card Racing (see http://wildcardcycling.org for details) does longer & faster rides.

Saturday Saunter – Level 1/2 Averaging 10 to 20 miles at a leisurely pace (10-13 mph), Common destinations are Philo, St. Joseph or Tolono, with water and rest stops. Smaller groups often break away for longer/faster rides. All frame types of cycles and riders welcome.

Sundry Show and Go Rides: Any day or night (sometimes under the full moon), we may get on the phone or email and get together and ride. Sometimes it becomes a regular thing—if you want to get the word out, hit ‘contact’ and let us know!

... if you didn't get your paper copy, let a board member know (siouxgeonz then at then gmail.com will reach me)
An electronic version is attached below.

Get info for the May newsletter to me by April 24 (tho' I can often add things later).

Highlights: Pre-season Social & Membership Kickoff – Village Inn Thursday, March 29
This is a great way to get your dues paid, have some pizza, talk to those new

... and then a few weeks later ...
Weeknight Rides Start April 16

And the bike co-op has drop-in classes to learn whatever basics you want to know, or

By Ed Pavelka of www.RoadBikeRider.com

Cycling is full of prodigious numbers -- the distances ridden, the calories consumed, the tires trashed. Another statistic that can seem astounding is the number of pedal strokes made.

Let's suppose it takes you six hours to ride a century and you pedal at the rate of 90 rpm throughout. As you cross the finish line, you will be making pedal stroke number 64,800.

Make Sure a Newcomer Returns for a Second Ride!

By Ed Pavelka of www.RoadBikeRider.com

If you’ve been in this sport for long, you’ve probably seen it happen. An enthusiastic person shows up for his (or her) first ride with the local club. He’s a bit intimidated by the lingo he overhears, but that’s nothing compared to his anxiety about what to do and how to do it once the ride gets underway. Before long he’s trailing behind, spooked by the interplay of bike wheels and feeling as wanted as an IRS agent in a Super Bowl pool.